Is There Anybody Out There??? -Halden Week Twenty Two

Day 201.

Rations: 4 packages of meat. 1 loaf of gluten free bread. 5kg of rice. 2 bags of chips.

Supplies: Book of Mormon in 43 Languages. 7 English Books of Mormon. 29 hand out cards. (Currently no english pamphlets. Word has been sent to base camp in Sandvika. We wait.)

It has begun to snow. The days have been getting longer and the nights shorter. It has begun to get cold as well. What was once 5 to 8 degrees has now reached -10. The gloves and hats help but 8 hours in such conditions can make survival difficult. The physical cold is one aspect but the mental battle is another. If one gives in to the mental darkness he welcomes fear and doubt with open arms. All hope is pushed aside and the reality of the cold is more real than the snow or wind physically present. Even after another week of no success we must stay focused. We have learned to take each challenge as it comes and stay mentally awake, success or not. 

The information from this week is much like the last. A trip to Fredrikstad was made in order to rally together other survivors. Game plans were made. European suits were found in an abandoned store. They will come to be of good use. The Moss elders (my boy Elder Nielson) are doing well. Conditions are difficult but everyone does there best to keep there heads high. We know there's light, we know there are people out there.

The other rations gathered this week were well used. Almond M&M's and the BYU mens choir are a rarity out here in Halden. The people are scarce, and after 5 straight hours on the frozen streets each day you wonder if there is life out there. Are there people in this city, or are you alone?  Elder Naumu and I have begun plundering the neighborhoods. Looking for any signs of life, anything, anybody. The nights are long and it would be easiest to give up, but we know that there is life. We wait each day. Our names are Elder Naumu and Elder Shanklin. We are missionaries living in Halden Norway. We are prodcasting through all methods of finding. We will be on the northern most street near the park everyday at mid-day, when the sun is highest in the sky. If you are out there...if anyone is out there...we can provide food, we can provide shelter, we can provide security. If there's anybody out there...anybody...anybody...please?? You're not alone.

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts.

Elder Braydon Court Shanklin

Answers to Questions Mom ask:   

Ward Bounderies are ridiculous all over Norway. Especially in the North and in the West. Here in Halden  it probably stretches 2 or 3 hours. In Trondheim it stretched like 5 hours probably. The Northern countries can be as large as like 6 or 7 probably I'd guess.The members here are great. We are part of a ward with 4 other missionaries.  Two in Fredrikstad and 2 in Sarpsborg (sisters).  So the ward kind of supports 6 missionaries.  There is only about 3 famililies in Halden that are active.  And they live about 20 minutes driving from us.  So it is hard for them to help.  That's just the way it goes though.Well before like April 2013 Halden hasn't been opened since the 80's...sooo 34+ years ago was the last set of missionaries in the area.  No worries though hahahahaha.  

Should be going to Sweden  be this week. No we don't need our passport, haha. Theres a bridge that you can just walk over. I'll get a picture.

They do sell Rootbeer in Norway. In very rare places and for probably 100 kr a can. So like 20 bucks. The ones in Sweeden are like 10 kr a can.

YES I GOT YOUR PACKAGE!!! Thank you!!! The smaller tie clip that came with the tie was probably the best! I needed a shorter tie clip haha. I loved it all of course! Thank you thank you. Uhmmmm not anything specifically. Yeah he gets lots of letters. Problem is we have transfer calls this coming Sunday. We move on the next Wednesday. I will most definitely probably be staying. He could leave however. Soooo I don't know if there's anything specific. You could probably lay off the ties for a while haha. I have like 55...no exaggeration. I bought 3 more this week. Unless you have a stock pile of them you bought. Then just keep sending them. I could never have too many! Nice job with the 'narrow' tie in the last package. You're catching on hahaha. Nothing really specific I can think of though. Everything is pretty good here! Besides teaching that is hahah