Sister Fox: The Norwegian Kitty!

Ward Newsletter Message!!

2008-09-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

A message from Soster Fox to the members of Highland 5th Ward!!

Greetings from Norway!! I am in the beautiful city of Trondheim, Norway! This is truly a breathtaking city...... so beautiful! It is situated right in the middle of a fjord, and so it is very green with lots of water and just plain gorgeous. We love the city! I moved here about 8 weeks ago, and I can honestly say that it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen! It is a University town, so we have an Institute Center, which my companion, Sister Hansen, and I are assigned to. We love working with the Young Single Adults! It has been a joy, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to serve here.
We recently had the opportunity to hear from a member of the Quorum of the 70, Elder Steven Kerr, at a Mission Conference that was held in Trondheim. He had some wonderful words of wisdom, and it was so refreshing to hear from him. The thing that stuck out to me the most came from the talk he gave at the Saturday night session of Conference. He spoke about how we need to love people into the gospel, and how that is the only way we will ever truly be Christlike. This really struck a chord with me because that is probably the biggest thing I have learned while serving a mission. It has not always been easy to love the people that I work with, often times it is very frustrating. But I have seen that when I truly love those that I work with, everything seems to fall into place. When we love someone, we are in a much better place to be able to help them. And a great bonus of learning to love is also learning patience! We develop great amounts of patience when loving people. I know that this has helped me so much in my work here in Norway, and I am grateful that our Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to learn things that will help me the rest of my life. The best part of Mission Conference, though, was when Elder Kerr stood up in the middle of the meeting and asked ME to bear my testimony to everyone! I won't lie, my heart was racing, but it was an amazing opportunity that I am so grateful for. The Spirit was so strong, and my testimony was strengthened. It was my privilege to testify of the love our Savior has for us and the truth of the restoration of the gospel through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I love serving the people of Norway and will never forget the many amazing experiences I am having here.
Thank you for your love and support! The work in Norway is moving forward, and in large part due to the prayers of the members of the Church. I am so grateful for blessing it is to be a missionary, and especially here in Norway. I love these people, and I know that the work the missionaries do is of great significance! I hope everything is going well for you all! May our Heavenly Father continue to bless you!

NEW ADDRESS!!

2008-08-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

OOPS, forgot to post Carrie's new address!!

Soster Carrie Fox
Osttunveien 16
7023 Trondheim
Norway

I know everyone is busy, but Carrie would LOVE to hear from you!!

Too Long!!!

2008-08-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

OK, I must apologize for not posting anything new on Carrie's blog for so long!! Mike just got married last Friday and it has taken much of my time and energy!! But things for Carrie have continued to move forward. She has been transferred to Trondheim which is in the northern part of Norway. Carrie LOVES it there!! Here is bit from her first letter after arriving there:

I finally made it north of Oslo. I arrived in the beautiful city of Trondheim on Wednesday! This is truly a breathtaking city...... so beautiful! It is situated right in the middle of a fjord, and so it is soooo green and lots of water and just plain gorgeous. So we love the city! And it is a fairly big city, so there is a lot of good shopping and lots of people. It is a University town, so there is a lot of young people here. Half the branch is young single adults. President said that is why he sent me here, because I do well with youth. So that is kinda cool. They all come back in a week, so I am excited for that. Our apartment sucks. It is like living at girls camp. The bathroom drain is above the ground, so you literally have to scoop the water into the drain, and the floor is wet all freaking day long. And there is mold, and it stinks. We don't have a real kitchen, just two burners and a half fridge. Forget an oven or real freezer...... And it is like a million years old and a half an hour from town. So we called President on our second day, and he was like, ummm yeah I expected this phone call, just go find yourselves a new apartment! So we have been apartment hunting all week. We have like 5 showings today, and then we will decide tonight what we want. We have looked at some really nice ones, so that is good. You are right, we are kinda in the middle of Norway. But we are in the North Zone, which is something that Sisters haven't been in for a LONG time! So, we are pretty proud! The branch is smaller than Stavanger, but bigger than F-stad. It will get a little big bigger when all the students come back, though, so that is good! We have Zone leaders here, so that is good. They are really awesome, they cooked us dinner on our first night here! So cute! So we really like them. Sister Hansen is wonderful, we have fun together! But I really think that we are going to be ok....... The dialect has been kinda rough. It sounds like Chinese! But it is not horrible, so I am surviving! I haven't had too much trouble yet! I am becoming the dialect queen! :)

The following are some pictures Carrie sent a few weeks ago.....not of the area she is in now. I thought everyone would still enjoy them!!

Beautiful Soster Fox in Stavanger (I think!!)

Easter Egg hunting in the snow!!

Can someone help me out with where this is??

I think this is called Pinnacle Rock.....maybe my Norway friends can help me out and I will edit the posts!! Carrie is good about sending pictures, but not always good about writing on the back of them!!

New Address!!

2008-05-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Here is Carrie's new address:

Daklaven 11
1671 Krakeroy
Norway

(Ok, but the a in Krakeroy has the little dot over it, and the o has a slash through it, but I am at the Phipps house, and they have an english keyboard!

I know Carrie would love to hear from you!!

My Time In Stavanger........

2008-05-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

In today's email, Carrie shared a few thoughts about her time in Stavanger:

Well, about my time in Stavanger. I love it here. I am going to miss it soooooo much. It has just been an amazing time of growth and learning. I love the members here, and we have been able to get a lot of the youth back in church, so hopefully they will keep going. It has been so cool to see the gospel work in their lives, and it has helped me a lot. My own testimony has been so strengthened just by trying to help them get a testimony. I feel like I have had so many wonderful experiences, and lots of hard one's too, that have helped me to figure out some things. Mostly, I think that Stavanger has such a special spirit here, and I have never felt the love of Heavenly Father so much as I have here. I think it helps that I have learned to recognize it a little more... But mostly I will miss the people. I have become really close with the members here, and with our investigators. It was cute, because in Sacrament meeting, they sang "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good," and two of the youth here looked back at me, and just pointed at me and were like, "This one's for you!". SO of course that made me cry more, but it was just a good feeling to see the good that has come out of me being here. So, overall, it was a wonderful place with lots of good experiences, a place that I will never forget. So that is the short version of how I feel about my time in Stavanger..... :)

Leaving Stavanger :(

2008-05-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

We just got word that Carrie is leaving Stavanger and going to Fredrikstad. She will be transferred this Wednesday morning. She will be riding a bike and her companion is a Finnish sister. Carrie is so sad to be leaving the people she has loved so much in Stavanger! We can only trust that Heavenly Father has a great need for a wonderful young woman like Soster Fox in Fredrikstad! :) I will post more information as soon as I know it. Please keep Soster Fox in your prayers as she faces this new challenge! Love to all!!

Syttende Mai (Norway's National Day)

2008-05-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

Another Holiday In Norway!!

Today is May 17 which is Norway's National Day. A day like the 4th of July in the US. It is celebrated nationwide with children's parades and lots of festivities! A great chance for the missionaries to get out among the people and mingle. A friend in the branch Carries serves sent these pictures of some of the flag waving at the parade in Stavanger!! Tusen takk, Julie!!

Looks like it was a sunny day there, probably not too warm, though! Carrie is still wearing her coat. I don't think she had any idea how much she would wear that coat!! She is going to want to burn it when she gets home!! :)

Carrie with her good friend, Julie Phipps. Carrie looks like a a real Norwegian girl these days!! :)

Fun with Soster Splits!!

2008-05-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

Last week Carrie and her companion split up for a couple of days and traded companions. Sister Silvennoinnen is from Finland. Carrie had a great time with her and some funny moments helping her learn about American things!! Carrie shared a few fun things in her letter last week:

But yeah, things went really well with Sister Silvennoinnen. She is a really cool girl! We got along really good..... She was happy to have a change of pace and try some new things, and so I just showed her a good time, and she loved it. Funny story though...... She is Finnish, and so she is not familiar with American food. So she wanted to try everything! And so I told her to go for it..... I come out of the shower, and she points to the Pepto Bismal, and she is like, that stuff was kinda weird..... HAHA! I told her it was medicine, and she almost died! She tried the shortening too! Funny stuff. But we had a lot of fun together, she is really nice! Very European, not that that is a bad thing, but you know, just different. There are some things that she doesn't like about Americans very much, so we had a nice long chat about learning to understand one another. Basically she thinks I am amazing, and I am like, honey, I am an American too, don't forget that! Funny stuff! So yeah, we dropped her off at the airport on Wednesday, after we ate at the Phipps. It was so funny too, because her english is ok, but she is very unsure in it, and so really, the common language was Norwegien, and so that is what we spoke most of the time. Well, we were over at the Phipps, who speak NO norwegien, and she was doing pretty good at the whole English thing. And all the sudden she just starts speaking to me in Norwegien, so I answer her back in norsk, and this goes on for a few minutes. And all of the sudden, she is like, AHHHH!!!! I am soooooo sorry! She just starts apologizing to the Phipps, and they are like, ummmm we don't care. It was really funny! So we dropped her off, and then I went back to the Phipps for a few hours while we waited for Lewis. I just snuggled into Becka's bed, and talked to Sister Adams the whole time I waited. So, all in all, it was good to get Lewis back and get back to normal. I think we needed a little break too, so it was a really good thing. So it was a real adventure!!

Pics sent from friends in Norway!!

2008-05-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

A businessman traveling in Norway stopped to go to General Conference and snapped this picture of the missionaries at their branch building and then emailed it! It was fun to get a 'real time' picture!

Soster Fox and Soster Lewis at a branch party in Stavanger. This picture was sent via email from a branch member!

Youth Fireside in Stavanger!!

2008-03-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Soster Fox at a youth fireside in her branch in Stavanger! It was a really fun evening!

Pictures!!!

2008-02-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

The sign says' The Mission Way'!!

We found Honey Nut Cheerios!! It is amazing what foods can make you happy!!

In the center of Old Town Stavanger.

Merry Christmas!!

Friends....both missionary, member and non member are some of the treasures Carrie is gathering on her mission! Sister Adams, Carrie Anne Forsyth(returned missionary) are in this picture. I don't know the other ladies name. If you know her name, send me an email so I can identify her!!

More Friends....some missionaries, some not!! :)

Carrie's 22nd birthday party in Stavanger!!

Carrie and Rebecca the night before she left Oslo to return to Stavanger.

More friends!!

Sisters Christmas Conference held in Oslo two weeks before Christmas.. They baked cookies, went shopping and shared Christmas stories....oh yes, the AP's did some teaching too, but this was mostly girl stuff!! :)

4 Top Reasons I love Serving a Mission!!

2008-02-15T19:14:00.001-08:00

Carrie was asked by a group of Young Women to list the 4 top reasons she is glad she is serving a mission. Her reply was wonderful and so I thought I would share it :

1)You gain a testimony of missionary work and the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a scripture in Mosiah about when Alma is baptizing the people at the waters of Mormon and how the place was beautiful to them because it was the place that they came to a knowledge of their Savior. That is how Norway is to me. It will always be beautiful to me because this is where I have come to a real knowledge of my Savior. I thought I knew it before, but I had no clue until these last few months what kind of a relationship I could have with Him. So cool!!

2)Heavenly Father will answer your prayers in a very real way. I have seen countlessmiracles, and times when I needed something and I prayed about it and Heavenly Father came through! Prayer is the only way that I have been able to do what I am doing. It is even cooler when you get a confirmation and you can feel Heavenly Father speaking to you. Just the other day, we prayed that an inactive girl would come to institute and then she did!! First time in three years!! We prayed that our two investigators would come to church. They did!! I pray every day that I will be happy here in Norway and do the things I need to do, and most days I wake up happy. Nothing is easy here, but with prayer, you can do anything!

3)Getting to see the gospel change someones life. It is amazing! To see it working for someone else and getting to be able to be a part of the process is soooo cool!! It builds your testimony soooo much, and you know what you are doing is true!! It makes you want to share it with everyone!

4)The love you feel. I have come to understand in a very real way what love is-Love from your family, friends, etc. But mostly love from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. You just know they are there, and they have people watching out for you, protecting you and guiding you.....You feel the love so much. Just to know that Jesus lived and died for us...that is love. It is amazing to feel that in a very real and vivid way.

I LOVE my mission.....it is so hard sometimes, but the good is SO GOOD that I can't imagine not being here!!
Soster Fox
More pictures coming soon...I promise!!

Missionary Christmas

2007-12-26T10:30:00.001-08:00

Back in Stavanger

2007-11-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

After a wonderful month in Oslo, Carrie has now returned to Stavanger with a new companion to resume the work there. Here is a part of her letter this week talking about Thanksgiving with the American members in Stavanger and her new companion, Soster Miles:

Well, it has been a crazy week for me. First of all, I am back in Stavanger, but you already knew that. It is so good to be back. All the members freaked out when I walked into the Lodge in the mountains for Thanksgiving Dinner. Seriously, I got like 40 hugs from both guys and girls. It was hilarious. And the youth were excited too. Our Branch President's son, Andreas, was like I DONT EVEN CARE I'M GIVING YOU A HUG!!! It was so funny.... Thanksgiving was really fun, although it made me miss you guys. As long as I kept myself busy, I was OK. But whoever made the pumpkin pie forgot the sugar, which was a bummer! But it was really fun, we just hung out, played the guitar, sang, ate, had a huge snowball fight, that kind of stuff. Didn't get much sleep though.... I stayed up talking to some of the youth trying to help and support them. My new companion is Soster Miles, she is really nice. We get along really well. She is a little quiet, and didn't really like Thanksgiving all that much, but I am bringing her out of her shell. I think that we are going to be good together. She is from Vancouver, WA, and she goes home in 2 months. So this is her last transfer. She will only speak to me in Norwegian. Its pretty funny.... hard though because I can't always communicate the best in Norwegian, but it is helping my language skills. So yeah, its funny because we have a dinner appointment almost every night this week. They were very excited to get the Sosters back. Our new apartment is absolutely gorgeous! It is seriously the nicest apartment in all of Norway.... brand new everything, including furniture! Its awesome! We don't have any investigators, so we are out knocking doors a ton, but its all good. So things are going really good here......I love the work here and the members are amazing. I feel very blessed to be back in Stavanger!
Send my love to everyone!!
Soster Kitty!!

More Pictures!!

2007-11-28T05:58:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Soster Fox and her district waiting for the train in Oslo. She was only in Oslo a few more days after this picture and then returned to Stavanger. Carrie loved this group of missionaries! They had lots of fun together and supported each other in doing the work. The weather is getting very cold, so you can see they are starting to dress warmly....the worst of the cold is yet to come!!
I am really not sure where this Christmas tree is at, but I am thinking it is at the Outreach Center in Oslo where the sister missionaries spent alot of time.

Carrie and her two companions in Oslo...Sosters Adams and Goodsell. These girls spent a wonderful month together supporting each other while they waited for the new soster to arrive from the MTC. Fun memories and many sweet experiences with these sosters!

The eldstes and sosters dressed up and had a small Halloween party! Carrie is dress up as a Norwegian!! Pretty funny!! Anyway, she loves this picture because the Doritos are 'Cool American' not Cooler Ranch like we have in the US. She said that of course Americans are cool!!

P-Day Fun at the Oil Museum!!!

2007-10-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

On a P-Day recently Soster Fox, her companion and the elders in her district spent some time at the Oil Museum in Stavanger. Oil production in the North Sea has created an economic boom in Stavanger, with the consequence that the town is the most cosmopolitan in the country. The Norsk Oljemuseum is ultra modern and offers a full days worth of fun, informative things to do. It looks like they had a great time. Comments below are from the back of the pictures Carrie sent!

Soster Bjerga and I on top of the Oil Museum!! What a view!!

In an emergency evacuation oil rig ship--think Brother of Jared meets 2007!!

Carrie in the control room at the oil Museum. I AM IN CONTROL!! IKKE GUME! (Don't forget)

The space simulator! So much fun! Although I had a big Hode Pine (head torture...aka...headache) after! :)

Up in space in my fun suit--I know, I am crazy!!

All of us being cool in our space suits!! I know, the space suits are soooo HOT!!

Looks like a wonderful, fun P-Day outing for the elders and sisters of Stavanger, Norway!!!

Beautiful Stavanger, Norway!!

2007-10-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

At last, Carrie sent a few pictures of the area where is has been in Stavanger. Norway is a beautiful country and Carrie is constantly amazed by what she sees!

Stavanger's historic Domkirken, dating from around 1100AD~The State's Church in Stavanger--So, So Beautiful~!!

One of the many, many beautiful views in Stavanger. The boats are wonderful!!

Waiting for pizza to cook at a member's house on the water. Stay out of the water Soster Fox!! :)

Beautiful Countryside near Tanager

Carrie says: More beautifulness in Norway!!

This is the neighborhood where Carrie lives while in Stavanger! Lucky girl!!

Oslo is Amazing!!

2007-10-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

We are waiting on pictures that Soster Fox has said she sent quite a few days ago!! In the meantime, here is an excerpt of her letter today!! Check back for pictures in a few days and thanks for the many prayers on behalf of Carrie as she has worked on learning the language. Sounds like the blessings are flowing!!

Well, it is a wonderful blue day here in Oslo, and I cannot believe how much I love it here in Oslo. It is amazing!! OK..... so here it goes: things are wonderful here in Oslo. I love it here. My companions are amazing!!!! Me and Sister Adams are crazy together! It is sooo funny because we are seriously crazy.... it makes the days so much fun. Sister Goodsell is amazing too. She is from Logan, UT, and she is a little more quiet and serious but she still knows how to laugh and have a good time. She just sits and laughs at me and Sister Adams. We just all have so much fun together. We are teaching an investigator, Rebecca, and we just set a baptismal date for her which is so exciting. She is amazing. She has been studying the last six years to be a priest in the state church of Sweden, and so she knows a ton already which makes it easier to teach her. She is just so receptive, and she writes down all her questions, and she has already read Mormons Bok. So cool.... and she is Swedish, which is funny because she doesn't speak Norwegian, so our conversations are a combo of Norwegian, Swedish, and English.... pretty funny stuff! But yeah, things are going really great. It is so nice to finally be able to participate in lessons! The Elders here are great too. They are Eldste Lange, who I was in the MTC with, and Eldste Herrey, who is a Swede. The other two Elders are Eldste Welch and Wightman. Everyone has been super awesome to me. They are wonderful. We have a lot of dinner appointments with all of us together. Since the Sosters are outnumbered, we always have to sit next to at least one of them. It is sooo funny because they play this game where they just put lots and lots of food on our plates, and of course we have to eat it because it is not polite to have something on your plate and not eat it. Oh man, it is crazy. And you cant go to the bathroom, or else when you come back your plate is seriously filled to capacity. It is sick... but so funny. So we decided to start playing the game back at them. It is just hilarious. So much fun. So yeah, things are going really well here in Oslo. I am soooo happy! I am learning how to be a really good missionary. I feel like this is my reward for facing challenges last month. It is amazing what the Lord blesses us with if we just keep going. I have seriously come to know how much the Lord remembers me and my problems in the last few months. He has sent so many people to me to help me. So yeah, all in all, things are going really great. So guess what happened on Friday? Don't freak out.... I sprained my ankle! But don't worry, I spent a couple days just hanging out at the outreach center, and I am going to be fine. Basically, Carrie Forsyth, the sister who left right before me but then came back because she is marrying a Norwegian guy, well she babysat me the whole time. It was so much fun. And then our investigator, Rebecca, came and babysat me for awhile too. It was so fun! But yeah, I am up and walking again, just a little sore. But nothing too serious, so I am going to be fine. Basically it has been a pretty good week. My Norwegian is coming along really well too. Being in Stavanger to start was really tough, but it forced me to buck up and speak it more. So I am a little ahead of Sister Adams and Eldste Lange, simply because I have had to speak it more. So that has been kind of fun. And there are a lot of relatives up here of people in Stavanger, and apparently a bunch of them called the people up here at the outreach center and told them to look for me and to make me feel at home. So cute! And I have gotten a few emails from the youth in Stavanger, they all cant wait for me to come back. So, things are good.......Send my love to everyone!! Soster Fox :) Skies are blue!!

Pa Norsk!!! (In Norwegian!)

2007-10-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a little bit from Soster Fox's letter this week.....we hope to get more picturres soon!!

And guess what else I did...... I spoke in church, på norsk!!! Seriously, it went really well. But I spent an hour on the phone with Elder Bagley while he helped me translate my talk to norsk. But my talk went really well I think..... It was on President Hinckley's talk Let virtue Garnish thy Thoughts Unceasingly. So yeah, it was soooo scary but it was good and I am glad that I did it.
We had the best time playing volleyball on Saturday with the Youth and Less actives. 16 people came and so it was sooooo fun! While we were there, this guy walked in wanting to know what time church was at. He is here on business, and guess where he is from???? REDMOND! I know, crazy huh???? He is in the Bellevue 7th ward, but he knows the Cabuligans, and his son is in the singles ward. It was so fun to talk to him. The last name is Calloway, so tell Jessica if she knows anyone with that last name I met his dad. It was funny. He took a picture of me on his cell phone as proof that he met me, and I wrote Jessicas name down for him to give to his son to say hi..... So yeah, cool experiences with Redmond kids all the way here in Norway..... Gotta love it!

Anyways, mom, I hope everything is well with you. All of my leaders are very supportive and have been wonderful to me. I am being taken care of, not just by them, but by the Lord too. He knows exactly what I need and when I need it. I can see His hand in my life every day. So dont worry, I am really good. I will keep you informed as to what is going on here! I love you so much and I miss you more!
Give everyone in Redmond my love!!!
Love Always,Søster Kitty

Kite Day In Stavanger, Norway!!

2007-10-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

The following pictures are from Stavanger, Norway at a mission conference. Carrie had lots of fun making kites with the youth, playing games and enjoying the beach! I don't know who this adorable little boy is, but leave it to Carrie to seek out the children and love them!! I am sorry each picture is on a single post! For some reason I can't get this program to upload more than one picture at a time! I will have to talk to Leslie when I am in Seattle!! Janice

2007-10-06T23:17:00.000-07:00

Soster Fox and her companion Soster Bjerga helped some girls show off their kite!!

2007-10-06T23:15:00.001-07:00

Even the guys got into the fun of making and flying kites!!

2007-10-06T23:14:00.001-07:00

Soster Fox and her companion, Soster Bjerga on the beach with their kite. It looks cool and windy there, doesn't it?? Reminds me of the Washington and Oregon Coast!!

2007-10-06T23:13:00.000-07:00

Looks like Soster Fox had a great time on kite day in Norway!!

Lovin' the Youth!!

2007-10-06T22:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a short part of Carrie's letter this week. She continues to struggle with the language. Your faith and prayers on her behalf would be much appreciated. She seems to be staying positive and trying very hard. I know it will come to her, it just takes time and a lot of faith to make it happen.

The members are totally awesome here..... i seriously love them! they love greenies and so for some reason i am the main attraction here! they are all very patient and love helping me, so that is good. i am really good friends with several of the youth here, and i have had a couple opportunities to have some good talks with them. it is kind of crazy how innactive the youth are here.... it is good that i like youth because i am able to connect with them and gain their trust. so i have had a lot of fun with them. this friday was zone conference and we elder zwick of the 70 with us. it was so fun...... he had some great things to say, and i learned a lot from that meeting. apparently he is speaking with president hinckley and elder perry to 76 stakes in utah in a couple weeks. he said that if highland stake was there he would say hi to the fox family over the pulpit.... i told him you would bring a norwegien flag to wave!! it was hilarious, i really liked him. it was cool to be able to talk with him one on one. he was awesome, and his wife was adorable. so yeah, that was my week. other than that, just lots of visiting with the members and less actives, youth, and church, and stuff like that. we did contacting for the first time, scary!!!! i don't understand anything that goes on so it is really hard.
don't worry too much about me, i really am ok. if anything i am just learning a greater dependence on the spirit. so that is a good thing.
send my love to everyone.
soster fox

First Letter From The Field!!

2007-09-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the first, unedited(sorry for the lack of punctuation!) letter from Soster Fox from Norway (it is soooo Carrie!!):

Guess what....... I AM IN NORWAY!!!!! Wow, these last few days have been so crazy.......OK, to begin..... the flights sucked...... they were so long and my ears were exploded a few times. not fun. but it was ok, i got here safely. we went from the airport to the mission home. president paulson and his wife are sooooo nice!! we had so much fun. we got our bedding, basically just spent a lot of time in meetings about just a lot of general stuff. we had a big dinner with the oslo missionaries at the mission home. lots of Norwegian food. not too bad, interesting though. nothing that has made me want to barf so far.... but i have had some weird stuff. then we got our mission assignments. i am in STAVANGER!!! stavanger is the most south that you can go in norway. so søster adams and i stayed the night at the hotel. it was fun but i have never been so exhausted in my entire life. seriously. i was dead. but the next morning, søster adams and i totally overslept it was so funny. luckily they weren't coming to get us until 10, so no one knew. then, after figuring out the luggage situation, mine was overweight, but no surprise there..... we went to the train station where we met all the missionaries because it was move day. we were the first to get there, and we were sitting there and all of the sudden this girl comes running up to me and is like SISTER FOX!!!! it was crazy, her name is carrie forsyth, and i am her replacement. she is the reason that i came early. she was supposed to go back to school but turns out she met a guy here in stavanger and now they are getting married and she is living here. it was funny, she was like, yeah, you will find someone too..wow.... but yeah, after that, i got on another plane to stavanger and here i am. my companions name is sister bjerga. she is a native Norwegian and she lived here in stavanger until she was 12. she is very nice but wow. she is a different kid. for example- this morning during companion study she decided it would be a great idea to sing that song by the beatles from eccleasiastes 3.... you know the one, there is a season, turn turn turn. then she got on the phone and called our district leader and told him that she thought it would be a good idea if we all sang it in sacrament meeting or something. not joking. she is crazy. its so funny because half the time she is seriously off in lala land. you can just watch her and she starts talking up to the sky. sooooo funny! ... she is always asking me to help her know what to say and do, especially with the youth and elders. funny stuff because i don't speak the language. but yeah, that is a whole other situation. here in stavanger, they only speak a stavanger dialect. let me tell you about how much that sucks. i don't understand a word that is being said. even the basics like i, you, me, her, are all different. they were all amazed that a greenie was sent to stavanger. so yeah, i guess i will toughen up pretty soon here. the people here are soooooo nice though. i have had several people call me and tell me how excited they were that i was here. so cute. and the youth are amazing..... love them! i am already good friends with several of them. they love that i am from seattle, they all know where that is because of gray's anatomy. funny stuff. most people speak english which is a good thing, but still hard because i always try to speak norwegien with them and so then they go off and i have no clue what is going on. so yeah, that is my story. this weekend was mission conference, where all the southern norwegiens get together. it was so fun!!! we were with the youth the whole time, and we made kites and flew them at the beach. and we played a ton of games and basically just hung out with the youth. it was sooooooooo much fun! it is so different here in norway though. there is not a family in the branch here that doesn't have at least a youth or someone in their family that is inactive. the sisters main focus is keeping people active and supporting the ward. we do have a few investigators though. the best one is phillip, he is an elvis impersonator. seriously..... so funny and so cool! but yeah, we are also teaching a guy from nigeria named peter. he is way nice too. so anyways.... i am doing really good. it is really hard though, i hate not being able to speak this language. it is seriously the hardest thing ever. i hate being scared to make phone calls. ahhhhh sometimes it is hard to stay positive. but i am doing my best. and i am so tired too.... the jetlag is starting to wear off, but not completely. so hopefully that will stop soon. so yeah..... that is my story.

So you heard it all, first hand from Soster Fox!! Keep hanging in there Carrie....we are all praying for you to learn the language!!

Soster Fox Arrives In Oslo, Norway!!!!

2007-09-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Soster Fox and her 11 other travel companions left Salt Lake City on Monday, September 17 at 9am. They flew to Washington DC, then to Vienna, Austria and finally to Oslo, Norway! They were very tired but so excited to get there. Soster Fox called from Vienna and said all the elders were passed out on the floor they were so tired.....but Sosters Fox and Adams were so excited to be in Austria they did what any smart woman would do.....let the men sleep while they SHOPPED!! So the girls spent their layover time shopping in the gift shops and being so excited to be in Europe! I am anxiously awaiting her first email on Monday to get all the details. I will keep you posted as to where her first area is and all the other little details!!

We got a nice email from President and Sister Poulsen this morning that said the following:

Dear Brother and Sister Fox,

We were thrilled to welcome Sister Fox to the wonderful Norway Olso Mission yesterday. We enjoyed a welcome dinner last night and a little orientation to get to know her a little better. She will be a great missionary. We shall do our best to keep her healthy and happy and help her have a wonderful mission experience. Thank for sharing her with us.

Attached is a picture taken last evening.

Warm regards,
President and Sister Poulsen

This is a picture of a very jet lagged Sister Fox with her mission president taken on Tuesday evening after her arrival in Oslo, Norway.

Bustin' Loose for 2 Hours!!!!!

2007-09-03T20:14:00.001-07:00

OK, so Wednesday was an extra fun day for the Fox girls!! Soster Fox had an eye appointment to get new glasses. The MTC called and asked if I could come and pick her up and take her to her appointment since they were short on volunteer drivers that day! YESSSS!!!! So Ali skipped her last period at school and off we went to the eye doctor with Soster Fox! We had so much fun! We got Carries new glasses, had lunch at Cafe Rio and even snuck in an eyebrow waxing in a little over two hours!! It was soooo fun to talk to Carrie and see how pumped up she is to go to Norway in two weeks. No tears, no sadness, just lots of smiles and enthusiam for what she is doing. Oh yes, and we ran into our good friends the Labatos on our outing so we got to hug and kiss them too!!
We returned to the MTC with a very happy Soster Fox looking forward to getting back with her companion. What a fun little perk of living in Happy Valley!! :)

Soster Fox and Soster Adams Keep It Going!!!

2007-08-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

2007-08-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

Carrie has had another wonderful week filled with learning and growth. She is now long past the initial shock of such a huge lifestyle change and is doing so well at the MTC! We have received several letter from elders in her district thanking us for sharing such a wonderful young woman. One elder asked how a sister missionary could be so cool and yet have such a strong spirit about her!! Ali has gotten 3 letters from elders in Carrie's district telling her what a cool sister she has!! The sisters adore her, the elders love her and all the adults that come in contact with her are blown away by her wonderful spirit!! Keep up the good work, Soster Fox!!
Here is a short excerpt from her letter this week:

And, one more thing. This morning I was reading in Alma 56, where the 2000 stripling warriors were asked to go to battle by Helaman. I really liked their response, that they knew their God was with them, and would not suffer that they should fall. My favorite part, though, was when they talk about the reason why they knew the things that they knew, and why their faith was so strong. It was because of their mothers. It really hit me how much this applied to me. They said, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it." It is the same for me. If there is one thing that I have learned here, it is how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family. The reason that I am able to do what I am doing comes right down to the faith that has been shown me throughout my life. I doubt not because you knew it. And along with that, I have been shown the way that I can know it for myself. This is such a huge gift, and I grow more and more grateful every day. I don't think I have ever appreciated all of the gospel teachings that have given me more than I do now.

We are very grateful to see such growth in Carrie. She is amazing!! She sends her love to everyone!!

2007-08-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

The strength of sister missionaries cannot be measured!! You girls are awesome!! :)

Sisters Sharing The MTC Experience!!

2007-08-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Another friend, Sister Thalia Perryman arrived at the MTC a couple of weeks ago!! Thalia is going to New York City!! Carrie has loved her visits with Thalia! Best wishes to Thalia !!

2007-08-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

Sister Aubrey Kent and Carrie have had a wonderful time sharing the MTC experience! Aubrey leaves this week for the Oakland California Temple Visitors Center Spanish speaking mission! They have shared those special Redmond Washington hugs that no one else can give!! :) Good luck Sister Kent!!

Week 5-Perfecting the Routine and Loving P-Day!!

2007-08-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

You gotta love P-Day.....no skirts required!! :)

2007-08-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

When the elders get involved with laundry day, things get a little crazier!! Have fun, class is starting again soon!!

2007-08-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

Laundry and letter writing are a big part of P-Day. Sosters Fox and Adams are making good use of their time writing letters while they wait for their laundry!! Way to stay organized, girls!!

2007-08-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

This is the daily schedule in Norwegian!! It used to make Carrie Crazy, but now it is just how the day goes!!

2007-08-14T00:33:00.000-07:00

OK, Norwegian can be hard!!!!!! Hang in there!!

2007-08-14T00:32:00.000-07:00

Study Hard, Soster Fox!!!

2007-08-14T00:25:00.000-07:00

Sosters Fox and Adams with thier roommates in front of the Provo temple! Girls day out!!

Week 3: Lots of Learning!!

2007-08-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

Another good week of learning and growing for Sister Fox and her companion, Sister Adams!! She reports that they had an awesome teacher in their Relief Society on Sunday....none other then Sister Susan Tanner!!! Carrie got to hug her, talk to her and was so impressed with her. What amazing things happen at the MTC!! And only a sister missionary would get the privilege of being taught by Sister Tanner in Relief Society!

Sister Fox sent home a tape of her district singing hymns in Norwegian!! It is really cute.....they are learning a whole bunch every day!! The language is very difficult. This is a huge mountain to climb, but Carrie is doing it one small step at a time with the help of the Spirit and the support of all those around her.

Brent's sister Laura works at the MTC on Wednesday and Saturday. She had been a little sad that she had not been able to find Carrie when she was there. All that ended last Saturday when Carrie found her!! Laura reports she has never seen Carrie so bubbly and happy. She said her smile was so big! She said Carrie gave her several big hugs! What a joy for both of them!! They hope to be able to meet Carrie and her companion for dinner in the next few days. Thanks to Laura this mom has a first hand account of how her baby girl is doing! I am so blessed!! Thank you Laura! :)

Now, a small part of Carrie's letter home last week:

Well, things are going really well here. I am doing soooooo much better than I was last week. I have pretty well adjusted and am not so miserable so that is a good thing. My companion and I are getting along really well, so that is good. I saw John Richardson the other day..... it was cool he said to say hello. I have had some really amazing experiences here at the MTC this past week. One of them---- Well, my district and I have been having a hard time with the language, and we had to memorize one night for the next day and we just couldn't get it down. Well, we decided to kneel down and have a group prayer... IT WORKED! It was so awesome, and within an hour every member of the district had it memorized! So cool..... I will send a tape of us saying it. Another cool experience----- Sister Adams and I signed up to practice teaching a lesson with one of the instructors here, and we totally bombed it. It was seriously awful. Afterwards we both wanted to cry. We were bummed to because we knew we had our teaching test later that night. We studied all day during study time and then we went to teach it. We prayed really hard together in the bathroom right before, and guess what??? It worked again. We did perfect. I don't think it could have gone better. The Spirit was soooo strong and everything fit together perfectly. It was awesome. And the volunteer that we signed up to teach was a sister who had just gotten back from NORWAY!!! It was awesome because we talked to her at length about the mission. We seriously have been so blessed when it comes to having an awesome district. Since Sister Adams and I are the only sisters, they treat us like princesses.

Well, it sounds like things are going well. Thanks to all who have written to Carrie or asked me how she is doing. Your prayers on her behalf are really helping. She is bless by all the wonderful people who love her!! Thanks to you all!!

I will post pictures next....hopefully I can get them uploaded correctly.....have patience with me.....Leslie where are you when I need you???!!!!
Love to all, Janice

Sister Fox's First Week was Crazy!!

2007-07-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

Here is an small part of Carrie's first long letter home:

Things are crazy around here!!! I never have a minute to spare. It is such a grueling schedule, and I never thought it would be hard to sit in a classroom for 14 hours a day. Norwegien is going pretty well. It is a really hard language though. Lots of rules, and there are only about 8,000 words in the language versus 25,000 for English. So things don't always translate over easily. But I am know how to pray, bear my testimony, numbers, and basic manners and phrases in Norwegien, so that is cool.

And let me tell you about the devotionals and such here. They are simply AMAZING! The Spirit is so strong here, basically everywhere you feel it. I am learning so much, sometimes it is a little overwhelming. I know now that this truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The other day at devotional we sang Come, Come Ye Saints, and I had the most amazing experience. I was feeling super homesick, and I just wasn't feeling myself. But as we sang that song, the second verse mostly, I was struck by it because I realized that I don't have it so hard, and that 18 months is nothing compared to what it could be. Everytime I start feeling down I just repeat those words and remember to buck up! But really, this is a cool place. Everyone is tired all the time, but you just take one day at a time and do your best.

We are so proud of Carrie and the way she is emersing herself in this experience! Way to go!! We love you and pray for you every single day!!!

Sister Fox Has An Address!!

2007-07-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

Since several of you have asked, here is Sister Fox's address at the MTC:

Sister Carrie Fox
MTC Mailbox #126
NOR-OSL 0917
2005 North 900East
Provo, UT. 84604-1793

You can also write to Carrie free of charge and have next day delivery to the MTC by going to dearelder.com and dropping her a quick email........She would love to hear from you!!

More MTC pictures!

2007-07-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

Saying goodbye is so hard, but we all kept smiling!! Several people commented on Carrie's beautiful smile and positive outlook! She is a treasure!

Outside the MTC.....Ali was the photographer!! A very hot day in Provo...over 100 degrees!

The treasured missionary badge. Sister Fox is written in Norwegian! Can you tell she is excited??!!

Sister Fox enters the MTC~!!

2007-07-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at about 12:00 noon Carrie officially began her missionary service for The Church of Jusus Christ of Latter Day Saints when she entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC). She was so excited and a little nervous! She asked Mike to put her badge on her. We all shed some tears and she was on her way!!

Several people we know who work at the MTC report that Carrie is happy and doing very well!!

On Friday we got a note from her:

'Well, I made it through the first day!!" It was so awesome! My companions name is Sister Adams from Las Vegas. I really like her, I think we will get along great. Today was pretty crazy, just a whole lot of orientation. It was hard to sit so long. It was good though. The Spirit in this place is amazing! I heard a lot of good messages today.

Well, I hope you are all doing well. I had a great 1st day! I Love you all!!

Sister Fox"