Norway 1

BECKIE IS ON MISSION IN NORWAY THIS SUMMER! HERE IS HER FIRST UPDATE!


I arrived with the directors' family on May 27. We spent a few days in Bergen getting over jet lag and reuniting all the Norwegian Nav staff and friends. They have all been so generous to host us and now to host the team too! Then we went up to Skjolden to open up the hostel and clean it up. We arrived just in time for the Skjolden Culture Days fest and had a big, delicious breakfast along the fjord. All the people of Skjolden were out so it was a great time of meeting and greeting. Everyone under the age of 65 know English. Some seemed a little shy to comunicate with me but others I spoke with had flawless English. A small bunch of highschool/college age guys and gals just moved into the house next door to our hostel! We look forward to having BBQs and watching the World Cup together. Skjolden is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. There are 7 waterfalls that we can see from our hostel.

(I took a little jog over to Scotland for a few days to visit a friend who spent a year in our Navs ministry while she studied abroad at the U of I. It was sooo lovely to see her- I think we were mutually encouraged. I also meet 2 Nav staff persons while I was in Edinburgh and Glasglow. It was neat to hear their perspective and experience with ministry in Scotland.)

On Wednesday the rest of the team arrived: Cory, Justin, and Nick (all from the state of CO) and Rachel (Ohio). It's been fun to see the team dynamics unfold and personalities shine. Everyone has quite different personalities and are at different places in their walk with Jesus. And two Norwegian students will join us in just a few weeks from now: Martin and Lorleley.  

Please pray for Cory and I as the men and women team leaders that we will serve the team with a selfless love. And for the team to  have short accounts and to be open with our true thoughts and emotions. There are some strong personalities. We went on an intense hike today up Ulriken, a great team building exercise/challenge which showed some true colors. :)

Pray for opportunities to connect with the youth (high school, college, young adults) in Skjolden. I believe God gave us these neighbors for a reason. 

Pray for all the final details to get worked out to visit a refugee camp in Voss for a week. What exactly we'll do, how we'd all get there, where we would stay are all getting worked out now. 

Praise God for his creative beauty of people and land. Oh my! I'm excited to see why God brought this group of people to Norway for such a time as this...

Blessings, 
Beckie