Monday, November 7, 2011

Packin' my bags, I'm headin' North!‏

The flight over to Mo
Hey everyone!


Transfers are here (every 9 weeks for the Scandinavian missions)! I'm heading up to Mo i Rana for Christmas! It'll be much MUCH colder than Bergen, that's for sure. But Elder Olsen and I will tear the place up. Here's my new address beginning November 9th:


 Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson
Mobekkgt. 32
8624 Mo i Rana
Norway

Our attic/apartment =)





A little miracle Elder Passey and I experienced this week: after a good solid day of contacting, and much rain, we were on our way back to the church when a random girl came up to us and asked "Hey is that church over there yours? What time does your worship service start?" "Why yes, 11:00, would you like a free tour?" "Sure!" Marthe is from Austria (my Dad's mission!) here on a study-abroad program in Bergen. We gave her a tour and she said she'd come to church! Really neat girl, hopefully she'll keep in contact. But it was incredibly comforting having someone come to US with a question like that. The Lord truly blesses the obedient :D
Home sweet home!

 This past weekend the Thomassen brothers were baptized. Us missionaries kinda took the family and split them up to be taught by different companionships. Jan and Kent are rock stars - solid in this gospel! The Spirit was absolutely wonderful at their baptism. Their family was so happy. Then on Sunday they, as well as George, were ordained to the office of Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. I was honored, and stunned, to ordain Kent. That was truly special. Moments like that make the whole mission worth it! Everyone was beaming with joy. The way of this Gospel is truly the only and lasting way to peace. Even better, however, was that their little brother Bjørn saw the joy his brothers received and decided immediately to be baptized later this month. Elder Passey and I were teaching Bjørn, and we were consequentially stoked. I am so excited to see where these brothers go in their lives - with God on their side!

Bergen has been an extraordinary experience. Words can't really describe what I've experienced here. Or in the MTC. And probably what I will experience the rest of my mission. But this I know: God does truly support and bless those who ask for His help, and then does something about it. The people here are angels. The love, support and encouragement we received from them are irreplaceable (and at times perfectly timed!). I have grown in love for these people - and it is sad to go! A big thing I learned from Norway thus far is that the adversary is trying to stop us from talking to each other. Whether by technology, pride or discomfort, the adversary convinces us to not talk with each other and give each other strength. Talk with each other! Support each other! Others' problems should bother us! And then help where we can - this is exactly what the Savior would do. And we have a baptismal covenant to do the very same (Mosiah 18:8-10). God's blessings will shed forth as we reach out to others where we can.

All of you are amazing - keep up the good work. I love receiving emails and letters - they really brighten those dark days (and those dark days are meant literally - not just figuratively). Mo i Rana will be VERY dark. I pray for a burning testimony to melt away that darkness. Your prayers support me in this - please don't stop :) thank you thank you all! May God be with you all! 

I've waited years for this day
-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

Edvard Grieg's Home pictures!










Edvard Grieg's home





His work area looking out on the fjord.







Edvard Grieg's view of the fjord





Hills near his home.


Me :)