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Jan Baalsrud fled Norway when...

Illustration
Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Jan Baalsrud fled Norway when Germany invaded in 1940. In 1943, he returned with three others to lead an underground war for freedom. They were ferried to northern Norway by a fishing boat. Their mission was betrayed, however, and the boat’s crew and all but Jan were killed. Although he was wounded in the foot, Jan escaped and was able to flee and survive for a day through snow and freezing ocean swims. He completed his final evening ocean swim across 220 yards and was close to death through exhaustion and hypothermia. As he lay on the beach he heard voices.
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