"A Few Of Our Favorite Things" in Norway - People & Friends

The people we love

Members are so kind to invite us over for dinner - This is Sister Björghild Andersen.  She is such a lovely lady and very artistic.

A few photos of her beautiful home, pictures don't do it justice

Bjørg Lohne "Bestemor"  We had the blessing of visiting with Sister Lohne at the care center where she was staying.  Everyone calls hee Bestemor (Grandmother) since she was grandmother to all the members growing up in the Kristiansand ward. One of the longest members of the ward in Kristiansand.  She had difficulty hearing but an infectious smile and a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the Atonement.  Sad to say she passed away one week after we were able to visit with her.  We are glad we went when we did to visit.   She gave us a copy of a poem she wrote 30 years ago  that she said came to her in a dream from our Father in Heaven.  It is beautiful.  We have it shared in our journals.

Dinner with Lund family & missionaries.  Sister Lund is the primary president in the ward and loves the children.  Brother Lund is a translator for the church in Norway.  He does most of the translation of the General Conference talks into Norwegian before Conference so the translators at conference can keep up.  He also does all the messages in the Liahona (Ensign, New Era & Children's Friend Magazine (all in one here)).  He was recently put in as Sunday School President in the Ward.  Its a small ward so that means he also teaches Gospel Doctrine each week.

Dinner with the Sister Missionaries at Michelle's . (a young single mother from Brazil)

Micheline "Michelle" Oliveira & her 10 yr old son

Old Spinning wheel at the Williamson home.  She owns a yarn shop in town and is helping Sue Ann learn to knit.  She and Turid Rønning  have been so nice to just give Sue Ann lots of yarn so she is trying to keep herself busy making lots of items for missionaries and us.

Dinner at Torjesen family home.  This one captures just a glimpse of Rolf (Institute instructor) and his children Benjamin (going to school in Scotland) and Sara (Going to School in Poland) along with Sister Belus, Eldste Arnesen & Seif (l-r)

Elder Nelson, Sister Geddes & us

Evening at YSA Center with some of the youth (l-r) - Even, Sarah, Sister Belus, Atle, Tone, Elder Nelson, Sister Geddes, Elder Arnesen & Seif.  

YSA trip to Trolltunge end of August just before some of them left for shcool.

another view from top of Trolltunge (The Troll's Tongue) - it's a beautiful hike that we hope to make someday but it's out of our area (closer to Bergen) so we didn't get to go but they were nice to share some pictures with us.

Dinner with Seif, Even & our new friends - the Nelson's.  They were the Senior Missionary couple in Kristiansand for 18 months, 3 years ago and came back for a visit.

part of YSA adult group at Institute dinner.  Tor-Sander who is a non member who has been coming and he has even volunteered to cook dinners for the group.  

a few more - Camilla with Sister Belus - Camilla is a returned missionary from Kristiansand.

Transfer Breakfast at our apartment.  We also celebrated Sister Geddes birthday, this was just before she left to go home.   Elder Brooks is the one on the right - he was working with Elders Nelson & Arnesen as a trio since his companion had to leave for home early with health problems

Another dinner evening with friends.  Sister Peterson is the one at the back end of the table.  She just recently arrived back in the field.  She served for 9 months and then had to return home with a torn meniscus but is now able to return and finish he last 9 months here.

The Book of Mormon musical is in Oslo currently but coming to Kristiansand next spring.  The Sister missionaries are posing by the sign at the local theatre promoting it.  The missionaries in Oslo have been giving out hundreds of Books of Mormon to theater goers every night after the show.  What was meant to poke fun at the missionaries and the church is being seen as a great opportunity to share the Gospel and let people who are being introduced to the Book Mormon via the play obtain a copy to read.  Like they say "the book is better than the movie".  We look forward to having a similar experience here in Kristiansand when it comes.

A double trio (a rarity for Norway and maybe most missions) . Sisters Geddes, Sister Belus & Sister Peterson.  (Sister Peterson arrived 3 days before Sister Geddes left for home.  Elders Nelson, Arenesen & Brooks.

Sister missionaries the morning we took Sister Geddes to the airport to head for Oslo and then home.

Michael Madsen.  He was a missionary i taught in the LTM at Ricks.  He, his wife and grandaughter who is attending school in Oslo were touring through some cities where he served on his mission a few weeks ago.  His grand - daughter saw the YSA sign and they poked their heads in to see what was happening.  Fun reunion to see each other again after 45 years.

Companions - parting is such sweet sorrow.