Ummmmmmmm.... So like I have run out of clever things to say here so.... Why don't we all pretend I said something hilarious and just go straight into the week! *Laugh here*
Shout Outs!
1. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite Sister-in-Laws! Allison!!
2. THIS IS HARD! I literally am running out of things to say because I feel like the last time I wrote was yesterday but also like 9 months ago...
3. Everybody who reads this whole letter because it is gonna be a novel
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| Taking advantage of the freezing temperatures |
Q and A (If you have questions about Norway or anything please submit them to carter.shanklin@myldsmail.net and they will be answered here)
1. So what are the temperatures like? About near or below freezing at all times
2. Are you staying warm?! Yes tights and jacket kept me warm even when we went banking for three hours!
3. How we been fed this week? No, but as you will read later Chef Shanklin does not need no one to feed him
4. How is my companion? Elder Fowler is a stud! Learning the language and how to be a missionary way fast! He also eats enough to feed a small militia
5.Are you far enough north to see reindeer? Yes and I have seen them twice. Fun fact: Reindeer are not actually wild but are owned by a Sami, a Native Norwegian (similar to Native Americans in the USA).
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| First spotting of reindeer!! |
Rouven
Well Rouven sent us a text saying he wanted to be baptized and the date we sent is this Saturday! We went through the baptismal Interview questions to practice and he did fantastic!! We also went and picked up the Alta Elders for splits here in Tromsø! He had his baptismal interview on Tuesday with Elder Johnson, who was my companion for splits, and he passed!!!!!!!!!!! WOHOOO! So he is all set to be baptized this Saturday! It is amazing to see how much he has grown only in the span of a couple weeks! He knows the church is true and the book is blue!
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| Rouven will be baptized! |
Pool or Fjord?!?!?
So we are currently trying to find a pool to rent. If that does not work please pray that we will not be paralyzed by baptizing Rouven in a fjord! Thanks!
Henrik
So Henrik sent us a text saying that life has been a little stressful and he needs a little break from the church. As sad as that is it is not unusual for a Norwegian to take a break from something when it starts to get hard. We fasted for him on Friday with the Sisters and he said he is coming to Rouven's Baptism! WOHOO! The Lord is just showering us with blessings!!
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| Will Rouven be baptized in a Fjord or a pool? |
Chef Shanklin
So for those of you that worry that we do not eat that much because no members feed us I would like to tell you what we have eaten this past week!
1. Pizza-Homemade
2. Szechuan Chicken-Homemade
3. Oven baked French Toast
4. Normal French Toast with Buttermilk Syrup
5. Again Pizza-Homemade
Do not fear folks just because we do not have to many member middags does not mean that we are not eating well!!
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Spiritual Thought
I am turned this week to the Plan of Salvation and the hope and joy it brings! For those who do not know what our church believes the plan is email me and I can email you next week. However for now it sufficeth me to say that God has a plan for each and everyone one of us! That plan includes hard times, we are not going to go through this life without trials, but that does not mean we have to face these trials alone! In Alma chapter 44:4 it says
4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.
God will support us and will protect us during our times of trials! The Plan of our God is not one of laziness and idleness and then expecting life to just be easy. It requires action and walking by faith. Through our action and faith then we can receive the strength from God. I would like to leave you with two scriptures to end in 1 Nephi. First 1 Nephi 11:17 where Nephi is asked if he understands why Christ suffered for us and he responds
17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
Even if we do not knowing everything Nephi says these words in 1 Nephi 9:6
6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
Trust in our Father in Heaven and his wisdom and power. Turn to the Savior and have faith in his atonement! If we have faith and act all will be okay!
Dream Big
Don't Doubt
Give 'em Heaven,
Eldste Shanklin
For Packages and Mail *Hint* Hint*
Bispegata 2
9008 Tromsø
Norge
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