travel in thailand

thailand. what a trip. i spent many days traveling, met interesting people, had new experiences, enjoyed the sun, dressed as a thai in a thai new year parade, spent time with the team, and simply enjoyed myself.

deportation

the crazy americans

it's a bird, it's a plane... no, it's bocci ball!

a good family friend, annette, and i in oslo

i've been deported.

no, i haven't! life has been crazy, busy these past weeks so writing has been pushed far down the list of "what's important." i'm to the point where the whole visa issue isn't a concern, so i can even joke about deportation! or not.

the students have all left for outreach (links to their blogs are on the right hand side) and i have been busy preparing to teach about outreach prep. more and more i'm loving to preach and teach - i get such a kick from it. a team from the states has also been here - helping renovate the third floor of the base. in three days they did what would have taken us weeks. my mom also joined them and it was so good to spend time with her. in the past, when family or friends have visited me, it's always been during a holiday, so they haven't really been able to get a full taste of my life. but this time my mom lived at the base, sat in on teaching, ate at the base, got to know some of the students and staff. it was such an encouragement for me.
erika, helina, and i spent easter together. in norway, easter is much more celebrated than what i remember in the states. the stores shut down thursday - monday during easter and most people have an entire week of holiday - skiing, eating oranges and kvikk lunsj (much better version of kitkat), and sitting around fires. since i can't ski and it snowed more than a foot, i celebrated by baking lots and watching movies.

and the newest news... i'm going to THAILAND in april. yay for outreach teams!

happiness

on tuesday nights i babysit sit for ludvig evan, who might just be the happiest baby in norway.

life has been pretty normal these past weeks. i've applied for a new visa, which will be processed in 4-7 months. for the first time in my life, i literally have no control over what is happening. some days i feel like all my energy goes into giving up, taking back, and giving back the control to God again. i feel like this big word TRUST is permantly etched into my brain and is working its way into my heart.

"Take away everything i have, but do not take away the sweetness of walking and talking with the King of Glory." John Stam

jeg er i sveitz! i've been here this past week for a ywam conference. the provost of the university of the nations is here and wisdom just flows. i've taken classes on death and grief counseling by john bills and sarah lanier and equipping staff and students with intercultural skills, also by sarah. she wrote "foreign to familar," which is a best seller.

i came with ragnhild and marianne and we're in awe of the years of experience we are blessed to listen to. the base here in burtigny is in a valley of the alps and in the middle of nowhere. they milk the cows in the morning and even grow their own potatoes. there are acres and acres of fields to walk, which is pretty much the only thing to do around here. i guess the best word to describe this place is idyllic. when i look out the window in the morning, i feel that i'm looking at the landscape of "pride and prejudice."

God spoke to me very clearly this week about the need to find a confidant and that i also just need to trust Him. He also brought to mind these Scriptures:

Psalm 20:7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
Psalm 33:17 A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

And i'm wondering in which horses have i been boasting in and trusting. the base, people, positions, future plans, and many more, i know. i have to boast and trust in the Lord. otherwise, i lose my identity, my trust, my hope. it's pretty heavy, but i know the One in which i can rest secure.

changes!

an exciting weekend! not only did i watch 6 episodes of season 2 of "prison break," i also got a new haircut and we had a fireplace installed in our apartment. gone are the $200 electricity bills! and now i am the proud owner of pannelugg/bangs! without further ado...



ikke verst, eh?

i went to oslo last weekend with erika to visit my good friends, kjersti and karen amalie. it's so nice to just step away from the every day life occasionally. we shopped, went to cafes, took walks in the city, went to a ywam oslo gathering, and even spent an hour or so browsing cds on sunday afternoon. i highly recommend rufus wainwright, jens lekman, beirut, and band of horses. they've been on my ipod all week.
ken helser taught at the dts this week and as i sat in on the teaching, i had such a sense of thankfulness for who God is and what He does in our lives, often without us even noticing. i really want to be aware of how He's moving and move right along with Him.
and... i went to the police station to see about my visa and will now apply as a skilled worker. there's a lot of paperwork involved and much clarifying to be done about what i'm doing here, but i have peace about it. and after 3 years i can apply for a settlement permit, which allows me to stay here as long as i want! now i just have wait and pray.