Haugesund.

Any resemblance??

We seriously need to invest in one of these in America.

"Mine damer og herrer!" (as the SAS Widerøe airplane recording goes)

Last week sometime Elder Badger announced: "Whoa! It's moves next week!" What?? We just barely got together . . . but it really has been the whole of our 6 weeks together. It has flown by way too quickly, I feel. From devastating full darkness at 2 pm, now light until about 6 pm, you can certainly tell times have changed here in Tromsø. I have learned so much from this area:

I know that the Lord has a plan for an area, despite all forces working against it. As well, the Lord at times works an area in a different way than what is usually expected. Here in Tromsø, we've seen a lot of changes in the branch as we've gone through, edited, cleaned and updated the member list. This proved very useful as many inactive members are now active, and a few have received the priesthood and are progressing toward receiving the Melchizedek priesthood, and receiving patriarchal blessings! As well, P. was a huge "drop-in" miracle that the Lord simply placed in our path. We have so very much to be grateful for!

 If only you could see how small we were compared to that mountain.

As times were rough during the winter, Elder Badger and I also received many opportunities to be "Branch President" for the day, leading meetings, holding impromptu talks, and so forth just to hold the branch together on a Sunday. Now we have approximately 14 people attending church per week, AND the prospects of spring and summer looking our way for happier people and clearer roads for greater attendance on the horizon. On top of that, Elder Earl (from the Sandnes/Stavanger/Haugesund days) will be replacing me here in Tromsø - so the momentum here will not lose a beat. I'm very excited to see the future of Tromsø!!

Speaking of Haugesund, I received a call from President that Haugesund will be opening. That area has been closed for roughly 9-10 months now, so my new missionary Elder Schulz and I get the privilege of opening up Haugesund!! Due to being closed for so long, the members in Haugesund are now simply spring-loaded, itching and ready for missionary work to explode in that area. With excited members and a new missionary's fiery faith, I just hope I don't get in the way of all this good stuff happening!

Indescribable.

To be honest, I feel rather overwhelmed and slightly inadequate with the circumstances before me. But, such was the same when Moses lead the children of Israel to the coasts of the Red Sea. Such was the same when Joseph Smith prayed, and was suddenly seized upon by some unknown being. Such was the same when Elder Farnsworth and I found ourselves in a freezing apartment of Mo i Rana, both only 4 months out. The moment of rescue and deliverance always comes when all seems to black out and nothing but a sliver of hope, a desperate cry for help, remains. 

The solution, of course, is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith that He overcame sin and death. Faith that He can help you and me this very moment in our individual weaknesses and insecurities. Faith that He can heal you of previous transgressions, deep or shallow. Faith that when two 18-21 year old boys hit the streets of Haugesund, angels will be round about us, bearing us up. Faith that can only be bestowed upon humble, willing instruments in His hands.

"dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." - Ether 12:6

I'm praying for wings this transfer.

-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson

Off the Gryllefjord coast :)

"What do you think'll happen when the ocean disappears and we have to carry the boats!" in Northern dialect. Mmm.