Regner det? Virkelig?? (Is it Raining? Really??)

Kjære verden!

Leaving the church yesterday, we were extremely surprised to find giant puddles of water and slush everywhere! It's +5 degrees C, at 69 degrees north, in the beginning of January. Does something seem wrong to you all, too? Man, Norway is full of surprises everyday.

Before I go any further with this email, I must congratulate my mother on her birthday (thanks for helping me remember that one, Dad :D). All true vikings honor the rites of birthin' day! So happy birthday, Mom! I love you more and more as each day, apartment, investigator and companion comes and goes. I would not be near who I am today without my Mom. From taking me on random trips to California Pizza Kitchen, holding rockin' birthday parties at the Timberlakes cabin, or making me hold her hand into Costco (whether I'm 3 or 33, it matters not!) - my Mom is awesome. I love you Mom!!

Swedish Julmust (comparable 

to Norwegian Julebrus - but 

tastes completely, deliciously 

different :)

Fireworks all across Tromsø island!And Happy New Year, too! Another fabulous year come and gone,
I can hardly believe it. We were able to celebrate the New Year properly this year (last year was way too cold in Mo i Rana for my taste). We were able to be with that awesome family we spent Christmas with once again. The city was lit up in lights, and fireworks like 4th of July all over again. 'Twas an exciting evening :)

Torches on Tromsdalen

 Woo 2013! Who knew we'd make it this far?? :)

The Ice Cathedral!

The smoke from all of the fireworks

 "Some people have bread, but
 can't eat. Others can eat,
but don't have bread.
We have bread, and can eat.
 Therefore shall we praise the Lord" :]

This week, we received an assignment to go and get the summer tires for the Alta car up in Alta. 5 hour drive later, we were at a member's home hanging out with the famous Geir. He's a member here with a mental handicap of some sort - but an absolute musical genius. We were able to play on the piano together a duet from "The Entertainer" - it was really neat! It was sad to depart, but we really had a wonderful time at their home. Hopefully you can enjoy some of the pictures of our drive - they're a little grainy because there wasn't much light, nor time to stop and take lots of pictures. Enjoy!

One scripture that really spoke to me this week was Alma 38:4, when Alma speaks to his son Shiblon (the good one :). He says ". . . I know thou wast in bonds; yea and I also know that thou wast stoned for the       word's sake;" Shiblon was a good missionary, and had some tough times given to him! "And thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee;" I love how Alma says because the Lord was with him, he could bear those trials with patience. There have been plenty of times in my life I've thought "how in the world could God be here with me right now when I'm so darn miserable!" And Alma actually takes that into account in his closing statement in this verse: "and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee." Caught in the moment, we have extreme difficulty trying to see the Lord's hand in our lives. But looking back, "now thou knowest," it becomes clearer as to how the Lord supported and strengthened you the whole time. And He really does. I am a living witness of that.

One of the greatest truths restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, is one that we hear extremely often: that God loves you. Against an apostate backdrop of God's "inevitable" wrath, hellfire and damnation, God the Father called Joseph by name and spoke to him. The whole entire world would be much brighter if each individual knew, understood and comprehended that God loves them personally and completely - regardless of any choices, behaviors, mistakes or sins committed - ever. Completely unconditionally.

That's the God I want to return to.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

Some building and mountains!

Fishing Boats!

Gorgeous boats and bays