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 ;)