I hope you have received my letter, and I hope you are doing well in the Lord. Since you are so far north, it makes sense that you would like to hear how things are going every now and then.

Last Sunday, I had shore leave all day in Ålesund. It was like a little conference, because Br. Peder Skram from Moldøen came to be baptized; it’s amazing how open and zealous he has become. Br. Fugleseth came from the town of Molde and Sr. Stene from Ørskog, and all of the other friends were also there. I preached to 21 people. God blessed things so abundantly that no one wanted to leave that day.

We were at Br. Brune’s place in the morning and at Sr. Tippen’s place in the afternoon. Br. Peder Skram gave a very clear message and brought greetings from Br. Kvalheim, who, he said, is a faithful warrior of Jesus Christ. I must say, there were some tears when he mentioned this, because he himself was a living letter of commendation. At 3 p. m. we gathered at the place where Br. Skram was to be baptized, and we baptized him. The friends sang, and almost everyone took part. Then we prayed for Br. Skram. Afterwards, we went to Sr. Tippen’s place where we spoke together about Romans 7, gave testimonies, and sang songs. We had dinner and an evening meal—the latter at Tippen’s place—and then we each put some coins in the collection box.

God is good. His name be praised that He allows us to have such blessed meetings, despite all this opposition.

I don’t remember whether I wrote in my last letter that Brs. Risnes and Hågensen are now in Sarpsborg. Risnes says he has come to the right place. Sr. Eltvik in Ålesund received a letter from Jørgine Pettersen, who is staying with Gunda Willersrud. According to her letter, they were about to set out on a trip to Kristiania, Drøbak, Horten, Sarpsborg, Kristiansand, and Ålesund. Aksel wrote and asked them to visit Kristiansand. Those who were meeting at Fremtiden in Sarpsborg quit having meetings before Risnes got there. By this we can see how God leads things and that it is pointless to put our confidence in unfaithful people. Br. Risnes is young and has not been tested so much, but he has a heart that is right before God, which is why I have hope that things will now go well. Br. Hågensen is there helping out. He really benefited from his trip up north. He has made great spiritual progress. We are now anchored in Haugsholmen and will—God willing—be in Ålesund on September 8. Then I should have shore leave until Sunday. I have heard we are going to be in Haugesund from September 15 until November 1.

We spoke in Ålesund about entering the kingdom of heaven with one eye and one arm. If there are lusts in the body that a person can’t get victory over, then that member needs to be cut off, spiritually speaking. For example, a drunkard must say “No” to something that would, under ordinary circumstances, benefit his body. He cannot do what Paul advises Timothy when he tells him to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake, etc. He must cut off that member. But if the member is cut off, then it is gone. God would rather that he had driven the sin out of his member; but instead the member has been removed together with the sin, and he will enter the kingdom of God with only one arm. Such a man has a defect and shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. Greet the friends up there in the north.

Warm greetings from your brother,

Write soon!