Thanks for your good letter which I received some time ago. As you might have read in Kvalheim’s letter, the situation is now in order in Moldøen. Br. Kvalheim, who I feel I know to some extent, is a thoughtful, quiet person, whose value is apparent when you are with him one-on-one, but it is not so noticeable in a crowd where there is a lot of conversation. His outward man can easily be disregarded, but his inward man cannot be disregarded. He loves the inner life with a fervent love, and therein lies his power. Anyone who has gotten to know him will say the same thing. And that is why things went the way they did in Moldøen—his rod clearly blossomed. Br. Nils Strand is a force to be reckoned with. He defended Kvalheim powerfully. When I was in Moldøen, the only people left were D. Kvalheim and his wife, Nils Strand, Mrs. Kjærstad, and the schoolmistress Torjussen. Since then, many others have come as a result of Kvalheim’s work; so we see that he is not unskilled as a worker. In one sense, Oldeide has entered into his labors.

Yesterday we had a particularly good meeting on shore. The friends were full of joy. We spoke together about Eph. 2:11-22 and Col. 1:22. It is going better and better with Br. Strømme as the days go by. He already hears God’s Spirit speaking to him while at work, during his daily routine, as does Sr. Norum. Her enthusiasm is infectious. There are now others coming to the meetings in addition to the regulars. It’s clear God has such a hold on them that you can already say there is a church in Vardø. Br. Strømme is quiet and easy-going, but I think he has some of Kvalheim’s qualities. What he says is reliable and solid. His wife is an unwavering support for him, and she will be a support for the church as well, because she has a good way of putting everyone in their place. At the same time, she has been tested in many areas, and she is humble, so she stays in the background.

In Mehavn—further north—there is a shopkeeper named Ditlefsen, who Br. Ellefsen has spoken with and who is a friend of the Strømme’s. I haven’t met him. Yesterday, Br. Strømme and I were with the Salvation Army officers in their quarters. The major was there. He is 51 years old and is a good man. The lieutenant is also a good man. We were together for two hours and talked about life in God, fighting, leading meetings in the Spirit, spiritual warfare, etc. They both became so enthusiastic that they were full of joy. When we left, they asked us to come back and attend their meetings. They made coffee for us, too, so it seems like they really appreciated the visit. The lieutenant prayed to be baptized with the Spirit. The major’s name is Lindvik.

At times things can seem quite black—as if everything will fail and all our work will be in vain; but then things happen, and before you know it, there are wonderful results. On Sundays, Strømme occasionally visits us on board. It is not going so well with Andresen; he relies too much on the good life he’s built up. Br. Ellefsen and I often have very in-depth conversations about the ministry and about the situations in different places. He now has a lot of practical experience, and he is committed with all his soul. Last year he went through a fierce, fiery trial, which could not be anything other than the testing that God gives to people who are to be His servants. We have spoken about Porsgrunn and Drammen, but read what Lorentz Risnes wrote about what God is doing.

Warm greetings from your brother,