As you can see, we are now in Kirkenes. We arrived here on Saturday night. Br. Ellefsen went ashore yesterday (Sunday) morning. He spoke with a sister named Lillevik, and she said she would gather people for a meeting at 5:00 p.m. Br. Ellefsen came on board and wanted me to join him, but unfortunately, I was scheduled for watch duty. So I went to the second-in-command, and he gave me the time off. Sr. Lillevik accompanied us to the meeting. The living room was large, and it was packed. They seemed to be very genuine people, both the men and the women.

That morning, Br. Ellefsen had heard that there had been some rather heated disagreements regarding Christ manifested in the flesh. Two preachers (I believe their names were Lied and Modal) had warned people about Br. Ellefsen, but Sr. Lillevik, who is very spirited, had defended Ellefsen and the doctrine. She had won several people over to her side. When the meeting started at 5:00 p.m., a man from Vadsø got up and said he was taking the lead, since it was a serious matter to speak the word of God. I was a little puzzled because I thought we were going to lead the meeting, and on the way there I had asked Ellefsen to start. The leader then said that there were two brothers there who were going to speak.

Br. Ellefsen got up and gave a very clear message that could be easily understood. Then there was a song accompanied by a guitar. After that, I got up and spoke from Heb. 2:14, Rom. 8:3, and also 1 Pet. 4:1. I tried to address the points of contention head-on. It seemed to go over well, and it wasn’t long before the leader began saying “Amen” from time to time. It turned out to be an extremely blessed meeting, to God’s honor.

After the meeting, the leader suggested that we meet again at 9:00 p.m. to end the evening. However, we just continued with an informal meeting. I asked those who had doubts to speak up. We continued speaking about Christ manifested in the flesh until 7:30 p.m. There was no resistance. Mrs. Holst, the wife of the shipping agent at the Bergen Steamship Company, was in agreement, as were Mrs. Lillevik, Mrs. Olson, and several others. Mrs. Olson (the fashion clothing retailer) said after the meeting: “You are the ambassadors of Christ.”

We went for a walk to pass the time until 9:00 p.m., but a brother invited us in for an evening meal. The leader joined us. We spoke together about militarism, etc. At 9:00 p.m., the leader was worn out, so he sat down in a corner and left the meeting to us. We spoke about Romans 8. By the end, the leader joined in enthusiastically, and when I went back on board at 11:00 p.m. (I needed to be up again at 3:45 a.m.), he didn’t want to let Ellefsen go. He stayed there until midnight.

Br. Madsen sells fruit and writes to Sr. Lillevik, and Sigrid Dannell has been here, so they already had a good grasp of the doctrine; but they were in need of further instruction. Skjulte Skatter arrived in the mail while we sat at Lillevik’s place in the afternoon. Her husband has fallen away and is a drunkard.

Br. Ellefsen is a man who has the ability to get his hooks in everywhere. Even though his name is “Ellefsen,” he could also be called the “leech,” spiritually speaking, because he does not release his prey. The doctrine has also spread from Kirkenes to Vadsø, where Sigrid Dannell is now working as a nurse and where Br. Ellefsen has visited before.

We are now waiting for the mail boat, and once the mail is delivered, we will depart for Vardø. It was amazing that God gave us grace to come here. They urged us to come again. This is a good place to work. There must be enough iron ore in the mines here to excavate for 300 years, and they have huge processing plants.

We would have really liked to have gone ashore today to talk more with them. The ones we met were first-rate people. We could see right away that they were in full control of the meetings. Br. Madsen visits and writes to them. As soon as we left Vardø, Br. Strømme received a letter from Madsen; and as we came through the door, back at Sr. Lillevik’s place, she had just opened a letter from him. Madsen didn’t see eye to eye with Br. Ellefsen when they were in Bergen. But he now wrote to Strømme and acknowledged that he was in the wrong and mentioned that he intended to write to Ellefsen about it.

It was quite apparent for us at the meeting that the two preachers hadn’t made any headway. The four most influential women had defended Br. Ellefsen. One of them told the preacher that she had only spoken with Br. Ellefsen for half an hour, but in that time he had told her things and helped resolve difficulties which no preacher had ever in her life been able to help her with. This was Mrs. Olson. They just had to hold their tongues after that.

It is amazing how God is blessing us everywhere. Here in Kirkenes, much could be done. If only we could get them to make contact with Vardø. What they lack is leadership. Kirkenes is a beautiful place, surrounded by a few birch groves. Heidenstrøm’s daughter, who is from Bodø, is a photographer here. She played the guitar yesterday. I remember her father from the old days. He served as first mate.

There were four men, plus the two of us, at the last meeting yesterday. Three of them were younger. Ellefsen has an entire story to tell about everyone up here in the far north. I never would have dreamed that he had such far reaching, embracing arms; but it is the word that gives power.

So, now you have heard the latest about our short visit to Kirkenes. Greet your family and the friends.

Warm greetings from your brother,

October 15, in the afternoon. Thank you for your very good letter as well as Helga’s letter that just arrived. Also, thank you very much for the parcel you sent, which the postman is currently picking up from on shore. It was a joy to see the photo of the young people. When it comes to buying property, I’m no businessman, as you know.

I can tell you that the lieutenant in the Salvation Army in Vardø is on the verge of leaving it all behind. He, Br. Ellefsen, and I were recently alone in the officer’s residence. The lieutenant asked us to pray for him to receive God’s Spirit. We prayed together for a while and discussed many things. He said he has complete confidence and is ready to do the will of God in whatever is required.

I have been feeling better since the doctor told me about some things that help with breathing, because I can regulate that to a certain degree. Too much thinking is not good; I have been overburdened with devoting myself to searching out many different things. In certain areas it seemed like there was no way out; but then I recently experienced that God intervened in these situations with “mighty works.” I have not understood or noticed this before. But if God hadn’t done that, I would have had to give up my work, because there are many obstinate people. We can talk about this in person. Br. Ellefsen and I have already discussed many situations concerning the ministry.

Thank you very much for the crate and its contents; it came just now with a basket of pears from Pauline. Everything was nicely wrapped and protected, with the exception of the large jar of plums that was broken in pieces, so I had to throw it out the porthole. However, the cakes and the rest of the glassware were intact. So now this birthday is over. The ship is starting to vibrate; we are off to Vardø. I just received a letter from Br. Johan Lohne, who is fighting hard. He has a good heart. The other day he sent 50 kroner toward renting a meeting hall in Vardø. In Kirkenes they wanted to rent the Masonic lodge for us next Tuesday. I am rejoicing that the kingdom of God is being furthered everywhere.

I received a letter from Br. Oldeide, who has not been going to the meetings lately. I have admonished him to remain in fellowship and carry out the work he has been given to do: teaching Sunday school, speaking with sinners, etc. If he reconciles with Br. Kvalheim in this matter, then I will write to Br. Kvalheim and tell him that he should not suspect Oldeide of wanting to take his position, which would be difficult for him to do at this point. Br. Nils Strand has moved to Sundfjord.

Br. Ellefsen is beaming with joy today about the meetings we had yesterday and about the letter he received from Br. Madsen, who thoroughly judged himself and asked Ellefsen for forgiveness. The work here in the north has succeeded beyond all expectations. In Vardø, several people are staying away because they have clashed with us; but they will probably come back—some of them. Br. Strømme’s home is a gathering place for many believers, and Mrs. Strømme is particularly gifted at persuading people. One day, a man came from a fjord near Nordkynd. He saw Skjulte Skatter on the table at Strømme’s place. They struck up a conversation, and the man said that he had read Skjulte Skatter at the retirement home and had gotten light from it. He fully agreed with Strømme and his wife. It was Sr. Dannell who sent the paper to the retirement home. The man was from Tanafjord and was a fellow crewmate of Br. Strømme.

Please greet Helga, and thank her very much for what she sent and for the letter and the photograph of the young people in Drøbak.

Your brother,