Thank you for your good letter which I received today. We have experienced some significant events here in Horten just now: Sr. Ellefsen, (Gunner’s Mate Ellefsen’s wife), passed away in faith in her Savior at 7:00 this morning from pneumonia. We prayed and believed and prayed and prayed, both at her bedside and in the meetings, but God took her in spite of all this. I was picked up at 4:30 this morning and went directly to Br. Ellefsen’s place. Her breathing was even and labored, but she was not conscious. We prayed and laid hands on her and did everything that could be done, but at 7:00 a.m. she stopped breathing. We still had hope, and I had to go home at 7:45 a.m. At 9:00 a.m. I rowed alone to the Sleipner in a raging storm blowing from the south, and after much trouble I got on board, where I was alone while the storm howled and the rigging was banging away in the wind. I felt so sad—sadder than I have felt for many years. I attempted to row back to the shipyard, but the sea was raging, and I was unable to make any progress since the oars were getting blown out of the oarlocks. Consequently, I had to bear away toward Keisemark and moor the rowboat there. When I returned to Br. Ellefsen’s place at 11:30 a.m., Sr. Ellefsen was cold and had all appearances of being dead. She died while we were with her, but we kept on hoping. She had said to her husband the day before that she was quite content to go home. Br. Ellefsen is grieving and weeping—poor man.

Last Saturday we had a blessed gathering in my home. It was truly a music-filled evening. Br. Berg and Br. Brungot played the guitar and the mandolin. All of the friends were invited.

A couple days ago I received a letter from Australia from the gunner’s mate who had been on board the Sleipner. As you know, he fell away and was terribly ridiculed on board. Recently he contracted Beriberi disease, and in his sickness he once again found God. He was rejoicing and had to tell everyone about it. He asked me to greet the kind friends in Torjussen’s home in Kristiansand. He reminded me about the time he saw Jesus on the cross in my cabin, and about all the glorious brief moments that we had together. Cadet Petty Officer Aslaksen came to visit me three or four times, but unfortunately I was out. Yesterday, I spoke with him, and he was positively beaming.

I received a long letter from Father where he says that the story mentioned by Aanensen in his letter to you was from a long time ago, and he believed that you would be forgiving, since that is the mind of Christ. I wrote back right away and said that it is true that we must forgive, but when people don’t ask for forgiveness, we cannot have fellowship with them.

It is a joy for me that Sr. Palme has arrived in Mjøndalen; may God bless her work there. It will also be a joy for you to have someone to converse with.

I believe that we must be painstakingly attentive in our life of faith; God’s punishment is very severe where there is a great amount of light. Concerning fellowship, we must consider carefully, because our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. May God guide and establish your steps.

The friends here were planning to have a small celebration in our new meeting hall on Sunday. I don’t know if it will take place now, with Sr. Ellefsen’s death. I might be free on Monday, since it is the Holmenkollen Ski Festival. We would be very happy if you could come on Sunday.

Greet Sr. Palme, and warmest greetings to you from your brother.

I have framed those two verses in glass, with a narrow gold frame. They look very nice. Br. Isachsen would also like to buy a print like that if you could buy one from Sr. Palme and bring it here. I promised that I would write to you about it. Preferably slightly larger.