Jim and Marie's Notes from Norge : April 2015

Joys of Missionary Service

Our new missionaries -
Eldstes Potter and Naumu and
Søsters Hudson and Larsen
Kristiansand is in good hands!

Jim and I are grateful for the many missionary moments we experience.

* I will never tire hearing Joseph's account of the First Vision, quoted word for word, feeling the very strong and
sweet spirit that always accompanies it.

* Hearing an investigator offer, aloud their first prayer, touches my heart.

* Observing a new "greenie" learn, progress, grow and bear a strong, confident testimony of his love for and truthfulness
of this Gospel.

* Sitting in on a "teach" with the missionaries, listening to their
words but feeling the Spirit do the teaching.

*Home teaching wonderful people, who, after not attending
Church for 7 years, return to warm welcomes,
smiles and hugs!

This cutie came with his father who was
being taught. A couple others who were
playing pool, stopped, sat down and listened
to the lesson.

After every language class the Elders teach,

they show a Church video and share a short message.

Recently, during the class, a couple of our friends

from Africa were playing pool and continued to play

as the Elders started showing, "The First Vision".

It wasn't long before I realized it had gotten quiet.

The pool playing guys, had stopped playing,

put the sticks down, turned around and were

very intently watching the video.

The spirit was so strong!

We just love it when the YA's come in just to
chat!! This is our friend Even, a recent convert
who is being such a great example of the Church
to his many non-member friends.

******************

P Days are Great!

It's always fun to spend time with the
young missionaries! A few weeks ago,
we hiked Ødderøya, an island with beautiful
views and also several old bunkers from
World War II.
Here is Jim, Jocelyn, Sister Hudson,
Even, Sister Larsen, Elder Naumu,
Elder Potter, Giovanni and his dog
Lela.

Speaking of beautiful views...

Last P-Day, we hiked and

picnicked near Hellevika.

Elders Springer and Bunnela
from Arendale, joined us.

These hard working, dedicated missionaries
really need and deserve P-Days!!

The sisters brought 32 hot dogs -
I ate one, Jim ate 3 and there was one
left that we fed to the seagulls. That
would be about 4 plus for each of the
missionaries.

Nothing like swinging by the sea!

I "shore" am glad he's my companion!

****************

More beautiful views!

Water front property abounds!!

Many of these homes by the sea are

vacation cottages or hyttas.

Cute Norwegian hytta (notice the flag).

--- and another day comes to an end.

Do you see him? This is a real Norwegian troll. As I understand

it, when the sun comes out, the trolls turn to rock and this is

what happens. They are all over Norway.

Watch out, trolls! The sun is shining!!

Far to the North where the winter storms whip the weather-beaten coasts, you

will find a long and narrow country. Here you see dark forests with moonlit

lakes, deep fjords surrounded by mighty snowcapped mountains, and long

rivers and cold streams cascading down the mountain sides.

Nowadays this country is covered by snow and ice only six months a year. A

long, long time ago, however, there existed a massive glacier that brooded

over the entire country for thousands of years.

As the climate gradually warmed and the glacier slowly retreated to the

North, Man to the South of the glacier followed in its wake. Looking at this

country and finding it to be magnificent, they considered themselves to be

its first inhabitants. People settled there and named it Norway. They were

themselves called 'nordmenn' (Men of the North).

It did not take them long, however, to realize that on this land there were

various other creatures hiding out in the forests and mountain sides. People

did not know what these creatures were, but they were generally believed to

have supernatural powers, and they came to be known as trolls.

The trolls would come out of their hiding-places only after sun-set, and

they would disappear before the morning sun arose in the East. Direct

exposure to the sun could cause them to crack, turn into stone and possibly

burst. On occasion the trolls would evidently forget to hide from the sun,

and rock formations can today be found in various places with troll-like features.

The trolls were mostly seen on bright moonlit nights, or during stormy

nights that could frighten about anyone who happened to be outdoors at that time.

Now, even in modern times it is well advised to keep a good standing with

the trolls, since you never know when you will meet one yourself. The next

time you go to the dark forests and the mighty mountains with their deep

lakes and roaring waterfalls, just remember, they probably mean no harm. But

be aware. In the twilight hours you are no longer alone.

Then it is only you . . . and all the trolls.

(From, "The History of Nyform Trolls")

******************************

We had our first visitors last week and had such a fun time with them! No trolls but Eldste og Søster Rasmussen. They are the senior couple at the Oslo YSA center, are at the end
of their mission and wanted to visit Kristiansand and the surrounding beauty before they left.