"Jeg er restavfallet"

This weeks title comes from a sweet old lady, Evalynne who volunteers with us at the frivillighets hus. We prepare lunch there for a group of old ladies and immigrants that come together to eat, mingle, and knit. We are always super busy in the kitchen and in between preparing food and setting it out, we get to snatch bits and pieces of the leftovers. We came down to the last part of the brown cheese where there was no longer enough of it left for us to slice so we gave it to Evalynne. This happened a couple other times with vegetables before she said " jeg er restavfallet" or in other words, she is the food disposer or clean-up crew. We all had a good laugh about that. 

I have realized that that is a pretty good description of my time here in Asker where we have a lot of appointments to balance, potentials to contact, people to find, and now on top of that; as Sister Training Leaders Søster Zenger and I are now involved with other areas in the mission and supporting the sisters there. A lot of times we don't even have enough time for studies and I find myself wondering if I will be prepared to have the Lord work through me when the time arrives. I feel like I am the "restavfallet" of all the basic things I need to be doing as a missionary. However, It has been amazing to see how Heavenly Father magnifies our efforts when we try our best and move forward with faith. Being worried about not being prepared after we have tried our best is fear talking and the Lord says "fear not little flock, do good" let the many demands for your energy and time combine against you. Doctrine and Covenants 6:34 (text added). Miraculously I always feel calm and confident to meet everyday and all of the things that Heavenly Father has waiting for Søster Zenger and I. 

Sorry for the rant. It has been a while since I have written en ordentlig weekly email. 

a couple of miracles this week:

- Søster Zenger and I stopped by to visit one of the people that we are teaching that we haven't met with in a while. He hasn't had time to meet and has been acting a little bit like he is becoming disinteressted. We see him on the street a lot and we had an idea to stop by and bring him banana bread. Before we left the apartment we said a prayer and I asked Heavenly Father to soften his heart so that he would be willing to start reading in the Book of Mormon again (knowing that he had taken a break to read the bible). We visited him, gave him the bread, and as we were leaving he asked which chapter he should read and when we could meet again. 

- We met with someone who is coming back to church. She is so sweet and has gone through a lot in her life. I feel like the Lord has been with her the entire way though and I feel so privileged to help her come back. 

- I scored my first (and probably last) goal playing fotball with our church group on Saturday! 

I look forward to the things that we have coming up this week and continuing to do the Lord's work doing good and spreading joy. I thank you all for your encouraging words, emails, and especially prayers. Have a great week! 

Love, Søster Starkie