March 15-23, 2010

WEEK OF MARCH 15-23. 2010

TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

Just so you won’t think our weeks are a little longer here than other places, I am covering the time from Monday Wednesday of the next week because there has not been time to write anything until today.  That is how the “week” has gone.

We were planning to enjoy a fun “P-day” with the single missionaries by going bowling at the local bowling alley.  Nancy was especially looking forward to this as she loves to bowl.  I took the rental car back to the VW dealer in the morning and picked up our car—after having been in and out of their shop since Feb. 20—drove home, picked up Nancy and as we were headed to town, noted that the engine temperature light came on. I thought at first it might just be some random thing,  and planned to drop Nancy off at the bowling alley, then take the car to the dealer.  I then watched as the temperature gauge continued to rise and realized that we were not going to get into town and back to the dealer, so I pulled off the highway into a parking lot near a gas station. I got out and looked under the hood and found that the coolant reservoir was empty. I got water from the station, filled the reservoir, then started the engine to circulate the water to the engine and as it went down, poured in more water—then noted it was coming out as fast as it was going in. So I shut down and called the dealer and our friends at Viking tow service (I think we have met every driver they have).  It was about 2 p.m. at this time and it was cold and snowing. We sat in the car and played “Farkle” for a while, then I worried that we were not going to get to the dealership before they all went home for the day. I called Viking to see how long it would be and the dispatcher said at least another hour as there were lots of stuck cars and accidents they were taking care of and had people in front of us who had already been waiting for over 2 hours.  At this point, Nancy was getting cold (and beating me badly in the game) so I called a cab, went to the dealership and picked up our faithful rental car—again.  I returned with the rental car and took Nancy to the church, then went back to wait for the tow truck, which arrived at about 4:30.  After seeing the car off, I returned to the church where we met at 5:30 with the young single adult council to discuss the plans for the young single adults. After the meeting it was time for family home evening which included a good lesson given by Elder Bartholomew and a fun time playing games afterward.  Victor (a convert from January) conducted the FHE for the first time and had an enjoyable time doing so. He is very quiet, but did a good job keeping things moving. It is so much fun to see the growth of these young people as they develop confidence in their abilities and testimonies.  There were 9 in attendance, including one non-member.

Tuesday there was a “pensjonist lunch” (retired people lunch—or anyone else who is free at noon). These are arranged by one of the sisters in the branch (Inger Jørgensen) as a way to get the older folks involved with each other and encourage them to bring their non-member friends and members who don’t always come to church.  She had invited a woman who has written several books about Trondheim history—as she experienced it while growing up here.  The lady’s name is Ester Nordmark and she is in her mid 80’s. She was delightful to listen to (I tried my best to translate for Nancy) and to visit with as we enjoyed some Norwegian waffles afterward (waffles are not a breakfast food in Norway, they are used as desserts in the evening, or for lunch—but we enjoy them anytime).  Nancy accompanied some community singing during the program and also played a piano solo after Ester had talked. They enjoy having her here for her musical talents among other talents.

In the evening we had an appointment with Eirik and Åsta.  When we arrived with Sisters Engebretsen and Mølholt at 7 p.m., Eirik was not yet home from work and would not be coming until after 8. Åsta’s father, Jeffrey Stevens was there, as one of the twins (Victoria) had been sick and he was helping Åsta. They were in bed by the time we arrived so we did not get to enjoy their presence.  After we talked about Victoria, I asked Åsta if she would like me to give Victoria a blessing, which I did with the assistance of Jeffrey.  We had taken some rice krispie treats out with us, as Eirik had mentioned on our last visit that he really liked them. Nancy also took the ingredients and the recipe so he could learn to make them.  We had a very good visit with Åsta and her father, then he left to return to his home and we visited for a while with Åsta and learned a little more of their family.  They have been praying together since we began visiting and she said they all feel a difference in their home.  Eirik is a good man, works hard to provide for his family and then comes home to work hard remodeling their home. Now that there is some daylight after work, he usually comes home, changes clothes and goes to work outside.

On Wednesday I picked up our car again, we attended District meeting and Nancy prepared dinner for institute.  The service agent at the dealership said he made the mechanics drive it for an hour or so yesterday after they finished working on it (someone had forgotten to tighten a clamp on a coolant hose) so he had some confidence that I would not be back again.

On Thursday I shoveled snow from the church parking lot and Nancy spent a good part of the day working on a “member book” for use by the missionaries. It is intended to have some basic information on the members of the branch, along with a photo so when new missionaries are assigned, they can review the book and get a better feel for the members before coming to church the first Sunday or when they are preparing to meet with members.  In the evening was the Relief Society (hjelpeforening in Norsk) held their birthday dinner which Nancy attended and played the piano for the singing.  I spent the time in the YSA room studying.

On Friday we tried to catch up on things at home—laundry, vacuuming, etc. before leaving to spend the weekend in Mo I Rana. Nancy spent more time working on the member book. We also spent time on the talk Nancy would be giving in Mo (and also giving the talk next Sunday in Trondheim).  She tries to get as much mileage as possible out of her talks. She was asked to speak this coming Sunday in Trondheim on the atonement and resurrection, so that is the topic she talked on in Mo.  We will not be back to Mo before Easter, so the topic is timely.  She is doing much better with her talks and is still determined that she will give them in Norsk, which the members all appreciate—even though almost all of them would understand it in English.  They appreciate her efforts to speak their language. One of them told her on the first Sunday we were here and she bore her testimony in Norsk that she was the first of the sisters in the couple missionaries that they could remember having spoken in Norsk.  So she wants to continue to do that and is doing well. She understands much more now and is able to follow most conversations and talks in church—but is not comfortable trying to engage in conversation.

On Saturday, we picked up the sisters at 0700 and caught the 0740 train to Mo.  It was a foggy day for most of the trip, but the fog and the snow made for beautiful scenery.  For some reason we were about an hour late arriving, but were met by Jan Erik Granaas, the branch president when we arrived. He took us to our hotel where we dropped our luggage, then went off to visit members. The sisters had prepared book marks for each of the members, which included a scripture on one side and a quote from President Uchtdorf on the other.  They shared the scripture with the members (everyone we visited were older widows) and sang a song before we moved onto the next home. These older sisters love it when the young sister missionaries come to visit. They had called everyone on the branch list to encourage them to come to church on Sunday and for those who live near the city center, asked about visiting on Saturday afternoon. There is one woman who has not been to church for years, but she said yes we could come visit. When we drove to her place, President Granaas said, “she has never let any of the branch leaders in. She used to let the missionaries come visit occasionally, but not the branch leaders or home teachers.”  When we knocked on the door, it took her some time to come to the door, and he said, “she saw us through the window, so she will probably not answer the door.”  Finally she answered and was surprised to find 5 people standing on the door step, then she said, “well, you can stand out there or you can come in”.   So we all went in and had a good visit with her.  She lives right on the harbor, with a beautiful view of the fjord, in an old home she has lived in for many years. Her husband passed away many years ago and it is just her and “skip” her little dog.  Hopefully now that President Granaas has been in her home, she will continue to allow members to visit with her and bless her life.

We went to the home of Bengt and Bonnie Andreasen for dinner on Saturday evening. They moved into their new home just before Christmas last year.  It sits up on a hillside about 5 minutes drive from the city center and has a beautiful view of the fjord, the city, and the mountains across the fjord.  Bengt said, “on a clear day you can see all the way to America.” After dinner we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for Sunday.  Saturday was a beautiful sunny day and it was supposed to be more of the same on Sunday.

When we awoke Sunday and looked out the window, it was snowing and there was enough snow that it was clear it had snowed for a while.  We enjoyed breakfast in the hotel, then waited for Pres. Ganaas to pick us up.  I went down to the lobby to check out, then while I was returning to the room, stopped and spoke with a man who was standing in the hall. He and two others were doing some remodeling in rooms on one end of the floor. I said “good morning” (in English) and he said, “you are not Norwegian.” (in English)  I said, “no, and it sounds like you are not either.” He said he is Norsk, but spent many years living in the US—Minnesota and California.  We talked a little about where he had lived and what he is doing now, then he said, “my son and I noted you and your wife and daughters at breakfast this morning, we both commented on how refreshing it was to see two young women wearing long skirts and modestly dressed.” I explained that they were not my daughters, but that we are all missionaries for the Church. We had a good conversation about the church and values before he had to return to work.  He is seventh day Adventist, and therefore they were working today.

We had a wonderful sacrament meeting. Nancy played the keyboard and Sister Engebretsen led the singing.  I helped Pres. Granaas bless the sacrament and Bengt passed it.  Then Nancy spoke, each of the sisters spoke and they sang a couple of primary songs. When they started singing, Lydia, the Andreasens’s 4 year old daughter came up and stood with them, so Sis. Engebretsen pulled a chair up and stood her on the chair while they sang.  It was very touching to see how this little girl admired the sister missionaries.  After they sang, it was my turn to speak but the time was gone, so I told Pres. Granaas that I could just give my talk another time. He said, no, go ahead, we have time (since the branch only holds 2 meetings on Sunday—Sacrament meeting and a combined Relief Society and Priesthood meeting, if Sacrament meeting runs longer or shorter, they just compensate in the next meeting).  So I gave my talk about temples. During the closing song, Lydia pushed her chair up by Sis Engebretsen and Sis Engebretesen stepped behind her and helped her lead the singing. Again, a very touching scene.

While the rest of us held priesthood and RS meeting, the sisters took the 3 children in the next room and held a primary class. After the classes, we all sat around in the chapel area and Nancy brought out the Rice Krispie Treats she had made and we sang happy birthday to Bengt, whose birthday was on Monday and Pres. Granaas whose birthday was the previous week. The people all enjoy rice krispie treats and nobody left until they were all gone.  I told everyone that this would be Sis Engebretsen’s last visit to Mo, as she would be going home before the end of April, the sisters and children all gave her long hugs and wished her well.  There were hugs for all of the sisters (4) from Nancy and the missionaries before we departed for the train station.  It is always a delight to be with these faithful members.

The train was about ½ hour late arriving, so it was about 11 p.m. before we got back home after dropping the sisters off at their apartment. 

Monday morning came way too early.  But soon Nancy was working on the member book again (our P-day activity) as I did the laundry and started getting things ready to go to zone conference on Tuesday. We had a good FHE on Monday night with 9 young singles (including 3 non-members) and 6 missionaries. It was a full house but a great feeling to have so many there. All of the non-members took an active part in the lesson as well as activities. There is a good spirit among the members, missionaries and investigators as they attend.

We got home at about 9:30 on Monday night and made preparations to get up at 0345 on Tuesday to travel to Stavanger for zone conference.

Nancy was asked to say the opening prayer for the conference and Sister Johnson (one of the other senior sisters) had been asked to lead the music. Sister Johnson said she did not know how to lead music (her husband had accepted for her) and asked Nancy if she knew how.  Nancy said, “yes, but I am giving the opening prayer”. So Sister Johnson said you lead and I’ll give the prayer. Nancy was then talking with sister Thomsa who was going to play the piano and Sister Thomas said she was not able to play one of the songs as fast as it should be played, so Nancy asked if she could lead music. She said she was a choir director. So they swapped again and when Elder Miller went to announce the opening hymn and prayer, they had him totally confused.  But it all went well.

Zone conference was a wonderful experience. This time all of the senior couples in the mission were in attendance and we met together for about an hour and a half while the young missionaries did some of their training. It was great to be able to get better acquainted with them and to share experiences and ideas. There is much success being gained with the young people in Norway and it is good to be a part of it. We had a wonderful lunch provided by the sisters in Stavanger—RS president, Primary Pres., YW President and a couple of their daughters. Two of the women are Americans whose husbands are here working—one in the US Air Force with NATO and one working for an oil company.  I asked the Norsk sister what her name was and she said, Sister Steffensen. I asked if Anskar was her husband and she said, “yes”. So I told her that I had confirmed him a member when he was baptized about 50 years ago.  She was excited to know that and then introduced me to her daughter who was there helping out. 

At the zone conference in February, we met an Elder Severson who is serving in Bergen. Nancy asked him where his ancestors came from and he said, “Røyken”. She told him that is also where our Severson ancestors came from.  Knowing that he would be there this conference also, she copied off the Severson genealogy and brought it with her. At a break in the conference, we sat down and looked at the sheets and he said he thought that one of Oscar Severson’s brothers was his great-grandfather.  He will do some checking with his family to confirm (I have sent his parents an email with a copy of the Severson line, so we will see).  Anyway, it has been fun to make some family connections here as well as all the other connections we are making. 

Too soon, the conference was over and it was back to the airport. Our flight was about 1-1/2 hour late departing, so by the time we got home it was 11:30 p.m. again.  These hours and travel schedules are not meant for old bodies.  We were spiritually alive, but too tired to do much with it.  Today (Wednesday) is a day of getting ready for institute dinner and class. We met briefly with Sister Catherine Bjørnevog where she goes to art school and had a good visit with her. She has come a long way since our first visit with her several months ago. She and her 4 children are in church almost every week now.

We love this work and the people we are blessed to associate with each day. We miss all of you and wish you could be here with us—rather than we being there—as we know you would love the country and people as much as we do. And they would love you as much as we do.

May God continue to bless each of you.

Mom and dad/Gerald and Nancy/grandma and grandpa/nana and granddad.