J.'s Dåp! (J.'s Baptism!)

Down in Stavanger this week, I saw S. and R.A. again after many months away - their love and service fill me with joy!

Helleis! (Mmm. Stavanger dialect.)

This week was amazing! Pretty much like every week here in Norway (at least during the summer ;).

If any of you remember back when I served in Stavanger last year, I would come to Haugesund about once per month to support the branch/perform any missionary duties in the area. One of the men that we met with frequently back then, J., made his way to the waters of baptism this past weekend. This man has been attending church faithfully for the past 9 months straight - longer than any other investigator I've ever worked closely with. He has a solid understanding of the church and its doctrines, in addition to a searing, missionary testimony obtained through the witness of the Holy Ghost. My favorite quotes from him go somewhat along the lines of: "If any church read and followed the teachings in the Bible, they would recognize that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows the Bible best." "This car right here - *as he pats his car* - is a missionary car. Where we off to next?" and "Elder Schulz, I'm going to teach you such good and thick Haugesund dialect that people in Northern Norway won't be able to understand you." (sorry for those of you who don't get it). J. was on cloud nine the whole weekend. The brightness in his eyes could have lit up the whole room. 

 J. with Branch President and us!

If that wasn't enough of a spiritual feast in and of itself, our goal of numbers of people present in church was obliterated from a goal of 25 by an astounding 31. Of course, having the mission president, his wife and the senior couple visiting from Stavanger helped out a ton - but without them that's still above our goal! We were richly blessed by an outpouring of the Spirit, particularly through the sacrament (that "ultimate warm fuzzy" :). 

Finally, after a few weeks of summarizing and organizing my notes from General Conference, I realized just how clearly their messages complemented and orchestrated one with another. According to my notes and revelation it boiled down to 7 talks on praying for, seeking after and performing unselfish service; 6 talks on being obedient to the will of the Lord; 6 talks on establishing stabilizing, strengthening traditions within the home; 4 talks on using the home and the sacrament in order to anchor our families to the Atonement; 4 talks on being not afraid/not fearing, be of good cheer/be at peace. That's not everything, of course, but it gave me a general direction as to where I need to focus these next 6 months. I hope you all received your personal revelation you're entitled to for these next six months, too. If not, go get a pen and paper, say a prayer and log onto gc.lds.org right away!!

Elder Schulz, icing his foot from walking so
much :). "I just can't be bothered to
wipe up the water afterwards - a bag is much more convenient!"

This work is the Lord's work. We are but mere instruments in His hands to perform His holy will. I know that without Him, I would not be able to function physically, emotionally or spiritually in any good or righteous manner. Without Him, we are nothing. With Him, we can become the beings He has created us to become - filled with power, love, understanding, peace, direction and purpose beyond our current abilities to comprehend, let alone even achieve. 

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

The Haugesund State Church . . . we finally got to see the inside :)