couldn’t be more thankful October 25, 2009

It was so great to have Chuck here visiting this past week. I feel so thankful and blessed to be a part of this ministry and connected to him & his family. I couldn’t have asked for better spiritual mentors than Chuck & Sally! I love you guys!! We were blessed to have Chuck share for a small student seminar on “The Father Heart of God” last Saturday. My heart was changed as he had us listen to a prophetic song sung by a leader at IHOP(house of prayer). I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in this place after listening to the truth of how God feels about us. His love is never changing. It’s w/o conditions. Unconditional Love from the Father. Freeing. Releasing. Changing our hearts as we allow this truth to touch us deeply. He sees everything. He knows our weak attempts to please and love Him. He smiles. He rejoices over us. Singing. Dancing. He’s not disappointed in us. He sees our sacrifices. He delights in us. We can rest in the knowledge that our God loves us, period.

Chuck came right when I really needed some wisdom & encouragement too. God knows what we need, it’s amazing! I feel that since I’ve had so much time to myself lately that having a visitor was so good for me! Don’t get me wrong, I’m coveting the times I’ve had alone with Jesus & listening to the prayer room for hours, it’s really stirring something w/in & causing me to really pine for more of Jesus in my every day life! But to see a familiar (American) face, w/ Reeses in hand, made me super glad!!!

Also because I recently found out that I’m unable to renew my work permit to stay in Norway. It will expire as of July/Aug 2010 and the woman at the police station so kindly highlighted & underlined that it can never be renewed, ever! This came as a shock to me, since I thought I’d be able to renew it AND because more recently I’ve been thinking/praying about what it would be like to stay in Norway longer. I’m in a place of having so many dreams for Norway and wanting to see something established here, so as of now, thinking about leaving is a very hard thing. I want to do what God wants, so I’m really praying and seeking Him to give me wisdom during this time. Chuck and I did some brief investigating as far as visa/work permit stuff goes. I hope to go back down to the police station with a Norwegian to get more answers, soon! So I’ll keep you posted. I’m dependent upon the leading of God, so I know(without a doubt) that it’ll be good, whatever happens, wherever I stay/go/end up. I trust in His leadership over my life and will continually seek direction, wisdom & strength from the best source!!

Would you partner with me though?? PLEASE PRAY for open doors, favor with the Norwegian government/visa/permit control & and a true leading of what the future is supposed to be. TUSEN TAKK

Also, I couldn’t be more thankful to be connected to some of the most amazing friends here in Trondheim. A true community of love has formed!! I get to hang out with them, pray with them, worship Jesus together with them, go through ups & downs together, plan ministry, dare to dream with them and love them! It’s the best. Continue to pray for them as they’re juggling the crazy schedule of being students. We’re longing for so much more & will continually stand for Jesus on the Universities and testify of the goodness of God together. The song, “And They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love” just came into my head while writing this. May this be the message that is shown through our lives: A love that is never ending has touched & transformed us. We can’t help but love God back & love one another! Here we are in the prayer room on Gløshaugen’s campus.

Me, Magnus, Mats, Chuck, Ragnhild, Line, Kristina, Siri Helene

Autumn in Trondheim October 25, 2009

Just want to thank all of you who are continually praying for me, I feel it! Keep it coming, ’cause I’m well on my way to being over this!! I’ve received some good news…my liver isn’t swollen anymore!! yipeee. This is a good sign that my body is healing. AND…I’m surprisingly feeling a lot better as the days go by. I’ve been trying to continue to rest, though I told some friends, that I feel like a horse at the gates, just waiting for the gun to go off so I can bust out! But…I realize it takes time & still lots and lots of rest to recover from mono. I just couldn’t help myself though and had to take some walks the last few days to get some autumn air in my lungs & some movement to these muscles who have been neglected for too long. Here are some photos from the lovely days in Trondheim this past week.

Gløshaugen’s campus

Tea & I

Walking the streets of Trondheim towards Nidaros Church

picturesque park by the church

Line & I had a nice picnic

we love autumn!!

Norway enjoys the world’s highest quality of life October 10, 2009

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091005/national/as_un_quality_of_life (click here to read the whole article)

“A child born in Niger can expect to live to just over 50 years, which is 30 years less than a child born in Norway. Furthermore, the differences in per capita income are huge for every dollar earned per person in Niger, US$85 are earned in Norway,” UNDP said.

WOW. It’s great to be living in Norway, (minus the rough exchange rates…)Norway is blessed!! but I can’t help but want more! More for Norway & more for countries like Niger, who seem to only be recognized for their lack. I wonder what it would look like if they were to poll the spiritual climate in these 182 countries…i’m banking on the results to be quite different. Wealthy in many things, yes, but something seems to be missing here? There MUST be more! I’ve become increasingly more aware of the lack of hope here. My heart hurts for the people I meet who seem lost. The walls that many have put up around themselves. The loneliness and lack of vision. Don’t get me wrong, you’re going to find this everywhere, but the first thing that came to my mind was what makes life “quality”??

“…the UN Development Program, takes into account life expectancy, literacy, school enrollment and per capita gross domestic product in 182 countries.”

Though all these things are good to take into account for the index, I just can’t help but want to see people here filled with a joy that passes understanding. The type of joy that I saw radiating through the faces of friends & children I met while in Uganda. A peace and a reliance on something greater/SOMEONE GREATER than circumstances that seem to change. A hope for something unseen.

^“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2Cor4:16-18

I pray for Norway today. I pray for Niger today. I long to see Jesus touch people in both places. To restore things that have been destroyed. I long to see in this generation, people who have hope & a life worth living. Regardless of social class, economic status, or world influence…there IS a life that satisfies. It’s found in Him. There is a full life. The HIGHEST quality of life and nothing can separate us from that. For we are loved!

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:38-39

All that said…i think i got a lot out of that short little article….my blog has become a great journal while being sick.

really love her voice! October 9, 2009

Short clip of her song, but I’m for sure going to buy her cd (whenever it comes out)!! Enjoy the Norwegian!!!

Everything October 9, 2009

Quest Get Away October 9, 2009

I love Autumn! The leaves. The colors. The coziness. It’s the best time to drink hot chocolate. I love coming home out of the rain to put comfy pants on. Its the perfect time to light some candles & watch a movie or read a good book. It’s also a great season to go away for a weekend with wonderful friends!

Felt like the Brady Bunch with our cool ‘family’ van! The “Questers” now on tour.

The name started out as a joke & still is, but it’s grown on us, so now we like to refer to ourselves as the questers haha

GO TEAM!!!!!!!!!!

Linn took a great shot while hiking!

A few weeks ago we had our Fall Get Away. And it was, JUST THAT, a get away! After being sick for so long, I was hesitant if it was wise to go or not. But I felt that if I was planning on resting & keeping it chill at home, why not be do that same thing @ the cabin surrounded by friends??? We had a great group!! There were 9 of us and we had a fun time playing games, getting to know each other, hanging out & really great encounters with the Holy Spirit.

Kristina showing us how to play a crazy Norwegian game

We took time to be alone with Jesus and came back together to share. The Lord was speaking to us about seeing Him in EVERYTHING! The Tim Huges song, “Everything” completely sums up the way I’ve been feeling & the theme that was woven throughout the whole weekend. Experiencing Jesus in the simple things and asking Him to open my eyes so I can see Him every day so that He’d be my everything. I posted the song on the next entry. Please take the time to listen…

“God in my hoping, there in my dreaming, God in my watching, God in my waiting. God in my laughing, there in my weeping, God in my hurting, God in my healing. BE MY EVERYTHING!”

Magnus & Linn helped lead us in song

Creative Worship Night: This was a time for all of us to express love towards God through lighting a candle to pray for someone, taking communion in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us, painting or drawing, singing, journaling, looking at nature, praying with someone, meditating on verses or poems, and/or taking time to simply just be still in God’s presence.

thank you notes to God

After taking time to experience the many stations of the creative worship night on Saturday, we came together at the end to sing a closing song. Many moments where I’ve felt closest to Jesus have been while singing and worshiping. This night was special because we let loose & allowed the Lord to lead us all in song. We ended up freely worshiping for a very long time !!! It was crazy amazing and really beautiful! I sensed that the Lord was so delighted in us. I felt His love for us, His children, and could really feel Him looking at us, smiling That sense of worship & peace carried over to the next morning where we dropped what we’d planned to share that morning & just worshiped & prayed together & for one another. God really met us. Line felt we were supposed to pray for her back & as we prayed, Jesus healed her back!! The pain & constant tension left. She felt something physically shift in her leg. It was special. “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” James 5:14 There was a sense that whatever we asked for, it would be given. God is truly amazing and all powerful! I continually trust in His healing from this Mono as well!

Line dancing in the rain!!!

Line, Ragnhild & I

We left the Get Away felling so encouraged & filled up. It was perfect! We felt that the Lord was really in the midst of our community. May we bring this peace, rest & joy back to the areas we’ve been placed. The university, the workplace, our homes & everywhere we go, may we stop to see God in everything & rejoice in knowing His never ending, unconditional love.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:20-21

look mom, i rested!!!

***you may recognize some things in this photo from previous trips…the lovely Jesus & His flock wall hanging along with the ceramic dog & cat figure…they’re also a large part of our Quest community, can’t leave them out!***

Thanks for praying for us

dum dum dum… September 29, 2009

so…after a much awaited phone call from the doctor, I found out last week that I have Mono On the bright side, at least I’m aware of what I have now and maybe since I’ve been struggling with this for so long, maybe it’s at the end of it…but on the sad side…it could take weeks for me to feel better/100%! I hope that’s not the case & would appreciate all the prayers i can get! In the mean time, I’ll be resting A LOT!

Connect ‘09 Video September 29, 2009

what’s new?? September 13, 2009

The last month has been a whirlwind. Returning from Brussels, starting the new semester, meeting new people, Cort & Brett leaving, deep-cleaning my house, many great Quest events, connecting with old friends, and my roomie’s bday…the list goes on. but to top all of that…i’ve been sick the whole time I could really use some prayer because I’m headed into the doctor’s office tomorrow with hopes that they’ll be able to figure out what’s wrong with me. Being sick for over a month just isn’t that ‘cool’ anymore! I’m ready to have my energy back to 100%. I’m ready to go for a walk and not get tired. I’m ready to be able to do my job to the fullest! I wish I could say that over the last month I’ve taken the time to really reflect & even read some books I hadn’t had time for previously…but every time I’ve picked up a book or my journal, I’ve fallen asleep. I’m praying that once and for all I’m done with this & that I am headed down the road of recovery!

In spite of illness, I’m trying to keep my head high & I continue to feel encouraged by what God is doing here in Trondheim. I’m learning so much and really being taught how to rely on God. He’s so faithful & truly takes care of us! As a community, we’re continually surrendering everything to Him & it’s been amazing to see what’s happening. We’ve had great times of prayer on campus with many students! I would love to call them ‘encouraging meetings’ but that seems a bit long, but that’s truly what they are!!! We’ve handed out free waffles along with testimonies on Dragvoll’s campus. A girl with food allergies read Ane’s testimony about being healed from her food allergies & talked with Siri about it. Siri stepped out in faith & asked the girl if she wanted prayer. She said yes! We’re trusting God to heal her! In the hallways of the Liberal Arts University, God is working!!! Also, our Fall Retreat is coming up in 2 weeks, and we can’t wait! I’ve had the privilege of planning it w/ a great team of students (the Questers, we’re calling ourselves, hehe). We’re going to be doing some great new things & I’m really looking forward to getting away with one another and with Jesus. Updates will follow the exciting weekend

Here are a few photos of the last month’s happenings!

Immatrikulering-Aug.11th. Freshman Orientation

Cort posing w/ our lovely Quest banner

We handed out fliers with upcoming events & were able to talk with many new students

The gang out to dinner with Chuck & Sally

Goodbye BBQ for Cort & Brett

Team U.S.A. forever!! Love and Miss you guys SO MUCH!

Crazy Questers

Kristina, Siri & Ane-bringing grilling to the next level.

Kristina taught us how to magically make ‘homemade’ cookies on the grill!

(we won’t tell anyone that they’re Safari cookies )

Ragnhild & Line =amazing!!

Gratulerer med dagen Linn!!

Happy Birthday Roomie!

Thanks so much for the prayers!!!!!

Lovin’ Brussels August 6, 2009

Students for Christ-Europe

Norway Team working together

Belgium waffles!!