Kjære Døker  (Døker is dialect for dere btw)​,

The trio life this week was so great! We were busy all the time and that is the way I like it. :) We went on splits a couple of times: one time with me and Søster Neilson teaching Norsk lessons with a member from the ward, and another time contacting... It was Søster Neilson's first time contacting! So she and Søster Robbins went on one side of the street, and I contacted by myself on the other side of the street. (sight and sound rule at it's finest!) Some fun things from this week:

-Visiting bestemor (Grandmother) in the hospital with the elders

- Visiting our new convert Ingibrigt and scarfing down this nasty cake thing called blodkaker (It tastes like nothing. and the worst part is the enormous amount of whipped cream on the top that doesn't include any sugar in it...) and chugging hot chocolate then sharing a quick quick message because we had to run out of there to catch a bus for our appointments. 

- having a man from Zimbabwe tell us ,"before, I didn't really know that white  people believed in Jesus, so it's really nice to see you out here.". He said he would meet with us again, but he didn't take our Book of Mormon.

-teaching an investigator from the other søstres area. He has dreadlocks and has to wear sunglasses inside because of brain damage from some bad choices with drugs in the past.

-Going to an African couple's home to teach about the restoration.... she was making traditional euritrain coffee on the floor next to us.... it was interesting.

- Going to another baptism! Hooshyar is one of the elder's investigators that was baptized on Saturday. Afterwards, his friend Enoch made us all Indian food

-Learned some french from Charles and Joseph: Joyeux Noèl means merry Christmas! 

-Going banking (pronounced bonking) and catching a bunny that had gotten out in the person's front yard

-Learning how to KNIT! That night was skikkelig Norsk (completely Norwegian) and I loved it! We had dinner at the home of a less active young adult. Her parents are not members, but they are so good! After being there, I just wanted to be Norwegian! Also her Dad looked at me and thought I was Norsk, so... there you go! He told me about how Leif Erikson's wife had read hair and she was really good with a sword. random.

Ahh! There were just so many things that happened! and then we had moves call on Sunday.... where everyone finds out who is moving. This is the news. My companion Søster Robbins is moving to Oslo and my new companion is Søster Hoggard from the MTC! I LOVE this girl! It is the strangest situation though, because now we will be training each other... I am going to be required to rely more on the Lord than I ever have in my entire life. 

And that is a blessing. This week it hit me that the Lord wants all of us. He doesn't want half our heart or a little bit of our attentions, just a few of our thoughts, and only a handful of our actions. The Lord wants us to give him EVERYTHING. We are to love Him with ALL our heart might mind  and strength. and here is the thing. This is what he wants and commands of us, so that we may be able to receive all the many blessings he has in store for us. But his love is not limited to our fulfillment of this the first great commandment. He loves us at every stage of our growth.

I was reading in Mark the week, and the story of the rich man hit me hard. Mark tells of a man who was running to get to Christ. running. that means that this guy has got drive! okay then this guy falls on his knees at the feet of the Savior and praises him. He then asks what he needs to do to have eternal life. Christ explains that he needs to be obedient. the scriptures say: "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,take up the cross, and follow me."

 I was touched by the phrase "And Jesus beholding him loved him." Jesus had so much love towards this man who had kept his commandments. And then he explains how this man can further progress, and that is to give everything he has to follow Christ. That is what He asks of each of us, and he does not apologize for it. We as missionaries invite people to completely change their lives for Christ, and we do it boldly because we are confident that the Lord has much greater things in store for them. We are able to do so boldly because of love. Because of Christ's love and the Father's love and mercy in the gift of his son.

I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. May we always remember him, and strengthen our resolve to be like Him. This is what unites us. This is what strengthens our personal relationships with God. This is why I am serving a mission. 

I love you all and am so thankful for you- perhaps even just a little more thankful this week than other weeks because it is Thanksgiving. :) I love you more that all the frost here in Norge... which is a heck of a lot! 

Med Kjærlighet (With love),

Søster Stephanie Joy Williams