I am TRAINING!

MOVES CALL was yesterday!  I am training!!.. all by myself. Sister House is leaving me. She is transferring to Ålesund. I will find out who I am training when I pick her up at the mission home on Wednesday. So that is exciting. I am having a baby! haha

Last week for P-day we went to Oslo! It was way fun! We went to the center and went shopping in the city. Good times. We had an awesome week and found 2 new positive investigators. Yay! I am excited about working with them. It will be good for the new missionary too. Also, I am excited about the Greenie Fire new missionaries bring! Miracles are coming our way! Since Sister Firth and Sister House are leaving Drammen, we said a lot of goodbyes to members this week. Det var koselig. :)

Drammen has such a good ward! They are so good to invite us over for dinner. Now we just gotta find people to teach and baptize! I am hoping for the best for these last 2 transfers on my mission. I am grateful for the opporunity to serve, learn, and grow. It allows me to strengthen my faith and rely fully on God. It is a beautiful thing. I am so grateful for His grace.

Happy March!

Love,
Søster Allen

Good Elder friend, Elder Crump; 

Friends from the ward.

cute young women friends!

last søndag in church with Sister House and Sister Firth

one time we got our car stuck in the snow...

a nice norwegian man got it out with his tractor. good times.

Sisters Training

Hallo!

Let's see.. Sister Firth came back last Monday, so we are trio again. But Sister Firth goes home next week and we are getting 11 new sisters. I will be training. So that is exciting.

We had zone conferance last week in Oslo and that was way fun! I got to see a lot of my old companions, Sister Peterson (Bodø), Sister Horner (MTC), and Sister Sorensen (Trondheim). It had been one year since I had seen Sister Horner, so it was a good reunion!

We had a lot of good member teaches this week. I feel like I am getting to know the members better here in Drammen. Also, I hit my one year mark in Norway on Wednesday! Crazy!

I had a lot of spiritual experiences this week.. because ya know I am a missionary, but I will share one with you. We met with a recent convert last night and there was a huge change in her. We watched a general conference talk together called "Grateful in Any Circumstances" by Pres. Uchtdorf. A week ago she was soo down and depressed because of certain difficult circumstances. A miracle happened. Things worked out for her. There was a light in her eyes. It was so beautiful to see. She felt like this talk was speaking just to her. I am grateful for prophets and apostles and their wise counsel. They answer prayers. I love seeing that help others.

I read the best talk this week! It is called "Becoming True Millennials by Pres. Russell M. Nelson. He said something that really hit me. He said,

"You will have days when you will be thoroughly discouraged. 

So, pray for courage not to give up! 

You will need that strength because it will become less and less popular to be a Latter-day Saint.

 Sadly, some whom you thought were your friends will betray you. 

And some things will simply seem unfair."

It is going to become less and less popular to believe in God. It is already happening today. I see it in Norway. I see it happening around the world. Do NOT fall into this trend! It is the last days and we need to be extra strong. Life is soo much happier, fulfilling, and peaceful when you believe! Your faith is going to get your through your hard times. This is the truth. This is God's church. The fruits are good. The spirit is here. This is where your Father in Heaven wants you to be. Don't you loose faith. We need your light and examples. Faith in God is the only thing that is going to help us.


Hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Sister Allen

Sister Wadley, Sister Hudson, and Sister Sorensen 

Me and Sister Horner!! My MTC and Texas buddy!! I have missed her!

Me and Sister Peterson

Me and Sister Sorenson

the cutest hamster eating lettuce.. haha

"Grateful in Any Circumstances"

Happy Valentine's Day! oh ya and Norwegian Mother's Day was yesterday as well. :)

We had an awesome teach with one of our investigators. It was the first time I met her, but she opened up and the spirit was really strong.

We had a lot of member dinners this week! I am so grateful for the members willingness to have the missionaries over! It really means a lot to us! It is also great to get to know them better that way. I have learned so many things from members. I love their testimonies and hearing about their stories and experiences.

We had the sister training leaders with us on Wednesday and it was a good missionary day! We taught a guy that became a new investigator. Later that night we went to Young Womens! I have really enjoyed getting to know the young women here in Drammen. They are so cute and it takes me back to my young women days. :) We made them cookies on Sunday for Valentines and they loved them and us. :) he he

Sunday night we decided to try knocking back in that miracle area. One of them was home and said we could come back next Sunday! We were also able to give a Book of Mormon away to another door we knocked on. Success! Even though it was sure a cold night!

Ha en fin uke og husk til å ta vare på hverandre. :)

Love,
Søster Allen

Pictures with Sister House:

Getting sick in this cold weather

Valentines lips.. haha

misjonær arbeid

Miracles

Miracle week!!

ya ready dere!?

I got to go back to Trondheim on Tuesday and Wednesday to renew my visa! It was such a treat and a blessing! Ah man I missed that place and my people. It was a beautiful snowy day before I left. We went contacting and were able to find 2 postive potentials! I am was so grateful to do missionary work with Sister Peterson and Sister Gates one last time. I felt very grateful to be in that beautiful city one last time..

I returned back to Drammen Wednesday night! I reunited with my companion, Sister House! She got to spend the last two days in Nordstand/Oslo, which was mine and her greenie area! She felt very grateful to have the opportunity to go back and see what has changed!

Thursday morning, Sister House and I were eager to get to work! Drammen needs us! We were ready to make miracles happen! We had an appointment with a former investigator. The spirit was so strong as me and her bore simple testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith. Later that day we got to eat dinner with a member family.

Friday was such a spiritual day!! We visited the old norwegian man we found while knocking my first week in Drammen. We brought a member on the teach, Sister Weggersen. You guys, she is amazing. She is a mother of 12. She is one of the most spiritual people I have ever met. Sister House and I planned on teaching the restoration with him, but it just didn't feel right. Both of us were at lost for what to say. We felt like Sister Weggersen needed to talk. She bore solid testimony about the Book of Mormon and the Plan of Salvation. He started crying. I started crying. I was just enjoying the moment and the spirit that was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I will not forget that experience.

Saturday we got to go street kontacting for a bit! Success! We met some awesome potentials on the street. Then we went to a dinner appointment with the Elders. Later that night we had a teach with a new convert.

Sunday was our miracle day! It was fast sunday and our dinner appointment cancelled. We were wondering what we were going to do because we didn't have much food at our house. A member came up to us and asked if we needed a place to eat! An answer to our prayers! We had a great dinner with them and afterwards told them we were going to go knocking on doors. We asked if they had any referrals we could try. They had one, so we said a prayer with them and left. We drove to the address they gave us and started knocking on a few doors before we tried the referral. We got a new investigator on the second house we knocked! He is so cool! After that we tried the referral, but they were not home. We contined to knock on that street and found 3 more postive potentials that said we could come back!! Then we went down another street and found 2 more postive potentials! I don't think you will understand how amazing that is. That was one of my most legendary knocking sessions I have had my whole mission. I cried as we left each house because I was so grateful and full of the spirit. We called the members we ate dinner with to tell them what happened! Such a good missionary day!

I hope you all know that God loves His children. I see it so clearly with spritual eyes as I serve here in Norway. He answers prayers and has a plan. I am so grateful for that.

Glad i dere!
-Søster Allen

Elders and their kebabs..

The Gospel Causes JOY in my Heart

Hallo fra Drammen!

This is the first area I have served in where everyone speaks norwegian... like everyone.. I haven't taught one lesson in english yet. It will definitely help my language skills, but I am needing a lot prayers for the gift of tongues. haha ya.. Thankfully, the dialect here is the cleanest.

Mandag: We visited two members! I have enjoyed getting to know the members here in Drammen! There are so many!! It may take some time to feel comfortable, but I am getting there.

Tirsdag: We went contacting for a long time and talked to a ton of people! Since we are in a trio sometimes we split up and go on our own.. scary, but whatever. After being a missionary for so long you just get used to it. Then, later that night we had a member visit and she gave us makeovers.. haha it was way weird to see myself with a ton of makeup on again. I felt pretty and old.

getting my makeup done

Onsdag: Sister Firth was sick, so me and Sister House did weekly planning and went through the phones and area book! We got a ton of appointments scheduled because of that!

Torsdag: Sister Firth left for Bergen! She is going there to build up the area for the new sisters that are coming. She will be back in two weeks. Sister House and I went to an investigator appointment and bore testimony of the Book of Mormon. We invited them to church and they came!!

Fredag: Sister House and I went knocking on doors and contacting. Later that night we had another investigator appointment. The spirit was soo strong!! I started crying. I was kind of embarrassed, but what do you ya do. I told her that Jesus Christ loved her and bawled. Ah man you just had to be there.

Lørdag: We had an investigator appointment, went contacting, and banking! Most of our appointments cancelled this week. We had some fun times though! Interesting people we came in contact with that day.. probably the weirdest day of the week. The streets and everywhere is covered in ice! We were slidding into people's drive-ways to knock on their doors. #goodtimeswithsøsterhouse

Søndag: Kirke! It was good! I got to talk to some more members and a ton of them invited us over this week! #blessed. We had a dinner appointment with a member after church! We read in Alma 30 about Korihor (the anti-christ) and Alma's powerful testimony! I loved it and the spirit was so strong. I really love the part in the chapter when Alma is testifying to Korihor and he says,

"Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, 

when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain? 

And now, believest thou that we deceive this people, 

that causes such joy in their hearts?" 

I love that!! This gospel causes joy in my heart!! Life is so much better when you believe! God is real. This is His church. The Book of Mormon is true! Ah! I am so grateful for this gospel and all that I have learned on my mission! My life is definitely more enriched and fulfilled because of my faith and what I know to be true.

Glad i dere! Ha en varm uke!

Love,
Søster Allen

sunrise this morning and very icy roads

Leaving Trondheim and Arriving in Drammen

From the mom:  Jessica got transferred to Drammen last Wednesday.  She is so excited.  They say Drammen is like Zion in Norway.  It is a big city near Oslo with a big ward and lots of great members.  She will finish her mission in Drammen.  She is in a trio for now and knows and loves these two sisters and is very excited to get to know them better.  She says this is the COLDEST place she has served in her mission.  There are pictures on her blog from last week and we will be putting up more pictures from this week.  It definitely looks cold in her pictures.  

Her new address is:

Sister Jessica Allen

Tomineborgveien 47

3011 Drammen

Norway

I made it to Drammen! It was an hour plane ride and an hour train ride, but my plane was delayed so I missed my train. Anyways, I finally made it after struggling with my 3 suitcases. :)

Drammen is soo different from my other areas. It is like America. We have a car, so we drive to appointments. We have dinner and sometime lunch appointments everyday!! The ward is huge. It feels like I am in Utah again. It is also way freezing! The coldest I have been my whole mission! Drammen is way colder than Trondheim. Like the coldest was negative 29 degrees... yikes!

This will be my last area on my mission. It was very hard to say goodbye to Trondheim. I miss Sister Peterson, my district, the Rappleyes, awesome members, and people I met while being there. It will take some time to feel adjusted here in Drammen. I miss my home and family in Trondheim. I did tell some of them I am coming back in June. :)

My last days in Trondheim = bittersweet.

On Tuesday we visited Majken (cutest member!) and we said our goodbyes. I will miss her so much!

Aaron, Majken, and Olivia!

 We also had an awesome lesson with an investigator. The spirit was so strong and I was able to share a personal story with him. I saw a change in his eyes after I shared that. I won't forget that lesson.

Then we visited Elin and Kenneth! Elin is a member we have been visiting every week in Trondheim and we have become really good friends! I will miss her too!

Saying goodbye to Elin and Kenneth in Trondheim!

Blizzard in Trondheim! 

The next day I packed up all of my stuff and as the Rappleyes pulled into the church to drive me to the airport, all of the missionaries in the district came out to say goodbye. I won't forget it! I felt soo loved!

Leaving Trondheim! :( 

Saying goodbye to Elder Miller and Sister Peterson. Heavy black heart

The farewell. So dramatic.

Missionary life in Drammen:

We have had so many member visits! There are some awesome people here in Drammen. Our district is pretty cool too! Elder Crump who was in my greenie district in Oslo is in my district again. It will will be fun to get to know all of these people and build friendships!

Friday night we went knocking on doors and it was a miracle night because we got let in by 2 people! That has never happened to me my whole mission! the first was a muslim family and they were super nice! The other person that let us in was this old norwegian man. His wife recently passed away and we were able to share the plan of salvation with him. It was a very spiritual and tender experience. We went back the 2nd time to teach him the restoration last night. He still wants us to come back and teach him more. He said he loves reading! I am really excited about him and I can't wait to see how the gospel can bless him. I hope he acts on faith and recognizes the truth. :)

We have been knocking on doors a lot here in Drammen, and people are actually not that mean. So that is a plus. That is how we teach lessons and find investigators. We are also trying to work closely with the members and find investigators that way as well. That is the best way to find. Converts found through members are the ones that stay converts forever.

Church was really good! I got to see one my friends, Torunn! She was in the Trondheim ward, but moved to Drammen. It was nice to see a familiar face! There are a lot of people I need to get to know. I am excited about this week!

We also had a worldwide missionary conference on Wednesday and Elder Andersen said that we should always have Jesus' name on our lips. If we don't know what to say than we should talk about Christ. It really changes the tone and spirit when there is a focus on Christ. He is the reason for our faith. He should be our foundation. I am grateful for Christ and the hope and peace He brings to my life.

Jeg håper at dere ha en fin uke!  Jeg er så glad i dere!

Kjærlig Hilsen,
Søster Allen

This is where we live!  Me and Sister House!

Sister Firth got stuck in her seatbelt! haha  

Running in a open field of snow! 

Visiting a member that lives in the cutest norwegian house! 

Look at her door! 

Cold day in Drammen. :)

Teach Fearlessly.

Wasn't General Conference the best?!
I love general conference, especially as a missionary. Shout out to Pres. Russell M. Nelson's talk about women. How empowering! There were so many good talks. I am really excited to study them for the next 6 months.

Interesting things that happened this week:
We did a question and answer at a children's school with the soon-to-be teachers. Afterwards we "accidentally" left a Book of Mormon and one of them came running out to us and said, "Mormons! You left your Bible!" haha It was funny.

We had a cool contact with a lady on the street that day. She was so excited to receive a Book of Mormon for free. Unfortunately, she doesn't live in Trondheim, so we referred her to the missionaries in her area. It was way cool though. Heavenly Father really leads us to those that are prepared and willing to listen.

One day we had the sister training leaders with us and it was a blast. I love it when they come!

Me and Sister House had a cool contact with this boy on the street. We helped answer his question, "If there is a God than why do children die of cancer?" I could see a satisfied look in this boy's face as we testified of the purpose of live and how God has a plan for all of His children.

On Friday we had an appointment with a girl Sister Sorensen and Sister Peterson met on the street. We were late because we missed our bus stop and the girl was not there. :( We were way upset, so we walked swiftly into the city to try and find her. We didn't see her. We decided to say a prayer in the middle of city and ask Heavenly Father to help us find her, so that we could give her a Book of Mormon. After we said the prayer we turned the corner and guess who was there.. the girl! Heavenly Father had answered our prayer.

I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time. I am so grateful for prophets and apostles to help lead and guide us. The heavens are open and the world is preparing for the 2nd coming of Christ. It is our time to step forward. Be covenant keeping saints. Speak with power and authority. Make things happen with our faith. Teach fearlessly. Express our belief with confidence.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the ONLY way to true and everlasting happiness.

Love,
Søster Allen  

We got caught in a rain\wind storm!

Women's Conference Session

We were the only ones who showed up.. 

We had a potluck afterwards and the best cake!

Trondheim District

Should Sister Peterson go brunette?

I laughed so hard when I saw this picture. haha