Give em Heaven-Tromso Week Nineteen

This week was fantasmaglorious, but I am pretty tired... Things are progressing in Tromsø and we are loving getting to work!

Shout Outs!

1. Elder Breckenridge is finally in the Marshall Islands! What a stud!! We all know he is gonna baptize everybody!

2. Momma Shank because I heard she gave so bomb talks in the last couple weeks!

3. Ryker because he is a stud taking time to sell halloween decorations to help the victims of the recent hurricanes! Hit him up for some stellar deals and awesome decorations!

My Son

Alright so I am training Elder Fowler! He comes from California and is an All-American swimmer, pretty studly I know. He was ready to get to work and did amazing on the teach we had and it was only two hours after he got off the plane! His drive and dedication to the work is amazing and great things are happening because of it!

Elder Shanklin and Elder Fowler

Tommy of Tigern (Calvin and Hobbes)

I found Calvin and Hobbes in Norwegian! Yes I now use it in språk study! It is the best thing ever. Yes, Knighten I did get on for you and it will be on its way around christmas time!

Banking under the Northern Lights

Yes all missionaries in the world should be jealous. Last Friday we had the amazing opportunity to go banking underneath some amazing Northern Lights! What made it even better is that we got 3 potential investigators out of it! With two return appointments! Tromsø magic baby! We got an appointment with our African Friend, who we'll call Bible Man, and a nice mother who took the Book of Mormon and welcomed us back!

Imagine knocking doors with this light show!!

Bible Man

We went to his house on sunday and he was very open in the beginning and agreed with a lot of our ideas. Well then he asked us who we thought the first prophet was, and I responded Adam. I did not know that Adam was perceived by some as a wicked dude... So that led into a little conflict and us trying to explain that through modern revelation we know that Adam was the first prophet. He then said show me where it says that in the bible and that is when things started going really down hill... However me and Eldste Fowler kept our cool. We simply explained that everything we had explained was based on if the Book of Mormon is true and he would need to read it and find out for himself. Bible Man then started pulling bible verses that he thought could convince that the Book of Mormon was not true. I at this point was upset because he had previously laughed at our testimonies and I really felt like he thought I knew nothing. Instead of whipping out some bible verses that could disprove everything he had said, I instead channeled all that energy into bearing testimony. I told him that I know the Book of Mormon is true and that nothing on this planet can change that. I have received a witness from the Holy Ghost, from God our Heavenly Father that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Then he laughed again... Needless to say we told him we would love for him to read in the Book of Mormon and figure out for himself, but he was not to interested... 

Rouven! Our German Friend!

So for those of you who think no one accepts us here in Norway here is a more positive and upbeat note! Rouven who had somes doubts about whether or not the Word of Wisdom was a commandment from God agreed to live it! After I explained that sometimes we do not know why God gives us certain commandments, but sometimes we just have trust in him and say "I know you know more than me, and so I will trust in you and one day it may make sense, but even if it does not make sense until I return to live with you again, I will still be obedient." Rouven said that made sense and he would live the Word of Wisdom! Elder Fowler did an awesome job as always! He invited Rouven to be baptized and even though Rouven said he would need to think about it Eldste Fowler bore and awesome testimony and said he should definitely take time to think it over!

Alright Ladies and Gentlemen your boy Elder Shanklin is taking the lead of Tromsø and slowly but surely is getting work done! With Eldste Fowler with me we will get lots of work done and hopefully you will get some exciting news from us in the coming weeks! I simply would like to reiterate the words I told our friend Bible Man. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God with all my heart and nothing on this planet can change that. I wish you all the best and hope that you can take time out of your day to be nourished by reading the Book of Mormon!

Dream Big

Don't Doubt

Give 'em Heaven,

Eldste Shanklin

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