17th of May-Norway's Independence Day

Dear Friends and Family;

Things are getting warm and pretty in Norway.  The April showers really did bring beautiful May flowers.  Laurie is having problems with her knee.  She tore some cartilage in her left knee right before our mission.  She thought she could wait until we got home.  I think she will have arthroscopic surgery her to help the pain.  Other than that we are doing well.    We met a sweet lady in Lærvik on Stord named Gunvor Stenberg.  She joined the church when she was 15 in about 1950 in Bergen. She was active until he got married and moved to Lærvik.  She is 82 and was so glad to see us.  We also met a couple in Haugesund, Bjarne and Brigit Vestre.  They are relatives of the Weeks in Wyoming. He has found over 32,000 names of his ancestors.  We really enjoyed meeting them.  We hope to tell them more about the church.  We continue to put many kilometers on our little car.  Norway is beautiful from top to bottom.  Hope you are all excited about summer.  We are super excited about seeing some of our family this summer.   Love Elder and Sister Gormley

We had our 41st anniversary on May 15th.  

The Branch President , Ismo Hiltunen, works for a large recycling company.  They were loading a ship headed to Finland with chipped wood.  

The young adults always enjoy volleyball and a hot dog on a nice day.

Annett Andersen in her Russ suit.  All of the graduating kids wear them.  

17th of May Pictures

We got a new Bishop.  Hal Mead from Laramie, WY.  We works for Conocophillips here in Norway.  He will be a great Bishop.  Small world  

Charlotte Evanger in her Norwegian Bunad

Lt to Rt. Erik Steffensen, Einar Lundegård and Øvind Steffensen

Elin and Anne Steffensen

Miriam Gulbransen and Sister Hutchings

Elders Steevens. Dial, Carver Torgesen, Arveseth, Sisters Blankmeyer, Gormley, Hutchins & Miriam.

Anstien Olsen with his grandaughter

Beautiful Bunads

Øyvind Steffensen in parade with class from school.

The Carrie Anne and Kjetel Olsen Family with the Sisters

Brother Thomas Bjerge passed away. He was a pillar in the Stavanger Ward.  His children Johannes, Lasse and Hulgun.  Great family.  It was a beautiful service.

Helene's Horse

Laila Pettersen,Helene Pettersen Gangsøy and Sister Gormley.  Helene owns a jumping horse.  We went and watched a competition.  Beautiful horses.

Campfire always fun

Went to Stokka lake with YSA.  Great fun

Birthday lunch for Elder Carver and Sister Hutchins

Did a service project  for Petersens at their cabin.

Brightes, Sr. Gormley Elder Dial, Robert and me.  We are teaching Robert in Flekkefjord.  He is from Poland and Brightes was one of our YSA sisters.

There are some interesting cars in Norway.  Smallest one I have ever seen.

Summer is near

Dear Family and Friends;

We are alive and well.  It got almost 70 deg. the other day.  80 deg is a super hot day.  It is nice to see the sun.  The days are much longer now.  It is light about 5 and gets dark after 10.  We have had a fun couple of weeks with the YSA and the members.  I have been teaching seminary a couple days a week.  I really enjoy that.  The regular teacher is pregnant and is super sick.  The kids are very faithful here.  We have 12 enrolled and 10 that attend regularly.  Sister Gormley teaches Institute once in a while.  She does a great job.  The language barrier makes it hard for her, but the YSA do well in English.We continue to find ways to serve.  It is a great blessing to be here.  

Our Grand daughter Sophie Traveller was baptised on May 7th by her brother Tyler.  It was hard not to be there.  What an angel.  Congrats Sophie.  Good job Ty.

Annett Andersen, one of our YSA sisters, got a mission call this week.  She is going to Boston, Massachusetts.  Congratulations Annett.  She will be a wonderful missionary. 

Celine Bjerge, 3rd from the right in the front, is one of our YSA sisters.  She does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

She is tough.  Great Young Lady.

This is our ward building here in Stavanger.  It was build in the late 70's.  It is on a hill overlooking a fjord.  It is a great ward building.

May 1st is May day in Norway, a federal holiday.  We had a ward BBQ by the ocean.  Great time.

Some of our YSA at the ward BBQ.  Our Bishop is quite the BBQ man.

Sister Gormley has had a few spills.  She said this is too close to home....

Ellen Elise led a YSA activity.  They decorated Thankful Jars.  The idea is that every time they have something they are thankful for then put a slip in the jar with it on.  Whenever things get a little hard they read out of the Thankful Jar.  Great Idea.  

Ole at the Thankful Jar activity

Sister Hanna Cockrell came back on splits.  Sister Gormley made a scarf for her.

When is weather is nice the missionaries and YSA like to play soccer.  There are some great players.

Sister Gormley playing defence in the orange.

I'm playing goalie.  Just like the old days.  

We had a ward cleanup day for the county.  The whole country gets ready for the 17th of May.  Norway's independence day.

Sister Gormley made Sister Savannah Hutchings a scarf and a headband.  Sister Gormley is getting to be quite the hand at crocheting.  Everyone wants her to make them something.