By Leroy Tonning

Camp meeting in Norway was held during the six-day Easter holiday we have in Scandinavia. We were able to rent a nice campsite outside of Stavanger, giving us a chance to have worship and fellowship in beautiful surroundings. This year's meetings, as so often before, were a wonderful experience.

It was a pleasure to have Reverend Darrel Lee and his wife, Debbie, from Portland, Oregon, with us this year. Their son-in-law and daughter, Rob and Alicia Parker, along with their boys, were also able to be at the camp meeting. Butch Carey, also from Portland, had been visiting us for a couple of weeks leading up to camp, and we enjoyed having him willingly sing for us countless times. We also enjoyed having Marie Garrison from Seattle with us. She was involved as a teacher for our Bible studies, giving us a personal approach to the topics, “Follow Me!” and “Have you asked the Lord?” Tove Paulsen, from Portland, was in the country for her mother's funeral, and was able to stay for Easter. A delegation of thirty-seven came from England. They are always a great blessing with their contributions to the camp. We also had visitors from Denmark and various places in Norway.

The language problem is solved by using wireless earphones—sometimes used for the Norwegians who do not understand English well enough, and sometimes by the English speakers who have problems with Norwegian, depending on who is preaching. Interpretation via earphones makes it much easier for the speaker to keep going instead of having to wait for the interpretation.

With two meetings each day and an afternoon Bible study or other activity, we had a good chance to delve into the Word of God and be enlightened and encouraged. We enjoyed the music and singing, especially by our young upcoming musicians, who held a mini-concert for us on the last day of camp.

The sermons were inspired, and we felt the Spirit of God as we gathered in worship and prayer. Reverend Darrel Lee gave a presentation of our missionary outreach, which we all feel a part of, even though we live in a remote part of the world. He spoke in one sermon about Jesus feeding the five thousand men plus women and children, saying that things which are impossible for others are certainly possible for God. We believe that He can save and keep people everywhere.

On Saturday evening, the topic of the service was “The Light.” The sanctuary lights were dimmed and we all held a burning tea light candle and listened to a classical piece expressing the light of dawn. The singing and four mini-sermons were about different aspects of light and how they relate to the Light of the Gospel. The last special, “I Thank God for the Lighthouse,” was sung by a quartet.

On Easter morning, we heard a choir of about twenty-five voices sing, “Hosanna We Sing,” and we did hear them sing! We were also given some instruction on “Biblematics” by Keijo Kinnari, telling how 1 + 1+ 1 = 1 (the Trinity), and how p - Colossians 3:14 makes a perfect circle—“the bond of perfectness.” God's calculations are beyond what we can figure out!

We went home with a definite feeling that we had been in the presence of God. Please remember us, who are spread out all over the world, in your prayers.