It's not every day you get to go to a Norwegian Funeral‏

Hey everyone!

I am sure all of you are familiar with those "Missionary Preparation" Mutual activities, or FHE activities where you learn how to iron shirts/tie a tie/sew on a button, etc etc. Well guess what! I actually sewed on a button this week - and I am so glad I learned how to do that! It's really not that hard, surprisingly =P

Earlier this week we had a Zone Conference over in Stavanger. It was gorgeous there! There's a soft spot in my heart for rolling grassy hills and sunshine. Bergen could certainly use the latter. We learned a lot, and it is just weird to see missionaries say their goodbyes. The flights to and from Stavanger were absolutely gorgeous as well - we flew over fjords and lakes! 

For Family Home Evening with the YSA this week, Øyvind and I did a TaeKwonDo demonstration. I was really grateful I was able to relate to him through Martial Arts, and also that I had some training on how to be a guinea pig. The next day I was really really sore . . . haha! He sure enjoyed his time! Speaking of other things that have come in handy, we had a lesson earlier this week that covered a lot of the Apostasy and Reformers - Thank you Liahona for teaching me all about that! - it sure helped during that lesson. As well, I had a discussion with a woman by our Plan of Salvation chalk drawing concerning the balance between science and religion. Thank you Liahona and BYU for that! It is truly amazing to see that science and religion both explain two parts of the same story. Science explains the how things are, and religion explains why things are. And together we obtain a greater understanding and appreciation for the world we have been given! I believe it was Brigham Young who said that there is no conflict between true science and true religion. Truth holds fast no matter the topic!

The Sandvika Fire Station (right next to the Sandvika Church)

A truly neat experience this week was on Friday that our whole district went to a Norwegian Funeral to support a family in the branch. The Sandvika Church was gorgeous, and the music exceptional (real organ and Norsk soloists and everything!). The downside to this experience was that everyone was so sad! Hopefully the people didn't mind having us missionaries sit in the back of church; though we would have loved to share insights as to why these difficulties happen to us. Thank Heavenly Father for the restoration of the gospel, and living prophets to which we can turn for answers and help! My testimony grows every day realizing how much people need this message! We see in the Book of Mormon that faithful believers more often than not have difficulties (social/physical/emotional/etc) - however we also see that despite those difficulties we are given joy and happiness! Either way in this life we will have difficulties, however with this gospel we can do so with joy! And that joy is deep, abiding, true and constant! Don't give up on it when times are hard, and more especially when they are easy.

Whale sandwich

Norway is one of the few places you can legally eat whale. We therefore had a taste! And it was gross! It was like soggy jerky. In better news, there was a picture of our district in the newspaper this past week regarding our chalk drawing! Sadly, it was all about the weather rather than our message. Yet still there was a picture of us drawing with the chalk, and that we were out to share our message. Pretty cool! 

You never really appreciate something until you no longer have it. My voice earlier this week was gone (maybe from yelling in TaeKwonDo). Luckily we had weekly planning that day so that I could rest. The members here were literally angels by giving us soup, cough drops and herbal tea (Mmm tea reminds me of good times with Jared and Micah :))! Ahh, Norwegian members are absolute gems once they are baptized. It is wonderful! 

Due to the fact that I received quite a bit of mail this week, I need to go write those letters! Thank you Lara and kids, I will write back as soon as possible. I'll send the letter to Mom so that she can forward it to you all with your new address. Thank you Carissa and Hillary! I don't know if I can write this week, we had deep cleaning today. Thanks Dad, I sent you an email already.

I love you all! Please share the Gospel to those around you, and keep those testimonies strong by doing so! 

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson