All right, well I know that this blog post is coming a week late but I've never missed a blog post yet and I figured better late than never. I wanted to share with you all my highlights of my first full week as a missionary in Stavanger. On Monday, April 24, we were able to participate in family home evening with the young single adults. This particular family home evening was held at a members home who just so happens to have a plethora of musical instruments. We were to have a night where we would all gather together and sing songs and enjoy the beauty of music. It honestly ended up being one of my absolute favorite family home evenings that I have attended here in Norway.
This particular member is part of a band and quite honestly a musical genius and had found some songs for us that were easy enough to sing and play along with. It was awesome and afterwards we were all done singing and playing we all had some fantastic Norwegian waffles. That was my introduction to family home evening here in Stavanger as well as my introduction to a lot of the young single adults here who are truly awesome. That family home evening ended up being the highlight of my week and got me thinking a little bit more about music and honestly the joy that it brings into my life and the lives of others. I didn't see a single frown at that activity. Everybody at the activity was smiling and laughing and having a good time and enjoying the music.
As a missionary I don't have access to different types of studies but I know there have been many studies on the effect that music has on us as humans. I can testify that music really does have an effect on us and I think that is so beautiful. Coming together for a family home evening activity with all of the young single adults brought a lot of joy to a lot of people including me. I really do have such a love for music. Anyone that truly knows me knows that I have such a love for music I have always been that person that listens to music as I get ready for the day. As I go throughout my day and honestly up until the very end of the day. I am also not really that biased to different genres of music either. In my personal opinion, I think that if a song makes you happy that you should listen to it. Everyone has a different taste in music but I think it's safe to say that everyone has at least one song that makes them happy. Music in general just makes me happy. I've spent pretty much my whole life listening to music and learning how to replicate and create my own music through varying instruments and I've seen the difference it can make in peoples lives.
I've actually seen the effects of music all the time while out here on my mission. I've been lucky enough in my last couple of areas to have had someone leave behind a ukulele that I could use to play and sing with my companions and it's honestly been a major blessing. It's maybe a little bit weird to think that playing an instrument and singing some songs could relieve so much stress and create some much joy, but it really truly does.
There's something about the fact that music is a form of art and creating something so beautiful can bring so much joy that it is so cool to me. No wonder God gave us the gift of music here on earth. What a blessing that truly is. It also a blessing to be musical. I think if we are blessed with the talent of music, that we should share it with others. That may sound very hypocritical of me seeing as sometimes I myself am shy about my music, but I've seen how sharing my music with others has brought a lot of joy and peace. I'm literally so grateful for music and for the blessing it has been in my own life and the lives of others. Music is magical and it truly makes a difference.
I had another really cool experience with music this past week during my first full Sunday here in Stavanger. I'd love to share it with you all before I go. During sacrament meeting on Sunday The relief society aged women all got up and saying a musical number "Ostore Gus" Or "How Great Thou Art" in English and that was such a cool experience for me. It was one of the most beautiful musical numbers I have ever heard. I was sitting out there in the audience not really knowing any of those women who were up there singing and yet I was able to feel so strongly of their spirit and testimonies. It was really beautiful singing and music but what was honestly more beautiful where the singers and then musicians it was a really cool experience for me to sit in the audience and truly say to myself, "Wow! what an absolutely beautiful musical number." I didn't know any of those women personally, but I knew they all had a story and had all gone through life's ups and downs and throughout that journey had chosen to put their faith in God and that is really what that musical number was all about. It wasn't about the practices or anything else really. It was about why they were singing that song and how it applied to their stories and lives and all of that combined brought the spirit so strong which is what made that beautiful.
I guess my challenge for you all this week it's just share your musical talents or testimony or something that you find beautiful with someone you care about. I know if you do this it will bring peace and comfort to the both of you. I'm so grateful for the gift of music and for the opportunity that we have to share that with others. I'm grateful for this week for reminding me of the blessing of music and for reminding me most my many blessings in general. I love this gospel and I love you all so much make it a great week!
Klem,
Søster Blankmeyer
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