This Week Was A Really Good One

Elders Decker, me, Nelson and Mitchell

April 24, 2017

Hello Everyone!

This week was really good one. I had found out last week that I'd be staying in Drammen for this last transfer. So I'm REALLY excited to be here for that! It's sure been enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to enjoying these next weeks here in such an incredible city!

From the top of the ski jump

Last Monday we went out to the Vikersund Ski Jump, and it was so cool!!! There were a couple families we went with, and it was just so awesome! So Vikersund is where the world record has been held for the last few years for the longest ski jump, and it just got broken there again in March. It's at 253.5 meters. ITS SO FAR!!!!! It was insane to climb up. I can't imagine trying to jump off of that myself. It'd be so intense. It was a lot of stairs to walk up too. 1,078 steps. Uphill. Luckily my legs didn't burn too bad because of it! It was a lot of fun and then we went and had lunch all together. Real enjoyable!

Me at the bottom of the ski jump

Elder Nelson and I

Elder Nelson and I at a giant fire pit thing

So our entire district stayed the same this transfer. Weird because normally someone moves. But we all stayed so it was a bit of a shock, but at the same time really exciting because there's an extra sister missionary here too. So now we have a bonus missionary!!! Woohoo!!!

We met with some new people this week. It was real great to meet them and hopefully we'll get to keep meeting with them in the coming weeks!

A view from the place where we rolled the giant rocks

We rolled giant boulders this week. Ok, by boulders, it takes like four or five guys to roll it across a yard. So take that as you will. But we went out and helped a member roll some giant stones he had behind his house across his lawn and over towards his deck for decoration. With a lot of yelling, sweat, and no blood, we managed to roll several over. And it sure looks good now! Plus I got a great picture from his house of the valley.

We had an INCREDIBLE stake conference this weekend. Elder Bennasar, an area seventy. He's from France, and is just awesome. One, getting to listen to the stake presidency here was awesome to begin with, but then you throw in another that is just as great. Wow. I don't really know what to say about it. Everyone just had wonderful talks about how to help us spiritually in life. And it just was centered around doing the basic things to build our testimonies. I just loved it. It was all really well put.

I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for being awesome!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

Woke up this morning and there was 4 inches of snow on the ground…

Spring Is Around The Corner

Elder Johnson and I

March 20, 2017

Wow! Hello Everyone!

With the passing of the season (winter leaving) and spring around the corner, it was about that time that moves happened! Well, more like just 6 weeks had passed, but oh well. With it having been a hectic week, we managed to have a busy week, but a really fun one at that.

Our deeply missed Elder Johnson left.... :'( but that's ok, we'll see him around. But, we did get someone just as great to replace him. Elder Decker!!! He's from Oregon, and he's a pretty cool cat.

We found out about the moves on Monday morning. So we decided as a district to all meet at the church and have waffles for breakfast to kick off moves week. So we showed up, had some delicious Norwegian waffles, with everything on top of it from brown cheese, to jam, to

whipped cream, to sour cream. Yes, sour cream gets put on waffles. And yes, it's surprisingly good haha!

Elder Johnson left a couple days later and Elder Decker flew in. But right before Elder Johnson had left, we met with one of the church members and got kebab all together. So it was a nice ending to the transfer.

Fufu. For those that don't know what fufu is, just go look it up on the internet (I didn't even know what it was until we had it for dinner one night). Fufu is this really good food that is like a food staple in Africa, where exactly, I couldn't tell you, but a lot of

countries make it. Anyways, we were at dinner with one of the sweetest families, and they had made fufu as a part of dinner. And boy was it delicious! If only I could just travel the world and eat food for a living, that'd be incredible. But ya, it was made from maize flour, and ya, I might just have to learn how to make it.

We had a street stand in the city center this weekend, and it was so much fun. We had given out hot dogs like last time, and we also talked a lot with people about the Plan of Salvation. It was really fun. We invited a ton of people to our Open House at our church building that was held yesterday. It was so great. Tons of members from the ward were there out inviting people to it, and it was a great time!

And now, for the long-awaited story. How does one simply lose a key? Well, I had the car key in my pocket. And I sat down on a bus seat. And when I got off, the key wasn't in my pocket. That'll make a person have a small panic attack. Not being able to get back on the bus because it was long gone, we came up with a plan. We figured out when the bus should be coming back in the opposite direction, and decided to hop onto it, as the driver if someone had returned the key, and go on our way. So we did. And the key didn't get returned to the driver... Nor was the key chilling on the seat that I had sat on.... That was awkward. So we were out of luck. Anyways, fast forward to the next day, we were in a meeting, and one of the church members walks in asking if anyone had lost a key. It was definitely our key. Apparently, someone had been on the bus at the same time with us, and

had noticed that the key had fallen out of my pocket, and just shown up to church to return it.

Long story short, I'm really grateful for so many wonderful people here in Norway that are looking out for others!

To start out this next week, I hope you all have a good one. Take care!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good" D&C 90:24

Scenery from a bus

More pretty scenery from a bus

Wow, 7-Weeks Have Come And Gone!

January 30, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Wow. 7 weeks have come and gone! The transfer is nearly over and it feels like I just moved here!

This week was pretty jam-packed. We had a crazy week with two different splits, a world-wide missionary broadcast with several changes to the standard missionary schedule, and we even had time for a waffle stand!

Last Tuesday, Elder Johnson and I were on splits together. Since we already are in the same apartment it was no problem. It was pretty great, we had visited some different people that day and went out talking to people. It was tons of fun. He really enjoyed it, especially because he hadn't been on splits before on his mission (he's been in Norway for only a few months).

There was a world-wide missionary broadcast this week too. Some adjustments had been made helping us be more effective. Changes were made allowing the previously more standard morning schedule to become flexible. For example, studies could be put wherever we wanted in the day to best fit daily/local needs. So it was made a lot more flexible, leaving it up to us to decide when to do everything. (Plus, we get an extra half hour to get ready for the day!)

I went on splits with Elder Applegate too this week. He's serving in Sandvika, and he came here to Drammen for a day. He's an awesome guy, it was great having him here for the day. He was also here for some of the Waffle Stand that we had put up.

We set up a giant tent, with some tables set up, and handed out free waffles all day! It was pretty great. We got to talk with a TON of people. I'd say it was quite a success. I had done one similar in Bodø, so it was quite fun to go for it Round #2.

So as for moves this week, I'll be getting Elder Nelson and saying bye to Elder Hoopes this week. AND! Elder Mitchell will be coming to Drammen too! I was with him in Fredrikstad so it's going to be a blast!

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

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

I was given a challenge by a little girl in the ward to write down every day a reason why I believe in God. So #1, I believe in God because I can feel His love for me.

Have a great week everyone!

This Has Been Such An Uplifting Week!

Another beautiful sunset

October 3, 2016

Hello Everyone!

"All of us are seeking to be converted" -Elder Robert D. Hailes

This has been such an uplifting week! Well, I guess that naturally happens when getting to listen to General Conference (a semi-annual worldwide church conference where several general authorities of the church speak on different subjects to help strengthen our relationship to our loving Heavenly Father). If you didn't get a chance to hear it or want to listen/watch it, it's on www.lds.org/general-conference Check it out! it was really great!

Elder Mickelson & Elder Stephens

In this last week, Elder Stephens moved away from Bodø. It was really sad to have him leave and say goodbye to everyone, but on the bright side, I was staying! Bodø is a great city, I love being here.

After Elder Stephens left, Elder Dawes flew in. Elder Dawes is fresh from the MTC, so it's been so much fun having him as a companion. He's from Springfield, UT and just graduated this last spring. He's a tall guy! He's like 6' 2", I'm pretty sure my tallest companion so far. There has been a couple close ones, but I'm pretty sure he's the tallest. He's a really fun guy that is really smart with Family History, so this is a great place for him! Especially considering that we have a family history center here. So that will be great. Hopefully I'll get a lot better at it now!

The new missionaries that just came
in and where they are going.
Elder Collett, Elder Briggs and Elder Dawes

General Conference was such a wonderful way to end this previous week. There were so many good talks! I can't just pick one to suggest for you all or one as my favorite.

In the Priesthood session of General Conference, Elder Holland gave some wonderful counsel when caring for others in need. He said that we need to love and listen until the sun rises in their lives.

I think that it an amazing principle. When we are trying to assist someone who is struggling or needs to be helped back up upon their feet, we need to love them and listen to them. Many times, that is what people need, someone that cares and will listen to them. And that is something that they will need in until the metaphorical suns of their lives rise again.

One last thought that I really liked from conference was something that Elder LeGrand R Curtis Jr. said. It was that faith is strengthened during adversity. During the bumps in the road of our lives, that is when we begin to see our faith become more concrete, strengthened, and grow greater than it would along the smooth sailing points along that same path. I just hope not ALL of the points of life are bumpy, but that those times of adversity can strengthen my faith. I do believe that in adversity, we really do become strengthened by the hand of the Lord.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks for all of you and what you do!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson

Elder Mickelson and Elder Tangen on splits.

Blood pancakes (really tasty by the way)

A view from a place outside of Bodø

Our group run on splits in Mo i Rana

Cool shoes picture

Another view of the fjord

Elder Stephens with a WW2 weapon

A little pond with ducks swimming around 
(maybe you can't see the ducks but they were there)

Rocky shoreline

Elder Dawes seeing the northern lights for the first time.

Such Is Life On A Mission; You Never Know Who Will Stay

A snail that slowly made its way across the sidewalk

May 23, 2016

Hello everyone!

Such is life on a mission. You never know who will stay, who will leave, or in what combination. Missions have a way of mixing things up... for 2 years... with no breaks haha. As we were listening to the moves call, finding out who was going where, assuming that Elder Tangen and I were staying together her in Sandvika for another transfer, we find out a big surprise! Elder Tangen is moving up to Mo i Rana, and I'll be staying here in Sandvika for another while! It's really sad to have Elder Tangen move, especially considering we've only been serving together for 6 weeks, but he's needed elsewhere. I will be getting Elder Rial, who was Elder Tangen's trainer, this week. So that's really exciting. I'm excited to get to know him and keep serving here in such an awesome ward! Elder Rial actually started his mission here so that's really cool to be here for when he comes back!

A clay tennis court in literally the 

middle of the woods

So this week we have been trying to start an initiative to meet with as many members as we can. It's been really fun to start visiting as many as we can. This ward is really cool. It's fun to keep getting to know them better!

I thought I would share something that we do every week which most of you don't know. So every week, a bunch of us from the ward get together and play soccer. It's so fun. I've been getting good over the last 3 months. And by getting good, I mean that I don't suck terribly! haha I guess that's what happens when you don't play soccer much in the US. I've now got at least another 6 weeks to get mad soccer skills!

This scripture is one that I really like. It comes from Alma 17:2-3.

Some people riding horses in the middle 

of the city (Always great to see 

when you come from a small town)

2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.

A common bread slicer in the grocery store. 

It gives a new meaning to the phrase 

"as great as sliced bread" considering you 

buy unsliced loaves at the store and put 

them in the bread machine to get it sliced.

I really liked these scriptures. I really liked how their bond as friends, as brethren in the Lord, had grown strong because of their service. Because they had served the Lord faithfully, and continued to trying to help others come to an understanding of Christ, and a knowledge of God's plan of happiness, they were strengthened. They grew because of their desire to bless others and their dedication to the work which they did.

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

Sincerely,

Eldste Mickelson

The dutch guy selling great cheese and stroopwaffles

Dutch stroopwaffles that I bought from the 

dutch guy selling cheese in the last picture

This Week Was Pretty Good...For The Most Part

April 11, 2016

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty good. For the most part, it was just a normal week. We did have splits with the Elders from Drammen. It was really fun. Elder Kemp went to Drammen for the day and I stayed here in Sandvika. Elder Broadbent (one of the Drammen elders) came and had splits with me. We really enjoyed it.

That evening while Elder Broadbent was here, we had gone to the church to help with the young men's activity. They were having a missionary night. So, we talked about what missions were like with the young men. We talked about what a normal day is like for us. Then it just turned into a question and answer session basically. It was really great. They were really interested and had a lot of random questions about getting ready for a mission and what it was like. It was really great!

Sandvika

I got an email asking about what we do for transportation here. In Norway, we walk a ton and use a lot of public transportation (busses, trains, metro, etc.). There's some areas which have cars (which are great to have). But here in our area, we mainly walk, use the bus system, and occasionally take the train. Norway for the most part has pretty good public transportation. It's fairly easy to get around with public transportation, it just requires timing everything really well and hoping nothing is coming late. Even then, sometimes it requires waiting a while for the next bus to come by. I've gotten pretty used to just taking a bus everywhere now!

I'm starting to come up onto my 10 month mark now out on my mission. Just a little over a week away from that! I guess at this point I'm pretty well into the swing of everything. I'm used to "mission life" and it's really great. Things are feeling fairly natural now. I'm no longer freaking out when someone talks to me in Norwegian! When it comes to Norwegian, now I'm no longer struggling to understand what people are saying to me, and I'm not struggling talking back. What's quite funny is that yesterday we were talking with a member in church from Sweden (he's really cool by the way) and we were having a conversation, him speaking Swedish to us, and we were speaking back in Norwegian, and there wasn't much of a problem at all! It helps that they are pretty similar languages, but still, it's pretty awesome in my opinion!

Glimpse of what Sandvika looks like.

This week is transfer week! I'll be staying here in Sandvika, but Elder Kemp is moving to Oslo. It'll be sad for him to go, but it's alright, I'll be seeing him a ton considering how close Sandvika is to Oslo. Transfers are every 6 weeks, so I figure I'll be here for at least for another 6 weeks, maybe 3 months, I don't know, I guess we'll find out!

Something that I've thought about a bit since General Conference was why we need to understand who we really are. It is necessary for us to not only know, but understand that we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. We are his literal spirit children. He is our father just as much as our fathers here on earth are our fathers. If we understand that, we get a glimpse of what our Heavenly Father sees us as. He sees us as His own children, because we are. If we imagine what a child means to their parent, that infinite love, then we can see what we mean to God. He wants the best for us, which is why He wants us to be able to return back to Him. Our worth to Him is beyond our comprehension. I believe that the worth of a soul cannot be measured with an amount of money or by any other way. Our value to God is priceless.

In Alma 39:16-19 it says,

"16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.

17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?"

Our souls are precious to God, because He cares about us, because He loves us, and because He wants us to be able to return to Him. I believe the worth of a soul is as great as and is even greater than what a child means to their parents. Infinite. Children are the pride and joy of their parents. There is no greater joy that people can have than that of their family. We are God's pride and joy. He loves us, and it makes Him happier than we can understand when He sees us becoming more Christ-like and working our way back to his presence.

I hope that we all can have a great week and ponder how much we mean to God. Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Elder Mickelson