Alright so this week was a full of some ups and downs... However we have focused more on the positive because I mean why not! It just makes life hard if you focus on the negative! Also I assume many people have become subject to the food coma because I only received emails from two people this week: Momma Shank and Kennedy! So you can guess who will be getting the coolest souvenirs when I get home!
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| Elder Shanklin in exchanges. Sent to me by a stranger in Norway |
Shout Outs
1. The Millers, the Senior Couple here! They just make Tromsø that much better! They take us on beautiful drives and feed us lunch almost every week! They fed us a thanksgiving dinner too!! WOHOO!
2. Colton Satterfield! Yeah just a random BMX guy that is now LDS and is taking a stand for what is right! He is a stellar dude! Read his statement about leaving monster energy way cool!
3. Jarod Ozee for winning his division in the Turkey Trot! Tokyo, Japan 2020 Olympics here he comes!!
Thanksgiving!!
We ate at the Miller's apartment after district meeting and it was awesome! We had Rolls, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, etc! We then had a no bake pumpkin pie by Sister Miller! WOW! I ate about 2 kg worth of food! Good times but getting back to the church was pretty hard...
Investigators
I am pretty sure that all of our investigators came together and made a deal that none of them would respond to us... Like we literally can not get a hold of any of them!! UHHHHHH! I just want to give you happiness why won't you take it! JK, but a little frustrating but nothing to dwell too much on!
Jarlruar!
New Investigator! As most of you remember we met him last week at the bus stop! Well we met with him on Saturday and it was way good! I thought it would turn into a Bible bash, but it was a very good first lesson! He is way open to exploring this path! He even said if he found out that this was true he would be baptized! WOOT WOOT! He is awesome!
Banking under the Northern Lights round 2
So we went banking twice this week and it was awesome! We did not have too much success on the first session but I tried a different approach at our next banking session and wow, everything changed. Usually when someone would open the door we just ask "Hey we are out sharing this Book with other people have you heard about it? *Holding Book of Mormon in hand*. However I felt as if people just did not think it applied to them so I took a different approach! I decided in about 3 seconds when I first saw who answered the door what I would say! If it was a family I would say "We are out sharing a short message about having a happier family could we have 3-5 minutes to share that with you?" Instantly I started to see more people open up! They would listen and then decide! I felt like it was actually effective! We also gave a Book of Mormon to a Father who loved the idea of Eternal Families, I mean who wouldn't right? WOHOO! Banking is #1!!
On my mission I have learned a lot of things but one of them is about work moral! I have learned that part of the work is learning to love the work! You could be on a mission and do everything you are supposed to but not love it, but that will only lead to discontent and you will not change or grow. However the moment you give yourself to the Lord and say "Here it is, my will! I do not want to do anything but what you want me to!", you change, you become something different, and most importantly you become an effective missionary! I will tell you though that that does not mean everyday I am skipping down the street and whistling Called to Serve. It does mean though, that when times get tough when things get hard I have learned to keep going! There was a swimmer who when asked his secret to success he said "I kick when I do not want to kick. I stroke when I do not want to stroke anymore!" That is what I have learned! To knock on the next door when the last couple may have ended with a Nei Takk and a door shut. The work continues and the Lord will bless those who work!
Dream Big
Don't Doubt
Give 'em Heaven,
Eldste Shanklin
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