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This has been our view at the brightest part of the day. We've basically been living in a cloud the past week :P
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Hallo!
Last
night, I was poring over my journal from a year ago and relived a few
memories. I called up Elder Farnsworth, and we reminisced a few moments
while in Mo i Rana - it's amazing to see the differences and changes in
ourselves, each other, our areas and situations in the mission. So much
has happened, and so much has changed since then - all according to the
Lord's merciful plan! Here's a list of gratitude I have, after reliving
last year in Mo:
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| Bryce- 1 year ago in Mo i Rana |
- Warm weather has pounded Tromsø this week! More 5C, rain rain rain this week. I'll take that over -30C, painful noses and extremities anyday!
- We can understand Northern Norwegian - finally! Haha. God has really blessed us there :)
- A car is a heavensend to an area so far north. Mo i Rana could really use one, too. Sadly, we heard that almost all European missions are having their cars removed in order to improve finding possibilities in public transportation. We wouldn't be able to visit most of our members if that was the case here in Tromsø.
- Instead of a handful of members in church each week - we have a handful and a half! Like I've said before, with more people in church, the Spirit just multiplies.
- Our Branch President is a doctor of naprapathy (a mix between massage therapist and chiropractor, kinda). He squeezed in an appointment with us this week, and boy do we feel like a hundred bucks. Walking around with backpacks all the time sure gives your shoulders some tension. He even did some acupuncture on me :P. Elder Strange can't stand needles - so it was pretty hilarious to watch his reaction.
- The Alta missionary apartment, that we just raided, has some kool-aid in it. Whoa I forgot how sweet that stuff was. Maybe it was because Elder Strange poured 1-1/2 cups of sugar instead of just 1. Maybe.
This past week, the APs, President and Sister Evans, Narvik and
Bodø all came up for a visit. It was awesome, and rather relieving to
see some other familiar faces around here. This darkness is really
getting to us - we were all very open about that. 54 days and counting.
Holy mackerel. Elder Weaver (the awesome Irvine missionary who came to
Sandnes) is now in Narvik - and he's basically going through what I did
in Mo i Rana. A new missionary - in Northern Norway. It was really
powerful just opening up to each other and seeing how I had the exact
same moments and feelings last year. The Lord wants us to be in contact
with one another - that I am sure of. We were able to strengthen and
support one another because of our experiences. Thank the Lord for those
experiences: the difficult and the awesome!
Our coolest miracle this week happened on Saturday
morning. After dropping off the Narvik elders at the airport, Elder
Strange turned to me and said "we should get those packages out to our
members today - Saturday's a perfect day." Alright! On top of the list
was AJ. After finally finding his home, he said "I've been praying all
morning - I needed somebody to get some medicine at the pharmacy for
me!" The poor guy snapped his achilles tendon earlier this week. "Sure
thing, let's take care of this!" The Lord inspired Elder Strange, so
that AJ's prayer could be answered. How awesome is that? He even came
back to church, after a good chunk of time away, and had a great
experience. I wonder how many other members are out there, just waiting
for a missionary to bonk on their door and invite them back to church?
Probably more than we can get in contact with, that's for sure!
According
to the locals, the sun should be out again in a week or so. Thank
goodness. As a well-admired friend put it once: "Interesting analogy,
that as soon as the Son comes out, people's moods are exponentially
happier, and more receptive to the gospel :)"
Thank God for His Light of the World :D
-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson
p.s. Happy Year Mark, Gurt ol' pal :D
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