Some random paragraphs from my head.

Dear Family...I hope you like random thoughts!

January 17, 2012

I'm practicing my Norwegian vowels every morning. I have a recorder that plays over and over again... A E I O U Y Æ Ø Å. I feel just like Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. I can hear Professor Higgins every time I get it wrong...which is often. After 8 months here the /Ɯ:/ and the /Ʉ:/ are still almost impossible. By the end of the Norwegian hour my jaw and my lips are tired. Then I walk out to the Bybane, sit down to a random stranger, tell them about the Book of Mormon, and if they are not interested we practice vowels together. I've gotten a lot of people to laugh. 

January 18, 2012

First, Happy Birthday Michelle! I've missed you mucho this week! I hope you have a good birthday. I'll think of you all day!

P.S. Marilee wrote me and told me about your hot, new car. Can you please pick me up from the airport? 

January 19, 2012 

Today Sister B and I saw the sun. We had to stop what we were doing and just turn to face it for a few minutes. I couldn't feel the warmth on my face yet, but I did see the whole sun. I haven't seen the whole sun since Sister S was here. That makes 2 times. I have seen the sun two times since I've been in Bergen. Kinda sad that I distinctly remember the times that I have seen the sun. We didn't worry about getting blind, we just look at the beautiul sun. We look right at the sun, and we were glad. 

January 21, 2012

I am witnessing a miracle in Bergen. P is nothing short of an absolute miracle. He doesn't like being such a miracle...but he can't even help it. 

Part of me wants to write it all down...but it would take time and work for the words to do the story justice, and still it would be hard to get it right. I write quick thoughts in my journal, but I can't give those parts away either, because without the whole story the wonder isn't there. The best way for me to explain it is with only a few words. He is a miracle. 

(I guess that is what happens when I'm an English major and think far too much about words.)

January 22, 2012 

Norway is the most Beautiful place in the whole world. When it is covered in snow it is splendid. We got out of the city to take P to get to know more members, and I'm not sure but I think they lived up in Heaven.  I cannot live in the city when I settle. I'm my father's daughter, total country girl. 

Also... I got some letters this past week from some very special people who I haven't heard much from. These letters made my week...maybe month. Thank you. I hope to write back as soon as I can! 

I love you all very much!

Kate

Happy New Year

Yay! New Year's Day in Norway is the best! I had a real good Christmas and an even better New Year. There have been so many good things happening in Bergen. We are lighting this place on fire. 

A is every missionaries dream. He reads and prays, so he has a testimony whether he likes it or not. It is so cool to hear him talk about his own conversion story. It is my favorite one so far. He didn't even want it to be true, but as he read he just couldn't deny it, and it felt so good. The other day we went home with him to meet his family (which was incredible), and I explained to him that when he get the gift of the Holy Ghost this Sunday he will have that feeling all the time. His response what that he just can't wait. He is also preparing to get the priesthood the week after his baptism. His obedience and his dedication is something to be admired. I feel so lucky to be able to be one of the missionaries to teach him. Saturday will be a real good day in Norway. 

We also had a real good experience last week. For one reason or another we ended up in a place that we never really go. One of the random Bybane stops...Sletten...for those of you reading who know. It was, as usual, pouring rain. I was feeling a little goofey, the best for contacting, and I started making jokes about the rain and water proof shoes to the random stranger. I don't even remember what it was, but I thought I was a lot funnier than I most likely really was. Anyway, he seemed open enough so I sat down and asked him the big question...''Do you believe in God?'' He wasn't really sure, but he did admit that just before we came he had been thinking about God and prayer. Then I sat down and taught him about God and prayer. He said everytime he feels low and thinks of God he meets a Mormon missionary, but he never comes to hear our whole message. I was over that. I told him we were going to stay right here in the pouring rain at the bus stop and he was going to hear what we had to say. So we taught him about God and the restoration and the glorious Book of Mormon. Anyway, to make a long story short he has met with us everyday since then. He came to church, but got scared and didn't make it all the way in. I simply called him and told him he had to come back. He was glad that he did. You can tell the blessings of the gospel are coming into his life, and he really needs them so it is really nice to see. Everyday he gets a little more light. His name is P and he is a miracle. 

I'm getting real good at seeing miracles. I'm getting real good at having faith. I'm getting better and better at being an instrument.

Oh yeah, and then there was New Years. We had a party at the church and we stayed out until midnight. We played pictionary and had a treasure hunt and sang sing star or something. A was there with a friend for part of the night and P also came. At midnight we went outside to see all the fireworks, and let me tell you what, Norway knows how to do Fireworks. They were all over the sky. We light sparklers and toasted to the New Year. It was even better because I knew it was half way through the dark months. I'm almost there. 

It was real nice to call home. I think it was just what I needed. I don't feel homesick anymore, I just feel happy. 

Love You Mucho Grande.