Talk About A Crazy Week!

Midnight Sun, Me and the Midnight Sun, Outside my window in the evening.

July 18, 2016

Hello everyone!

Talk about a crazy week! First off, I finally got to see the midnight sun, and it was EPIC! Needless to say, we finally got a night which was clear enough and not entirely clouded over. That was definitely an experience of a lifetime. It's something I'd wish everyone could experience sometime in their lives! I do have to say though, pictures don't even come close to how cool it was.

A payphone. They still exist!

It did feel like a bit of a slow week for the first bit. Because it's summer, many people are on vacation, and that doesn't mean just relaxing at home. When people go on vacation, they're gone for weeks at a time (great if you're not a missionary). Mostly it just makes it a bit more difficult to meet with people. But lucky for us, most people seem to be finishing up vacation here soon, so that's exciting!

The Elders in Mo i Rana came up to Bodø for splits this last week. It was really awesome having them over, especially because I know both of them really well. It was Elder Tangen (who I was companions with a few months ago) and Elder McIntire (who was in Fredrikstad serving at the same time I was there). It was great to catch up with them, see how they were doing, and get to spend some time doing missionary work with them. It was a blast having them come up and visit.

(top) Elder Stephens and Elder Tangen
(left) Epicish Bad Limes with Elder Stephens
(right) Elder Mcintyre and I with Bad Limes

Yesterday was a pretty great day. We had church, both Elder Stephens and I gave talks for it, and it started out with just 5 of us there in total. While I started speaking, we had some visitors come and it was awesome because all of a sudden the number of us in church doubled! haha Normally there's more in church, but many were out of town of vacation this week. Next week it should be back to normal.

After church we went and visited an older lady in the city. She lives in a care center and is just the nicest lady ever. But we had gone there and sometimes we play the piano for her (that's what we ended up doing yesterday) and as I started to play, one of the nurses asked if we minded if they brought out some of the other people there too to listen. We naturally said yes, and it was a really fun experience playing for a bunch of people there. It was nice just seeing them happy and enjoying it.

There was a scripture which I read yesterday that I like very much. It is the last verse of Ether 12, and it says:

"41 And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen."

I really like his invitation for all of us, to not just think of Christ, or to just hope He is there, but to SEEK Jesus. I think that is something really important, that we not only just believe in Christ, but continually seek him out. That we continually try to come closer to Him.

I feel like that word "seek" means that we are engaged in finding. That it is more than just wandering around and maybe stumble across it, but that it becomes our goal, our desire, and our focus. I think that is something that we all need. We all need to continue seeking Christ. That once we've found Christ, that we continue drawing closer to Him and having a better relationship with Him. I think it's important for all of us to try to understand Christ better, that He becomes a more active part of our faith.

I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for everything you do!

From,

Elder Mickelson

A fun sign we saw in the grocery store (no, it wasn't us that corrected the spelling).

Fairytale Land Of The Midnight Sun in Bodø

Random pictures around Bodø

July 11, 2016

Dear Family & Friends,

In the space of 6 hours, and a couple different of different flights, I made my way from the comforts of Sandvika, and ended up in the fairytale land of the midnight sun in Bodø.

I have to say though, it was definitely a flurry of different emotions and it was just weird. But you know what? It's been like this in every city I've been to. When I'm on my way to my next city, I'm sad, missing all of those that I feel like I've left behind. I miss everyone that I've gotten to know so far. Although, because I know that I miss them, I'm sure that I can say I've loved the people. I've loved everyone and everywhere I've been. It was a pleasure to be in Sandvika, and I can't wait to see them all again at another point in time, I don't know when, but hopefully as soon as I can. I guess I feel the same way with every city.

Midnight in Bodø

The Land of the Midnight Sun. No, it's not just a joke. It's true. Here in Bodø for the next few days, the sun will not set, so that's exciting. I've looked outside at midnight, still feels like the middle of the afternoon, just not near as many people outside haha! Go figure, most people are sleeping.

I said goodbye to Elder Rial in Sandvika, and said hello to Elder Stephens. He's from Pleasant View, Utah. He's a way cool guy. He likes to rock climb and do a bunch of outdoor things. He's a great guy. I'm excited to be serving with him up here!

In the last week, I've thought about Christ's service for others, about how selfless He was in what he did. I think we all have a responsibility to help those around us. In Mosiah 18:8-9 it says,

" 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life"

When we decide to follow Christ, we make a choice to do our best to be like He was, to become a blessing in others' lives. We choose to serve others, not because we have to, not because we feel obligated to, but because it is in the desires of our hearts to see those around us blessed. Because we want to help them. Because we want the best for them. And when we come to a point where we don't want to hinder their well-being, or happiness because of one reason or another.

Our epic Jenga game 

(it fell shortly thereafter)

I hope that we all find ways in our lives to bless one another. We can serve all of those around us. We can begin with serving within the walls of our own homes, and a random neighbor, someone in the community. It doesn't matter who it is, we should be serving as much as we can, helping whoever we know could use a helping hand. It didn't matter who it was, the poor, the blind, the leper, the sinner, Christ reached out to all. I hope that we can find those around us to be able to serve.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Take care!

Sincerely,

Elder Justin Mickelson