Elder Scott J. Rasmussen: December 5, 2011

It was great to hear from you. So, real quick, if you wanted to send a package to me, it would take about 10 days to get from there to hear...roughly. So as long as you sent it before the first of January, I would get it. Otherwise I would probably not be in the same house, or in the same city, so send them well in advance. I cant think of anything in particulat that I would like sent to me. Any food is good. We eat so little here. We get 1750 in krones a month for food (5 kroner is one USD, I havent done the math yet) But everything here is SOOOO expensive. Its like 12 dollars for one light bulb (the bulb in the room where we hang dry our laundry is out, which is a problem sense its dark when we leave and dark when we get home, haha.) We buy a lot of cheap food, but we stretch it pretty thin. Believe it or not i am 20 pounds lighter than i was when I left home. I went into the MTC weighing a hefty 214, and am down to 194 as of four days ago. I could go for losing another 10, and with all the walking and little food I get its likeley to happen. The one thing I was craving though is a summer sausage, just one. I dont need cheese or mustard or anything fancy to go with it. Just a summer sausage. So maybe if you wanted to send a package you could send me one of those?
I DID want to ask you to send me one thing though. On the book shelf at the bottom of the stairs there is a book called Simplified Isaiah for Latter Day Saints. Its a glossy black book with a picture of some scrolls on the cover and is about an inch thick. I was wondering if you could mail it to me. I know its Jeffs copy, but hes not using it, and I have one too (its just packed) in case his gets lost or ruined. But my mission president told me itd be ok if I used it for referance. It would definately help with my BoM studies. Speaking of, I started the BoM again when I got here. Im halfway through Mosiah. Its such a good book.   Learn more every time I read it, wither about the book the gospel, or myself. Its pretty incredible how no other books outside of scripture can do that.
   So we are going for a hike today. Theres a mountain called Ulriken which is about a 2 hour hike. ill take lots of pictures for you. Theres a tram to ride back down. So well prob just do that.
    The weather here continuesto be friendly. We got our first snow this week. Wasnt very deep though. The rain took it all away the next day anyway. Still about 3 degrees celcius. Still dark, but its been barable.
   Theres Christmas lights, trees, decor all over the city. Makes me a little homesick, but last year was a good Christmas. It can last me for two years.
    So i flew out to Stavanger on Wed to go on splits. I was there overnight. Its a beautiful city. There is a chuch there that has the same Christus statue in it that temple square has. Apparently there is three in the world. The original is in Denmark, but I got to see the one in Stavnanger, so Ive seen 2 of 3 in the world. Pretty cool. There are a ton of old churches (built in the 11 hundreds) and winding cobblestone streets, i wish Id have had my camera. Ill be sure to take it next time. Stavanger is crazy beautiful. It sits on this gorgeous fjord you really have to see to believe. We are flying to Oslo tomorrow for a conference. Im sure we will be back by tomorrow night. So that will make a total of 10 flights in the laswt month...wow.
   The branch had a baptism this week. Not mine though. But it was cool. The whole family has been converting a little over the last 2 years. Now theyre all baptized.
   We have the opportunity to skype home on Christmas, but I dont think you or mom have skype...but if thats something youre interested in let me know. Otherwise Ill just call home. Itll probe be sometime in the evening here, which would be morning there. Im still not entirely sure what time itll be, but ill let you know once ive heard the word.
Well, I gotta jet. Cant wait to hear from you again. Was thrilled to hear newt and romney are still doing well, and cant believe how windy it got in northern utah! Thats nuts! Im glad all is well and no one was hurt.
love you dad
-Elder Scott Rasmussen-