One Drop Less

You could say we have been getting a lot of snow

Zone Conference

Talk about a roller coaster of a week. It was all over the place but ended up turning out okay. I think it's during the crazy weeks that I sometimes forget about all the friends and family that are out there cheering me on. Shouts out for all of the support. You all are the best. This week as I was going through the everyday stresses of missionary work I was hit by some of Satan's "A" game. If I'm being completely honest, I was feeling judged, I was feeling alone, but most of all I was feeling the pressure to be perfect. Times were tough, I was really missing my friends and family who are always good at reminding me that I'm actually not the worst. But that I'm doing a good job and that everything will be okay. Instead I just had to push through on the hardest day of the week.

Then I was hit by a talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley entitled, "How can I become the woman of whom I dream?" What an inspired man. Towards the end of his talk he says, "for you, my dear friends the sky is the limit. You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself do not feel sorry for yourself do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the church. Never forget that you came to earth as a child of the divine father, with something of Divinity in your very make up. The Lord did not send you here to fail. He did not give you life to waste it. He bestowed upon you the gift of mortality that you might gain experience positive, wonderful, purposeful, experience that will lead you to life eternal. Of course there will be some problems along the way. There will be difficulties to overcome. But they will not last forever. He will not forsake you. Look to the positive. Know that he is watching over you that he hears your prayers and will answer them, that He loves you and will make that Love manifest. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in all that you do as you look to become the kind of woman of whom you dream. You can do it. You will have friends and loved ones to help. And God will bless you as you pursue your course."  

After reading that, I began to feel a lot better. What a spiritual pump up. The Lord did not send me here (to Norway or to Tromsø) to fail. Sure He knew it would be hard and that I would be challenged but He knew it would be worth it. Even on those really hard weeks when you are feeling the pressure from everyone to be perfect and don't really have friends to talk to you in the area and you just feel judged and alone.  He knew I would need that experience to learn and grow and then use that to help others. Because that's why I'm here. To help and serve. I love Jeffrey R Holland's take on the situation of being a perfect missionary he talked about the monumental challenge of addressing iniquity in the world, "what can one man or woman do?" The master himself offered an answer prior to his betrayal and crucifixion, Mary anointed Jesus head with an expensive burial ointment and Judas Iscariot protested this extravagance and murmured against her. In Mark14:6  Jesus said, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me." She had done what she could. Literally live that. Satan is really good at making us think that we aren't good enough.  But all Christ and Heavenly Father ask of us is to do our best. To do what we can. 

A journalist once questioned Mother Theresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city. He said that statistically speaking she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. I can sometimes feel like that here in Norway. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love not statistics not withstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she did what she could to keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor. By serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had. "What we do is nothing but a drop in an ocean" she would say on another occasion, "but if we didn't do it the ocean would be one drop less than it is." Soberly the journalist had concluded that Christianity is obviously not a statistical endeavor. He reasoned that if there would be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over the 90and 9 that need no repentance then apparently God is not overly preoccupied with percentages. I think that an honest conclusion is God is happy when his children decide to come back to Him but He isn't expecting us as missionaries to be able to bring all of his children back. He just wants us to do our part. Just share that love like mother Theresa and to do what we can with the resources we have. We need not allow Satan to tell us otherwise. 

That is something I need to apply myself as Satan knows how to get me down and Christ therefore must constantly remind me, like Peter, what he needs. Jeffrey R Holland describe the encounter with Christ and Peter when he said, "then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on the same shore, by the same nets, having the same conversation? Wasn't it obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter are disciples- and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me," I love what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. "Ours is not a feeble message.  It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless, it is not hopeless, it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter for the second and presumably The last time, I am asking you to leave all this and go teach and testify labor and serve Loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me." Christ needs servants He needs you and me to feed His sheep.

I would challenge you all to pray for missionary opportunities this week or just pray for the full-time missionaries. Just do your part how ever big or small of a drop that is.  Thanks again for all of the support. I hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Vi Sees neste uke!

Klem,
Søster Blankmeyer 

Not In The Plan

Wow what a week! This past week was our "zone conference" where all of the Missionaries in the north of Norway got together along with Sister Hill and President Hill and his assistance to discuss the new missionary schedule. It was held in the city of Trondheim so we all got to fly into zone conference from our various northern locations. Søster Antanasio and I boarded a plane with the Elders in Tromsø and then caught another flight in Bodø where we were joined by both the Bodø and Narvik Elders. It was quite the adventure but we all eventually made it safe and sound in Trondheim. We took a train from the airport to the sisters apartment where both the Trondheim sisters and the Ålesund sisters were waiting.

One of my companions that I had served with in Ålesund. Søster Ralphs is actually serving in Trondheim right now and so we were able to catch up a little bit and then the Ålesund sisters were kind enough to answer all of our questions about the  Ålesund branch and the people there that we had grown to love. It was great. I have such a love for the city of  Ålesund and all the other wonderful cities I have had the opportunity to serve in.  Shout out to the  Ålesund Elders for letting me talk to the  Ålesund peeps off their phone by the way also #Blessed That Søster Ralphs and I got to call our convert Ben. Literally blessed. I've ended up having a really good zone conference and, like I mentioned earlier, we discussed the new missionary schedule and our experience with that these past few weeks. It made for some good discussion and actually started the thought process for what I could possibly write this week in our blog. After the conference was over and President Hill was done interviewing everyone we went on zone splits and everyone went out and did some form of missionary work in Trondheim, I got to go out contacting enjoying time with my old companion Søster Ralphs and I kid you not, almost everyone we stopped on the street was from  Ålesund or the surrounding area. It was just like old times. Trondheim is a University City and so we stopped a bunch of students. The first person we stop was a girl from  Ålesund studying at the University in Trondheim. Shortly after that we stop the guy from Molde which is where we would go for district meeting in  Ålesund so that was crazy. We ended up finding them a pretty cool potential while contacting and sister Ralphs was kind enough to let me grab a few pics of Trondheim before heading back up north to Tromsø. 

Once back in transit, we proceeded on with the normal missionary work up here. Since Søster Atanasio and I basically white washed this area the elders have been helping us get to know the area and learn how to most effectively work up here. They had previously devided the area up into 8 different zones depending on the buses and where they go so we have been working in our area and finding out which zone all of our former investigators are in so that we can hit one or two in an area at a time. This project has us working on the computer for an hour or two a day what is going to make a lot of future Søster Missionaries here in Tromsø a lot more effective. At the past zone conference President Hill gave us Missionaries permission to log onto our emails and read them throughout the week if we were already at a computer or it wasn't taking up too much of our time. Thanks to this project that we are working on here in Tromsø I had a couple opportunities to check my email and finally take the time to read a few of my fellow missionaries weekly emails which I consider a real blessing this week. I was able to read my friend Kayla's blog post where she informed all of her readers that she would be coming home early and arriving this next week from Chile. 

From previous experience with family and friends I know you're coming home early from your mission is no walk in the park and so with that in mind I knew what I should focus on this week in my blog and that is having faith in the Lord's timing and his plan. That's something I have really been trying to work on myself throughout my mission. I have had many experiences here in Norway that have helped to grow my faith in that fact that God knows me personally and all of his children personally as well and that literally He truly has a plan for each of us. Part of that plan is for us to experience hardships and part of that plan is for us to experience joy. We are here to have these experiences to help us learn and grow and I would even add to help us come closer to God, Jesus Christ and our fellow man.  

But sometimes it can be difficult to put our trust in the Lord's plan or the Lords timing. Right before moving up here to Tromsø I got a call from one of my previous companions. She told me of how a member we had both worked with and come to love was really struggling with her testimony. Apparently she had talk to the bishop and wanted nothing more to do with the church.  That hit me hard. I had seen this woman change her life and receive the blessings of the Gospel. I had seen her cry bearing her testimony to us and get emotional during her prayers. She knew her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their gospel and loved it and now she wanted nothing more to do with it. I just couldn't understand with my companion who had informed me about the situation, we decided to pray and fast for this lady. There really wasn't much more we could do especially myself all the way up here in Tromsø. We truly had to leave it up to God's plan and his timing. That was hard. All I wanted to do was go and visit this lady one more time and see if I couldn't bring back that spark, that testimony that was once there. Most of all though, I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her I loved her, but that wasn't in the plan for her or for me. This was a situation where the Lord needed me to put all my trust in Him. I had to leave it up to His plan and His timing and I'll be honest it was hard and still is. 

The elders shared a really great scripture this past week that I think I needed as much as the member they were sharing it with and it's found in D&C 123:17 which says, " Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." We can do all that we can do and Heavenly Father will take care of the rest. After all, he knows the plan. You can't see the entire picture and he knows exactly what we need to experience or endure in order to help us in this life and the life to come. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that I have and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to share it with the people here. Although it is not always easy, it is worth it. I send my love to all of you back home and thank you again for your love and support. Søster Atanasio and I are working hard but it is good. I'm hoping to see some miracle soon. Have a great week you all. I Love you! 

Klem,
Søster Blankmeyer

Texan in Tromsø

Shouts out to my little brother Erik who is celebrating his sweet 16 today back in the states. I hope you do better on your driving test then I did on mine here in Norway and that you pass so you can drive us to Chick-fil-A when I get back. Can't wait! In honor of my brother sweet 16 this week as well as Valentine's Day. I figured I could just share with you all 16 things that I loved about this past week. 
1. I loved going out contacting yesterday and asking people what makes them happy. We ended up stopping this one woman and asked her what she was thankful for and she told us how she was thankful that her son gave her a call yesterday on Mother's Day here in Norway which made me think about how much I love my mom. Shouts out to you Bert for honestly being one of my best friends and for loving and supporting me no matter what. I love you so much and can't wait to Skype you on American Mother's Day!
2. Second I loved church this past Sunday even though I was asked to speak and play piano, both of which stresses this perfectionist out, I was glad that I could help support the branch here in Tromsø. I also just love being able to have a church to go to hear and feel of the spirit there. It makes a difference.
3. I love the Valentine's Day party that our branch had on Friday night. It was a blast. We had pulled pork sandwiches and afterwards we decorated sugar cookies. My new friend Gabriella helped me decorate mine well I talked with one of our investigators who came to the party. We then played the classic minute to Win it games and even some dance dance Revolution. It was honestly quite the party and there was a pretty good turnout. I was able to meet a lot of members and talk to a couple of investigators as well which was great, so even though I'll be missing the Bro's sweet 16 party at least Tromsø knows how to throw a dope Valentine's Day party.

4. Speaking of Erik, I love my brother. I know I was pretty hard on you growing up but you're just a champ and continue to Love me. #Blessed. Honestly though, I love you and hope you have a killer b-day. I'm sorry I can't be there but I promise to make it up to you when I get back home. Keep killing the game. You're awesome.
5. Primary was a blast this week. My friend Gabriella who helped me decorate cookies at the Valentines party is our one and only kid in primary, but she's a hoot. She's become one of my best friends here in Tromsø already. We were able to teach the story of Noah's Ark through a puppet show which Gabriella probably followed up with her own puppet show version of Noah's ark. It was great. We took some selfie's and then sun head shoulders knees and toes so you could say it was a successful day in primary. 

6. I absolutely loved my Valentine's Day cards and package this past week. It's always good to get a little something from home and Bert really out did herself this time. Also shout out to Erik and Eliza for the cards. I was able to share some of the candy with the peeps here which brought a smile to their face and the cards and package really brought a smile to my face. 

7. I really love my personal study this past week. Actually, personal study has always been my favorite out of all of our studies but this past week I found a lot of talks/articles in the Tromsø apartment and decided to go through all of them. I really ended up liking this blog post by Ariel R. Szuch who talked about feeling broken and how she views that brokenness as a gift because our brokenness connects us to each other, and our brokenness brings us to Christ. I especially love this sentence she wrote, "Sharing our brokenness brings meaning to our experiences, and the connection we make with others when we share our stories it brings healing." I love that, it's so true. 
8. I made a ton of new friends this week and anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE having friends and being with friends so that was definitely a highlight of this past week. Tromsø is just getting better and better. I am truly blessed. The people here are great.
9. Of course I've got to say that I loved and appreciated the beauty here in Tromsø this past week. This place is honestly stunning and I still can't get over the view from our apartment. The sun has also been shining ever since I got here and this Texan in Tromsø loves her sun.

10. I also love the knowledge and perspective that the gospel brings to my life. I realized after talking to so many people that my faith really has helped me so much in my life. I'm honestly so blessed.
11. I also enjoyed district meeting this past week. Elder Wakefield an Elder here in Tromsø, shared with us his ideas as to why God doesn't just give us the answers to everything. He said to us, "oranges" and of course none of us knew what he was talking about and then he had us ask him what he ate for breakfast and he responded with oranges. If God just gave us the answers to everything it wouldn't make sense. We need to ask and then we can begin to understand the answers.
12. I loved being able to talk to so many of my fellow missionaries this past week. Soster Atanasio and I have been giving referrals out like candy this past week and so I was able to talk to a lot of my friends around the mission. Also homeboy Elder Rogers had his birthday on Sunday so I got to call him too. Talk about blessed.
13. I have also come to love the scripture in D&C 64:33 which says, "wherefore, be not weary in well doing, for you are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth with that which is great." Sometimes it feels like I'm not accomplishing anything but this scripture reminds me that I am laying the foundation that one day someone will come to Norway and be able to build off that foundation that's already been laid down for them.
14. I have such a love for my friends back home that continually support me. I would not be the person I am today without each of you. Thanks for putting up with my crazy self. You all are the real MVPs. Sorry for the late 2012 reference. I promise I'll be cool again when I get back. Love you guys.
15. I have such a love for my testimony. This week we had a pretty intense teach with two students from Bible school he basically just wanted to tell us we were wrong but it really only strengthened my testimony of the Gospel. I'm so glad that even though I make mistakes sometimes that I know I have a Father in Heaven who loves me. I am so grateful for that knowledge and for the testimony that I have of this gospel and for this opportunity to share that with others here. 
16. Lastly, I love my family and for the support that they show me whether they be members of the church or not. I was really blessed with the best. Thanks for all that you all do for me. The cards and packages and prayers really get me through. I love my mission so much! But I also love that I have so many amazing people back home that make me excited to get back and see again.

I literally love you all so much. I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day spent with those you love and a wonderful week as well.

Klem,
Søster Blankmeyer 

LOOK MOM NO HANDS

Tromsø Nights and Northern Lights

Well it's been a very cold but very good past 3 days here in Tromsø. This place is honestly stunning. The pictures don't do it justice. We have been up and down and all around this island trying to find those who are ready and it's made for some great pictures of Tromsø. We've been able to see the sun and even the northern lights a few times and that just adds to the beauty. It's definitely been a change going from the southernmost area to the northernmost but I'm excited to see what this transfer brings. 

I know I'm here in this area at this time for a reason and I can't wait to find out why. For a lot of my mission it's been very easy to see the practical reasons as to why I've been moved to certain areas. For example, I was sent to Ålesund to play piano for the branch, or I was sent to Asker because they needed a driver, or even I was sent up here to play piano again and to help the new senior couple as they transition to a life in Norway. All of those are wonderful things and don't get me wrong I'm here to serve in whatever way I can but those are all just practical reasons as to why I'm in that area. It didn't necessarily have to be "Søster Blankmeyer" that performed all of those tasks. There are plenty of other missionaries who are willing and able to play piano or drive a car around Norway, but I've come to realize just how inspired these moves really are. I was reading in my transfer book or "minnebok" in the airport in Oslo, which for those of you who don't know what a transfer book is it's just a little journal that you have people write in before you leave an area, and I came across an entry in there that really hit me. It was written by someone who I became way tight with and in this entry it talked about our friendship. I then realized that these moves have really been inspired. I've been sent to the places that have the people 'I' need. I hope I've been able to make a positive impact on their lives as well.  But at the very least I have been sent to the people that I needed in my life at that time. 

I'm the type of person that thrives off of friendships (people person) which I think is the hardest thing about moves, having to make friends all over again. I think it is also the biggest blessing of moves though, being able to go out and build those relationships with those people that you otherwise would have never met if you had just stayed put. It's been a major blessing as I look back on it. Maybe originally I went to those areas for the practical reasons but of course, like they always say, the Lord has a plan and he knew that Søster Blankmeyer would need Ben in Ålesund or Andrea in Asker or any and all of the missionaries that I've served with and hopefully they needed me as well. As I looked through that minnebok in the Oslo airport and thought to myself, "Holy crap, I'm going to Tromsø," I was able to feel peace that I'm going up north for a reason and yes part of that reason may be to play the piano or help the new senior couple.   But I'm here in Tromsø to share the love that God has for His children here and to make some friendships along the way. The Lord knows that I need that. I'm literally so excited for that. Sorry I'm a bit pressed for time this week but everything is going great up here. 

I think it's pretty funny that my mission President would send two Texans to the northernmost area for sister missionaries in the enitre world but we're bringing the Texas heat with us so get ready for the missionary work to heat up. I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week. I can't wait to share with you all my experiences up here in Tromsø, Norway. This work is truly incredible and I'm so blessed to be a part of it! Thank you all again so much for the support and a big shout out to Anne and Jasper in the Netherlands for the Dutch cookbook! I hope you all have a great week and I'll talk to you soon!

Klem,

Søster Blankmeyer

PS. I wanted to add a little bit of Søster Blankmeyers companions letter this week.

This week was pretty cool, contacted people from all over the world and it has been a ball. Oh my goodness hahaha my Companion got kissed this week toooAHAHAHAHAHAHthere was this 60 something year old man and he just stopped us and was talking and really just took us off guard to say in the least. Ye suddenly yelled "KOS" (hug, to cozy, no English equivalent) and then layed one on poor søster Blankmeyer. The guys turned to me and I was like heck no! and we walked away ...quickly.