i'm baaack (again)

adventures in scotland.

little happenings, lots of joy

hmm... which one of these doesn't belong?

istanbul

i'm sitting in the office - getting ready for an open meeting with tjebbo. he was a teacher on my dts and is one of the reasons i decided to stay in norway. right outside of the office is the walking street, cafes, and the mall. they have set up a big stage and are showing a football (soccer) game live, right outside. our hometown team (which sucks, by the way) is playing an important game, so the entire town has come. too bad it's right outside where we are going to have our meeting. it will be a long night.
i've been in ethiopia and turkey the past week. what a trip. kristin and i went to visit missionaries sent out from ywam skien. we ate cheap food, laid in the sun, wore funny missionary clothes, talked with lots of people, i cried, met with old friends. i think it's so easy to lose focus about why i am here, why i do what i do. i met with many people who have given up almost everything to be on the mission field. what have i given up? i live in one of the richest countries in the world, voted #1 place to live, and i have everything i need and much more. i don't have to worry about unclean water or even having water. i have heat in my house. i have friends and people like me because i am a christian. i forget all that sometimes. i saw reality in africa, if even for a week - child labor, abuse, lack of food, and poverty. i am doing this - mission work - because there are people who need to know. i might live in a wealthy country, but i have a responsibility not to train people just to become youth pastors or good church members (no offense to anyone who is one of these). if i don't see people with a passion for giving everything for God, i'm pretty sure i've failed. so much to be done.

on a lighter note, i'm so happy for this week! lise and elise are here - 2 of my students from last year who are both very good friends. i'm so excited to spend time with them. they make my heart glad. and... next week i go to scotland (and it's christmas time at starbucks!)!

reign and rain

i'm trying to download "reign over me," which i've thoroughly enjoyed during the 48.07 seconds i've seen. the website refuses to give me any more than that. dang.

i went to bergen this weekend. the city of rain held back its heavens for a few brief hours. i saw brann play football on a large screen with at least 50,000 other people (i watched the game with that many people. brann didn't necessarily play with all those people. grammar was never my strong point.). we drove 8 hours to see them win the gold. and they lost. dang again. but i did get to have a lovely indian spice chai latte at deli de luca.

speaking of stinking english... i was teaching the other day and one of the students asked what type of bible i use when studying. my reply? "the new international virgin."

i'm going to sweden to buy cheap food on wednesday, going to ethiopia the next week, and scotland the week after that. and i'm feeling tired.

i'm back... if you still read this, leave a comment. would love to see who checks it out.

it's fall here! ruthie's mom gave her a car, so while she was gone this weekend, kristin and i went for a jentetur. we went to a couple flea markets where i bought...

a vintage footstool (with storage), vintage wallpaper, a plate for candles, and a brand new espresso pot

all for less than $5US. giddiness ensued.

i've been observing ramadan and it officially ended on friday, so i celebrated the new freedom of foodwheneveriwant with a piece or carrot cake and coffee in the middle of the day at my favorite cafe - stockfleths. they've been having free coffee sampling this past week, so i even got the coffee for free. the perfect saturday afternoon. kristin, christine, and elisabet joined me in the celebration.

dts has begun and life has returned to some type of normalcy. kristin and i are going to ethiopia in a few weeks and then i'm going to scotland with erika. but before then it's off to bergen to see brann win the football series this coming weekend. in my three years here, i've seen more of europe than i have norway, so i'm excited to see what people say is the most beautiful city in norway.

travelling, fall, good buys, friends. what more could a girl ask?

an attractive picture of ragnhild and i putting pretzels in our mouths. don't ask why.

the back yard of our base. we're putting on a new roof and it's a bit messy.

a polish and lithuanian guy are helping with the roof. if you look closely at the man in the back, i think you'll agree that if sufjan stevens was polish, he would look just like him. sufjan is on my mind no matter what i'm doing.

einar and linn had birthdays this week, so i threw them a surprise party at our apartment. fun for all.

the chai latte comes to skien! a sure sign that fall is on the way.

i get my computer back next week. glory to God. i've missed my old friend. he makes life easier. he comes back when i meet my sister and caleb in oslo! they are on their way to ålesund for their dts.
i've been working on several things for this coming year. erika and i are beginning something called "the room" where people are invited to a asthetically pleasing place to worship and spend time with God. planning is also on the way for not 1, but 2, prayer rooms. it's so nice to be able to use a little creativity in this job. i'm also working with the kitchen (not near as exciting) and beginning to plan bible study. dts begins in less than 2 weeks, so i have a lot to prepare.
the other day i was answering phones in the office and a man called. i spoke in norwegian and he became so frustrated that he just yelled "heh?!" and hung up the phone. crap. i did manage to rent a movie and explain to the girl (in norwegian) working that i forgot my rental card and had a free film coupon yesterday. she didn't even ask me to repeat. a pat on the back to me.