2014 December 30th lettter

hello everyone!!

What a crazy week this has been. Definitely bittersweet. It was so amazing to experience Norwegian  Christmas and of course to skype my family, but the day after Christmas was a hard one! Thank you to all of the people who sent their cute Christmas cards!!! They made me feel at home, and they were so fun to look at. Norwegian Christmas was a dream. I literally thought I was in a fairytale the whole time. My favorite part was on Christmas Eve all of the kids hold hands and sing and dance around the Christmas tree until Santa comes! It was hard to be away, but I felt more Christ in my Christmas than I ever had!

Over the weekend we had a multi-zone conference with President and sister Evans. It was really great, and just the energizer that I needed! I was able to see some of the elders I was in the MTC with also and that was so fun to catch up with them!! After the spiritual meeting we played games for probably two hours. It was so fun to relax and laugh and mingle with missionaries I do not get to see very often. Transfers are also happening this week! I am still staying in Oslo with Sis Pyne, and I am really happy about that. I love her to death, and we have a lot more work to do before she is taken from me.

Yesterday was quite the day. Sundays always seem to be that way. But we got a text from one of our new investigators saying he started the Book of Mormon and didn't put it down until he got to Alma!! Unfortunately he could not make it to church, but our investigator Andreas did, and he brought a friend! Gosh, he is a pretty good missionary. Sister Pyne had to lead the music so I was stuck with two Norwegian men talking to me in their strange dialects about what the sacrament was. They thought the sacrament water was shots of vodka, because they knew the savior drank wine.... they were a little disappointed to just find water!I kept making eye contact with Sister Pyne on the stand and she was just laughing at me. Luckily, we made it through ok. Well the night continued to be quite hectic. President Evans wants me to practice driving so I can take a Norwegian driving test to get my drivers license, since some of the areas have cars. Well, last night was the night. We had an appointment about 30 minutes away, so we took the senior couples car and headed in the direction we thought it was. I haven't driven in 4.5 months, nor have I ever driven in Europe. Round abouts, people, trains, buses, and street signs in Norwegian make things a bit difficult. Fortunately for us, we made it to our appointment in one piece, and I was able to lay my head down on my own pillow at night, not one at the hospital.

This morning was another magical moment. We decided to run around 10:30am instead of 6:30am because we wanted it to be lighter outside. We ran a few miles through the peaceful city and down to the fjord. The sun was rising on the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. Ice chunks floating on the water and islands with beautiful Norwegian homes on them. I literally stopped and stood all amazing. This place never ceases to amaze. A picture would not even do it justice. A boat passed by as we stood on a dock and the water started making waves against the stone wall. Sister Pyne and I closed our eyes and imagined we were at lake powell in  the warm sunlight, instead of the cold. But I was still happy to open my eyes and find I was still in my fairytale. 

One of the things I have really been trying to work on is faith and hope. I have set a goal for 2014 to live in the moment, and not be doubtful about the future. With faith and hope I can know that if I am doing my part, The Lord will do the rest. Sister Pyne's favorite quote is "I hate to spoil the ending, but everything will be ok." It reallly is true. Afflictions, trials, doubts, worries are but a small moment. We can overcome anything with The Lord on our side. I hope everyone has set goals for 2014 that can help you become a better person all around. It is hard work to actually meet a goal, but the reward is so much better than the work to get there. "There is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in  the growth zone." (thanks for that  quote dad)

Love you all, keep pushing forward.

Sister Frampton 

Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Kjære alle,

GOD JUL!!!! MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope you all have a wonderful week filled with family, love, joy, and warmth!

I am so sick of eating! The members here have been SO kind to have all the missionaries over everyday, but they just stuff us! So. Much. Meat. But, it has all been out of the goodness of their hearts, and I really am so grateful everyone is making us feel so welcome. One of the members here told me, "its not about what you eat between Thanksgiving and New Year, its about what you eat between New Year and Thanksgiving!" haha! The members all gave us so many Christmas gifts at church yesterday, we looked like Santa on our way home. I love them all so much!

Well, I made it through the darkest day of the year! The sun rose about 10am and went down a little bit after 2pm. It was crazy! Luckily, the weather has been like autumn here so the skies have been beautiful! It is one of the warmest winters recorded here in Oslo. I can't believe that though because it is still so cold! We are hoping for snow on Christmas! It brightens everything up, and who doesn't want snow for Christmas?

This week was a very exciting one! We got three new investigators! All three of them are referrals from members, and they really just fell from heaven. Two of them are learning Norwegian/English from Søster Pyne and I, and also learning the gospel. Then the other one is just very curious about the Book of Mormon! The first lesson we taught, all he wanted to do was quiz us on the Bible. After we passed that quiz, he was willing to listen to us! After hearing the Restoration, he was full of questions and just so excited to learn all he could! He also invited Søster Pyne and I to go Samba dancing with him............ We explained the mission rules, and he made us promise that we would go dancing with him after our mission is over. haha! We are meeting with all three of them this week to continue to teach, and we are very excited!

We are going to a cute member family's house tomorrow for Christmas Eve celebrations. We are both really excited, because Santa is coming! Christmas is going to be great as well. I can't wait to see my family!!!!!!!!

Wish I had more time to write all of the amazing things that I see everyday. Hope you all have a fabulous week. Love you all!

GOD JUL!

Søster Frampton

CHRISTMAS MIRACLES

kjære alle sammen,

Hi everyone!!! First thing is first, I gave my first talk in Norwegian at church on Sunday. Scariest thing I have ever done in my life, but I did it! And people actually understood what I was saying! I sat down afterward and just thought to myself "did I really just say that whole thing in a different language?" The gift of tongues is REAL! I am not learning/speaking Norwegian without the help of God.

Before sacrament meeting started, a young man walked in the church building that I have never seen before. He looked a little lost and I just happened to be in the foyer! Well his name is Magnus and he had ordered a free book of mormon on the internet a year ago, just out of curiousity. When missionaries delivered to him, he just wanted to read it and find out things on his own, so they left him be. Well Sunday, Magnus just decided to come to church for his first time. I snagged him and got to know him a little bit, then after church we taught him a really cool lesson. Magnus had read some of the Book of Mormon so he had so many really deep doctrinal questions! He said his first prayer with us and the spirit was so strong! We are planning on keeping in touch and then meeting with him after he gets back from Christmas break. We are seeing miracles! Our other investigators have tentatively set baptismal dates for January 18 and 25!!!!!!

Today for preparation day, we went to the Freia Chocolate Factory! (that is why we switched it to Monday) I felt like Charlie in Willy Wonka!!! It was magical. There was no oompa-loompas or chocolate river (unfortunately) but we were taught the history of chocolate, shown the production of all products, tasted way too many samples, designed OUR OWN chocolate bar, were taught the marketing strategies and all that jazz! It was so much fun. Friea was created by Johan Throne Holst in 1892, and he named the company Friea because that is his wife's name! Norwegian chocolate is to die for.

I have been studying the general conference talks and seriously love them! Octobers conference was so amazing. We are very lucky to be able to read words from our prophets so easily. One of my favorites I read this week was from Elder Soares "Be Meek and Lowly of Heart." He said, "Being meek doesn not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, health, self-worth, and self-control.... Christ faced extreme physical and spiritual suffering, giving us the opportunity to change our spiritual character and become meek like Him." I have really been trying to adopt this characteristic, as it is one I struggle with. I know that as we all resolve to become more Christ-like, however it may be, we will see Christmas through different eyes. As we focus on Christ this season, we can all give gifts of more eternal worth as well as the material ones! I have loved this time of year in Noway and am trying to soak in every Norwegian tradition that I can!

Really quick, I just want to tell my cousins and sister on a mission how grateful I am for them! Lacee, Alisha, Parker and Kevin. Love you all so much, and so glad to be doing this work along side of you! The work really is working!!!

That is all I have got for now! Cannot wait to see my family on Christmas! That is the best present I could ask for! Happy birthday Lacee on Monday!!!

Love you all,

Søster Frampton

                                                                  Sister Pyne and I

                                                             Black Ninja time

Let it snow!

Kjære familie og venner,

Hi! There is finally snow in Oslo and I could not be happier! The snow makes everything brighter and it tricks my body into thinking that there is actually sun. I have this new energy because of it and it is fabulous! Not only that, but I cannot describe to you the beautiful christmas-decorated city now with snow on top. People have started to wear their perfectly knit Norwegian Christmas sweaters, and we are already singing Christmas hymns in Church, Jul (christmas) is a big deal here. It makes everything happier for everyone!

Our investigator David is doing SO GREAT! I talked a little bit about him last week, but we have met three times since. He schedules appointments because he just wants to keep learning! This week we taught him about the plan of salvation and he loved learning that he could see his father again, who passed away 15 years ago. Well David contacted us a few days later and told us that he had an amazing dream! He said that his dad visited him in and told him that the path he was taking was the right one, and to learn all that he could! HELLO MIRACLE!!!!!!! Søster Pyne and I were in tears. That stuff does not just happen! We are so excited to continue teaching him.

Last night all of the missionaries went to Jul i toner (a Christmas concert) in Romerike. The music was absolutely beautiful. Norwegians know how to entertain audiences. The hosts were in their traditional Norwegian dresses (bonads) and they were handing out boller in Christmas decorated baskets. It was wonderful and even more Christmas spirit to enjoy! Well after the show, I was in the coat room and an American couple started talking to me. I thought they were missionaries in Norway but they are actually serving in the area office in Frankfurt. I asked where they were from and they said Holladay, Utah! No way! I said I am from Holladay as well. Well, the world just kept getting smaller and come to find out they are going to be our NEIGHBORS!!! They bought the closest lot to our house in the horse pastor and are starting to build next month when they go home! There names are the Cravens. Such a small world, but such a fun connection!

I have been overwhelmed with gratitude this week as I have thought about how lucky I am to be here. I never thought I could miss people so much at home, but it wasnt until now that I care for other peoples lives more than my own. I have never stepped this far out of my comfort zone or been rejected so much. I have never realized others potential or loved people before I even know their name. I have never been on my knees so much or never felt Gods love like I do here. I have never worn so many layers of clothing but been so cold. I have never studied so much in my life or have I been able to relate the scriptures to myself as I do now. I have never listened to so many people talk without knowing what they are saying, but I have never felt like I have the gift of tongues like I do now. I have never gone to bed so exhausted or waken up so tired in my life. I have never missed the sun so much, but I have never loved the moon more. I have never seen such beautiful people with such broken hearts. I have never relied on the Lord so much, but I have never felt His love like I do now. I have never sacraficed so much, but at the same time I have NEVER felt more blessed than I do right now.

Missions are amazing things and there is nothing in the world that could make me feel all of these emotions and blessings. I am going to be here for a short time in the scheme of things, but the blessings for myself and ESPECIALLY for others are eternal. <I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.> Alma 29:9

Glad i dere!!

Have a fantastic week,

Søster Frampton

                                                                Elder Tate

Its beginnning to look a lot like Christmas!

Kjare alle,

Hello from Oslo! Can you believe it is Decemeber? Wow that just means so many great things. The city of Oslo is like a fairy tale... Every window display, every street, every person is just beautiful. All they need is snow now. I love Norwegians for so many reasons but one of them is becuase they love Christmas so much. They take counting down to Christmas VERY SERIOUS! Norsk children get a gift everyday until Christmas comes! ITS SO FUN!

Well we had TWO baptisms on Saturday. Søster Pyne and I were running around like crazy all week getting everything and everyone ready. But, once Saturday came it was just a perfect day. If you dont remember they are 20 year old twins from Sweden. They had to wait until they were old enough to move out so they could be baptized on their own, and not by their parents word. They have an incredible story. Emma and Sandra were so prepared and ready to be baptized! They were smiling ear to ear ALL weekend. After they were baptized, they both kept commenting how happy and light they felt. It was awesome! Miracle stories like that make all of the hard times worth it.

We have some Philippines members here in this ward and they invited all of the missionaries over for dinner one night last week. (Oh yes, there are 10 misisonaries in this word) Well, they made us a Philippine delicacy.... it is called Balut. Let me tell you what it is. Well it is a half developed duck fetus that you boil in its shell still. So its kind of like a hard boiled egg but with a duck fetus as the yolk. Yum. When the member was cracking the egg open and showing us how to eat them I felt sick and I kindly refused. But, everyone except my companion ATE THEM! I will send pictures and it will make the experience come to life. It was crazzzzyyy.

Last Tuesday we met an African man on the trikk (trax type public transportation). We set an appointment for Thursday, and told him we would meet him at a really central place in Oslo. Well, on Thursday night 20 minutes goes by and he didnt show up. Instead of just walking back home, we decided to try talking to people. I said a silent prayer to help us find someone that is ready to hear our message. A few seconds later, I spotted David and said to my companion "thats who we are talking to." David is from Barcelona but has lived in Norway for 10 years. He is about 30 and works for the Red Cross. Well, we actually got talking about how our church helps the Red Cross significantly. He was very interested in learning more about what we believe in, so we scheduled a time for yesterday! We met with David last night for our first lesson and brought a member with us that speaks spanish. It was amazing. I wish I could put my feelings into words. We had a great discussion, and commited him to pray and beginning reading the Book of Mormon. He said the closing prayer which was his first one in about 12 years, and it was perfect! The spirit was so strong, and he commented on the feeling he felt during our lesson. I am so excited to continue to meet with him and teach him the gospel!

Last thing, I will need your prayers because I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting in a few weeks. Ahhhhh! Yes, in Norwegian. I am freaking out a little bit, but all will be good. I hope all of you are doing well and are excited for Christmas. I am actually looking forward to focusing solely on Christ instead of presents this year. It is interesting to me that Norwegians love Christmas so much, but they have forgotten why it is even a holiday. I hope all of you will take a few minutes each day and think about Jesus Christ. As we focus on him everyday, we become more like him!

I love you all so much! Thanks for all you do for me.

Have a good week,

Søster Frampton