Well here we are at the halfway point of the MTC experience, and what an experience it has been. Like most things, it's had it's ups and downs but I'm learning to really like it here and although I can't wait to get out to Norway, I'll truly miss all the friends I've made and the experiences I've had here. 

This has been a wild week for sure! We finally got to "Host" this week, which means that we got to escort all the incoming missionaries into the MTC and help them on their way. It was a blast because it got us out of an hour of Norwegian class but it was also crazy. We were given a brief training on where to take the missionaries to get books and their name tags and all that jazz. It was a lot of information to take in but I was pumped and ready to escort the new Sisters into this wonderful world of the MTC. Soon enough, cars started pulling up and we started grabbing suitcases and taking pictures and trying not to cry too when we saw the Mothers start bawling. I was pumped to meet the girl I would be escorting when lo and behold the Brother that trained us pulls me to the next car and tells me to take special care of this one. They were totally related- no pressure though! Lol. He starts to hug everyone that files out of the typical Mormon van (I mean that in the kindest way possible) and starts to watch my every move as I try and remember what I'm supposed to be doing. I grab a couple suitcases, set them to the side, take some pictures of the family, take some more pictures of the Mom hugging her daughter goodbye and then whisk her away to the next checkpoint. All the while, my trainer is watching me like a hawk, but really no pressure or anything. I finally get this girl settled in and on to her classroom and head back to the curb to get another one. As soon as I make it back to the curb I start smelling a fire. THE MTC IS ON FIRE. They start telling everyone to head North and pretty soon it's Soster Hutchings, me and everyone else trying to drop their children off at the MTC all in one massive parking lot. Soster Hutchings and I run into the MTC President and his wife and she gives us a big hug. Literally one of the sweetest ladies ever. She tells us that something caught on fire in the cafeteria but everything turned out alright. The fire was put out and we were to continue our duties as hosts. By this point, most of the incoming missionaries had been dropped off so Soster Hutchings and I decided to take one final Sister together. We grabbed her bags and took her to a building where she would receive her name tag. While Soster Hutchings and I wait outside with this girl's bags, an older lady walks up to us with about 5 new Sister missionaries. She tells us that they need to be escorted to the residence to switch rooms and then they need to be taken to class as well. So here we are with now 6 Sister missionaries, all of whom need their suitcases taken to their rooms, they need to grab their materials, and then we need to take them to class. Easy enough right? Lol. These 5 new sisters actually don't speak English. We smile and wave for them to follow us and we make it all the way to the residence. We get the English speaking missionary on her way and then we are left with a Sister from Argentina and 4 Sisters from Korea. We get the Argentina Sister's luggage from the bottom floor of the residence to the top floor just to find out her new key doesn't work. We stash her suitcases in our room and decide to fix that problem after we have figured out where the Koreans need to go. We follow the Koreans to their temporary room and there is some confusion as to where we need to transport them and their luggage too. They don't speak a bit of English and neither Soster Hutchings nor I speak a bit of Korean. We ultimately just did the best we could with the language barrier and took them to their class. We then had to figure out the Argentina Sister's situation so we had to walk up to the front desk all the way on the other side of campus, and get her a new key. We walked all the way back to the residence and got her into her new room and then finally off to class. What a crazy experience. I was really waiting for the gift of tongues to kick in and I'd be able to communicate to the Koreans but sadly that didn't happen. Get 'em next time I guess. I definitely have some new motivation to at least learn a few Korean words. I'd challenge you all to do the same. You never know when you may need it. 

Another crazy experience this week, we got locked out of our room. We got home from class one night and every night they read off the names of people who need to report to the front desk for various reasons. Well this particular night, my name got called over the loud speaker and I was terrified. I went through every possible scenario in my head and just completely siked myself out the whole way there. I thought maybe I was being reassigned, maybe something terrible had happened to my family, maybe I was in trouble for who knows what, and every other possible scenario. Soster Dransfield and I finally get to the front desk and turns out they just wanted to give me and overnight package my Dad had sent. (Speaking of packages, thanks so much Grandma and Grandpa Blankmeyer for the amazing Easter package. My district has already enjoyed some of the treats inside and the card is taped to our very decorated door.) When Soster Dransfield and I are headed back to the residence with my package we decide we want to trick the other two Sosters and say I got reassigned. We finally get back and I go and talk to the Swedes while Soster Dransfield goes to find the other Sosters. By the time the prank has been delivered and the Sosters find out I just got called up for a package, they also realize that we have been locked out of our room. It was honestly tragic as Soster Hess and Hutchings are already in pajamas with no shoes and ready for bed and we now have to trek all the way across campus back to the glorious front desk where we received a temporary key and a few laughs from the workers up there. It all ended up working out but dang what a night.

Alright last funny story before this post goes spiritual. Soster Hutchings and I found a Happy Birthday banner in one of the Give-Away bins that we decided to grab and add to the classroom. We hung it up right on top of the chalkboard and although we got a few weird looks from Eldste Nelson the banner stayed. Pretty soon it was almost time for Brother Leighton and Sister Isasken to come and teach us Norwegian. We thought to ourselves that someone should pretend it was their birthday just as a funny joke. Soster Hess stepped up and decided it was time for her 20th birthday. When Brother Leighton and Sister Isasken came in and saw the banner they were so excited. We told them it was Soster Hess' birthday and they got so excited! They sang to her the extra long Happy Birthday song in Norwegian and had the biggest smiles on their faces as they sang. We all silently decided that we didn't want to crush their excitement and just played it out the rest of the class. When they ended up leaving, they made sure to wish Soster Hess a Happy 20th and we tried so hard not to burst out in laughter. We do feel a bit guilty and will probably let them know it wasn't actually her birthday at some point before we leave.

Alright onto the spiritual thought. This week was a blast and we had some great experiences, but it was also a week that really stretched me. One of the hardest experiences of the week really helped me to grow and have more faith not only in the Lord but in my ability to reap the blessings of the gift of tongues. Sister Isasken (who is actually a native Norwegian from Oslo) ended up pairing up with me for an activity where we were to go over Jesus Christ's gospel and all the many points in the lesson in under 3 minutes. I thought to myself, if I can give this lesson in Norwegian in under 3 minutes I'll be way impressed. It took me a couple tries but I was finally able to get it. Then we went for two minutes, one minute, and finally 30 seconds. By the time we got down to the 30 second region, I was really struggling. I just could not get this lesson down to 30 seconds, and I kept thinking to myself, "When am I ever going to need to recite this in 30 seconds?" I was getting pretty discouraged and Sister Isaksen told me to say a quick prayer. As soon as I was finished praying I tried one more time and was able to do it! I learned from that one experience so many different things. 

1) That we must have faith in Jesus Christ and his ability to use us.

2)That prayer is real and works

3) The Lord hears and answers our prayers and really wants what's best for us

4) That through Christ and his power, we can do hard things

I am so very grateful for this gospel and for the opportunity that I have to bring that joy to the people of Norway. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend and remember Christ this Sunday. I know he came to this Earth. I know he died for you and for me. I know he was and is the only one to be able to overcome death and I am so grateful for that knowledge. I hope you all stay safe and healthy this week. Pray for missionary opportunities. Share the glorious message of this gospel with those you meet and always remember Christ loves and cares for each and every one of you. 

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Soster Blankmeyer