Mars means Vår! - March means Spring!

Spring has come to Norway!

The crocus are bursting through everywhere!!

The locals are excited for winter to be over

 but it sure seemed like a mild one to us - I guess

we expected it to be much worse.  Just a few days ago, 

though, we went to Stavanger for zone conference and when 

we got home, found about 5 inches of snow on the

ground, but, because of all the rain and

warmer temps, it didn't stay long.  Spring is here!

Spring brought some new welcomed items to our 

apartment.

Out with the old and small -

and in with the new! 

 Isn't she a beauty??

Yay!!  Jim doesn't have to knead bread

by hand anymore and all those cookies

and brownies mix up in a jif!!

(We are feeling a little spoiled - but happy

and very grateful!)

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The Kristiansand Chapel

Let me show you around our building...

The Chapel (I love the colors!)

Hjelpeforeningens Rom

Kjøkken - and a very well stocked

kitchen it is!  The cupboards are full and

thank goodness there is a dishwasher!!

The over-flow/recreation hall

Primaer Rom

 Notice each child has his or her own

 personal chair.  There are also

a couple for gjests.

The YW room

Døpefonten -  it needs to

be used more!!

Outside the Bishop's office.

Stairs going up to the Chapel

We have always loved the beautiful artwork in our

Tempe West Stake Center, so Jim, following the 

good example of Steve Earl,  got permission

 to order pictures for the K-sand building.  

They sure make a difference!

Last Sunday we hit a record - 7,

 yes seven investigators attended

Church.      

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Our next door neighbors are great!  Konstantine and Iris.

As you can tell, Konstantine is a car guy - needless to

say, he and Jim have hit it off grrrreat!

Whenever Jim disappears - I know where

to find him.

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Jim and I love being invited to members' homes!  

The food is always wonderful and it is so nice to

get better acquainted with these good people and

to learn more about their individual stories.

It was a pleasure to be in Rigmor's home!

Her husband, who has passed away, was

a well known artist who did a lot  of 

wood carvings.  We look forward to seeing

his huge carved trolls that are permanent

fixtures at the K-sand Dyrepark, (zoo).

These two carvings are taken from famous
 Norwegian fairy tales

Rigmor and I about to enjoy her

award winning dish, "Søgnes Nytt".

It was delicious!

Her home is a beautiful showplace

for her husbands and her own art.

*

We are privileged to home teach Diana, 

who lives in a lovely secluded area surrounded

by woods and, of course, near the ocean. Her

husband is a seaman.

They have one of these, storage

huts/troll houses, that I adore!!

 Diana always insists on feeding us

and most of the time sends extra

food home to give to the

other missionaries. She says, 

the Good Lord has blessed her and

she wants to share. 

*

Recently, we had a real fun time with

our landlords, Geir and Anne.  

Anne makes one fantastic pizza!!

She is also an artist and has many

unique pieces of art in their home. 

They are the best landlords!

(Remember, we just got our new,

BIG fridge!)

*

We really like being with this good family!

Jim and Tommy (he is the Elders'

Quorum Pres.)

Cathrine and the yummy dessert 

she made - pavlova.

Our lives are blessed and enriched

by all our new friends!!

*********************

On a recent hike, we saw this chimney, just to

the side of the path, sticking out of the 

ground. 

So we climbed down below and found

this little hideout.  The chimney

belonged to it. 

There are a lot of water

falls rushing down the mountains.

Jim and Kari 

Snow is melting, water is a flowing!

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Spring has brought some new friends to 

Senteret.

Last Friday was our biggest group yet!  

We fed 29 and there was a total of 38

that attended Institute, including 11 visitors!

Some of our new friends

If they are not playing CRUD - they are 

playing pool.

Introducing Mormons Bok

Sisters Trydal and Larsen

We are so grateful to be a part of 

this great missionary work!

***********************

Something else new, this Spring....

my companion mending his pants pocket!

(He never ceases to amaze me!)

Jim loves a clean car!  I'm sure, no one

in Norway washes their car more than he does!

He is out washing it right now - the forecast

says 5 days of sunny weather so the car might

stay clean for a while.

Happy Spring!

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Spring means Easter - celebrating the resurrection

of our Savior.

He lives and because He lives, 

so shall we!