Troller!, Invitasjoner, Gratis Qur'an, Herren's Beskyttelse, Reindeer, Sommarøy og Gryllefjord! (Trolls!, Invitations, Free Qur'an, The Lord's Protection, Reindeer, Sommarøy and Gryllefjord!)

Hei alle!

This week was filled with some awesome experiences!!

Our investigator I. has been investigating the church for over a year now. She's got a great heart, and a very spiritually sensitive side. She describes to us how she feels the Spirit - especially when meeting with us and during Sacrament meetings. She then also describes how she feels the Spirit in a much weaker degree in other churches - yet is much more attached to the other churches due to the social aspect (friends, family, etc). It's a very tricky situation to be in. I don't blame her for enjoying the social aspect of the other churches - we all desperately need sociality, especially in Norway. Although, there must be a balance somewhere. Following the Lord's way has always required some sacrifice. Many have left their friends, and even their families, in order to follow the truths that have been revealed to them by God. However, the Lord's way is always to invite. And indeed, that is what we have done with our investigator I. Maybe someday she will realize the copious blessings lying in wait for her decision to follow the Church of Jesus Christ. Or even better, go to BOTH churches! Truth can be found everywhere.

We finally met a Muslim missionary! I've heard rumors about their existence - and we finally met one in the flesh. He gladly accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon, and in return he gave us an English Qur'an. How grateful I am for the warm-hearted, open citizens of other countries! We'll be meeting with him later this week. Invite, invite, invite - that's the Lord's way!

It's been fairly rainy and icy all this past week - making for some dangerous road conditions. I was driving the speed limit, but that was probably a little too fast for the conditions the roads were in at that time. As a turn came on the right, a car suddenly pulled through, to turn left. With not much time to react, and thanks to Elder Strange's handling techniques he's been teaching me, I didn't slam on the brakes, but instead felt and hugged the corner, which resulted in no sliding, nor damages to anything. *whew!* Thanks be to an aware, loving Heavenly Father protecting us from a possible collision! And also thank you Elder Strange for teaching me how to drive in rainy/icy conditions. Us Southern California boys never got around to that type of driving training :)

Ice walkways. You wouldn't believe how many "close calls" we've had :)

Some other cool things that happened this week:

Elder Strange's Carbonara!

• Elder Strange made a bomb carbonara dish for the Swedish family, and I just so happened to tag along :P. Yum!




• We ate some whale and seal sandwiches - you don't get THAT opportunity every day!

Seal :)

Whale :)

• And we were assigned by the Branch President, and the Mission President, to go and visit a member who recently moved to Gryllefjord. It was fairly clear at first, but soon became very dark, cloudy and rainy. From what we could see, it was a stunning view most of the way to Gryllefjord. 

  

  Islands on the way to Gryllefjord!
  
  
  

  

   People actually live on that thing?!?

• On the way to Gryllefjord happened to be Sommarøy - a beautifully situated island covered in birds and fish! The water was a pristine, light blue. And the island had wild reindeer on it! Our first sighting of wild reindeer in the land! :D

  

  A view from Sommarøy

• 

  A REINDEER!

  

  More REINDEER!



Huh??

• Also on the way to Gryllefjord, was a troll. "Elder Strange. Stop the car, turn around, I just saw a giant troll." "Whaat?" Soon enough, we found ourselves at Senjatrollet - a small amusement park for kids covered in trolls (two giant ones, and many small ones, to be exact). The Senja region of Norway is known for being the "fairytale" part of Norway. Green and orange mosses, light blue waters, scattered islands, bridges and dark boulders. It's beautiful! So we had some fun :)

  

  The Thinker.

  

   I could take 'im . . . maybe. :P

  
  

  

  Elder Strange and the two giant trolls :)
  

  

  The two giant trolls!

  
  
  

  Once we arrived in Gryllefjord, the member E. related to us his conversion story. How faith-building and inspiring it is to hear how missionaries have worked before in order to help others come unto Christ through His restored gospel. One thing is for sure - E. was prepared to hear the message before the missionaries met him. So, us missionaries don't necessarily need a LOT of people - just the prepared ones who will act on the message once they have felt it.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God! Joseph Smith translated that Book by the power of God. That is evidence of his divine call as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator in these last days before Christ's Second Coming.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

p.s. I apologize for the darkness of the photos - there isn't much light here to begin with! And the lack of light results in lower quality photos :(

p.p.s.  I also apologize that almost every blogpost has food in it. Hahaha. We do what we can with limited light :)