We Had A Really Great Week!

Elder Rial and Elder Mickelson

June 6, 2016

Hello everyone!

We had a really great week! It was a lot of fun talking to everyone that was out and about.  Although, this week has been HOT for Norway. It was up in the 80s this week. Talk about a shock by going from a Norwegian Winter into a hot, humid Summer! But the weather has evened out a bit and it's cooled off enough to go around comfortably enough.  As with any nice weather, it brings everyone outside. That's great for us because we start talking with a lot of happy people each day! As many people know, happy people are fun to talk to!

The set up for weekly planning

Last week we got to go to the mission home for breakfast. So we went over, had some breakfast, and got to study while we were having interviews. So that was a ton of fun. The cinnamon rolls were quite delicious haha!

This week I've been thinking a lot about what people need to understand for them to want to be changed people through Christ. Many people in life have everything they need. They have a home, food on the table, a car sitting in the driveway, a stable job, and a happy family. When everything in life seems to be going great, people have a tendency to feel like they no longer need God. Many feel as though that they can do everything on their own and that they got where they are by their own sheer will-power. Yes, it's true that with hard work we can get what we want in life. But at the end of the day, despite what we have, how successful we are, or what we've worked for, do we turn to God? Do we find ourselves praying, thanking our loving Heavenly Father for what we have? Or do we find ourselves "puffed up in pride"? Do we shun God, or embrace His love for us? What are we doing to come closer to Him?

Elder Rial casually walking down the street with an electric keyboard

I believe that when we understand who we truly are, THEN we will come closer to God, THEN we will have a desire to change, THEN we will want to turn to Christ and follow His example. We are all the spirit children of a loving Heavenly Father. A father who created us, who cared about every single one of us before we came to earth, and sent us to earth so we could receive a body, so that one day, we would be able to return to live in His presence. He loves us, regardless. Please remember that God wants the best for us, and the only way to experience true happiness, happiness that lasts into eternity, is by living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I see it everyday. I see the blessings in people's lives because of living the gospel, and I see pain and discouragement when people don't. I have never met anyone who is happier now in their lives because they fell away from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Never. Blessings come to those who follow Christ. I know that's true.

I hope all of you have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

Me with some skolebrød (school bread- bread with 
custard in the middle and frosting on top 

dipped in coconut. Yes, it's delicious)