Week 60

Heisann, 

Hope everyone is doing good. Surprisingly had actually a very eventful and good week which was good. Definitely my best week in a like 6 or 7 weeks.

Tuesday and Wednesday were my last 2 days with my companion that I struggled quite a bit with. We weren't even together for an entire transfer because this last transfer was a bit shorter, and we switched for a week, but it still felt like quite a while lol. He's a great and energetic guy, but I'm glad to have a bit of a fresh start in this area. For his last days in the area, he just wanted to visit our few amount of members here (we don't really have any friends for him to say goodbye to lol). So on Tuesday we were out at house of one of our members all the way until like 5, eating with him, and also doing a bunch of service for him, and then headed straight from his house to the house of some of our only other members here and had dinner with them. And then the following night we were at the actual only other members house lol. But we don't get much member interaction in this area so it was a good few days. 

Wednesday we picked up my new companion, and then the next morning at 5 am we dropped off my old companion at the airport. We went back to our apartment and slept for a little longer, and then woke up and immediately drove 5 hours to a city called Sogndal that is southeast of us. Our area is huge, so that is technically considered our area. But the reason we went down there is because one of our friends that we are currently teaching over the phone lives there. And, we also went to go and visit a guy that was baptized when I was in my first area, who I would consider a very closer friend now. He has been living in that city for 2 months doing school there. He has been doing school there and has been struggling a lot. It was so good to see him; it's been like 8 months. It was also really good to meet our friend Rebecca in person after calling her so many times. She was so nice as always, and even made us some Rwandan food which was very good. The lesson with her was a bit frustrating but it was good to be with her. We also visited the only other member that lives in that city after we were done at Rebecca's, and she gave us dessert. It was great to talk to her as well. Overall it ended up being probably one of the best days of my mission honestly. 

On Saturday we also had one of my favorite days in a while. Or at least one of my favorite interactions since I have been in this area. I mentioned in my last email that I met 2 African parents of 2 seperate families at the bus station. Well on Saturday we were able to go and visit one of them. They were about a 50 minute drive from where we are at and live in a quite remote area. But it was just such an awesome visit. Right when we pulled up in their driveway, the dad literally ran out the house and said "Welcome my brothers Welcome!" and ran and shook our hands. His 4 year old daughter also instantly ran up to me and shook my hand. I've gotten so used to Norwegian hospitality, especially by Norwegians that don't want to see us, that it was so refreshing and kind. He has 4 kids (6, 4, 2, 4 months), and they are some of the cutest kids I've ever seen. Especially his 2 year old son was super super funny. His wife spoke basically no English or Norwegian, but was also very kind to us. We just sat and talked with them for a while about being in Norway, and then about the Church of course. His wife comes from a very Christian background, and he comes from much less of one. So he really liked everything we said but I'm not sure understood the magnitude. But he was translating to his wife and she was asking questions through him to us, and was smiling at all of our answers. He said he literally would've came to church the next day, but he doesn't have a drivers license and the bussses don't run much on Sundays. He asked us to pray for him to get his drivers license. If all of you could please pray for Rashid to get his driver's license😁!

Today we went to the other of the 2 African families we met at the bus station. There was a language barrier which made it difficult to teach much of anything (even though she kept insisting she could understand us...). But they were also incredibly nice. They have 7 kids, and 4 of them were there and were all also very nice and friendly. I'm not sure if they'll be quite as open as Rashid and his family because they already go to a 7th day adventist church here, but I hope we can actually at least share the message and have them understand it next time. Nonethless though, both families are easily my favorite people I've met here in this city. 

One thing I have been pondering a lot lately is how I can better show love to those I interact with, especially those that don't want to hear our message or people of other faiths and backgrounds. I've felt more and more that that's the way that missionary work should be done, but at the same time have doubted myself because I am of course here to share the gospel. I went into general conference with this question in mind, and I feel like--for the most part--the message was repeatedly that we need to increase in love for those around us and find opportunities to show love. Of course we share the gospel anytime we have the opportunity to, but I personally feel that showing love to those around us helps them know Christ more than anything else. I really liked an experience that Elder Casillas shared during conference which expands further upon what I am trying to say, "On this occasion we did not give a big sermon or share our favorite scripture, but the Lord blessed us with His Spirit abundantly...There will always be someone you can help feel the love of your Heavenly Father." I really love his emphasis that sometimes a spiritual message isn't what someone is most in need of; being there for each other and showing genuine love is often what is most needed and most important. 

"Compassion over indifference"

-Loyle Carner