God's jigsaw puzzle

To any international readers, bear with me. But I found this Norwegian poem in the street magazine of Oslo and I really wanted to share it:

Vårherres puslespill

Når verden legger puslespill

med jevne, fine brikker

får alle mektige sin plass

som avtalt, vær du sikker.

Reklamepent står bildet der

som Adams drøm om seier. 

Men brikken min ble skubbet bort,

det gikk nok som det pleier.

Jeg passet ikke riktig inn

i denne verdens ramme.

Ja, mange av oss går omkring 

og føler seg til skamme.

Men engang kommer Herren selv

og Han forandrer rammen

og legger brikkene på nytt

og se! De passer sammen. 

Det bildet som da stiger frem

med stråleglans fra himmelen

består av alle verdens små

som ingen så i vrimmelen.

Vårherres eget puslespill

av verdens glemte brikker

har også plass til deg, min venn.

Han ser deg, vær du sikker. 

Per Gundersen

European invasion at Hald

The European Voluntary Service is the organization which has blessed us with Maybrit and Zsofia, and so we're big fans of them. So when they gave Hald the opportunity to host an On Arrival Training for a bunch of their volunteers, there was no way we would pass it up.

(Picture by Ulas Korhan)

That is how Hald ended up being invaded by a batallion of Europeans last week. 24 young volunteers from Sweden, Germany, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Austria, Bosnia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey brought Hald back to life for a short while, as they were learning the basics of cross cultural understanding.

(Picture by Ulas Korhan)

Nights were spent doing all kinds of fun activities: tran-drinking competitions during the Norwegian evening; laughing and breaking of chairs during fun and games; Norwegian we-were-so-nice-and-heroic-during-the-war propaganda (Max Manus) at movie night and teaching of new steps and rhythms by Hald student and buddy Julio at salsa night.

(Picture by Inga Koch)

The whole thing was topped off by a trip to a local light house from Friday to Saturday. There was no electricity, no water and apparently shortage of firewood, so it ended up being a cold experience. Nevertheless, it was one of the most beautiful sites I've seen in Norway, and well worth the trip. The students also had a great time, despite the cold.

(Picture by Inga Koch)

All in all, a week of lots of entertainment, good conversations, funny Germans ("Nai tak, jai er ike so nazi i dak"),  and new perspectives. I would like to thank all the EVS guys for your enthusiasm and good mood during the week; hope to see you again. :)

Hald is a really big place...

It's been two days since the last Hald student left us and Zsofia, Maybrit and I are doing our best to cope with our new, noiseless lifestyle. After several scavanger hunts to the multiple basements and attics of Hald our kitchen and rooms are coming together and our "apartment" is starting to feel a bit like home.

(Our newfound favourite beverage: Ginger drink)

The last few days have been spent baking (both my lovely roommates have bakers in their families), drinking thai ginger drink (which we found in a corner in one of the cupboards of the student kitchen, amidst fish sauce, soy, green curry paste, tea masala and other exotic leftovers which will be put to good use - thank you international students!), reading "The Irresistible Revolution" and longing back to Kenya and the simple life.

(Haven't read this book yet? Go read it, and be impacted)

But what is a lot more exciting right now is that 46 Norwegian Hald students have just arrived in what will be their homes for the next six to seven months! Today they have woken up in a new bed, to a new climate and new sounds, realizing that they are about to begin what is probably their greatest adventure so far. I want to wish every single one of them a blessed stay. Absorb as much as you can: language, knowledge, wisdom, stories. I'll be praying for you. :)