Tyler Visit July 2017

Dear Family and Friends;

We had a fun couple of weeks.  President and Sister Hill came over to hear Sister Linn Steffensen report home from her mission to temple square.  We spent a day with them seeing this beautiful part of Norway.  They are such dear friends.  Then the party began.  Our oldest Grandson Tyler Traveller (Kari) and three of his buddies, Boston Taylor, Farrell Dean and Dallin Price, came to visit us.  They were super fun and high energy.  It has been awhile since I have had that kind of energy.  They really had a great time.  They all got a taste of foreign missionary work.  Everything was new and exciting, the food, the language, the people, the landscape, the money and much more.  We couldn't keep them out of the chocolate.  They made a really good video of their trip.  You can find it on our Facebook pages. We sent a couple of Special missionaries home this week.  Elder Larsen and Elder Stephens. We had 11 sisters and 13 Elders go home this transfer.  They were wonderful.  The 11 sisters were the ones we came out with from the MTC.  Our son Josh started medical school at the University of Arizona.  It will be a difficult and exciting adventure.  They are settled and happy in Tucson.  We had a great trip to Haugesund this last weekend.  I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting on the Restoration. It is such a blessing to have the gospel on the earth.  What a miracle that it happened they way that it did.  We had a couple of sweet teaching opportunities this week with the missionaries.  They continue to amaze me.  We love each of you and hope that you are having a great and safe summer.

Elder and Sister Gormley

With President and Sister Hill near Byrkjedal, Norway

Tyler and crew at Preikestolen

Linn Steffensen (second from right).  Just returned from a mission to temple square.  Had a great time at a family night with them.

Tyler and Boston on the Bike at Vaulen

Boys had fun shopping with Gram.

Elder Richardson (4th from right) came back with his parents to visit Norway.  This is the group that hiked Preikestolen.

Touring Stavanger with the boys.

Tyler and his buddies could eat.  They enjoyed the food.

6:00 AM.  Ferry to Flørli for Kjerag hike.  Ole Johnsen (2nd from Rt.) was their guide.  Thanks Ole.

Ty and I at the Kjerag Restaurant at Øygardstøl after their 12 their hike.

From L to R. Ty, Boston, Dalin Ferrell with the Stavanger missionaries, Elder Dial, Carver, Prichett and Larsen.

Tyler and Elder Dial contacting in Stavanger.

Hot Dogs on the Sola Beach with Mariana and Trina.

Family night with the YSA.  

Tyler at the Stavanger airport leaving for home.  

Elder Stephens (Lt) Elder Larson (Rt) leaving for home

Josh with his white coat at the U of A.  Click on link below for a short video of  Josh and a few of his classmates at the White Coat Ceremony.  We are excited for him and his family.

                                                      Josh White Coat Ceremony U of A

Josh, Jackie & Stratton Visit 6-17

Dear Friends and Family;

Our days are getting shorter now.  At the longest it was getting dark after midnight and light before 4. We had a great visit from Josh, Jackie and Stratton.  It is so fun to show our family the country that we have grown to love.  The same day that Josh, Jackie and Stratton left we got on a plane for Stockholm.  We were able to go to the temple with a Sister we help teach and one of our YSA's that is headed to Boston on a mission.  We are so happy for them.  We really enjoyed being in the temple again.  We had over 80 people from our ward attend.  These people are amazing.  It is a 15 hour drive. They have a guest house there where everyone stays.  We all shared food and socialized in the evenings.  It was really enjoyable.  On the 4th we went to our Bishop's for a BBQ with the missionaries and the Olsen family.  She is from Washington state.  Hal Mead, the Bishop is from Wyoming.  He grew up in Wright and played basketball in Burlington.  Small world.  We also had a 4th district lunch with the Missionaries.  Sister Gormley spoils them.  One of our wonderful YSA sisters, Shelby Miller, left for school at USU.  We will miss her.  Lynn Steffensen returned from a mission at temple square last night.  We are excited to work with her.  Hope you all had a happy and safe 4th.  Love Elder and Sister Gormley

Josh, Jackie and Stratton arriving in Stavanger.  They were tired.

Josh, Jackie and Stratton with President and Sister Hill

Josh, Jackie riding our bikes at Vaulen.  They loved the trails here.

Josh, Jackie and Stratton on top of Preikestolen after a long hike. 

Josh, Jackie in our church in Haugesund

Josh, Jackie and Stratton in Haugesund

Josh,Stratton, Sister Gormley and I at Langfossen

Josh, Jackie, Stratton and Sister Gormley at Odda

Josh, Jackie and Stratton on the Flåm railroad

Josh, Jackie and Stratton with a troll.  Jackie loved the trolls.

Josh, Jackie and Stratton overlooking rainy Bergen from Fløyan

Josh Stratton and I from the back of the ferry we took from Bergen to Stavanger, going under the Haugesund bridge.

Stratton and Josh playing volleyball with the YSA and missionaries at Vaulen

Josh, Jackie and Stratton at the Stavanger Harbor

Saying good bye.  Josh starts medical school at the University of Arizona in Tucson today.  We are excited for this new adventure for him and his family.

Monica Tindeland, from Haugesund, was baptised on July 1st.  She is a young lady that came from the High School in Haugesund to do a report on the church.  She  took the lessons and was baptized.  She is wonderful.

Sisters Earl, Gormley and Whited (L to R) overlooking Haugesund from Steinsfjellet. 

Sister Gormley and Annett Andersen in Stockholm after she went through the temple.

Some of our dear friends at the temple in Stockholm.  Sister Kristin Jonasmo, 2nd from left and Roger Lindahl, 4th from right, went to the temple for the first time.  

(L to R) Shelby, Sisters Gormley and Hutchins and Ingrid at a YSA BBQ

Erik & Britany Visit

Dear Family and Friends;

It has been a great couple of weeks.  We had transfers.  Lost some great friend missionaries and gained some new. Erik and Britany visited us.  That always is special to have family.  It was so fun to show them Norway and introduce them to our friends and missionaries.  We had a great YSA get together in Bergen.  It is always great to be with the YSA.  We also had a real sad thing happen.  A dear friend that was attending with our YSA and was investigating the church choose to take his life. He had set a baptismal date. It was a real blow to the missionaries, Sister Gormley and I.  We loved him dearly.  He was so troubled.  The gospel and the atonement was the answer, but he couldn't make the connection. We will miss Ben Robert.  We have a young sister from Haugesund that visited the church with her high school class to write a report.  She felt something and wanted to know more. The Sister missionaries taught her.  She had a baptismal date for July 1st.  Her name is Monica.  She went with us to the YSA activity in Bergen this last seek-end.  Hope you are all having a good summer.  We are enjoying the cool weather.  Love, Elder and Sister Gormley

Ben Robert last Christmas

Transfer Dinner.  Left to Right: Elder Torgesen, Elder Cole, Sister Blankmeyer, Elder Arveseth, Elder Carver, Elder Stephens, Sister Gormley & Elder Gormley

Elder Areveseth is transferring to Oslo to become an assistant to the President.

Elder Carver is going home

Erik and Britany at the Airport, arriving to Norway June 2nd.

Britany and Erik on the ferry to Lysebotn with our car.

Erik on the ferry to Lysebotn

Erik and Britany and the Lysefjord

Erik and Britany on top of  Øygardstøl.  A steep winding road from Lysebotn.

Lysebotn from the restaurant in Øygardstøl.

Still a lot of snow in the Mountains of Sirdal

Philip Evanger and Erik out fishing

Erik and Britany and dinner with the Evangers.  Chicken peanut sticks.

House that Philip Evanger was raised in.  Built in 1771.  His parents still live there near Farsund.

Lighthouse near Farsund

German bunker near Farsund.  Used during WWII.

They have animal overpasses on the roads in Norway.  Horse checking out the traffic.

This farmer has a sense of humor. 

Erik and Britany by the church in Haugesund

Erik and Britany at the Torleif Knaphus monument.  He is a famous church artist that was born in Norway.

  

Erik and us in Odda Norway

We say some amazing waterfalls between Stavanger and Bergen.  Below are a few of them.  This is the peak season for waterfalls because of the snow melt.

Erik and his Mother on Ferry back to Bergen from Flåm.

Stayed in Bergen at the Grand Terminus Hotel by the Train Station.

Erik loved visiting the fish market in Bergen.

Erik and Britany in Bergen

Erik and I in Stavanger

Erik and Britany at the old church in Stavanger.  Built in the 1100's.

Erik enjoyed seeing the tractors that they use as trucks in Norway.  

The YSA in Bergen with the Stake Patriarch.  Monica, that is going to be baptised is in the top row, far right.

Riding down Fløyen in Bergen on the cable car.

Sister Gormley & I at Gammelhaugen in Bergen.  The Kings summer palace.

Camille, Sister Gormley and Martina in Bergen