Saturday, May 5, 2012

Russ har begynt! (Russ has begun)‏


Free rose from our library
Heiya!
Whew, I am so tired all the time. I suppose that means I'm a good missionary :P

Norway's huge high school graduation party began this week: the "Russ". (*note* Do not look up pictures for Russ, they are more
The local carnival in time for Russ!

than likely extremely inappropriate). Russ is a 3 week time after graduation, before 17. Mai (Norway's independence day), for all of the graduating class to get drunk, break the law of chastity and sass their moms like nobody's business. And security doesn't do a thing about it - it's Russ! Normally you'll find huge red, blue or black buses driving around with ginormous sound systems, filled with people doing crazy stuff. There is a specified list of activities, accomplishments and 
rewards for the Russ. The appropriate (and quite fun!) activities include: eating breakfast in a roundabout, sleeping in a roundabout, sleeping in your teacher's tree for one night, squirting random people with water-guns, don't brush your teeth or shower for the whole 3 weeks, wear the same Russ attire the whole 3 weeks etc etc. The Russ seems like a really cool idea - as long as it held within the commandments of God! However! The Russ attire is awesome - bright red overalls and Norwegian flag shoes. We found some really cheap pairs - so I'm stoked!


Other than that, our wonderful member also took us to Nesna this week. Nesna is a very small
On the way to Nesna!
Norwegian community out on the coast that is simply beautiful! To explain Norway's community style: simply beautiful. I love it! She also took us to her hytte (summer cabin). She spoils us all too much. We always tell her: "Du snilleste, hvorfor er du alt for snill??" (You kindest, why are you way too kind?) And she says "Å være med misjonærene gjør meg kjempe glad! Det er det minst jeg kan gjøre." (Being with the missionaries
that wind was blowin' my tie off!
makes me super happy - it's the least I can do!). She is so salty - and by that I mean the salt of the earth ;). (Matthew 5:13)
 
Eldste and Søster Pedersen came down this week to strengthen the Mo i Rana branch. It was a wonderful visit - such a strength to us and our members! It was also extremely refreshing to sit in the congregation for once :P. You can really tell your leaders are inspired of God when you can feel their love, respect and care for you and your work. I hope I can do the same in my future callings in the church :).


One huge thing I learned this week: the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel are really the only two books you need to keep your testimony going while on your mission. Ken Kenworthy told me this a long time ago, but I just gained a testimony of it :P. As my buddy Elder Hazen over 
in Hong Kong is experiencing, there are certainly many people who are just not willing to try the message. And even those who do try it don't get an immediate answer, simply because their heart's
not in the right place, or they don't listen for an answer. "Well, will you try to find out He's there? It just takes prayer." "nope." "We're talking about the greatest, most powerful being in the universe that has, does, and always will exist - and that wouldn't mean anything to you that He is there?" "Nope." That has been way hard. But, as our call letter states: As you read the scriptures, your motivation to be obedient and to work hard will increase. BoM and PMG are the key to that promise :).

This gospel is true! It is wonderful. It gives us the opportunity to reach beyond our natural capacities and abilities to comprehend, think, speak, act, work and so much more.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

 Me and our member's cat
(talk about allergies!!)





The world ends when this bottle of vitamin bears expires!!
  (The end date of Mayan Calendar, thus end of world.)