April 24 - Sandvika

Hey everyone!

Thanks for your love and support. I arrived in Sandvika wednesday morning by train. So far so good! my companion is a stud and the area has some good things happening with potential. I have a feeling that it will be a great transfer.

On Tuesday, For my last day in Romerike we taught -- again!  We felt like we should make some changes in our plan the day of and instead review some plan of Salvation with her. It was way good! Our member bore powerful testimony and I think it really got her thinking. I hope and pray that she follows through and keeps her commitments.

On Wednesday, I arrived here in Sandvika. We met with one of our Investigators named --. He is a little older going to school, trying to figure things out it his life. He has a big exam next week and so when we offered if there was anything we could to do help him, he asked if we could help him study a little. He is learning from a chemistry book. We studied a little with him and then had a lesson. In the evening we had a ward activity. It was about becoming self reliant. The bishopric hosted it and we had different stations that we went to. One was about Financing, another was nutrition, another was exercise,  another was emergency preparation, and other was an eating station where a member made a simple but delicious soup! It was fun to meet some of the members. They were happy that I played the piano and made use of that. But probably the coolest thing that happen was meeting a member who served in Temple square when Grandpa and Grandma Witt were serving in Temple Square. She saw my name tag and immediately asked if my grandpa was a mission president there. She then showed me a facebook group that she is a part of and it had several older pictures with my grandparents there. It was a confirmation for me that I'm where I'm suppose to be. It was touching to  see the love she has for Grandpa and Grandma Witt.

On thursday we had district meeting. It is a small district. It is just us and the sisters in Asker. We also did some contacting in the city and met a new convert in the evening and knocked some doors in his area.

On Friday, we did weekly planning. We are going to go through the area book and organize it and make it look neater. One thing that the ward mission leader in Romerike taught was "the mushroom effect." That often many people who are prepared are in the neighborhood of those we are working with. Comparable to how mushrooms usually grown in groups, that if you find one mushroom there are usually others nearby. We are hoping to identify some people to try as we go forward.

On Saturday we had sport. In several wards, members gather on saturday to play soccer and in Sandvika they do that. It will be a good way to get to know the youth better. There is someone that Elder Briggs and his previous companion invited randomly on the street and he comes too. Also on Saturday, we tried a former investigator in the evening. He wasn't home but a man who lived on the same street let us in! It was pretty funny because after we shared why were out and about he just said, come on in! He told us that he isn't looking to change but likes discussing things. He took our plan of salvation pamphlet and said eh would read. He was a nice guy.

On Sunday we had Stake conference. It made it a little tricky to meet the members of sandvika. The conference was held in Romerike haha so it was fun to be back in the building again. They didn't broadcast it so all the members in the oslo stake gathered in Romerike. It was packed! It was fun to see some members from Fredrikstad and also the members in Romerike again. We met with -- again. He is a funny guy. I really feel like he has a lot of potential. We will see how things go. In the evening the Robinsons invited us over for dinner. They are the senior missionary couple who work in the office. Wonderful people. They are friends of President and Sister Hill.

My thought for the week comes from stake conference and also a talk from President Ucthdorf "O How Great the Plan of Our God!". President Uchtdorf says, "It seems to be human nature: as we become more familiar with something, even something miraculous and awe-inspiring, we lose our sense of awe and treat it as commonplace". He then poses the question "Do we take Spiritual Truths for granted?"  A big theme in the stake conference in Oslo was about the blessing of the Restoration of the FULLNESS of the gospel. It was a restoration of light and truth. And with this increased light and truth, we have greater opportunities in this life. As I thought about how we can combat taking these spiritual truths for granted another quote from a conference talk in April 2016 came to mind. It is a talk that I have listen and read a long with a bunch for language study. The talk is by Elder Snow. He says, "Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of the Church, said: “How does one get humble? To me, one must constantly be reminded of his dependence. On whom dependent? On the Lord. How remind one’s self? By real, constant, worshipful, grateful prayer"

Have a great week! I love ya!

Elder Witt

April 17 - Sandvika

Happy Easter everyone! 

Thanks for your continual love and support! I'm so grateful for this easter season and for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. It is an experience I will always be grateful for. We found out about transfers this morning and I will be moving to Sandvika. It is on the western side of Oslo, so a 30 minute train ride from lillestrøm. So not a long move. My companion will be Elder Briggs. I think he got to the land last fall or summer so he hasn't been out too long but he is a stud and a great guy and I'm looking forward to serving with him. Sandvika is where the mission home is and where the senior office couple live. There is a ward in Sandvika. I'm excited :)

It was a good last week in Romerike. On Pday, after we finished emailing we met with a former investigator from the Area Book. It went pretty good and they will be meeting with him again soon. Also, monday evening we visited an older lady in the ward who asked us if we could do some service and have dinner. That was fun.

Tuesday was a solid day. We had a lesson with --. Our ward mission leader came along. We watched President Monson's last talk on the book of mormon with her. She had really good questions. She is still solid and positve to our message and finding out if it is true. I think it will just take some time to get there.  From what I've experienced it is helpful to have members on teaches. If you are looking to be more involved I would suggest getting to know the missionaries in where you live and offer your time! 

Another highlight of the week was definitely easter sunday and church. We had 3 visitors who weren't members in our gospel principles class. And they all participated with questions. It was a way good experience. Another thing that was good is that Elder Richardson and I have decided to start attending Youngmens class. We want to focus on the youth and YSA and get to know them more and be more invovled. It felt right and good to be there. 

I also had a neat and special experience in Sacrament meeting. We had our district meeting this week on loving the people and charity. I was sitting in the back in sacrament meeting so I looked around at each member present. I looked at them and thought about them and I saw a group of faithful saints who love god and follow him. I thought of the scripture in D&C 84: 20 "Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest." That scripture has always stood out to me. It teaches us the importance of ordinances and convenants that invite power into our lives. It teaches us about the priesthood and priesthood authority. And this sunday it took on a new meaning for me during the ordinance of the sacrament. As I looked around the congregation as the sacrament was passed out, I saw power. The power of faith, the power of healing covenants and renewing covenants. I felt the power of God manifest in the lives of everyday people doing their best and worshiping our lord on his holy day. In a growing secular society, the common person wouldn't be at church on sunday, but our faith makes us do things we wouldn't do otherwise. And our faith in Christ and his atoning sacrafice gives us power. 

Love you all! Have a good week!

Elder Witt 

April 10 - Romerike

Hey everyone!

Thanks for your love and support! We woke up this morning to blue skies and sunshine. It had rained last night and so the air is fresh and the plants are growing and becoming more green. I love this time of year. 

It was a good week! I don't have too much news about investigators here in Romerike. We are just really struggling to find people to teach but we won't give up. We did have a cool experience while we were out though. There is a budhist man that we met in the city a couple weeks ago. We have occasionally seen him since then. He is really friendly and a good guy. one day we decided to try back this house and along the way in the neighborhood here comes this man so we stoped and talked to him for a bit. He told us that he talked to his girlfriend one day said that he met us in the city and then she went to the bookshelf and pulled out a book of mormon. He told us that he started reading a little. He also has told us that he likes learning about other religions and would come to church sometime. 

 

We had zone conference on Thursday in Oslo. It was AWESOME! Such a positive experience, and I'm so grateful I was able to be a part of it. In one of my earliest MTC devotionals, a speaker said something that kind of became a central idea for our presentation. He said, "Our attitude/feeling about church will affect how well we can create an environment where the Holy ghost will bear witness to the investigator the importance of Church attendance." So our hope and goal with the presentation was to help all of us leave with greater feelings and appreciation for church. Church is our "game day" as missionaries. We've got a lot of things happening, and a lot of things to think about. Investigators, unexpected talks or lessons, talking and building relationships with members. Whether it is game day for sports, or a perfomance day for something musical. . Those times can be stressful and but they also have the potential to be a highlight and boost, and good experience. So in the presentation, we reviewed the reasons we go to church and focused on the sacrament, using most of our ideas and discussion around the talk by sister esplin, "The sacrament- a renewal for the soul" I love the term renewal. WE all need to be renewed, we all need that refreshing and reboost to start the week. The sabbath day has the potential to be a day that revigorizes us if we so choose to let it do that. and at the very core is our attendance in sacrament meeting, worshiping God.  President Hill and Sister Hill also gave a presentation, and talked about working with youth and Young adults and shared some training they received. It was great. 

After that, the next highlight of the week was going on splits in Hamar. I was with Elder Hall. We are in the same MTC group and we've been in the same district for 8 transfers of our missions so for over a year haha. so we have been able to go on splits several times. We have a good laugh about that. In hamar, we had a solid day finding and got several potentials and had a lesson with an investigator up there who is working towards baptism.  It is exciting to see that progress. 

Moves is next week so I will find out what happens next monday. We also have a meeting with -- on tuesday.

Happy easter everyone. I hope you have a great week. I am grateful for our savior, Jesus Christ. I know he lived, suffered, died, and rose from the grave to fulfill the great plan of His father in heaven. He is the prince of peace. let us remember him this week and share his love!

Elder Witt

April 3 - Romerike

Hey everyone!

Thanks for your continual encouragement, prayers, and support! I can't believe it is already another monday. Last week went by so fast. It was a great week.

So on monday night we got a call from a member that 60+ students would be coming to the church building on wednesday for school. She had just barely found out and so she asked for help to give a presentation/tours to the students. I was way pumped about it. In Romerike, I've had several opportunities to give presentations to schools and it is just a great way to share the gospel to the youth in Norway. So after district meeting on tuesday we met with the sisters and this member to go over the presentation. After that we visited a recent convert and studied with her. We've been going through bible stories and this time we read the experience of the savior in the Garden of gethsemane in preparation for easter. She is doing awesome and continues to inspire me with her faithfulness and love for the gospel. She is preparing to go to the temple in the summer when she hits her year mark as a member.

On Wednesday morning, we had the presentation and it went well. There were several youth afterwards asking questions that took pamphlets. Also on wednesday, we were referred to a friend of a member who needed help moving so we did some service, and then had our meeting with the ward mission leader in the evening. 

On Thursday, we did some planning for zone conference this coming week. It is next thursday. It is on revelation through church attendance. We're going to focus on the sacrament and practice teaching the importance of church attendance and planning to help investigators attend. We also stopped by -- and -- to invite them to conference. Unfortunately they were going to be gone over the weekend. Good news is that -- has finished 2nd nephi and Jacob, and is still continuing to read. Bad news is that he said he would call us when he has time and feels ready to meet so they are on pause now :( 

On Friday, we were on splits with the Fredrikstad elders. I was with Elder Hadley. He was one of my comps in arendal. Friday was the first day of the easter initiative. It was good to go out with the pass along cards and share the video. We also visited Trude and had a lesson with her. It had been several weeks since we had met with her and she hasn't read and didn't come to conference. A little disappointing but we'll keep going. 

On Saturday, we wanted to focus on finding so we tried a former and knocked doors in the neighborhood and then went to the church to watch conference and to plan more for zone conference.

On Sunday, we watched the priesthood session at 11, then saturday afternoon session at 2 , and then sunday morning at 6 pm. A member brought a work colleage to conference on saturday. It was awesome! 

My thought for the week is revolved around President Monson's words on the book of mormon. I believe that president monson is the Lord's Prophet. There was a special spirit as he stood at the pulpit and spoke. Last transfer I went on splits with a missionary who inspired me to set a goal to read the book of mormon in a transfer. Reading it at such a fast pace has taught me that the book really is another testament of christ. I've noticed over and over a pattern in the Prophet's testimonies. And that is their testimony of the savior. Nephi, Jacob, Alma, Moroni, and the other prophets in the book are real. They really did engrave their words into ancient records. They took the time to write what they feel is most important.  They wrote that their children would know who to turn to for peace, and joy in this life and eternal life in the world to come. They wrote that we would know, that Christ is the ONLY way to salvation. and what a glorious message to know and have in our life. 

Have a good week!!

Love you all!!!!

Elder Witt

March 27 - Romerike

Hey everyone!

Thanks for your love and support! The sun is out, the weather is beautiful and I'm grateful and happy to be here in Norway. It was a good week. We had some setbacks with investigators, and were still trying to find some people to teach but it was neverthless a good week and some really cool stuff happened!

-- sent us a text, canceling our appointment, because a lot of stuff came up in his work and he is super busy and can't meet for the time being. Then -- had her parents visiting on vacation and couldn't meet. And we tried a couple times to contact that other young family but they were never home. We got a couple new appointments this week that I'll let you know how those go. 

Here are some cool experiences that happened this week.

1) A woman that Elder Richardson and I contacted this last week or a week ago randomly came to church! She was an exchange student in Utah and lived with a mormon family. She isn't religious but loved staying with this family in Utah.  I didn't notice her but the sisters talked to her and invited her to Sunday school and stuff but she was hesitant. She just wanted to sit in the chapel and think. A young mom in the ward saw her and went and sat by her and talked to her. This young woman explained how she had met us on the street and wanted to come see if it felt the same in Norway as it did in Utah, which she answered saying it did. She then asked this mom how it was growing up in the church in Norway and how it is being a member. She got to bare her testimony and it was a special experience for them both. The mom had to go to Primary but told this young woman that she was always welcome back. So that was way cool. The gospel is true! Hope to see her again. 

2) We had splits with the APs this week. I was in Oslo but Elder Richardson and Bleggi had a cool experience. They were knocking doors here in Lillestrøm and met an atheist. He was a former Jehovas witness and had experience knocking doors so we was nice and listened to what they had to say. This man was way impressed with how they acted and was also impressed that they weren't just out to convince him of the truth and press him or force him to accept the message. He noticed all they wanted to do was share their message. So he told them he would take the mormon.org card, take a picture of it and post on Facebook, about his positive experience. A few days later we got a call from the missionaries in Moss, saying that a member in Moss saw the post that this random guy in lillestrøm put on Facebook and how it got a bunch of likes and comments from other people saying good things about mormons and missionaries. 

On Tuesday, we our meeting in Oslo and it was way good. I always love being with the other missionaries and also hearing from President and Sister Hill. We talked about several different things. We went through some training that President received from the executive missionary commitee on working with Youth and YSA. In the training there was a panel of YSA who are recent converts and two that were featured were from Norway! One from Bergen that was baptized 5 years ago and living in utah, and another who is living in the states who was baptized like 5 weeks ago. Awesome to see Norway represented! We also talked about the upcoming video, The Prince of Peace that the church will post on March 31. Watch it and share it! 

It was way fun to be on splits in Oslo. i like the big city with a LOT of people. There is always someone to talk to. Elder Mitchell and I grilled burgers for lunch. The APs have a grill on their balcony. we made bacon, blue cheese burgers. Heavenly.

I have a testimony of this gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer. He is the prince of peace. I'm excited for general conference and that we have the opportunity to hear from the leaders of the church. I add my testimony to theirs. The church has been restored. Like that facebook post from the random guy. You never know the positive effect you can have. A small positive post of a testimony or experience can change the life of another. 

Have a rockin week!

Elder Witt

March 20 - Romerike

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for your love and support! 

It was a great week here in Romerike. The weather is warming up and we are getting excited for "spring" but you never know with the weather in Norway. I was thinking the other day how grateful I am for the different seasons of the year.  It adds variety.

Last monday, we had a lesson with -- and -- and it was awesome! We talked about prayer and watched the restoration video. Last time we met with them we invited them to church and they were hesitant and told us they were active in their congregation and so we went into this lesson not with that focus but then in the middle of the lesson, --, said that they were thinking and want to come to church in the next couple weeks. Also, -- finished 1st Nephi and told us he would be done with 2nd Nephi before we come next week. They are a great family and it was exciting to see them progress.

We also had some great visits with some members this week. Bishop had us over for dinner and we took with us fresh book of mormons and all wrote our testimonies in them so we can hand them out in the next couple weeks. We are also working with a less active member/new convert, and had a great meeting. He made the point that it can be easy to recognize the "correct choice/ right choice" when it is between something bad and good, but often we must choose between 2 things that aren't inherently bad but are good things. And in his situation, he works night shifts as a security guy and so he works often on sundays and then some sundays he doesn't work but then he has family and friends he likes visiting and so he has to travel on the weekends and doesn't make it to church. We are going to meet with him and his hometeacher this week. Really looking forward to that. 

We weren't able to meet with too many investigators this week. One canceled on us twice and another dropped us, and one is out of town. But we got some awesome potentials for this coming week. Last week I told you about a family we knocked into that knew about mormons. We went back yesterday and the mom answered this time. They just had a birthday party for one of the kids so they were busy but we talked to her and her daughter (who's birthday it was) for a while and it turns out that her daughter knows Primary songs! The mom told us she knew I am a child of god, and families can be together forever. We were both shocked that they would teach their kids primary songs when they aren't members. Anyway, they told us to please come back so we will try them this week. Way pumped about them!

This upcoming week we have mission leadership council in Oslo so that should be fun. They will be introducing the Easter initiative. The video this year is titled, "The Prince of Peace" Sounds epic. 

So this last week, I started in my journal, Elder Witt's positivity list. Every day I write down the good things that happen that day. I'm a big believer in the power of gratitude and a positive attitude. Trials, and challenges are a part of our mortal experience. Let us make the most of each experience by applying the principles of the gospel to make it a positive one. I know the church is true and that we are lead by a living prophet, President Monson.  Have a great week!

Elder Witt

March 13 - Romerike

Hey everyone!

They posted moves this morning.  I'll be staying another transfer in Romerike with Elder Richardson. It will only be a 5 week transfer and then the next one will be 7 weeks. I'm excited to be here for a another one in Romerike. We are starting to see some progress in the area and It will be fun to keep getting to know the members better and work more with them.

Here are some highlights of the week!

On Monday, for P day we visited Kongsvinger with the sisters and the Recent Convert who lives out there. We visited the old church and fortress. It was cool to visit the site and visit another place where some of our ancestors are from. We also had FHE and a birthday party for Sister Bennett. 

On Tuesday night, we joined some ward members, mostly Young adults, at the church to play indebandy. It is floor hockey. Way fun and a popular sport in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden.

On Wednesday, We had our district meeting in Hamar. Usually the Hamar elders travel down to be with us but we are going to start going up there once a transfer. We also had a really really nice visit with a member family and had dinner with them. We shared 3 Nephi 17:21 which says, "And when he (Jesus) had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them." I love the idea presented and it teaches us a lot of Christ's ministry. He ministers to the multitude but also the individual at the same time. He feeds five thousand but teaches the woman at the well. His Kingdom is full of ones and is built one at a time. We can all follow the savior and help the one's in our life serve them. Then we had interviews with President. I love the Hills. They are dedicated and full of love! 

On Thursday, we had a lesson with --. She is doing awesome! It was a cool lesson and we were able to see all the progress she has made in the last 5 weeks. At first it was hard for her to accept the idea of prophets and now she is reading the book of mormon and accepted our soft invitation to be baptized. She said she would be baptized when she finds out it is true. Also on Thursday we visited Young mens, and talked about our missions. They were doing a mission prep activity.

On Friday, we had a cool experience. We were weekly planning and had a random thought to try back a woman that we gave a book of mormon at the beginning of the transfer. She lived nearby so we went and knocked on her house. Her husband answered and was way nice! They both like mormons a lot but are active christians in their own church. They have twins, and are a young norwegian family. They also have family prayer each night. Real solid, good and nice people. They told us they aren't looking to "change" but they asked if we could come back a different day. So that was cool.

On Saturday, we were on splits with the Oslo elders. I was with Elder Killpack, We got a call from the member in the woods who needed service so we went and helped him, and then visited --, the new convert in Kongsvinger. Elder Killpack was the one who baptized her so it was a happy reunion. We are currently going through the stories of Christ in the New testament with her. She is amazing and a great missionary. Her best friend, who lives in Arendal, was visiting and came to church with her.

On Sunday, it was testimony meeting and we had a good day in church. We taught primary to the 7 and 8 years and taught about baptism. It was pretty funny, They were so energetic and would not sit still. After church we knocked doors in Fjellhamar and an old man let us in. We had a nice visit with him but he isn't interested. 

My thought for the week is from a member who bore her testimony in church. She shared an experience she had this last week. She explained how recently she changed the way she prayed and start to ask something a long the lines of this. "I pray that I may have the courage and strength I need to be a good example and bless the lives of those around me and help them." It teaches a principle of agency. I know that we will be blessed with greater spiritual strength as we pray for the strength and courage to be agents and not objects and thus be instruments in the Hands of God to bless his children. 

I know the church is true! Hope you have a good week!