The last three weeks have been utterly amazing. It has taken me a while to write about all of it because, for the first week and a half I didn't have internet here, a thunderstorm took it out, then I had a hard time making myself sit and really think about what has been going on. So, belatedly, here is what I have done while here in Norway.
The whole time Helen and I are staying here we are living in her parents house with the rest of her family either staying for Christmas as well or living quite close. She has an amazing family, I get along great with her siblings, especially her brother in-law, Rik, me and him share the same Dutch heritage and some crazy/mischievous characteristics. The first 2 weeks that we were here Helen worked a lot, she's like a butcher and an artist combined, and I helped her dad around the house, which is also a farm. I stacked fire wood, cut trees with a chain saw, drove a tractor and essentially became a farmer. On Monday the 19th I fullfilled my alterior motive for coming here this Christmas, I visited a church in Stavanger (Western Norway) called Imi Kirka, the lead pastor from this church had come to Bethel in early November, along with leaders from around the world, for a conference and he was at a meet n' greet designed to recruit 2nd years for internships for next year. I talked with him back in November and we made a good connection so I contacted him later to try and organize a meeting during my stay here. He was also excited to meet so on Monday we made the 3 hour drive to see the church and talk with the leaders there. I was blown away by the treatment they gave us. This is an 800 member church and the lead pastor, his daughter, and the leader of the nationwide youth movement, all sat down to meet with Helen and me for an hour to tell us all about the church and themselves. Then, in response to the question we had about finances and stuff like that, they said that they could offer a free place to stay and a small monthly stipend. So, I am thinking rather hard about going there to work with them next year.
Christmas was wild, Helen's family (the Smidsrøds) and I had a super relaxed gift giving time in the evening of the 24th. It was awesome to see them open the presents Helen and I got them, especially the one that I got for Helen, and it was rather fun to open my own as well. I think it is worth commenting again on how well I have connected with the Smidsrøds, they really have welcomed me in to their home and family.
Since Christmas we have been doing some other cool stuff, went to a big pool park thing at the end of a fjord, I rode a horse for the first time and shot a gun, a Springfield I think, at least that was the type of bullet. Tonight we go to some super cool church friends of Helen's for New Years, it will be a great night of board games and deep theological talks.
Sorry for not updating sooner. All of you that read this blog are amazing and wonderful and a pray blessing over all of you. Thank you so much for caring about my life enough to read what I write about it. God bless and happy new year!
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