Strandefjord, Fagernas, Norway

Format: Copyright (c) 2004, Butterfly Productions, All Rights Reserved

Note: Stereoscopic Pictures, Stereoscope, and Norwegian Flag Pillow Cover, compliments of Pearl A. Ginther, and Stadem Genealogy Book, compliments of Barbara Benson.

UFF DAH! IS IT OUR FLAG, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE NORWEGIAN? SINCE STARTING THESE PAGES, WE HAVE BEEN BESIEGED BY NORWEGIAN CRUISE SHIP BANNERS! TALK ABOUT HORNING IN ON A GOOD THING! WE HAVEN'T EVEN POSTED THESE PAGES BEFORE THEY'RE TRYING TO SWEET-TALK ALL OUR VIEWERS INTO ROUND-THE-ARCTIC CRUISES! IT IS SHAMELESS HOW THESE MODERN NORWEGIANS PUSH THEIR CRUISE SHIP PACKAGES IN YOUR FACE! BUT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING TOO, WE SUPPOSE, SO LET THEIR BANNERS FLY ON OUR PAGES, JUST SO THEY DON'T COVER UP OUR OWN TOUR. THE BONUS SIGHT FOR STICKING WITH THE TOUR THIS LONG ISN'T SCANDINAVIAN, WE ADMIT, BUT IT IS MEANT TO BROADEN YOUR CULTURE A BIT, AND YOU MAY EVEN LIKE THE OLD LOOK OF THIS FAMOUS LANDMARK BEFORE AUTOMOBILES, CELL PHONES, VIDEO CAMERAS, AND CREDIT CARD FLASHING TOURISTS SPOILED THE CLASSIC GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. BON VOYAGE! PLEASE LET YOUR FRIENDS KNOW ABOUT THESE PAGES, SO THEY TOO CAN TAKE THE STEREOSCOPIC TOUR, AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE, YOU WILL PROBABLY AGREE. PERMIT US ONE LAST WORD: THE PICTURE ABOVE IS OF AN INSTITUTION IN VERY SAD DECLINE IN SCANDINAVIA. THAT INSTITUTION IS CALLED THE CHURCH--GOD'S CHURCH. IT WOULD DO SCANDINAVIA A TREMENDOUS LOT OF GOOD IF THE PEOPLE WOULD AGAIN DARKEN THE DOOR OF ANY LOCAL CHURCH THAT RESPECTS THE BIBLE AND WHERE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS PREACHED UNASHAMABLY AND HONESTLY. WE CANNOT BUT FEAR FOR THE SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF ANY NATION WHICH FORGETS GOD, AS THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES SEEM IN DANGER OF DOING, ACCORDING TO LONG-STANDING TRENDS GOING BACK TO THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY. FOR THAT VERY REASON OUR STADEM FOREBEAR, BIRGIT HOLBECK, LEFT NORWAY AND GLADLY EMBARKED ON A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA IN 1903, ALONG WITH HER SISTER AND BROTHER, FOLLOWING THE NARROW BUT REWARDING PATH OF FAITH AND DEVOTION TO ALMIGHTY GOD, A PATH THAT INSURES PERSONAL HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING AND ALSO A NATION'S VERY SURVIVAL.