Monday, May 28, 2012

Tjener jeg i Hawaii!? (Am I serving in Hawaii??)


This week starts with Bryce showing off his apartment. (and housekeeping skills)
Our apartment - as clean as it could get . . . .

we just don't even have time to clean around here . . . .
 
Kjære brødre og søstre!

I've been taking way too long to email recently - so I'll try to write really quickly!

It has been ROASTING here in Oslo! I think it's been up in the 30's (Celsius, of course)(86+ degrees) this past week. It's making us missionaries feel loopy and tired. Drink that water! It's quite humid here as well - so that doesn't help. I feel like I'm serving in Hawaii. One day we even took studies outside on the deck because it was such a nice morning :).
Studyin' outside in gorgeous weather!

The DeLinde family invited us over for dinner this week. On the way over there by train, I sat next to this man who just frustrated me so much! I would ask him good, personable questions, and began explaining our message briefly and simply. I know I felt the Spirit strongly as I testified to him the truthfulness of what I had said. Then I asked, "What would it mean to you that God has called a new prophet, just like He has in the history of the world?" "Nothing." "Do you believe it is possible that God could call a new prophet?" "Nope!" He didn't even think about it - even though I knew he was feeling the Spirit. The Spirit does testify to our hearts the truth - and it is really up to us to act on the truth we receive. I am nevertheless grateful to have testified to that man the truthfulness of God's love through revealed, modern-day scripture and a living-day prophet! What a blessing!

While we were at the DeLinde's we heard about how the State Church is no longer a part of the State. The King of Norway used to be the head of the church, but has delegated it to someone else. It seemed fascinating, but I haven't been able to find more information about that. Big changes in the greatest Christian community of Norway indeed.

We've been teaching a boy by the name of A. This week he has asked absolutely the perfect questions to truly understand for himself the truthfulness of Christ's Restored Gospel. As a result, he stopped smoking, drinking and is doing everything he can to be free from addiction - just as Christ would have us! It is a great testimony-builder seeing lives change before your very eyes.

Here in Oslo we have the opportunity to teach Norwegian, for free, every Tuesday and Thursday for one hour. I had the opportunity to teach once this week - I loved it! Man, it's absolutely astonishing seeing how a language capability can be grown through faith, hard work, and a lot of practice. Sharing my joy of speaking Norwegian with others is a wonderful experience.

Norwegian alphabet (norsk alfabet)
A a B b C c D d E e F f G g H h I i J j
a be se de e eff ge i je/jådd
K k L l M m N n O o P p Q q R r S s T t
ell em enn o pe ku ærr ess te
U u V v W w X x Y y Z z Æ æ Ø ø Å å
u ve dåbbelt
-ve
eks y sett æ ø å
A recording of the Norwegian alphabet
Our awesome member who visited us!






Our awesome member from Mo i Rana came down to Oslo this week for a business trip - and decided to take a detour with the missionaries for a little while! The weather here seemed to explode with heat when she was here - quite a difference from Mo i Rana that's for sure. It was wonderful to see her there :D.
C. and me! MMM.




















There's also a really nice member here from Taiwan - who invited us over for dinner. I love chinese food. Garrett, I am extremely jealous you're in Hong Kong. But then C., our member, talked about how missionaries are treated in Taiwan compared to those in Hong Kong. Missionaries in Taiwan are spoiled, and treated very well . . . to the point where they are stunted in their abilities as missionaries. However, in Hong Kong, it's an all-round rough city, but the missionaries that come out of there are always extremely humble, grateful, teachable and with characters like gems. That's my best buddy in Hong Kong!! Add more oil, buddy!




And . . . I didn't mean for this to be a side-note, but we also received a baptism this week!
B. at her baptism :D
B. has the faith I would like to have. She is strong, faithful, and filled with Christ-like love. The Spirit always floods the room when a baptism is performed. After she was confirmed, despite the fact she didn't understand a word of Norwegian, tears were streaming down her face. The Holy Ghost surrounded us, and testified that that ordinance was performed with correct authority - the the Gift of the Holy Ghost has been successfully delivered to B. We are incredibly blessed.

I testify that Christ suffered and died for us so that we may return to heaven. He has paid the price - it has already been performed. However, our task is to learn how to be comfortable in God's presence here and now. It's a long, shaping and trying process, but it will be worth every effort.

 Because life with our Father in Heaven is just that infinitely wonderful.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson
~
The pictures below are more just received to go on last week's blog. They will be added to that blog soon.
The 18 girls in bunads :)

Another Russ Bus

More girls in bunads

syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth) or Nasjonaldagen (The National Day).









No comments: