Distriks Konferanse in Stavanger

Going to Stake Conference (for non-LDS readers this is a regional meeting that in El Dorado County for example would include congregations from Pollock Pines to Cameron Park and from Georgetown to Grizzly Flats) involves a short drive and a couple of hours on Saturday evening followed by a couple of hours on Sunday for the final meeting. It is a whole different ball game here in Norway.

The distance is only 105 "driving  miles" from Bergen to Stavanger but it also involves two ferry crossings. 

The Ferries are fast and efficient but expensive - about $160 US total ferry cost for the trip.

But what a magnificent ride through the islands of western Norway..

 

 We had plenty of room inside the ferries, just two short rides of about 40 and 20 minutes, with wonderful stuff to look at and the realization that every kilometer you float you don't have to drive.

On the route are ten tunnels that cover a distance of about 13 miles and include three long underwater stretches as deep as almost 300 feet below sea level! The tunnels are fantastic.

There were eight bridges that link the short distances between some of the islands. There are also toll roads that chalk up another $50 for the round trip.

Fish farms out in the fjord.

 Driving down the street to the Stavanger chapel.

It was only a bit over 100 miles but the travel time was a little over 4 hours. We never stopped moving except for two very short ferry lines. With the round-abouts you can get lucky and not have to stop at all but the speed limits are very low. The fastest legal speed on this trip was 48mph.

The LDS meeting house in Stavanger.

The hall was eventually full with members from southern and western Norway and as far north as Trondheim. The conference was broadcast over the internet to groups of members in Bergen and Trondheim. Some of the speakers spoke from Trondheim via internet to the other two locations.

On Saturday afternoon the youth and young adult activity included a rainy walk in the forest that was also a kind of scavenger hunt.

 After the evening general session of District Conference the youth groups from Stavanger Branch put on a Beatles tribute concert for about an hour.

They were fantastic with great arrangements of 13 Beatles classics.

The entire cast took the stage for "Hello - Good-Bye." We were so impressed with what they had put together in four weeks time.

The artwork included the Abbey Rd. backdrop as well as hand drawn pictures from the Sgt. Pepper's Era of the fab-four.

 We spent the rest of Saturday night (until midnight) at the Bjerga's home where 45 years ago I used to visit with then Branch President Tomas Bjerga. Tomas is doing fine at age 90!

While the young single adults played the advisors put together a feast of natchos, brownies, ice cream etc. It is what we do best - feed people.

All of us who were visitors were placed in homes of members of the church around the city of Stavanger. We stayed with a wonderful family out on a little island north of town along with three other visitors and the family of six. Shanna and I took over one of the daughters' rooms. After a great breakfast we were off to the final session of conference.

Among our many surprises this weekend we met up with Emily Knudsen Berg - the daughter of Arvid and Laraine. I met Arvid in Norway back in 1968 when he was a teenager. Emily married Oskar last January and lives in Kristiansand. We also bumped into good old Brother Norby and the Limas whom I knew from my first time around in Stavanger. It was old home week for me.

About an hour after the final meeting ended people had said their goodbyes and one by one we all started back home. The bonds that people make in these districts with their far-flung branches are strong. There is such a feeling of happines as the visitors arrive for conference and a reluctance to say goodbye when Sunday afternoon rolls around that you can't help but feel the love even as a newcomer.

We are back in Bergen but looking forward to our next trip back to Distriks Konferanse in the spring.

Hardanger Fjord

Norway has a problem. Every road and highway could be declared a "scenic byway." Add to that the fact that most of the roads are pretty narrow and you become a bit frustrated at all the stuff you wish you could stop and gawk at but there is no place to park or stop. That being said, we took a delightful drive last week on our one sunny day. We drove through the mountains - literally through a series of tunnels to a wonderful fjord called Hardanger Fjord.

On the way up the mountains we began to notice just how many big waterfalls there were. This one was by a pull out so we took a picture. It isn't spectacular but the overwhelming number of falls - sometimes right next to someone's house - is cumulatively spectacular.

Pretty little towns dot the edge of the fjord and small apple farms fill in the spaces inbetween the towns. The head of this fjord is about 100 miles from the seacoast.

Kirkegaard in one of the little towns.

The road is narrow and winds something like US 1 on the California coast by Big Sur but it is much narrower with several one-lane stretches that are made a little scarier to drive by the impatient Norwegians in their fast Audi's, BMW's and MB's. I am outmatched in my VW Polo.



This picture kind of captures the drive: winding road, little apple farms with neat houses and barns, some farms pearched high on the sheer hillsides and waterfalls everywhere.

The clouds began to roll over the mountains from the south so we knew that we would be finishing the drive in the rain but we wanted to drive just around the next bend to see what was there. We finally got to a ferry stop which became our turn around.

We decided that we ought to take a full day in the fall when the leaves change and/or a full day in the spring when the apple trees are in bloom. Next time we'll go all the way around the fjord up to the narrows and back down the other shore.

So, what else are we up to? I put down my brush to catch a couple of the Elders working on a service project. Shanna and I came back to finish painting a couple of days later.



Here is our district -minus us. We get to help them out when they need us, feed them from time to time and give them rides or better yet let them use the car. We have really enjoyed working with the young Elders and Sisters. We have a much better understanding of what our own kids did on their missions. This is a hard working group and they are very kind to us.

Treated Like Royalty

We have been treated so well since arriving in Bergen. The branch is very friendly and encouraging. They are also quite generous with their time and food. We were treated to what is arguably the Norwegian national favorite - Kjottkaker - at Judith's lovely home. We shared the meal with her daughter and family as well as a couple of the Elders.

A few days later Dorthe prepared a full on Turkey dinner for us and all the missionaries just before transfer day. The dinner was topped off with a great Norwegian dessert - Riskrem - a rich rice pudding filled with almonds chunks and topped with whipped cream. If you got a whole almond in your bowl you won a prize.

No, Rapunzel doesn't live there. The King of Norway does but only when he visits Bergen. The western castle lies across the way from the Berg's home. Distriks President and Sister Berg open their home to people all of the time. Sunday dinner for 19 - no problem! The crowd includes the family, people investigating the church, some young single adults, and a group of missionaries.



George is from Nigeria and Marchin is from Poland. The people with the black badges are from somewhere else.

Everybody wants to pose for a picture out on the deck.



Last week's Institute dinner was a potato bar, which Elder Spencer enjoyed. He does the most amazing impression of Mr. Incredible that you will ever see although I doubt that you will ever see it.

The early crowd starts in on the pre-Institute dinner. One of our jobs is to feed missionaries a couple of times per week. They join in with their investigators at the 'tute dinners.



After Family home evening everybody spreads out to talk, discuss and play games. We actually had 18 people at FHE on Monday. It was fun.

Last night we came home and Skypted Erin on line - still at work on Labor Day. A little later we were discovered on line by a little boy and his Mommy. Isn't the internet wonderful! Best wishes to everybody. We have another exciting week of activities and service projects. Ha det godt!