Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Monday, July 21st, 2014

I am excited but nervous at the opportunity to train, but I know everything will be as it should be. The Lord certainly qualifies those whom he calls. I am really going to miss Elder Crook who will be traveling back to Sandvika. It will be very exciting to get a new missionary. His name is Elder Cheney, and he is from Las Vegas. I do not really know anything else about him yet. I am really excited though. It was a lot of fun to be able to go to Drammen and experience how the work is done there as well as to receive instruction from President Evans (Norway’s Mission President) in Oslo. We are also teaching a Norwegian class for people who speak English.

One realization I have really had is how important it is for BOTH members and missionaries to be anxiously engaged in the work of salvation. As Elder Ballard said in conference last October, we cannot do it alone. We need members to help us to find, teach and baptize. We need prayers and action. I have seen such miracles as we all truly make an effort to do this. Let us all lift where we stand and pull all at once. Our brothers and sisters really need us to do all we can. We are so blessed, and we must share those blessings. Thank you all so much for your wonderful examples. I know that the Lord is grateful for every effort we make and that he will empower and inspire us to perform miracles according to our faith. I hope you feel of and will share God's love.


Love,
Elder Ankenman

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Monday, July 14th, 2014

Things are really picking up for the whole district, and us, which is really exciting. I just found out today that I will be training (a brand new missionary) next transfer, so I will be going to a training meeting for that in Oslo on Friday. We will also be having splits on Thursday in Drammen with the zone leaders, which will be fun since I have never been there before. It is the biggest ward in Norway, and their member work is really booming. I am sure I will learn a lot. There are a lot of people in Norway on vacation right now including members of the ward, so we need to try to find where the people are, but we are doing really well nonetheless. I am very grateful to be able to serve and be a part of this incredible work. I know that Heavenly Father is helping us to move it forward.

We are really starting to see some cool things happening including getting more people coming to church and a baptismal date, and it has all as Elder Crook pointed out been linked to the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is so powerful. I cannot express or really even comprehend the impact it has had on my life. We have no stronger testament of the divinity of Christ or the power of His atonement. I know that we receive incredible blessings as we make study of the Book of Mormon a priority in our lives. It will help us be filled with the pure love of Christ and an understanding of God’s plan for us. I hope you have a wonderful and Book of Mormon filled week. The Norwegian word of the week is å oplære, which means to train.


Love,
Elder Ankenman

Friday, July 11, 2014

Monday, July 7th, 2014

We had a zone leader-training meeting in Tønsberg by the assistants focusing on our skills. It was really wonderful. We also had a visit of the traveling assistants. I learned a lot about the need for us to be focused on teaching people not just talking to them. Our calling is to teach the gospel not to chat on the street. This work is truly urgent and will go forward. As we adopt that sense of urgency and boldness as missionaries and members we will truly see the hand of the Lord helping us along. One really exciting thing is that Elder Bednar is coming to Norway in September! We will be having a joint stake conference and then a three-hour missionary meeting. Only two of the four zones will be able to go though, so I am hoping that includes me, but I know whatever is right will happen.

We also had a really cool experience from talking to people who are placed in our path. There was a man from Latvia who we spoke to on our way to the church. We asked him if we could meet then, but he said he was too wet and cold, so he asked if he could come to some sort of meeting or something. We invited him to church. He came and brought two friends! We invited them to a language course we are having, and they seemed very positive and excited to read in the Book of Mormon. I know that the Lord is preparing people all around us. It is our privilege and joy to be able to invite them to take part in His salvation. I know we will be richly blessed as we reach out in love to our brothers and sisters. The Norwegian word of the week is Eldste, which means Elder.


Love,
Elder Ankenman

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Monday, June 30th, 2014

We have been very blessed and it has been wonderful to get to see some people again from Oslo and all around at the zone conference. We had a great zone conference in Oslo about using the Book of Mormon to answer people’s concerns and help them be converted. It has caused me to really ponder how grateful I am for the Book of Mormon. There is an incredible power in that book that has touched my life profoundly and has helped me know that God lives and has restored His church to the earth. One can have many intellectual questions and different opinions; however, the spiritual power of the Book of Mormon and the witness of the Holy Ghost that will be given to anyone who reads it, ponders it and prays to God the Father in the name of Christ asking the truth of it with a sincere heart, faith in Christ and real intent is undeniable.

We must always continue to build our testimonies and grow in our understanding. If we do so, we will all feel the incredible power of the Book of Mormon, which is indeed the power of God. I am so grateful to be able to share the restored gospel with my brothers and sisters. It is a joy to be able to be a part of this incredible saving work. I know that Heavenly Father is guiding us. He is involved in this work. We are not alone. It is indeed an incredible blessing to know that Heavenly Father is watching over and helping each and every one of us. It makes all of the other concerns in life so insignificant to know that Christ is our Savior and that His church is restored. The way is indeed simple, but it requires faith and diligence on our parts. I know that it is the time for us all to come together and move this work forward to gather scattered Israel and serve our brothers and sisters. The Norwegian word of the week is bekfreftelse, which means confirmation.


Love,
Elder Ankenman