More Awesome Stuff

Some other awesome stuff that happened today that I forgot in my last post...I saw rain on the fjord for the first time. I think rain drops landing on water is one of the most beautiful and poetic occurrences in nature. It was lovely. I watched from the sitting corner in House 33 on a break. I wish I could have just set by the water all day.

After the youth meeting, I went to the sauna. I know, completely against everything I stand for, but it actually felt great. I think the sauna is going to be my best friend this winter. I thought I wouldn't be able to breath because of my asthma, but it felt pretty good. I am about to research the health benefits of using a sauna, that way I can feel even more justified about using it. You know, the things that seem crazy and outrageous at home, start feeling normal and routine when you are here. I am seriously considering the 'sit-in-the-sauna' then 'jump-in-the-fjord' then 'sit-in-the-sauna' thing, even though I yelled at Scott about it last year.


I know I have not filled in the nearly two week blank yet, but I had to tell you about the Youth meeting, which was wonderful. Herman Van Dyke led the meeting. It was about how dangerous it is to try to have one foot in the world and one in the church. It is so terrible to try to live a double life. He spoke about how deceitful Satan is in trying to make us less zealous against the sin in our flesh. In the garden of Eden, that is how he deceived Adam and Eve. That is how he tried to tempt Jesus in the desert, but Jesus came right back with God's word. That is how I have to have it. I have to use my time and not just let it slip away. God wants to do a work in me, to free me from how I am by nature so that I am not subject to sin. As Kåre said in the conference, time is our life and we can just let it slip by not realizing that it was our LIFE. I do not want to have it that way. I do not want to waste a single minute. He read in Matthew 7:24-27 about the foolish man and the wise man and the foundation they each chose to build their homes upon. It is so important to build on the rock so that all that I build, all that I accomplish, does not come tumbling down at the first storm, the first trial, the first difficulty.

 The testimonies were amazing and went straight to my heart. The are so many young people here determined to get victory over the sin in their lives and I want to be a help and an example by being COMPLETELY faithful in my thoughts and in the hidden when no one but myself and God can see. That way I can make progress in my life that ALL can see and profit from.

Well, that is it for now. I know...I know, I still have to work on the summer conference entries. I will get to it asap!

ALAG BEGINNINGS...

I am going to have to go ahead and skip some things and come back to them because I am losing time and getting more and more behind. It has been nearly 2 weeks since my last post. This time, I really am not procrastinating. I have not had anytime to do any blogging. So today I will cover from Monday to today, my first few days on Ateam (Alag). Then later I will post about the trip with the girls and all I experienced at the Summer conference.

It a was very early in the morning when I awoke in one of our huts to the sounds of all of the girls leaving. It had been a VERY long night (as every night of the conference had been) as the girls cleaned the huts in preparation to leave the following morn. Isaac, Wes and Daniel had helped me lug my 3 suitcases up to House 33 (where I will be living over this next year), but I still had a lot to carry. I really couldn't stand staying in the hut without the girls, it would just be too depressing. So I got all my things together. Salvaged what was left of the food, laundry detergent, toilet paper and other supplies for my room and said a final (and slightly tearful) goodbye to the girls as they loaded the van and raced to catch their train. When the last load of girls had gone, I gave the huts a final look over and piled my things outside.

It took three trips to get all of my things to House 33. I didn't yet have a room, so I was stuck in the room on the lower level with around fifteen girls. It was around 5:30am, so I sat on the steps outside for a bit singing "All by Myself" by Mariah Carey, hoping someone would wake up so I could see my way around. It was pitch black, I couldn't find the light (not to mention, I didn't want to wake anyone), and I couldn't find the dyna for my bed. No one woke up. I knew I was going to have to check in at the kitchen at 10am and I wanted a bit more sleep. So finally I just went in, covered a mattress and curled on my side in the fetal position and tried sleep, but I was too cold to get any real rest.

 I woke up just in time to get myself together and get the kitchen. The lights in the room were still out, and many of the girls were still asleep. At this point, I could see that my dyna had been in a bag beside my bed the whole time. Oh well, it was in the past.

Upon checking-in in the kitchen, I found that I didn't start work until the next day, Tuesday. Some girls told me about a room that was empty. I lugged all of my things up to the room and spent the day doing laundry and trying to settle in. I went to eat and try to meet some people, but I felt really disconnected and out of place. Over all, I was kind of lonely.

Tuesday was SOO much better. I started working and meet a lot of people. It will take a bit for me to remember everyone's names, but the girls I work with in the kitchen are so very nice. They made my first day of work really nice. I wish the training was a bit more straight forward, but overall, I guess I can figure things out for myself.

Leigh from South Africa is particularly sweet. She asked me how my room was and if I needed anything. She came and checked my water, electricity, brought me more bedding, and overall, was really helpful. I don't know what I would have done without her help. Thanks Leigh!

Today (Wednesday) was great as well. I think I am beginning to find a bit of a niche here. I am enjoying myself so much. The only thing that can make it better will be when Meraboo gets here! Jeg gleder meg!!! I have been working in the kitchen in House 33, which is where the Ateam eats. It is pretty cool. Today was my second day. I worked the Kveld shift yesterday and today which is 2pm to 11pm. It is not too bad and there is downtime in between. I am starting to feel much more comfortable. I just finished eating and I have to go back to clean at 7pm. The youth meeting is to follow at 8pm. I can't play my flute today because I am working, but I really look forward to playing music here. I hope to find someone to help me with piano and someone to teach me guitar. So after the meeting I am serving a snack (apple crisp I think) and then I'll be finished for today.

I may be chilling in the sauna for a bit before I go to bed. It would be very relaxing, so I hope it works out. We have an arrangement (an event where people pay to stay at Brunstad and use the facilities) starting Friday, which means long shifts, so I better relax while I can! I will have pictures soon. I just haven't had time to take them or to post them. Hopefully I will get better at keeping this blog up-to-date. Until next time, Ha det bra!

0 DAYS!! - A New Kind of All Nighter

I have pulled all nighters in high school and at University, studying for tests or completing projects or papers. I have pulled all nighters for work, but I have never stayed up all night preparing to fly overseas...for an entire year! It took forever to shop, return items, buy different items, pack, unpack, repack, eliminate things I personally thought essential, and finally come to peace with what I was left with. Well, whatever happens, I have what I have. I finally got to Anita's house at around 1:30am, and as we have to get up at 4am and leave for the airport at 6am sharp, we figured it might be better just to stay up for now and sleep later when we get on the plane.

Its been so nice shopping with mommy, Arielle, Aunt Rose and Mere. I also got to spend some time shopping with Brittany, Kirsten, Mere, an Arielle on Sunday. I always hate goodbyes, but at least we got to spend some time together before I left.

Sorry guys, no pictures this time. I'm sure the girls would not be happy having pictures posted as we rush out of the house, exhausted, at 5am. Hopefully there will be some nice pictures later tomorrow. It is currently 04:10 am. All of the girls are up now. Here goes nothing!

6 Dager - VICTORY FAMILY WEEK

 

Enjoy some music as you browse my pictures!

The countdown is fast coming to completion! I am too happy to express in words right now. God, Why do you love me so much? Why do you continue to strive with me? It took this long for me to actually realize, in truth and reality that I am REALLY nothing!! And Why, Oh why have you given me so many friends that have the same faith and hope that I have. I am overwhelmed with happiness.

Yet again, I have to do this quickly because I have calls to make, things to purchase for the trip, and details to attend to. However, I need to get this out while its still fresh.

Family week was amazing! Apparently sleep and family week are completely discordant entities, they don't go together at all. I think I went to bed before 3 a.m. on only one night, but it was all worth it.

Mere, Ryan and I drove through the night and arrived at Victory at 7 am. The first day I spent catching up with some sleep and then with some friends I had not seen in a bit. The Youth Meeting that evening was just what I needed to hear. I was strengthened to be finished with all superficiality and live before GOD alone. I am through with being stressed about things that mean ABSOLUTELY nothing. The meeting ended with prayer and song.

Rachel and Renee working Coffee Bar with me at John's Corner

Working Coffee Bar was so fun that I did it three times! It was a great way to see everyone, since so many people came by to order. It was blistering hot outside, we had plenty of customer's wanting frozen drinks.

I just decided to fool around a bit on the piano while waiting to start a shift on Coffee Bar.

 The Infamous Outdoor Challenge (OC) took place on Sunday, in which the teams from seven local churches competed. Their stamina, endurance, and taste for disgusting edibles were tested as they went to 6 stations around the grounds. This year, the eating challenge was slimy fermented soy beans and veggie mate. Let's just say, there vomiting involved. Yuck!! But, whether they were being pelted with high velocity paint balls, rolling over-sized tires up hill, or eating gross food, they kept at it. Detroit's team (plus James Lenk from Urbana) ended in 5th. 

 

Paintball was painful, as usual.

Ottawa and Connecticut battled it out as the top two final teams in the OC. Everyone held waited for a terrible moment after a team member from the Ottawa team fell several feet from the climbing robe in the one of the final challenges. He ended up being okay. In the end, Connecticut took home the $2,000 prize for their youth group.

 The children had a parade on Monday with banners and signs. The theme was God's Wondrous Laws. Renee, Rachel, Arielle and I made a midnight run to the store for markers and paper. Then Arielle and I had an interesting time staying up until 2 a.m. Monday morning making the poster. Then back up at  8 a.m. to make the signs and see the parade. It was fun, though exhausting, and the kids really enjoyed the parade.

Corinna!

Joshua and Madeya enjoying the parade

Maya

Delaware did a wonderful musical production about Moses, complete with a burning bush. The songs are still stuck in my head.  I kept singing "Oh Egypt, O Egypt land diviiiiine!" and "Let us goooo!" on the way home. Very catchy songs and lovely singing by my good friends from Delaware. It was obvious that a lot of work went into it.

Christian as Moses

Moses speaking to the Israelites

Pharaoh and the Prince

Tuesday was Children's Day, with the theme of a Medieval Times Festival. There were around 15 stations with games and the kids were lead by knights and squires from station to station. With live animals, castle building, plague tag (hilarious), and refreshments at Ye Olde Grill, the day was a great success.

My Little Brother Ryan a leading his group around as a templar knight

Aunt Rose helping the kids make jewelry

 Jackie!

 Meredith and Arielle, putting up their station, which was ladder ball and bean toss.

Rose, Linda S. and Linda R. (mommy)

Aaron as a knight. Hmph! lol!

Me, trying to get 8 kids in line to play ladder ball.

My little sis Meredith and Lizzy

To end it, I went to a campfire with several friends, mostly from Delaware, at Joe Kramer's campsite. After tons of funny stories and a late night (or early morning) meal of ramen noodles around the fire, it was finally time to say goodbye. I don't like goodbyes. So at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning I went to bed and said goodbye to the 2011 Family Week. Goodbye VICTORY! Lord willing I will see you next year in the Fall!

Mary :-)

Mary and Liz

Lizzy and Me, wow! I am fake smiling!