A "Shocking" Experience

November 7, 2016

Hello Everyone!

Wow. This week. Where to even begin. Well, I think this week's email would be great to start off with one of the most shocking experiences I've had yet. Well, maybe electrifying is a more appropriate way to describe it.

We were changing light bulbs in our apartment because about half of them were burned out and needed replacing. There's like no need for them in the Summer because it's sunny 24/7, but with Winter rolling around and it getting dark by 3:00 pm, and in the dead of Winter there is no snow, you start to realize really quickly which bulbs ought to be working.

We had this one light which should have been dangling from the ceiling, but it had fallen months ago, breaking the bulb, and the cord came down with it. I'd consider it as more of a free-range light. Anyways, with buying new lights, and taking the liberty to fix this one, I replaced the bulb, plugged it in and it worked! Now we just need to get it connected to the ceiling. So I unscrewed the light bulb, and while moving the light bulb and the socket to a different spot, I managed to stick my finger in the socket.

It doesn't take a genius to know that touching the metal inside a socket while plugged in will certainly shock you! Some people have to just do it once to learn their lesson. *cough* *cough* *me*

I know understand why people getting shocked with a taser fall to the ground, because it hurts and that's the first thing you do. Fall. So, I hit the ground, drop the bulb and the socket, and I just start running throughout the room, into the hallway, yelling and a screaming, words a flying. I nearly was swearing in two different languages! It didn't feel too good to say the least. I got by the door and had nowhere to run so I checked my vitals, realized I was still breathing, could feel my entire body, and in being electrocuted, I didn't poop my pants. I'd call that a success!

That's one way to wake someone up. I sure felt a little bit more energetic through the rest of the day!

This week we also were extremely busy delivering some newsletters around for the branch. And, with any great trip, comes a great story.

Us walking home after the
school bus wouldn't pick us up.

To say the least, in Norway, everyone lives far away from each other. And we decided to bus out to an area, and work from the farthest family out, in towards the city. We had all of the bus times and everything down, all in place. Ya, come to find out, some buses listed that you can supposedly ride, are school buses. People not students can't really ride school buses. So after waiting for the bus which never came, and realizing it was getting dark, and cold, we had no other option than to start walking. Three miles later (an hour walk) we reached bus stop we needed to catch our way home. I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

The Trondheim missionaries got to stay with us one night this week while in transit to Narvik. I guess when there isn't too many flights going somewhere so small, it makes connecting flights more difficult. So they got to stay for a night.

For those who like the Northern lights, it went crazy one night this week. While getting into bed, I looked out the window, and there was nothing. I adjusted my dyne (I think it's called a duvet in the states) for 5 seconds, got into bed, and looked out the window. And there's was this GIANT green thing in the sky dancing around. It proceeded to do that for like a half hour. Always a good time.

Northern lights on the night 

it went crazy dancing.

Moves call was yesterday and I'll be staying in Bodø for another transfer! I was really excited to stay. I love it here and everyone here is so wonderful!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful week. Keep on keepin on!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

"I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants." -Mosiah 4:26

Let's all take care of those around us!

We slow cooked a pork roast for 24 hours and made some 

pulled pork out of it with some homemade barbecue sauce. 

Needless to say, some of the best food I've made yet on my mission!

Wow, Not Really Quite Sure Where This Last Month Went!

Trondheim docks

September 5, 2016

Dear Family & Friends,

Wow. I'm not really quite sure where this last month went. It kind of just happened. And now it's September... Hmmm... I don't really quite know what to think about that. A weird moment I had this week was when I realized that I'd be going home in 9 months. That was pretty weird. All I can say is time just keeps going faster and faster. Honestly, I hope that life doesn't keep on accelerating like it is.

Well, such is life in the Northern part of the world, that when this time of year rolls around, the sun finally sets. Yes, it's been setting for a month or something like that, but it's finally getting dark. Like legitimately dark. You know it's not bright outside when the street lamps actually start making a difference.

Northern Lights (proof I saw them, I got pics)

Although, now it's especially. I know that because the Northern lights finally started coming out again!!! YAY! Sadly though, Northern lights come at a price, it means Winter is coming, and with that, the Winter coats start getting brought out, and all of a sudden, heaters are getting switched on, and all you want to do is just curl up in your dyne (I believe in States it'd be called a duvet or something like that. Basically the most comfortable blanket/comforter/wonderfulness thing to sleep in). But yes, Northern lights came out, and that was so fun to see them again. I had started to miss them, and now they're back! :D

Elder Mickelson and Elder Broadbent

I flew down to Trondheim for splits this week. Soooooo much fun getting to go back. I hadn't been in Trondheim for almost a year, so it was pretty fun to go back and see it all again. I had a lot of fun, I was with Elder Broadbent, and we had a blast on splits! (Don't worry, I took some pictures of it. And yes, I'm in some of them haha).

Other than that, this was a pretty normal week, not too much out of the ordinary. Still finding people and meeting with others, so that's been pretty great!

My thought this week comes from the sunday school lesson we had yesterday. It was about the 2,000 stripling warriors. Long story short, they were a bunch of young men that took up arms to defend their families, land, freedoms, and beliefs against a bunch of unrighteous people which desired to kill them. In Alma 56:47-48, it says,

"47 ...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."

What really impressed me was their faith in God. But they had been taught from when they were born to follow God, to be a good, righteous people, and to stay close to God. But they're mothers helped them along the way to learn between right and wrong. These sons, they knew without a doubt that their mothers had such a strong faith in God. That it was more than a hope, or a whimsical wish, but a complete belief and a knowledge of the things of God.

When the button on your 

keyboard looks like it's crying

Their mothers were probably the greatest examples they had in their lives. They were directed to always do good because that it is what they were taught. So it made me think about the examples we have in our lives. We all have people that direct us to do good, that encourage us to be good people, and follow God. And that is something I'm grateful for, are those examples in my life. I think at the same time, even though we have examples to look up to, we also can be that example for others, and help them continue to become better people. We should all just try and support each other to always be doing good and kind things. I believe that would make more of a difference in our lives, and the lives around us than we normally think it would.

Well I hope all of you have a great week! Take care!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

Old part of Trondheim (way cool with the houses over that water and stuff)

Me, Elder Mickelson

More of the old part of Trondheim

Nidaros Cathedral in the background of the river casually floating through the city