Thank you very much for your letter and card. We are anchored in Trondheim now and will remain here until the 15th of October. Karl Pedersen has been called up for duty at Fort Oscarsborg. He is on lookout duty at Ellegårdene, about a half-hour’s walk from Drøbak. He is often together with Aksel and the other friends there.

Yesterday (Sunday) I visited Jacobsen, the fish wholesaler. He is a very dear brother who has a good deal of understanding about godliness. I went with him to two meetings; the second one was a “free assembly” gathering. While I was up giving my testimony, Olsen from Brevik walked in—I assume you remember him from one of the first conferences, where he was with the friends from Sarpsborg. The last time he came to Horten, he was in a fierce spiritual battle, to the point that we were afraid that things would not go well for him. But this time his face and eyes were shining with peace and happiness. It was a joy to meet him. He has been up in Nordland testifying about God. Now he is working here as a blacksmith.

They like Skjulte Skatter up here, and because of the paper, people knew who I was right away. But the time went by quickly. Trondheim is certainly a city where something good could be accomplished. God has given us open doors everywhere. The forces that opposed us have been broken, and people readily testify about hearing and obeying God’s Spirit. It is a very good time to work right now. Aksel writes that Helga Haanes has made a commitment. She is now meeting with the friends in Kristiansand. Father often attends these small gatherings as well. God is with us, praise His name. Helga Haanes put up strong resistance at a meeting at Grøntoft’s place, but she eventually gave in to the greater force of conviction and allowed herself to be persuaded. Mrs. Schwendsen’s husband in Drøbak has donated 1,000 kroner for a new meeting hall in Drøbak. He’s not converted, but he says that God has blessed his businesses since his wife got converted. The doctrine of Christ is unyielding and is very demanding, but God also gives much in return.

Now, since God is working, and the flock of friends is increasing, we must hold unshakably fast to what we have insisted on right from the beginning, when it concerns the requirement for having fellowship: namely, purity. You as well as the rest of us who have been along from the beginning all bear this responsibility. You know how easily things veer off into common religiosity, only to eventually end up in the assembly of the dead. Victory doesn’t depend on numbers; it’s a matter of personal godliness. One God-fearing person is better than a hundred who are unreliable. May this be our agenda in the future. This vigilance must come from the center of the fellowship; the periphery cannot manage it. I know that you have already been practicing these things and speaking about them for a long time, but it can be necessary to remind one another so that we can be vigilant together in fellowship.

In Sarpsborg, Br. Pettersen has come to the meetings again and testified. They have rented Fremtiden Hall again. The fact that Br. Andresen has humbled himself will have a drawing effect on Pettersen and maybe win him over completely. This is a striking example of how essential purity is, whatever the cost may be. God recognizes and blesses honest work, and when we strive to show longsuffering, patience, and mercy to one another, brotherly love will increase, and the fellowship will be strengthened.

Greet the dear friends. Greet Judith.

Warm greetings,

Address: Trondheim

Øverby has come back to God. He is meeting with Birkeland and0 Berg. He got engaged to a worldly girl and is now married to her. I think this was the right thing, considering the circumstances.