Our second Christmas in Norway has been
another riktig god og velsignet,
(wonderful and blessed) experience!
another riktig god og velsignet,
(wonderful and blessed) experience!
The julenisse and star, once again shine
in our apartment window.
Senteret
Things have been festive at the center.
Starting with decorating the tree...
the windows...
brownie Christmas trees...
and pepperkakehus.
Magnus is a serious decorator!
Magnus is a serious decorator!
Risgrøt was again requested for
the annual Christmas party. Once again, I cooked
it using the "dyne method". I noticed that the
dyne method was even suggested on the ris box.
Two pots, wrapped up and cooking.
Atle, Mats and Even found the almonds and
won the marzipan pigs. Åse felt sad.
Risgrøt, peanut blossoms, mint brownies,
gløgg and clementines were on the menu.
gløgg and clementines were on the menu.
(Gløgg is a popular hot drink, kind of like cider
with raisins and chopped pecans)
with raisins and chopped pecans)
Hanna and Søster Williams entertained us.
Søster Carpenter acted as the music stand.
Søster Carpenter acted as the music stand.
Jennifer and Seif
Seif, our new friend from Syria, has really embraced
the Gospel! This has been his first Christmas experience
since he comes from a Muslim background. It has been
such a joy to watch him enjoy this experience!
The night of the party, Jennifer brought him a Christmas
gift. He was thrilled! I later told Jennifer, how thoughtful
that was. She told me she woke up one morning
and had the thought, "You need to buy Seif a gift." She
thought,"Why? I hardly know him". The thought wouldn't
go away --- so she did. We learned later that Seif had really wanted to get a Christmas gift. It reminded me that it
is usually through His children that, someone's need is met.
Seif, our new friend from Syria, has really embraced
the Gospel! This has been his first Christmas experience
since he comes from a Muslim background. It has been
such a joy to watch him enjoy this experience!
The night of the party, Jennifer brought him a Christmas
gift. He was thrilled! I later told Jennifer, how thoughtful
that was. She told me she woke up one morning
and had the thought, "You need to buy Seif a gift." She
thought,"Why? I hardly know him". The thought wouldn't
go away --- so she did. We learned later that Seif had really wanted to get a Christmas gift. It reminded me that it
is usually through His children that, someone's need is met.
Seif and the Senior Søster
***********
Food
Before transfers, Eldste Nelson treated us
all to authentic Indian food. The Kandle
family, from Nepal, owns it and Brother Kandle
is the main cook. They made sure we tasted a
variety of their delicious creations.
*************
Bishop McFadzean and Ida made sure
we all experienced lutefisk, which is
dried cod, rehydrated and steeped in
lye. No one knows why it is soaked
in lye. I think it must have been a
mistake!
Eldste Nelson --- a bit apprehensive?
We were instructed to - first put the fish on our fork,
then mashed peas, potatoes, bacon and mustard.
It has to be eaten all together.
With the bacon and mustard - it was right tasty!
We were all proud of ourselves for having eaten
this very authentic Norwegian food!
**********
Our fun R.S. presidency after a Christmas
lunch at the Hotel Norge.
It has been a joy to serve with Marie,
Jeanette and Maria!!
**********
Ingvild brought dinner to the Church
for all the missionaries. The lapskaus,
(stew), and fresh bread was delicious!
************
Jeanette and her clean shaven son, Benjamin.
We enjoyed a wonderful Julaften breakfast,
with the Torjesen family, consisting of
Rolf's famous American pancakes, and
all kinds of yummy breads, spreads, cheeses,
drinks - and lots of laughs!
***********
Christmas Eve was a new experience. We were
invited to attend service with Tom and Turid
at their church in Tveit.
Before the service, Turid placed lighted
candles on her family's graves.
What a great tradition!
The cemetery glittered!
This church was built in the 11th century.
After the service, we enjoyed some of
Turid's delicious cooking. Pinnekjøtt,
(steamed dried lamb chop ), ribbe,
(pork roast), Christmas sausage, kålrot, (rutabaga)
and surkål, (sweet sauerkraut).
***************
Delightful! That's what it was to spend time
with the Lund family and enjoy their family
tradition of pinnekjøt meat, wrapped in
lefse with a chunk of rutabaga and dipped in
Cathrine's special sauce.
Delicious and Delightful!
**************
On Christmas morning, all the missionaries,
along with Seif, enjoyed breakfast of waffles and
scrambled eggs.
Then it was time to open gifts!
Seif wrote in a Christmas card to all the missionaries,
"I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for sending his children for me. Since I have met you my life has been filled with joy, love and peace in a way I have never imagined."
Our lives have also been filled with joy, love and peace!
**************
Lights
Markensgate, the main shopping center
in sentrum
One of my favorites - stars shining
bright in many of the windows.
Shining, even in the day time.
"May the beautiful lights of every holiday season
remind us of him who is the source of all light."
Elder Bednar
***********
Food
Before transfers, Eldste Nelson treated us
all to authentic Indian food. The Kandle
family, from Nepal, owns it and Brother Kandle
is the main cook. They made sure we tasted a
variety of their delicious creations.
*************
Bishop McFadzean and Ida made sure
we all experienced lutefisk, which is
dried cod, rehydrated and steeped in
lye. No one knows why it is soaked
in lye. I think it must have been a
mistake!
Eldste Nelson --- a bit apprehensive?
We were instructed to - first put the fish on our fork,
then mashed peas, potatoes, bacon and mustard.
It has to be eaten all together.
With the bacon and mustard - it was right tasty!
We were all proud of ourselves for having eaten
this very authentic Norwegian food!
**********
Our fun R.S. presidency after a Christmas
lunch at the Hotel Norge.
It has been a joy to serve with Marie,
Jeanette and Maria!!
**********
Ingvild brought dinner to the Church
for all the missionaries. The lapskaus,
(stew), and fresh bread was delicious!
************
Jeanette and her clean shaven son, Benjamin.
We enjoyed a wonderful Julaften breakfast,
with the Torjesen family, consisting of
Rolf's famous American pancakes, and
all kinds of yummy breads, spreads, cheeses,
drinks - and lots of laughs!
***********
Christmas Eve was a new experience. We were
invited to attend service with Tom and Turid
at their church in Tveit.
Before the service, Turid placed lighted
candles on her family's graves.
What a great tradition!
The cemetery glittered!
This church was built in the 11th century.
After the service, we enjoyed some of
Turid's delicious cooking. Pinnekjøtt,
(steamed dried lamb chop ), ribbe,
(pork roast), Christmas sausage, kålrot, (rutabaga)
and surkål, (sweet sauerkraut).
***************
Delightful! That's what it was to spend time
with the Lund family and enjoy their family
tradition of pinnekjøt meat, wrapped in
lefse with a chunk of rutabaga and dipped in
Cathrine's special sauce.
Delicious and Delightful!
**************
On Christmas morning, all the missionaries,
along with Seif, enjoyed breakfast of waffles and
scrambled eggs.
Then it was time to open gifts!
Seif wrote in a Christmas card to all the missionaries,
"I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for sending his children for me. Since I have met you my life has been filled with joy, love and peace in a way I have never imagined."
Our lives have also been filled with joy, love and peace!
**************
Lights
Markensgate, the main shopping center
in sentrum
One of my favorites - stars shining
bright in many of the windows.
Shining, even in the day time.
"May the beautiful lights of every holiday season
remind us of him who is the source of all light."
Elder Bednar
