Ah, Norway. Home of my ancestors. What a beautiful country. Really, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Maybe I’m biased because I’ve always wanted to come here, maybe it truly is. I don’t know, but I really like it here.
I’m condensing this post into one because there isn’t as much to say. Norway is the little vacation after the ministry trip, but yet I ministered on Wednesday night and Sunday morning for a group in Sarspborg. If I can be a blessing, I want to do what I can for God’s people.
I had a little time after arriving so I walked around Oslo and relaxed. People think I’m from here of course and are talking to me in Norwegian.
I take the train to where Bro Svein Eric is to pick me up. He takes me to the coast and to a old town that was an old fort to protect that area of Norway from the Swedes.
We had a nice fellowship and dinner, and then we went to Bro Frode who is hosting me while I’m in Norway before I head to the Ski trip with the brothers! Of course, it is time for evening meal! Bread, jam, cheese… you know the drill! Oh, in Norway for evening meal there is also thin waffles that are quite nice too.
The next day Bro Frode takes me a few hours north into Hadeland. It is where the family farm where my 3rd great grandfather and those before him were born way back into the 1700s. We get to the home and it is so beautiful. The view from the front porch over the Randsfjord is unbelievable. I am overwhelmed. How could anyone leave this place? The house, the view, the mountains and fjord are all so wonderful.
Unfortunately none of my distant cousins that own the place are in, but I am still just in awe over the history of the place.
Next we drove to the sister churches, old medieval churches that were built in the 1100s. Another grandfather way up the line was a priest here and became the first Lutheran bishop/priest/whatever after the reformation and Norway became Lutheran. Two beautiful old building that were wonderful to see. I think likely these are the oldest buildings I’ve ever witnessed. I imagined my ancestor coming out the side door and walking outside.
We departed the family history tour to head back for dinner and service.
We had a nice service that I preached “Beholding Christ” as an opening service. The saints enjoyed the word and we had nice fellowship after service in the fellowship area. More bread, jam and cheese!
We tried not to stay out too late as Bro Frode had to work the next morning and there were many things to be done in prepration for the next day.
Bro Frode and I drove over to Bro Andre’s house to help wrap up the pallet of postcards that were going to the post office as a mass mailing to everyone in the area they are going to be showing the “Deep Calleth to the Deep” film. I’ve watched the Norwegian believers working from afar and admired their zeal. They are doing everything they can for the Kingdom of Heaven. It was such a blessing to be part of this work I’ve admired for some time! Ok, I didn’t have a big part…but I held the light in the garage toward them so they could see to wrap the pallet! I know it wasn’t much, but I was happy to be a part.
Thursday morning we woke up and Bro Erlend came to pick me up at 9. Bro Frode let me borrow his boots and skis. The skis were a little long, but they worked out just fine. It was good to see Bro Erlend again, it had been too long.
Also with us were Andrew from Scotland and Durk from Netherlands. We had a fun trip up to Hemsedal the ski resort. We covered Scottish and English History from quite a few years back and learned about the Acts of Unification and how Scotland and England became joined together. Andrew is a wealth of knowledge and Durk wanted to hear.
Every now and then we referenced a quote from Bro Branham and I grabbed the laptop to find it. I would begin reading it very emphatically with “In 1960, in the message the Rejected King, the prophet STATES….”
It was good times and fun fellowship.
With a two day pass at Hemsedal ski resort you can ski the day before after 3pm and until 7pm. So, we were here to ski! We got on the slopes around 5, and I felt sufficiently warmed up by 6:30 so I stopped skiing to preserve my legs for the next day.
The next two days involved skiing, fellowship and services at the Cabin. The Lord really blessed us with his presence after a tape service on Saturday night. Bro David also exhorting and preaching about the missionary work. He is such an inspiring brother!
I felt the power of the Lord so much Saturday night, I wept like a baby, just pouring out my heart to the Lord for some things I have felt a burden about lately. It feels good to take your burdens to the Lord. I told the brothers, I felt this type of presence and power at some of the better services we’ve had at the Branham Tabernacle, and they were blessed to hear it. It is the same Holy Spirit after all, the location doesn’t matter like the presence of God.
Sunday morning Bro Erlend, Durk, and I woke early and left a little after 6 to drive back. We dropped Durk off at the airport, and me off at Bro Svein Erik’s just in time to head to church. I preached on “Culture Degrades Truth” but maybe it was more “stay with this Message and let it live”. I haven’t felt so passionate to preach as I did this morning. It was quite surprising really because I only slept a few hours and was quite tired, but there was a flame in my heart burning!
It felt very weird to run out the door so soon after preaching, but I had a plane to catch. I hate not being able to connect with the believers after preaching. Bro Svein Erik and I headed off to the Oslo airport a couple hours away. What a schedule, wake up, drive 5 hours, preach, drive 2 hours, get on a plane and fly home!
I wouldn’t trade that schedule for anything. I’m so blessed, so very blessed, so supremely blessed to be in the service of the Lord in my own way. My ministry is so different than any other I know of, God uses it in ways I don’t even expect sometimes. I’m so thankful to Him. I want to be closer to Him, and I want the signs and wonders following as they should like I’ve never seen before. I want to be more sincere in my faith, and keep His Word as my light and constant guide.
I land in NYC in a couple of hours, one more night in a hotel near the airport so I can fly home in the morning. Looking forward so much to see my family after I get home from work on Monday.
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