March 24 – 28, 2010

TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

March 24 – 28, 2010

Dear Family and Friends:

Another short week has passed. We had 19 (including the missionaries) to dinner before Institute.  The missionaries can stay to institute if they have an investigator.  In the fall we began setting the table for 12 (4 missionaries) and sometimes we filled it.  Later we set for 16 and now we set for 20.  We do have 8 missionaries including us, but the Lord is blessing them with people to teach and bring to church.

Friday we left the apartment to go meet the sisters at the apartment of one of their investigators, a young student from Ghana.  The trunk of the car was loaded with all the things we were taking to the sledding activity at 5 that evening.  Wouldn’t you know—the car would not start. It showed the same symptoms it did a month ago before the local VW dealership had it in their shop for almost a month.  Needless to say, I was not happy, as I had told the service manager when I picked it up a week ago that I was not convinced that anything they had done had addressed the problem I was having with the car. 

                                               

So it was back to our friends at Viking tow service (I am getting to know all of their drivers by now). They towed the car to the dealer and I picked up a rental car—again.  Of course there were no mechanics around by the time the car got there on Friday and since this is Easter week, it is questionable if there will be any working this week. At least the rental car is a step up from the VW Polo we drive.  Maybe they can just keep it.  Here is an altogether too familiar sight.  The good thing about this is that it has never failed to start at some very inconvenient time or hazardous location. The Lord does watch out for us.

Friday night we had a great YSA activity.  We still have LOTs OF SNOW, so why not go sledding.  Our YSA from Nigeria, Mozambique and China had never been sledding.  They were all hesitant at first.  Benildo from “M” went first.  He loved it.  By the time the sledding was finished, he asked what time we were coming the next day.  All had a great time. Included in the group was a young Australian girl the elders had met on Wednesday. She came to our dinner and returned Friday for the sledding activity.  We returned to the church for hotdogs and hot chocolate.  Great bonding!!

 

Saturday a few came to play sports (one young man and two young women).   So Gerald joined them and they played volleyball and then floor hockey.  Oh the energy (at least on the part of 3 of the 4)! 

We have had a YSA president and now we have a vice president also.  We are holding regular meetings with them, the branch president and the institute teacher.  Finally getting organized is really improving the program and gives it more enthusiasm also.

Our cupboards are now stocked.  We went to the store and bought quite a bit of food.  People shop here every few days.  Shelf life isn’t as long as in the U. S.  Now I can at least make a few things without running to the store for each days meals.

The sisters, a new convert and an investigator came to dinner today.  It is always special to have them here.

The new convert, Shina, is learning to play the piano.  His goal is to play in church next year.  He really is interested and tries very hard since we only get together Sunday after church for about 10-15 minutes each week.  He doesn’t have anything to practice on, so each week it is all new.  This week is spring break so he plans to be at the church to practice.

Today I had to speak in church.  I hate it when people get up and read their talks.  I said that and then read my talk in Norwegian.  Is that an oxymoron? My pronunciation is getting better.  I couldn’t have translated it directly into English, but generally I did know what I was saying.

One of the YSA played prelude in RS and in Sacrament Meeting.  She is getting more confident.  One of the other YSA played in Primary today.  I think they have heard me make many mistakes and so that gives them more confidence in their piano playing skill.  At least they are practicing and trying to improve.

The Lord is blessing the people here in Trondheim and it is exciting to be a part of it.  We are making wonderful friendships here with missionaries, members and young students from all over the world.  We are happy to be sharing the message of the restoration of the Gospel with them. 

We love each of you and pray for your continued health and happiness.

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