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

As Of Now The Sun Won't Come Up Anymore

Elder Mickelson and Elder Jefferies in the Trondheim church building

November 23, 2015

Dear Family & Friends,

So mørketid has officially begun! As of now, the sun won't come up anymore in Alta until end of January. It's actually a really cool sight, well lack of sight I guess, to not be seeing the sun. Because Alta is settled in a fjord and mountains surround it, I haven't actually seen the sun in the last week and a half haha! It's really cool though. Whenever we have some.... light?....., it comes out as a sunrise/sunset which is really beautiful. I love it up here. It's unique, which makes it so great.

The Nord Zone!

This week we went to Trondheim for a Zone Conference. President and Sister Hill were there, along with the entire zone of course. We talked about using our family history as a teaching tool. It was great to learn about how we need to keep changing things up as missionaries. Our work and goal doesn't really change, but the way we go about it can. We also talked about unity as a mission. We need to be united with our companions and also as a mission. We have such a great mission. We try to always be making friendships, and I'm seeing how it just continues to bring us closer together.

Also, while I was in Trondheim, I got an amazing kebab. So the kebab shop is called Golden Kebab. I neglected to take a picture... sorry about that, but just wanted to let everyone know it tastes amazing. It's a kebab... with fries inside of it... Delicious! haha

This week we started visiting less active members of our branch. We started getting a list together of all of the members and we've made it a goal to go visit all of them. It is just so nice to start seeing members who haven't been to church in a long time and try to help them come back.

On the way to Trondheim I had a really nice conversation with the man next to me. We talked about different things and religion got brought up, naturally, most people my age don't come to Norway for no reason, especially if they aren't students here. At one point he just asked, in Norwegian of course, 'So what is your message that you go around sharing with others?'. Normally most people aren't just super open to hearing what we have to say. But for him, he was super open to learning about our faith. He was open to hearing everything I had to say, and for me, it was just so great just to be able to say what I wanted to, and not worry that he'd just start arguing. It was a really nice conversation we had.

So this week I'd have to say that I learned more about what I've learned in the past. We can have opportunities to share our beliefs with anyone. A person's faith can come up anytime, anywhere. It's a matter of whether or not we choose to shrug off the opportunity to share what we know, or whether we be open with our beliefs. We don't always have to go out of our way to share the Gospel, many times, those chances come in regular conversations.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone! Take care!

-Elder Mickelson

I Went To Hell And Back Again!

September 28, 2015

Dear Family & Friends,

This was a REALLY awesome week. We went to Trondheim this week for Zone Conference. Right outside of the airport going into Trondheim is this little town called Hell. It's pretty hilarious in my opinion lol.

Zone Conference went great. We talked about working with the members. And we talked about how we can best work them. It takes work on both sides, members and missionaries, to hasten the work of the Lord.

I got to see some of the Elders from my MTC group and it was was fun to catch up with them and visit. They are so awesome.

On our way back to Alta we stopped in Tromsø for the afternoon for splits. We were with Elder Gingrich and Killpack. Tromsø is a really fun little city. We met some people on the streets. One we had a pretty cool conversation about how we can better our lives.

This week has been super fun but flew by with the conference and splits. So this week will be a blast!

Love,

Elder Mickelson