Summer adventure!

Well it has most certainly been a while since I have written and I have now graduated from my discipleship training school. It was a wonderful and extremely strceching experience. During the school, I was lucky enough to spend two months during March/April in Mexico as a creative arts team of students and staff, helping out with various projects. Our main focus was working in orphanages and assisting the running of holiday art workshops for the youth of a particular church. It was wonderful to be able to communicate the value and great impact these young people have in their art forms. We had opportunities to shared at churches, where I had a chance to dance as a part of the meeting, and also with prisoners who are about to re-enter society. Everywhere we went we were blessed profusley, whether it was through a meal, or a place to stay. By the end of the first couple of weeks, my team had already been was an amazing privilege and we as a team we blessed overwhelming by the people we met and shared with. Arriving back in Norway was a great reunion, met by an enormous amount of stories to share. With only a month left it was back into lecture for the remaining weeks before graduation. It was sad to see such an amazing season of growing with such amazing friends come to an end and everyone go there different ways. Graduation was quite and exciting time as my whole family made the long journey to Norway for the occasion. My parents arrived first after some previous world traveling. They arrived one evening as we were having dinner and, at the same time we were praying for a serious situation. Everyone knew it was my family as I 'snuck' out when they knock on the door. Haha. (the whole base heard me...). After graduation I spent the net week on a family holiday around Norway, playing tourist and translator at once. My translation goes as far as saying that I can speak a little Norwegian and reading dinner pack recipes. As my family, left to return home, I continued to travel on to Holland to visit a friend from DTS. We spent a couple of days in Amsterdam, where we had an opportunity to share at her sister's work intercession group in the red light district, before onto the smaller village where her parents live. It was a lot of fun to be a tourist and riding bikes around the Dutch fields - including on the back of one! (photos on Facebook!!) Now I have been back in Ålesund for a month living in one of the staff houses with friends from base. And, now that it is summer, it have been lovely to enjoy leisurely breakfasts in the sun with my house mates. Tomorrow morning at five am we are heading south to join in with GoFest - a YWAM national staff conference (http://gofest.no/gofest_12_english.html). From there a team from the Ålesund base are heading as a creative arts evangelism team for the London Olympics partnering with www.ywamlondonnottinghill.com/arts.php

The rest of October and November

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 I figured how to put pictures in!

Well at the start of writing this Christmas was only three days away, so I should fill you in on my life here in Norway. Let me tell you about a rather crazy situation of late. During our Thanksgiving celebrations we were sent on a treasure hunt around base as the outreach destinations were revealed: Japan, Armenia, Mexico, Central Asia and France. Since before coming here I had wanted to go to Mexico on outreach (previous destination), but when we were asked to write down where we wanted/felt God wanted us to go, France just kept coming to mind. I ended up adding it to the end of my list. Well, one evening my school leader approached me to explain that I hadn't gotten either my first or second preference, but in fact I had been put in the France team, my fourth preference.  There is now a distinct Christmas feel in the air now that it is December, though it hasn't started snowing yet. You can now often hear Christmas carols floating around the base and we have started a base advent calender/presents and there is a lot of talk from people excited to be going home for Christmas. 

One of many beautiful sunsets from our balcony.

The local golf course and mountains on a rare sunny day.

I am having an amazing time here. the lord we been gently revealing things about my character to me, we had a redemptive art project dealing with a situation that god has or is redeeming where i started a dress (picture on my facebook profile) oh and I have been able to borrow a sewing machine and mannequins, so good!!
It was been almost 4 months and I have some very dear friends. it is so  nice to be with like minded people who I can enjoy being crazy with and also process the tougher stuff. Even though it is technically winter and I am in the northern hemisphere, we have hardly had any snow. The other week we were lucky enough to have a fair bit of snow, but then turned into ice which makes it a great deal of fun when we have to go down the hill to the church we use for dance. The roads here are not very wide, so in order to get out of the ways for cars, you have to fall on ya belly and crawl to get out of the way.

Mini Outreach was towards the end of November we spent a week divided into our tracks and ventured off to local towns. Dance track headed 6 hours north to Trondheim where the Alive dance studio is based. Some of the group taught as guest teachers, and we were involved in practical work painting a new studio. We also had an evening where we were able to spend at a ' folk high school and got a chance to use and air track and olympic sized trampoline.

I realise that I haven't informed you all of my goings on since RISK and it might take me a while for me to get around to writing about my Christmas break, but I will get there eventually!! This is just to keep you going!

Hello! so much has happened in the last little while that I want to share with you all!!!

We had your first week of teaching with Jan Huse, our base leader - "To Know God and Make Him Known". Which was such a great topic to start with, leading up to RISK. Though it was hard to stay still during all the teaching!! (I did though!) Full of so much good stuff, don't know if I can regurgitate it for you...

Being a History Maker:

The biggest part of the last little while was being a part of RISK - Jesus to all of Europe, where there was a team in every country of europe praying at the same time to intercede for the people and country. After a  nearly 12 hour bus ride from Alesund to Skien we had a three day training in the Skien base (an old prison) with about 3 or 4 other bases. I was staying in a room with 6 other girls, 4 of whom are students of that base so it was veldig koselig (very cosy). There was a lot of teaching and then some street evangelism. Walking around the city of Skien in pairs, we gave out lollipops (kjærlighet på pinne - love on a stick). trying to strike up conversations - which didn't really for me and my pair. And then on the other day we practiced 'treasure hunting' where you ask God for some specific words/details about who you are going to meet etc. My partner and I didn't find much of the 'words' we got, but we did find some unexpected treasure, hopefully we were able to bless those people. On Thursday my team of three others left for Cyprus, arriving local time at midnight. From the airport we caught a cab to the sea side town of Kyrenia and checked into a hotel at 1am. That first cab driver turned out to be the only one we met who could actually speak English and we were able to have a great conversation with about what we were doing in the country. Friday we ventured around the quant harbour side village of Kyrenia, where there are lots of cats and dogs just roaming free and as you walk along the street, you are meet with multiple waiters trying to persuade you to eat at their restaurants. Our first stop after the ATM was a little turkish delight shop, where we had to deal with the different currencies (Turkish Lira and Euros).  There are so many tourist in the town, we met store keepers and other tourist while doing some treasure hunting and just meeting people. On both Friday and Saturday we had designated prayer times when all the teams across Europe were praying at the same time. We stopped at the Dove Fountain in the centre of town for our first prayer time on Friday. Something very different was to use pay to use a 'squatty potty'! Breakfast was included in our stay at the hotel - Mediterranean!! Saturday we traveled for half an hour into Nicosia the capital city. Our team verse was 1 Timothy 1 & 2:  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. We took this literally and were praying for the city and and to make connections with the government. We stopped for coffee at a small coffee shop (which was great!), we met the owner who turned out to be an ex-government official. Wow! answer to prayer#1! and then while we were talking to him, he gave us contact number to people in high places! #2! At 1pm (designated prayer time) we decided to pray in the Mosque, while we were there we left the 1Tim1&2 verse taped to the floor where we had been sitting. After we wander to the shopping area to eat kababs and meet an English family familiar with YWAM and told them we were praying for Europe. During our second prayer time on Friday night I got and idea for an evangelism tool to make puzzle pieces to leave around the place with one side saying the missing piece and the other side with a scripture verse on it. We were able to make some of these and leave them places. As there is division between north and south, Greek and Turkish, we wanted to cross the border. We had a couple of divine appointments, and were able to meet and pray for people who were really needing it!!! On Sunday we went back in to the capital and found New Life International church, turns out our contact, who we couldn't actually get in contact with, went there. We were asked to share testimonies with them and encourage them!

I wish I could share all the details of these stories but I have to make dinner! Thanks for praying!!!

Week 1 (technically 2)

Update time! Just finished my first week of creative track, which meant I was dancing for nearly 5 hrs most days. We had a dance teacher from Seattle working with us! It was mostly a lyrical jazz style as we looked at our personal timelines and lifestories so its been quite emotional! We learnt about six dances during the week which dealt with a different theme each day. Monday was Sad Clown and the masks we wear infront of others, ourselves and even God. Tuesday, the exploration that everyone has got a soty to tell as well as we workeshopped a movement piece in reflection of abandonment/homelessness. Then Wednesday we learnt a piece on grief to the classic Autumn Leaves. We also played with the theme of temptation and a physical depiction of that. Then on Thusday we looked at Beauty and discovering that inside of everyone. And finally on Friday we did a gospel number to View of this City ("I'm gonna sit at the welcome table, drink sweet milk and honey, shout and never get tired...!"). At the end of each creative week (we alterenate between teaching and creative weeks) we have show and tell, where each track presents something that they have been working on during the week. (We performed out Sad Clown dance). On Wednesday evening myself and my roommate Hanna-Maria (from Finland) worked at Lyspunktet (YWAM linked cafe translates to "lightspot"). We had a great time - the cafe was quite so we were able to chat ewith the chef and other staff and they fed us. Its so nice to be able to put the skills I learnt from Beadles in to practice and bless these people. I really would love a chance to make coffees again though! Apart from creative time/teaching and our community chores we have a lot of free time to spend how we please. Last night a small group of us wen to the youth meeting at the local church which felt like 1.5 hrs version of Youth Alive. Mixed reaction, trying not to be critical as it was so very different to my usual church family of Fusion and Night Church. Lots of lights, music and smoke machines. Still thinking over it. To give you some perspective of the church atmosphere: there quite a large influence from the lutheran/ state church, with a focus on confirmation. Norway is quite a western culture - though not as free as Australia with their views and acceptance of everything (ie. Gays etc). One of the staff was explaining a Norwegian mentality of ''you can't teach me anything/ I can't learn anything from you'' - I don't know if that makes sense to you..? Next weekend we are off to a YWAM prayer conference  in Skien, southern Norway. It's called RISK focusing on Jesus to all of Europe. After a few days there I then head to Cyprus for a few days with a prayer team, so if you could be praying would be great, don't know what the political situation is in Cyprus climate moment. Just want to give you all a hug but still enjoying myself here - it's starting to sink in that this is my home for the next nine months!!

Thursday 15 September

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the lack of grammar in my last post, as my mother so kindly pointed out to me, but I'm not promising much different this time:P

This first week we have a lot of free time as. people get to know each other so I have been able to update this blog fairly often, not sure how much time I will get next week etc once lectures and our creative time gets into full swing. At the moment it is mostly practical information download. Yesterday we took a trip into Alesund to the look out over Aspøya, postcard material apart from the rain. Something I am learning is to take a rain jacket whenever you venture outside as you will probably get wet. (we ended up playing soccer in the rain on tuesday).

So, today, we started lectures and our creative track times. First teaching was on Worship and Intercession, including a free, a capella worship and prayer session and praying for the tracks. It is a bit more like study than I realised (but expected) as we have book reports to do and in our tracks we will have assignments, though totally different to conventional school assignments, but the give the year focus and structure. Exploring the arts with a Christian view, mainly focusing on incorporating worship into everything. There are seven girls, plus our lovely leader Hanna (she's Norwegian) in dance track, which is a big group, and there is so much variety between all of us and our dance, it is exciting to be able to work in such a group, particularly with the intent of reaching the local communities.

Some on my roommates. Both are nineteen and lovely girls. Hanna Maria is from Finland, she's in music track - she sings and plays guitar and likes John Mark McMillian (that's a positive) and then there is Ellen, a local Norwegian in art track who loves to joke around. Its such a nice dynamic in our room, as well as in the school, as we are all happy to keep to ourselves but all get on well. The other day the was a change in the timetable which meant we had and extra hour of free time, so all the students just sat around in the lounge room sharing testimonies and stories. There is such a diversity in the students, but all with such creative, God-focused hearts. It is so nice to see how much community there is already and we haven't even been here for a week yet (crazy!)

There was an overnight hike planned for today, but because the weather forecast was rainy (unsurprisingly), it was changed to tomorrow, but then we discovered that we have no tents. So tomorrow we are going for a day hike to a mystery location.

my home: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=alesund

Well, I have supper duty soon. There are photos just up on my facebook so check them out!!!

I'm in NORWAY!!!

Sorry to take a while to put this up. Just started to make friends so now can borrow computers :)

After 32 hours I finally made it to this beautiful place! The plane rides were long but reasonable. I didn't realise how long the first leg (Brisbane to Bangkok) actually was until I was half way through the flight. I stopped over in Bangkok for 4hrs, then left at 1am for Oslo, an 11 hour flight. At least I had two seats to my self by the window and was able to sleep a bit. I did, though, manage to wake up feeling a bit sick (almost over it thanks to some drugs :). And then after arriving in Oslo at 7-30am, I spent nearly eight hours waiting for my 45min flight into Alesund, when the base is. While I was waiting at the airport in Oslo, I saw a guy wandering around looking lost and carrying a guitar, who I guessed looked like a YWAMer, and turns out to be on my DTS!! ha. A couple of students had already arrived on base by the time I got there, so that night (Sunday) we and the staff went into town to Lyspunktet http://www.lyspunktet.as/ the local YWAM mission cafe. It felt strange being there a day early and not having responsibilities, as I am so used to in this context being a leader on camps. etc. On the plane ride here, I was feeling a bit unsure and doubtful about going, but am really happy to be here, it feels like it will be the perfect place for me - like a green house.

My first impressions of Norway:
It is beautiful - mountains with snow already on the tops, rivers and fjords. Quaint little villages speckled all over the place. Looks like Tasmania cross with what I have heard and seen of Canada. The roads are very narrow and people drive on the right side of the road. There aren't really any fences, or if there are they are only very low, or sometimes just hedges or nothing at all. The houses are really cute with pitched/ A frame roofs and all nestled next to each other. Also, it is very expensive!!! On Monday I went to the shopping centre (one of three right next to each other, with supermarkets the Norwegian equivalent of Wall-Mart. Oh, and they eat 4 meals a day - breakfast, lunch, dinner (4pm) and supper at 8, and they like brown cheese, which I think tastes like cheese with peanut butter. It's a delicacy with jam!!  

I am sharing a room with two others, one for Finland and the other from Norway, both lovely girls. I allocated the loft part of the room (!!!!!) which is excellent as I was feeling a bit unsure about sharing my personal space with other people. There are 30 students living on base and then about a dozen staff plus staff families living close by in the community. We have 13 different cultures represented in the students alone, including another Australian - Johnny for Melbourne. It's strange being one of the few native English speakers, I was told by one of my roomies that it is hard for them to be speaking English so much at once - so we have to be gentle with them.

Last night (Monday night) we all went into town to Atelier for the 'Opening Night' of introductions, music and laughs - worship with a sync! Today has been mostly ground rules etc for the house and living and going over the year ahead - there is a possibility that Ken Helser may come to teach at the end of the school!!! It was a bit of information overload! During the weeks we get to be involved in the local community, serving in various ways, including in Lyspunktet! The calendar ahead looks very exciting and I am soo keem just to get into but, I could tell you all so much more, but for now I think I just need to get over jet-lag.

Till next time, Gud velsigne! (God bless:)

The start.

So, hello!

This blog is designed to be where I inform you of my adventures of the next few months. Beyond that, I am sure it will turn into something completely different.

I (quite literally) about to leave for Norway to join Youth With A Mission as a student on  the Creative Arts - Dance Track - Discipleship Training School ( DTS). That means lectures, bible studies and dance workshops. Towards the end of the the school there is an outreach phase, where we will head off in team to a foreign country to put what we have learnt into practice, and use the gifts and talents we have been cultivating to serve the local church of the community we're in. YWAM is an international organisation, know as the 'University of the Nations', with their goal is "to know God and make Him known". There are some very real threats and dangers, particularly during the outreach phase, even though it may appear that I am doing a 'course'. And I still don't entirely comprehend what I' getting myself into! I am not going with a particular desire or calling to international mission, but more so to gain perspective, grow my faith and purse my creativity!

This wasn't always the plan for my life after school. As this year being my second year out, I had originally hoped to go to Italy as an au pair, but had to work for a year before I started anything. That year  turned into twenty months. During that time my brother, Isaac, did his DTS in Brisbane, which encouraged me to make this decision

Anyway, I shall try my best to keep you updated, so jump in my pocket and join me on this adventure!!!!~