Kjære alle sammen!
There's a whole lot to say since last Thursday!
Syttende
Mai ROCKED. Oslo was bustling with people. Us missionaries were honored
to receive some tickets to see the parade, and even see the King (from
really far away, but we still saw him!). 
Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day)
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| The Royal Guard Norwegian Constitution Day parade. |
After which, us missionaries
had a competition to see how many girls in bunads we could get in one
picture with us! I am pleased to announce that Elder Chapman (a good
chap from jolly ol' England) and I won with 18 girls in bunads!
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| Bunads! You can only count 15 here - I'll get the better picture from another person soon. |
Bunads, by the way, are the traditional celebratory clothing for the country of Norway. Every one of them is handmade, with real precious metals and gems on them.
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| Bunads! |
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| Bunads! |
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| Me and the naked park . . . . |
After which, us missionaries took a trip to Frogner
Park (or commonly called "naked park" by all the missionaries) for a
little barbecue.
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| Frogner Park |
With our "one-time grills" we made some delicious
hot-dogs. Not exactly J-Dawgs, but still delicious! Then we toured
around Frogner Park with some extremely interesting artwork. I'll post
the appropriate statues only.
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| When I think of making a statue, I have never thought of a pile of babies. |
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| When I think of making a statue, I have never thought of a pile of babies. |
Oslo is aMAZING. One of my biggest fears is talking
with people while on the T-bane (Oslo subway), Trikk (Oslo monorail
throughout town), and on the buses. But Elder Godfrey, my new
companion, and I are determined to overcome it. And it's been awesome!!
Just on one trip, you can get a few lessons just talking with people.
People are much more talkative here than in Mo i Rana.
Now, to answer my Mom's questions: My new companion
is Elder Godfrey. He's from Kayesville, Utah. He's been out for 2 months
longer than I (12 months). He has previously served in Kristiansand
(southern Norway) and Skien (eastern Norway). I love this guy. I've just
been extremely blessed with excellent companions!
The ward here in Oslo is awesome!! I felt extremely
welcome and loved my first Sunday there. We
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| An old church in Oslo - and me! |
only cover the Oslo ward,
but a few companionships are covering multiple branches (Romerike and
Hamar; and Kristiansand and Evja for example). Yes we are certainly
living in the most expensive city in the world to live in - probably in
the most expensive apartment out of all missionaries in the world (note
the probably).
The members rock here! They are willing to help,
itching for an investigator to greet and get to know, and absolutely
pumped for missionary work. The creation of the second stake has really
motivated all of the members here to keep up the member missionary work
(it's really the only way to increase the rate of new members here!).
Elder Godfrey and I were white-washed here in Oslo;
however, we were in fact FILLED with investigators to work with. The
previous missionaries were doing a fabulous job. We had about 12 hours
to learn about all of them and begin teaching them (one reason why I was
so extremely overwhelmed last week).
It is possible to bonk here - but so far I don't see us doing that. You can contact on the street 24/7 here!!
Our
Zone work takes up all of our free time in meals, studies and even
sometimes late into the night (gotta love late numbers on Sunday night .
. . .). But I can't express how much I love serving the whole Zone :). I
can actually get lost in the work here - no time to think about
anything but those we need to help! I love it!!
Here in Oslo we have 3 companionships. A sister
companionship, a district leader companionship and a zone leader
companionship. I am actually around people again - I love love love it!!
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| Oslo Chapel, Picture taken 1970 |
Here in Oslo we have a church building, as well as an Institute Center for Young Adults right in the middle of town.
OK
that's all the questions. Now it's miracle time!! Last night we were 1
lesson away from our goal. The moment we were about to take a Trikk to
an area in town, we received a call from Søster Grass that our new
convert and his best friend were over at our Institute Center. We booked
it to the Institute center and began talking with both of them. His
best friend was so impressed by the story of Joseph Smith and the First
Vision (the Holy Ghost confirmed to him the truthfulness of that
experience!), we have a baptismal date set for June! What a miracle!
Thank you thank you thank you Søster Grass for being sensitive to the
influence of the Holy Ghost!
We're also holding a Brazilian/Hispanic baptism this
next Saturday for V. and B.! We are extremely blessed here! What I am
really hoping is for the F. family to be baptized this June up in Mo i
Rana so I can go and visit them :D.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Baptism is the
gateway for the atonement to take a fuller, sweeter effect upon our
individual and collective lives. Jesus Christ lives. This work will
never end.
And I couldn't be happier!
-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson
P.S. Happy Birthday Elder Putnam, Duncan and Dad!! I hope your birthdays were awesome :D
This picture is taken in Oslo during Syttende
Mai. Refer to May 5th, 2012 post for details about Russ and the Russ Bus.
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| Russ Bus (they're so wasted!) |
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