Gud være med deg til vi ses igjen Norge

Søster Zenger have had a motto this past week: "go big before you go home"! And we have faithfully lived that motto every minute of every day. We have been basically running around like chickens with our heads cut off. I think that a bullet list will be an accurate representation of the speed I felt we were going. 

* On Tuesday Søster Zenger and I picked up our winter car tires from the mission home. We asked Søster Tew what her and President Tew were doing for 17. Mai and then plustelig we were planning a party for all of the missionaries and søster Zenger and I became her personal assistents. We went grocery shopping at a sketchy utlandsk store and had to take two trips to the car with all of the groceries that we bought. 

*Wednesday was my last district counsel and I was put in the spotlight and asked to give my dying counsel. I am so grateful for the time I have had with all of these amazing missionaries in Norway. I am convinced that we have the best.;) I have learned so much from them and gained so many good friends. We then met with a girl that we had previously met on the buss. It is amazing to see how her life has transformed. She completely opened up and told us about many of the difficult things that she has been through, but how eventually she found God and Jesus Christ. Then we practiced singing Jeg er guds kjære barn with the young women and had a Improv with Book of Mormon stories with the young women. Things got a little crazy and I ended up hunting down one of the girls so that I and my family could survive in the wilderness. 

*Thursday we had our last ever splits with Ålesund and my last ever day at Dame Dag (our service lunch that we do at the frivillighus i Asker). It was so great taking Søster Tingey there as a missionary that has only been in Norway for 6 weeks. She was so amazing with everyone there asking questions and intently listening and everyone was so impressed by her Norwegian. I made chocolate chip cookies for everyone because it was my last day and they quickly disappeared. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone there. I didn't realize how close we had become until I had to say goodbye. I am so grateful for that they have become a part of my life. We had splits miracles and gave out 5 Book of Mormons and got 3 numbers with appointments! We also met with our friend from India again and the spirit was so strong as we told him about the first vision. 

*Friday! 17. Mai. Norway's constitution day. Surrounded by flags and bunads and grilling at the mission home. I have pictures!

* Saturday our last day at fotball, we met nadine, and I crossed off eating fish and chips from my bucket list at the Codfather. Nadine has become one of my closest friends and I am thankful for her testimony and strength.

*Sønday: Sang in church with the young women and Søster Zenger played the flute. The bishop announced that we were leaving and so we had members come up to us and thank us for our service in Sandvika. It was a very tearjerking experience. Also last dinner with my Norwegian family the Høgsets.

*Mandag: More running around and writing information down for the sisters that come. Søster Zenger is leaving to Drammen!!! And FHE hos familien Gylseth. 

Well this is it. In two days I will be back home wondering if these past 18 months have all been a dream. I know for a fact that they were very real though because of the person that I have become and how strong my testimony has grown. I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to be his hands and to meet these amazing people. I received a message yesterday from Pierre in Cameroon that søster Stocks, Neal, and I taught in tromsø. He said that he is reading the Book of Mormon and feels the spirit so strongly. It is for people like him that I came here. I agree with President Russel M. Nelson. This work is the most important work!

Thank you for all of the emails, letters, and prayers these past months. I am so grateful for all of you!

See you on the other side!

Klem, Søster Morgan Starkie