Tromsø. Norges "Paris" (Tromsø, Norway's "Paris")

Elder Levine, Jazz and I hanging out :P

One last Sandnes kebab. Everyone knows good kebab doesn't exist in the north

Stavanger Domkirken

The Hickmans left their mission at the end of the transfer - we love them so much!

The Sandnes/Stavanger District :D

Our last ward mission leader coordination meeting. He brought us julebrus!!

See ya, Stavanger!

Heia! (MMM. Northern dialect.)

Ridin' on a jetplane!

Man. Moves day was just an emotional roller coaster. It was like leaving on my mission all over again! While on the plane I was really down, writing in my journal for a few hours (thank you, travel time!). Took one last picture of the sun for 2012 (3 months of no sun to go!)!

Last view of the sun for 2012!

But once my lungs filled with Tromsø air, I knew I was at a new home!

Hellooo Tromsø!

MMM. Lunch. (and 60 kroner saved!)

Elder Strange is one of the most genuine missionaries in the Norway mission right now. A down to earth, real guy. We get along great - perfect for a little apartment and teeny tiny branch up in the far north. We both recall very well how our social skills go completely skiwompous in a two man apartment, with no one in sight to talk with other than streets and doors filled with unsuspecting strangers. Good bye, normal social skills! Until 4 months from now! (at least!). Instead of normal social skills, Elder Strange is teaching me how to be a master at chess, and how to fish (caught one this morning!).

Elder Strange hookin' up!

Tromsø bay.

Boats on boats. 1 to every 5 norwegians in existence.

Tromsø is known as Norway's "Paris" because (legend has it that) way back in the day, Paris used to send its latest fashions and materials to Norway through the Tromsø ports. This place is a college town, and it is hopping with people all over the streets. I don't think the city ever has much of a "down-time." Another rumor has it that Tromsø has the most  pubs and bars per person in such a small area. We can see them all over the place! And it's understandable why, too - the sun never comes up! Despite that though, Tromsø is gorgeous. Maybe it's just because I compare everything with Mo i Rana ("the armpit of Norway" as President Johansen used to say :P). Tromsø looks like a snowglobe without the snow (so far!). Christmas light a strewn across the streets - and the traditional Christmas tree will soon be erected in the center of town. Norwegians know how to celebrate Christmas properly!

The gågate (walking street)

The people themselves are really nice, too! "You are a great person!" This random stranger woman said to me as we were talking about beliefs. WHOA. That surprised me so much I got embarrassed. Haha! Missions. Truly high quality, hard-core (northerners, I tell you!) people live here in the far

Red - light papers. Yellow - cardboards. Green - food.
Blue - plastics. White - everything else (not shown)

north. They're really big into recycling up here too. Check out those colored bags!! What's also awesome about the far north - is that the Sami people live here! The Sami people is the indigenous people to the far north (in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia area). They're generally quite short, white, blond and really nice. I met my first Sami on Sunday! I was so excited. The Sami methods of survival include gathering and reindeer herding. Some missionaries in the past have been offered to go reindeer herding with them for a few days. Are you kidding me?? That would be so cool!! Needless to say, I am stoked to be here in Tromsø. The people ROCK.

Tunnel roundabouts. All the rage in Tromsø.

Also, being in a small town has its perks in that we get to consistently have full studies everyday (Church even begins at 1 pm here - other than the general nationally accepted time of 11 am). Being able to have full studies consistently really gives you the spiritual strength and motivation to be obedient and to work hard. That's a promise in the missionary call letter - look for it. 

The promises that the Lord makes to us are real and true. The best part about them is that they are all testable! "Prove me now" the Lord says in Malachi 3. "Ask and ye shall receive" He says in Matthew 21. "Remember how merciful the Lord hath been [throughout the course of history]" Moroni reminds us in Moroni 10. One of the best promises the Book of Mormon provides for us is found in 2 Nephi 1:20, Alma 36:1 and 30, - "inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land." Read 2 Nephi 1 and Mormon 7 and tell me that those aren't powerful and comforting scriptures!

The Lord leads this work - whether in sunny, humid Hong Kong or sunless, humid Tromsø.

"Behold, I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13 

Amen!

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

P.S. Gratulerer med dagen, Elder Hazen! Du gammel, gammel mann!

The frost on top of our car this mornin

 Merge The view out of our back window!

The view out of our back window!

Æ ska flytt nordover! (Headin' Northward!)

Heleisen verden! (One last Stavanger-dialect greeting for the road!)

Wow. Has it been 4 months already? The Stavanger area has been like walking on sunshine ever since I arrived. This place has definitely been a blast - memberwise, investigatorwise, missionarywise, companionwise, citywise. Everything has just come into place to make it the best experience thus far. The Lord has been very merciful and generous to me these past four months, for which I will be eternally grateful. Now He has a plan for me a bit further north: Tromsø!

Tromsø is an island in the middle of a fjord way up north by Alta (Alta being the highest latitude missionary area in the entire world, Tromsø being the second). It is world-renowned for its northern lights (rated #1 in the world by some), and it's two and a half times larger than Mo i Rana! No empty streets for us :). Elder Strange will be joining me in Tromsø. He's one of the most energetic missionaries we have in the mission - so we'll be tearing it up together in the holidays! From what I've heard, Tromsø has a branch of approximately 3 families (2 in Tromsø, and 1 that skypes in from Svalbard), and a few others. It's going to be wonderful getting close to all of them these coming months :). Tromsø is a university town. One of Norway's best medical schools is in Tromsø . . . so I'll definitely have a peak in there. Prepare for miracles - and some new boots!

Below is another perspective of where Bryce is 

Here's the new address:

Vardevegen 205A

9018 Tromsø

This past week has just been spectacular. Our ward mission leader skyped us AGAIN. This time from London. My definition of a ward mission leader has gone from zero to hero this transfer - hopefully I can be as epic as him! We've also had very much success praying with members and investigators to help them receive missionary experiences. One of our investigators was so excited about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration DVD we gave him that he gave them to his friend immediately after getting them from us! Like this man said from this video from the hurricane Sandy tragedy, (http://vimeo.com/53357089) "When the Spirit of Christ sinks deep into your heart, you just want to serve and help your fellow man." Whether by sharing the gospel, or cleaning up the flotsam and jetsam of a national disaster, it is what Christ Himself would do.

I. has been following us for the past few days for a school report on missionary work. Love those vikings!!

We had the wonderful opportunity to have a zone training meeting this past week. This month's theme is "preparing for baptism," so the theme revolved around our own personal conversion and change of heart. Or in other words, the "why" behind baptism. That was one of the most spiritual testimony meetings I have ever attended. You could cut the Spirit in that room with a knife, it was so thick. It was fascinating to note that almost every testimony born began with their family, and how their family engaged them to act on some prompting, or raised them in an environment susceptible to the influence of the Holy Ghost for them to gain a testimony. The family truly is the best place to learn and apply the principles of the gospel. Baptism exists in order for man and God to establish a stronger relationship. For us to commit ourselves to Him and His will (by keeping the commandments, and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost). And for God to more abundantly bless us (through comfort, promptings, and more than we can currently comprehend Mosiah 2:41). 

The sisters made a bomb lunch for our district! MMM.

Speaking of baptism, K. was just baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday! This wonderful man has been investigating the church for almost the whole 4 months we've been here. It has been an honor and a pleasure to extend to him commitments in which his faith could grow. I find it very fascinating how a testimony can be grown. Either 1) you could gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and thereby know that Joseph Smith was a prophet or 2) you could get a testimony of a principle or law that Joseph Smith revealed to us, to find out if he was a prophet. K.'s experience was the latter. By following the Word of Wisdom, K. knew for a fact that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that the Book of Mormon was true. The Lord works in mysterious ways - and how wonderful it is to watch His work in action!

Awesome cupcakes made by a member family. MMM.

The announcement that we were leaving Stavanger came pretty hard to the ward, and especially to K., but we all know that it is according to God's will. As we say: "The righteous never need to say good-bye!" Just: "see you later!". As the work of the Lord moves on, and hastens ever increasingly, let's reach out to those around us and love them. 

Remember that Christ's two greatest commandments began with "Thou shalt love".

I shall therefore love. John 14:15.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

 Elder Weaver having his first experience with oatmeal. No I'm not kidding.

Gratulerer til Micah!, 101 nye folk å undervise, Sandnes Splits, Ekte Omvendelse og Martin's Eksempel (Congratulations to Micah!, 101 new people to teach, Sandnes Splits, True Conversion and Martin's Example)

Another gorgeous Stavanger sky. Ahh this place rocks.

Hallo hallo hallo!

First of all, congratulations to Micah on your engagement!!! That is simply wonderful news - especially since I have actually met your fiance! Hopefully I can continue following in your righteous footsteps throughout the rest of my life. I try to "earn my pillow" each day too, thanks to you :). Best wishes to you both, and we shall be united again!

This past week, President Evans set a "standard of excellence" for our mission to find 100 new people to teach within one week. Normally, our mission would find between 40 and 60 on an average week. As we set our minds to it, prayed, and gave the extra effort - the mission found 101 new people to teach!! (49 of which just from the west zone alone with only 7 companionships!!) I apologize to you all who don't really understand this number stuff - but it was extremely exciting for us to achieve this challenging yet reachable goal for our mission. The Lord can help us when we set and work toward worthy goals!!

Mission Conference, October 10, 2012

Elder Weaver (the awesome new missionary from Irvine!) and I got to hit up Sandnes on splits on Friday! Woo! We had such a blast. Sandnes was just opened 4 months ago, due to a revelation President Evans received a year ago when he received his mission call to be Mission President. It is a booming, young town full of young families. Nothing less than a perfect opportunity for us to share the message of love, forgiveness, faith, restitution and even good, wholesome recreational activities. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction - and its best effects can be seen in the family unit. So we contacted and bonked up a storm to go find people to teach. We dropped in on some members - who made the best mexican dish I have had on my entire mission. Beans, rice and chicken. It, of course, helps that the wife in the family IS from Mexico. I learned a lot that splits - especially that our gospel message is centered on families. Elder Weaver is a stud!

Sandnes splits with Elder Weaver!!

We also met with K. this past week who is preparing for baptism. He began inviting all of his friends and family to his baptism, and he received some negativity back from them. It was so sad! He came to us with a few questions which we were more than happy to answer. I want to testify before you all that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints IS Christ's church. There exists no more christian organization than Christ's own restored church today (http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/new-round-of-cleanup-projects-scheduled-by-mormon-helping-hands). Salvation comes by no other means than faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Also, the potential of man is realized through our faith in God. We can see clearly in the Bible that we, as children of our Father in Heaven, have the potential to become perfect and like Him. (Romans 8:16-17, Hebrews 12:9). Why else would Christ command us to become such? (Matthew 5:48) Does it not make sense that we, as children of God, become like Him just as we, as children of our mortal parents, become like them? God does have a plan (Moses 1:39). We do have a future ahead of us, after this life (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/he-is-risen?lang=eng&query=he+risen). And a long path of progression on the way to perfection lying in wait. Is it not exciting that we can continue to learn, develop and become better everyday? Life is amazing!! These truths were realized in our lesson with K. - and confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:5). Remember, that the truth of ALL things can be confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost. K. felt it, and so did everyone else in the room.

On Sunday evening, there was an open house at one of our member's homes. It was held for Martin, who is a recent convert (2 or 3 years ago) from Bodø going to serve in the Portugal mission. Through much excitement, and high emotions (man it's weird to see it happening to someone else!), you could tell that the members were delighted to have him serve his mission. A few speeches later, the Spirit was very strong, and my companion and I were caught reflecting on our own missions. How amazing missions are! The members testified of how missions were some of the best two years of their lives; how, after giving of yourself for 2 whole years, you found yourself given the most in the end; how there will be tough, difficult days, as well as splendidly blissful days ahead. As we were caught in the middle of this, we took a few moments to thank God for our wonderful missions. A mission, again, is the best gift God could give to a 18 year old kid. And I'll be forever reminiscing the hardships and the bursts of ecstatic bliss from my mission.

God be thanked for His great care and preparations for our well-being and futures!

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

p.s. I apologize for the lack of photos - it's dark and winter again. Tune in next spring for another slew of great pictures ;)

Familie Hjemme Aften, Kristus Støtte, Halloween Fest, Bergen Splits, og Preikestolen (Family Home Evening, Christ Statue, Halloween Party, Bergen Splits and Preikestolen (again!))

Kjære dåkkar!

I just read my last email. This week wasn't nearly as epic as last week. My motivation to write an email just died - haha!

Tree of Life depiction

Some members asked us to hold a family home evening at their home. We opened up the children's picture Book of Mormon and read the story of the Tree of Life and drew it on our own pieces of paper. It was awesome! After which we looked up all of the symbols and applied it to our own lives. If you can't see it on the picture, I have a missionary in a boat on top of the river of filthiness saving souls :P. We are here to save lives - especially those of future generations through their present-day families! There is no greater work in the world.

Elder Levine's fabulous artwork ;)

One morning we took some time to observe the Christ statue here in the St. Petri Church. I know you've all seen it before - but it's still inspiring. I can't wait to visit the Rome, Italy temple's visitor's center with statues of all of the 12 apostles (which marble will be take from the Carrera quarry!).

Christ Statue in the St. Petri Church

Coconut gelatin eyeballs!

Linus from Peanuts

On Wednesday it was Halloween! Happy Halloween! I saw one kid with face paint the whole entire night - and no candy. People outside of America don't take Halloween seriously, I guess. Some members

Pumpkin fettucinne ravioli - MMM.

invited us over for a "Halloween-themed" dinner. Pumpkin fettucinne ravioli? Amazing! Then a coconut gelatin dessert that looked like an eyeball. MMM. It was a blast besides the fact that nobody dressed up except for me. I was Linus from the Peanuts :)

Another member family here in Stavanger has a son out on a mission currently serving in Bergen. I went on splits with him this week! Rushes of flash backs came and went as we took the Bybane (city tram) and contacted out on those gorgeous streets. I forgot how pretty it was in Bergen! Also very common in Bergen were the old folks who didn't like us very much at all. Ahh yes I fortunately forgot about them. However, we enjoyed ourselves very much, and much learning was done! G. found some time to meet with us too!! He was baptized on the 29th of October last year.

The good man George and me :D.

What a crazy coincidence I was able to see him again after an entire year since his baptism :). And I promise he smiles a lot more than it looks like. Hehe.

Last night there was a concert going on right where we were going to contact people. Darn, that's just too bad. I love festivities.

Concert by Breiavatnet

Today we hiked Preikestolen - AGAIN. And we loved it! Elder Weaver and Sister Bingham had never been - so it was a pleasure. Thank you thank you to Isabel who let us all drive with her all the way up! It was an absolute blast.

Preikestolen round 3 :)

From mission conference and a mission-wide survey we recently took, our whole entire mission expressed that we want to become more Christ-centered. Out of all the chapters in Preach My Gospel, the mission voted that they wanted to learn (in descending frequency of votes) 1) The Gospel of Jesus Christ 2) Christlike Attributes 3) How Can I Recognize and Understand the Spirit?. It was a very clear indication that we all wanted to become more Christ-centered. Due to that, we have been challenged by President Evans to read all of the 4 Gospels and all of 3 Nephi before the end of the year. I am so excited to begin this study. It's going to be very productive and very inspiring to read quickly through the life of Christ, and His work after His death and resurrection. For anyone who feels so inclined (or inspired) to join me - please do so :D

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

Reindeer meat - I ate Blitzen!