IT WAS JUST A TON OF SMALL MIRACLES ON A DAILY BASIS FOR US. THE LORD HAS BEEN SO ACTIVE IN OUR WORK, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. WE JUST HAVE TO CHOOSE TO WORK WITH HIM.

Heia!  Så fint å høre fra dere!

So good to hear about things back there!  I am so happy to hear that things are going well and that people are growing!

Det har vært en kjempe uke har!  Ya its been a crazy good week here in Trondheim.  M got baptized and confirmed!  It is so great!  We have been so blessed here!

So yep, it is hard to really write all about the baptism, we had a good number of people there, maybe about 30 or so. It was about the same number as S's (Dallin's first baptism a couple months ago) baptism actually.  It was pretty cool though because I had S as a witness to the baptism of M!  That was just crazy to see him taking part in the salvation of others already!  So that was amazing.  Everyone was so awesome and it really was just a nice, smooth service.  No real problems or events.  So I was very happy!  

It did however take a lot to plan out and stuff.  We worked on the program forever trying to get people to do stuff and to involve the ward in the best way possible.  So there were many stressful telephone calls made trying to get people involved, but it worked out in the end.  

Other than that we had Elder J that came into the land!  He is from Utah.  He is 18 and is looking like he is going to be a great elder.  He has been really blessed with the language and will progress very quickly I believe.  So I am way excited to be working with him.  It will be very easy to work with him! 

It was weird to see the other Elders go, definitely weird to get the responsibility of the zone on my shoulders too.  But that only lasted a couple hours until elder S got here.  I am way excited to work him as well.  He is a great missionary and I am privileged to get to work with him in this calling.  He is going to really change the look of the zone!  

I think that we have some exciting times ahead of us.  We are going to have 6 weeks that we are going to be pushing for a lot of baptisms in the the zone.  So I am really excited to see the lord work in our lives.

Other than that we had some good moments out on the streets with people.  I think I had the best contact ever the other night when I had a man thinking I was actually from norway!  I asked him how long he had been in trondheim and then he asked me where I came from.  He thought I was Norwegian!  I asked him to guess after I told him I wasn't from here and he couldn't guess at all where I was from.  So that was a pretty good high point for my language!  It has happened a couple times before but I have never really convinced someone that I was norwegian.  So that was way sick!  I feel a little bad though because I am confusing Elder J

a little bit with the dialect. He is doing good with it though.

Other than that it was just a ton of small miracles on a daily basis for us.  The Lord has been so active in our work, and always has been.  We just have to choose to work with him.  It was a great week, probably the best on the mission thus far.  So hopefully the trend continues!  Some might say that is downhill because I am over the year mark but I guess I would say that I am only looking upward!  

I really love everything about the mission and life.  We are blessed to be a part of this wonderful plan, no matter what is happening here and now!

Jeg elsker deg!

Din sønn,

Eldste Jones

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN NORWAY AS A SERVANT OF THE LORD.

Heia!

Thanks so much for the video!  That was way cute! She is getting so old, it is so weird!  It sounds like things are still moving along there, it is funny how time never stops!

This week has been super surprising.  Transfers came and it looks like I will be staying here in Trondheim!  I will also be training again!  Elder N will be traveling to Romerike, Elder L will travel to Stavanger, and Elder S will stay here.  My new companion will be Elder J.  I have no idea who he is, but I will be meeting him on Wednesday.  I will be working with Elder S as zone leader.  He will be taking over the position of district leader here in Trondheim though, I will be serving a the senior zone leader now.  So that has been a pretty interesting change!  I thought for sure I was heading into the east and would be working with one of the zone leaders there in the east, luckily I have the opportunity to stay here in Trondheim!  This means that I will be able to gain a perfect Trøndersk dialect!

The topics of dialects here in the mission is kind of weird.  I think I am one of two Americans that are currently speaking dialect.  There are several Norwegians here in the mission that speak dialect but it is really rare to have an American do it.  I don't have it perfect yet, it is still a mixture of the Narvik dialect and the dialect here in Trondheim.  But I am way happy now that I can learn it perfectly!  So that was way good to hear!

The other stuff is going well.  Masoud is doing great!  The baptism is definitely on for Saturday!  We are really bumped that Elder N won't be with us!  But it will be good for Elder J to come into the first week with a baptism.  We went to B's house for dinner with M and went to a couple church activities with him to.

Elder L and I had our Zone Leader training for all of our missionaries this last week as well.  So we had the whole north zone at our apartment on Thursday night after our meeting that day.  It is really weird to have these kind of meetings be under my direction now. It is good though to learn and grow in that capacity!  I feel like I learn so much every single time about being a leader and about how the Lord helps qualify you to be a leader.  He has helped me so much, it really is the most amazing experience to just see him take over your lesson or meeting and teach the things that the people need.  I really am so blessed to be his servant here in Trondheim.

It is really weird to be hitting my year mark this week, I am not really sure what to think.  I can't believe that I will be on the down slope of the experience here.  It is even weirder because Elder D is leaving for home the same day!  So yep, things once again are changing here in the mission.

As far as the recorder goes I would love to have one.  That would help a lot with learning the dialect here to.  Unfortunately the next moves will be December 20, so if you want to send a package and get it to me before Christmas it would probably be best before that day!  Other than that I would love some socks!  Just normal dress ones would be great!  Other than that I am doing great.  I got a new winter coat, but I am wondering if you want me to send the old ones back home? Let me know!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be here in Norway as the a servant of the Lord.  I have been given a great opportunity to succeed, learn and grow!  I have loved Jacob 5 recently.  It really teaches us about faith and our potential on a personal level.  I have realized that it teaches us that we can be bearing good fruit no matter where we are planted; whether it is good ground, poor ground, or the worst ground.  The lord gives us all the equal nourishment.  That means that we are the ones that decide if we are going to take what we are given and succeed or not. 

Also maybe a little more of a general note, the last thing the lord does before he says the harvest is done is he calls for servants in the field!  I think we are seeing that come into fulfillment here as we speak! 

The church is true!

Jeg elsker deg!

Eldste Jones

Heia!

 

Things are always the same it seems like!  Always something going off plan haha

 

This past week can probably fit under that same description.  We didn't really have a lot of things go to plan.  We didn't meet with anyone really.  Both of the guys we met last week couldn't met this week and have pretty much kebabed us. (Being kebabed means that someone doesn't show up to an appointment.  In the old days of the mission if someone didn't show up for an appointment missionaries would go and buy a kebab)  So that was kind of disappointing.  It is okay though, because we still had things to do and people to meet with!

 

Mission Leadership Council was great.  It was a good day for travel, went quickly to Oslo and then back up here!  It was a good experience to learn from president as always and a good opportunity to see other missionaries. I had a pretty scary moment though during the council.  I was called on to demonstrate how to get a referral from a member.  I had to do that in front of all the Zone leaders and assistants and President.  Luckily I had Elder Weaver as my comp. who did a great job.  So I don't think I embarrassed myself to badly haha. 

 

We met with M once last week.  It was right after Church.  We basically went through the Baptismal questions with him, and talked about how he has grown.  It is really amazing to see the growth that comes to people as they come closer to the Lord.  The Lord can really change people and help them in their lives.  It is a power that I have seen over and over on my mission.  A good number of times in myself.  I have come to love obedience and our father in heaven.  As we better understand our relationship to our father in heaven it becomes easier to follow his commandments and be the person you are meant to be.

 

So ya, we locked down M's baptismal date for the 16th.  That means that most likely I will leave 3 days before it.  We still haven't heard what is going on for transfers, but I still have a feeling like I will be leaving.  We find out Sunday.  There are two ways it could go, either it will be really dramatic or absolutely anti-climatic.  So we shall see haha. 

 

You asked how it feels to have success... well I think it might just be easier to describe how it feels to be a missionary/servant of the Lord.  Well none of these are really easy to describe.  I think I could steal some words from Elder Kearon, 'Glorious!'  That is the best way to describe the feelings in general. 

 

I know I am the Lords servant and that all things given to me are given for my good.  All experiences are to bring people closer to their savior and redeemer.  I know that he lives and loves us.  He plays a real, active role in everyday life. He has power in all things, even when we don't.  He is mighty to save, every single person. 

 

I think the best way to describe how it feels really is just to read Alma 26.  That does my feelings justice I think.

 

Anyways I have to run,

 

Jeg elsker deg!

Eldste Jones

IT IS AMAZING HOW QUICKLY YOU CAN COME TO LOVE A PERSON WHEN YOU ARE SERVING THEM.

heia!

Thank you so much for those pictures!  It was good to see everyone and everyone looks great!

I guess to just start with the stuff you already know about, we are still teaching M.  He is doing great.  He came to several activities and church and we got to meet with him several times other than activities and stuff, so it was just a lot of great stuff there.  However, we had to set back his baptismal date til the end of November, he just needs more time to learn and gain a real testimony.  We are pretty sure that he has had a pretty hard life and has a lot of trust issues and experiences to work through.  But I really just love the man so much and just want to see him progress.  It is amazing how quickly you can come to love a person when you are serving them. It really is the Lord's work here.

Other than that we had some pretty fun experiences.  We visited a church here called Salem.  They are a pentacostal church, a long lost relative of elder N's goes there.  So we went to their Saturday worship service which was pretty interesting.  That service was for all of the students here in trondheim, and the service consisted of a rock band that played for like and hour and then a student talking about the good samaritan.  The best part of the meeting however was when the student that was speaking began her speach by using our Bible video!  I was dying in my seat I was laughing so hard, I tried to visit a different faith and my own ran after me and caught me!  I went up to the girl that talked and spoke with her afterward and it kind of got awkward, she was not happy that we revealed to everyone that it was indeed our video.  (She was in a circle of like 6 people when we were talking and so they all heard me say that it was ours. So needless to say, I don't think she was planning on two mormon missionaries attending that service haha)

Other than that we had some good teaches with some other people and made some progress with new investigators.  Hopefully we will have another person with a baptismal date next week!  The funny part is that all of our new investigators are spanish speaking.  I have one from Cuba and one from Mexico!  They both have friends to, so we might just start bringing in more!

This week that is coming is Mission Leadership council, so I will be flying back to Oslo again on Wednesday.  That will make 35 flights since I began my mission!  I am not even at my year mark and I might be able to break 40!  So that is pretty exciting.  The transfer here ends on November 13 which is coming very quickly.  So it is in the middle of November, but that is only two and a half weeks away, so really it is right around the corner.  Elder D, will be on a plane home that day!  It feels so weird how much things are changing here.  Everyone is going home!  The wierdest part is that I will hit my year mark the day after my trainer leaves the land.  So yep, I think I am finally getting old here in the mission.  I still have yet to serve in the same zone as Elder E, so that is pretty sad. 

T still hasn't emailed me, but you better tell him to get off the computer and onto the treadmill!  Or he can stay on the computer and email, his choice.

Anyways that is pretty much it.  Jeg elsker deg!

Din sønn,

Eldste jones

Well,

It sounds like it has been somewhat of a heavy week. I am really glad to hear that R will be able to get back in just a short six week transfer!  That is the best thing that could have happened!  I will be keeping him in my prayers for the surgery this week!

But ya, this week here in the field.  We had our first taste of snow! The north of the zone got 3 feet or more.  Here we just got like an inch, and now it is all gone.  So that was a little fun.  It was also negative 9 degrees (I hope he means celsius!) here the other day, so it is starting to get cold too! This meant that I tried to put on my winter coat again and it is way too big!  I didn't realize how much weight until I put that thing on!  I am still sitting around the same weight as I have been, 205.  We eat a lot more here than we did in Narvik, but that is just because we have 4 elders in the apartment so it is a little easier to make larger portions for everyone.  We don't eat with members so much here.  

As far as p-days.  We just play volleyball every p-day here in the gym. So that is pretty much it.  

Other than that things are going well here.  We met with M a couple more times this week and things are still going well with him.  We are trying to help him get a testimony of Christ still since he doesn't have a christian backround, so things really are just moving slowly.  But he is so sincere so we are just really blessed to be able to work with him.  We actually had the chance to go to a church activity this week with him.  We watch Saints and Soldiers, it was way intense!  I have turned into a complete missionary though, because there was one scene where a soldier is sitting there in a basement and he is really troubled and I thought about how much he looked like Joseph Smith when he was in Liberty Jail. The whole movies was just about the gospel... so ja, I am a missionary officially.

But we are already coming up on Transfers soon... so I think that I will be moving soon. But ya when I said I was one of the ten oldest I meant as far as how long I have been in the field, I think there are still a lot of people that are older than me though haha.

That is about it though, Jeg må gå!

Jeg elsker deg!

Eldste Jones

HAPPY TO BE ENJOYING THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD

Hei Hei

Well I guess I am not so sure how to start this email... I can't believe that Riley is going home for surgery!  I really don't even know what to say.  We had an Elder leave our mission the day that Elder N arrived arrived in the land.  He had pretty much the same deal, he had a surgery and then recovery and would be returning. I called him and spoke to him briefly before he left for the mission home, but I really can't imagine having that conversation with Riley.  I really don't even know what to say...

There really wasn't a lot to talk about here.  We had a zone conference with president and sister evans.  So that meant that we had all the missionaries here in town for a little bit. We had the missionaries from alta in for all day Thursday, so that meant that we took splits with them.  I went with a new elder from Elder N's group, Elder H. It kind of brought on the realization that I am one of the oldest missionaries.  Then I had my interview with President and he told me that I was one of the older missionaries.  I am one of the 10 oldest missionaries now of a mission of 100.  It will be that way until I leave!  So it is really weird.  

We got a new baptismal date!  So that was pretty cool.  His name is M.  He is from Iran, he has been in Norway for awhile.  We have only taught him a couple times but he is a super sincere guy.  It has been a real blessing to get to teach him these couple of times.  I feel like I learn so much from each person that I come in contact. 

Just about things here in Norway quickly, things are starting to get cold here again.  We are supposed to have the first snow here this week.  It get dark around 6 and light around 6, so we are still moving into the dark times. It is reminding me of when I got here... I hit my 11 month mark today!  So that is a little weird.  It is weird when I say that at the end of this transfer I will be out for an entire year!  I really don't want my mission to end...

It has been a good week.  Happy to be enjoying the blessings of the Lord.  

Jeg elsker deg!

Eldste Jones

IT IS MY POWERFUL TESTIMONY THAT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS MEANT TO CHANGE US.

Heia igjen!

Well I am now 20.  So that is definitely a little different! But I am glad to hear that things are going well at home at that you guys enjoyed conference so much!  I am way jealous to hear that you actually got to go to conference!  Cool to hear that you and Tay got to go together as well, still haven't heard from him...

But ya as far as the week goes here, it was a pretty good one!  We had a lot of different things going on this week.  We got to help a guy move his house, and I almost forgot.  I GOT TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS!

It was way sweet.  One of the members here told us that they would be out and so we went onto our balcony and looked up and there they were!  Unfortunately there was a ton of fog so we couldn't see the definition of them but we could see waves of green flowing through the sky!  It was one of the most surreal experiences!  It is actually a peak year for the Northern lights so we should be seeing them again here sometime soon.  Hopefully next time without the hindrance of fog.

Other than that though conference was amazing as usual.  We got the opportunity to watch it here in the church with the exception of one session where we watched it at the senior couples home.  That was way nice, they made us mexican food of some variety that was really good.  It was wierd though because it felt like I was back at home sitting on the couch watching conference.  So it was nice to come back to church and watch it in the chapel. Here in Norway most people like watching it in English so that was what was played here in the chapel.  They had the Norwegian feed going in another room. 

I have to say that my favorite session was again priesthood session.  I really can't believe how inspired the messages are that come to us through the prophets. It is hard for me to pick a favorite talk though this year.  I felt like they all had profound spiritual truth. I felt like one of the themes of the conference this time was repentance and the atonement.  I really enjoyed the theme as it allows us all to regain perspective on life and ourselves.  That is the definition of repentance after all.  It can be easy to get caught up in the things around us whether they be work, school, politics,calamity, publicity, or any number of things; but at the end of the day we are here to learn to become like God.  It is expected that we make mistakes, go through hard times, suffer hardship because of others, and/or become discouraged.  This conference reminded us of the God given gift of the atonement.

It is my powerful testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to change us.  That we have the opportunity to learn godliness here in this life.  I know that I make mistakes everyday, whether they be language mistakes, leadership mistakes, plain old missionary mistakes, and/or average mistakes.  But I have the opportunity every week to partake of the sacrament and renew my covenants to get better.  I have the ability to literally become a new person every week free of sin, regret, sorrow, or pain.  We have the gift of living water that springs up into everlasting life.  A perfect everlasting life.

Jeg vet at min frelser lever.  Han har død for meg, og for hele menneskeheten.  Det har motivert meg å gå fremover med tro og håp.  Jeg vet at frelseren min har gitt meg muligheten å tjene sine andre barn.  Jeg har en mulighet å gi denne gleden til alle som er rundt meg! Hvor strålende kallet mitt er!

Translation: I know that my redeemer lives. He died for me and for all humanity. It has motivated me to move forward with faith and hope. I know that my Saviour has given me the opportunity to live again. I have an opportunity to give this joy to everyone around me! How glorious is my calling!

Jeg elsker deg så mye!

Din sønn

Eldste Jones 

I guess I forgot to mention my birthday... it was pretty great.  The district made me dinner and sister H made me texas sheet cake.  So I really don't think that I could have asked for anything more haha.

As far as things are going with the leadership and stuff though, I think things are going pretty good still.  I really do enjoy leading, especially as a district leader.  It is amazing to be able to help others and see them learn and grow.  But to answer your underlying question, yes mom, I am happy!  There are always things that need to be done, things to learn, others to help, but that just makes it easier to be happy cause I am busy.

I think that I have just been struggling to learn how to learn I think.  I feel like I can do it better, more efficiently, quicker even.  I am still lacking the motivation to do it for some reason though, same old problem haha.  So I have just been trying to figure out how to get motivation to push myself to new heights that I know are there, that I have just never hit.  So it has been an interesting learning opportunity.  One that is still eluding me at this point. One day I will figure it out!

anyways I am done rambling.

Love you again

dallin