Hurricane - Jimmy Needham

I have built a city here
Half with pride and half with fear
Just wanted a safer place to hide
I don’t want to be safe tonight

I need You like a hurricane
Thunder crashing, wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I’m only Yours now

I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I’m only Yours now
I’m only Yours now

I am Yours and You are mine
You know far better than I
And if destruction’s what I need
Then I’ll receive it Lord from Thee
Yes, I’ll receive it Lord from Thee

I need You like a hurricane

Thunder crashing, wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I’m only Yours now

I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I’m only Yours now
I’m only Yours now

And it’s Your eye in the storm
Watching over me
And it’s Your eye in the storm
Wanting only good for me
And if You are the war
Let me be the casualty

‘Til I’m Yours alone
I am only Yours
I am Yours alone, Lord

I need You like a hurricane

Thunder crashing, wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I’m only Yours now

I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I’m only Yours now
I’m only Yours now

Come be my hurricane



Authenticity is invaluable, originality is non-existent

A quote hanging on the wall of The Dream Centre, Mathare, Nairobi:
(I am in Kenya, by the way)

Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean Luc Godard said: "It is not where you take things from - it is where you take them to."
- Jim Jarmusch

The poem of the day

They named us the Generation Y,
which means we're the ones asking
all the questions that the ones who
went before us didn't care to answer:
Y am I here?
Y is life worth living?
Y do I know what I know (or think I know)?

The ones with the answers are long gone,
and as if that's not enough
their answers are at best really improbable
if not probably not real at all...

So this is where the Generation X has left us,
the 68'ers who happily erased all certainty
from the face of our minds.
Didn't they know (or want to know) that after A follows B and so
their X would give birth to a new little letter
trying to confirm its existence by shouting «Y!? Y!? Y!?»

Y did you bring me here?
Y did you create this world for me?
Y do I have to provide the answers?
Y do I bother?

All to his glory

I woke up today feeling less than extremely motivated. This doesn't happen very often, seeing how (and I know I've said it before) I have the most awesome job I could ever ask for. Today, however, there was no escaping that I wasn't particularly looking forward to climb out of bed and go to work.
The reason is simple. My task for the day was the following:

Cutting trees.
Lots of trees. 

(My view most of the day today, photo from the internet)

And so as I got up this morning, I was preparing myself mentally and trying to find all the advantages of being outside the whole day with a pair of oversized scissors as my only weapon against trees, spines and bushes. After all, it did come with lots of health benefits, fresh air, getting in touch with nature, it shouldn't be so bad. But somehow I didn't quite manage to convince myself.

(My life motto? Photo from the internet)

That was untill I sat down to read today's chapter of "The purpose driven life" by Rick Warren. I guess most of you guys have already read it, or don't know what it is, one of the two. In short it's a book which in 40 days tries to give you an answer to the question: What on earth am I here for? Today I had reached chapter 7, which is called "The reason for everything".

"Worship is far more than praising, singing and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving him, and giving ourselves to be used for his purposes. When you use your life for God's glory, everything you do can become an act of worship. The Bible says, 'Use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God'.

(Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, page 70)

(Haven't read this book yet? Please do. Photo from the internet)

So there you have it! That was just what I needed to hear. I pulled on my janitor's jumpsuit, turned on my mp3-player and headed out to cut a bunch of trees, all to the glory of God.

(I've noticed that most blogs have this "outfit of the day" thing going on, so I thought I'd add mine. From: the addic at Hald. Price: free, as it's a donation from someone to Hald. Thank you. :-) Photo from the internet)

And you know what? I ended up having quite a lot of fun with it. :-)



To Kenya and back again

This month Hald gave me a chance to attend Infield Africa (a follow up course for our students having their internship in Africa) in Nairobi. Like I have already told several people, the fact that I actually receive salary for traveling to Kenya goes on the now pretty long list of why God has blessed me with the most awesome job I could ever dream of!

(Picture taken from the internet)

Being the horribly irresponsible blogger that I am, I headed for Africa without a camera. That means that I don't have a single photo to document my two weeks spent in Kenya, but what I do have is a whole lot of good stories to tell. They could not possible fit in this blog post, so I'll just jot down a few key events here. If you know me you should however know that the next time you meet me I will be more than happy to tell you about everything that I saw and experienced, thought and learnt.

Here are some of the highlights:

- Farewell from Norway in my Bolivian friend Silvia's house; together with Julio and Fabian from Peru. Lots of gløgg (Norwegian Christmas tea or something) and "La Familia P. Luche" (Mexican family sitcom) on the TV. Thank you guys so much for really letting me have something to look forward to come back to in Kristiansand. :)

(This hilarious show used to be on at dinner time everyday in Mexico. Picture taken from the internet)

- The plane was 13 hours delayed from Amsterdam, which resulted in a night spent in a really fancy hotel, free food and lots of free soap. I got to know a crew of Danish TV producers, a sweet lady from Connecticut and three nice chics from Mexico.

(No problem being stuck in Amsterdam when you get all this for free. Felt kind of out of place though, but hey, that's what exposure is about. Picture taken from the internet)

- Almost being denied the visa to enter Kenya, seeing how I overstayed by a week last time. When I finally got it, I payed with borrowed money which unwillfully became stolen money (my German friend from the airport, if you read this: please give me your account number and I will pay you back!). When I finally got out of the airport a whole welcome crew was waiting, and they had even rented a car! We got in, then got back out to push it, then got back in when the engine started running. When we're finally driving along the wonderfully bumpy roads of Nairobi I remember: "Where are we going, really?"

(Oh, I smiled. Picture taken from the internet)

- Seeing the kids again! It was truly overwhelming to be outside the door, knowing the boys where just inside. I was sure I was going to fall through the floor when I saw Ken standing in the door. It was late, and some of them were already asleep but they soon woke up. We jumped, shouted, laughed, cried, and ate lots of banana cake. They told me about how they'd been, showed me school assignments, report cards and made fun of my rusty Swahili. Since last time another guy has joined us, Peter. He is a quiet, but social and friendly guy, who has found his place in this original family.

(This is going to be a long post!)

- Arriving at MWC, being attacked by known and unknown kids, plus four Norwegians whom I like to refer to as my team junior. After some minutes of catching up with the people at church, I am invited to town for pizza together with the wazungu crew and the oldest kids in the primary school. We get into a loud mat, local hip hop blasting at a level I am no longer used to, and head for town.

(How I had missed these death machines. Picture taken from the internet)

- A haywire trip to Western Kenya. Every three months the kids have four weeks of holiday. Both we and the kids themselves want them to spend their holidays with their biological families. And so it was that Antony, Charlie P, the eight boys and myself found ourselves in the back seat of a Matunda Bus, some on top of others, some on the floor etc. Eight or nine hours later we had arrived in Kitale, tired but excited. The entire day was spent traveling up and down the rurals outside of Kitale by mat, tuk tuk and motorcycle, leaving the kids with their parents and receiving avocados, mangos and other treasures in return for the effort. Especially memorable was it to visit Peter's home. His parents had not heard from him in a year, and knew nothing about how he was. His father turned out to be a pastor, and blessed us thoroughly before we left. From Kitale we went on to Webuye and finally we arrived in Kakamega. By the time we got there and had sent Ken home, there was no other bus back to Nairobi until next morning. And so we ended up spending the night in a 24 hour cafe at the bus station. We arrived back in Nairobi a noon the next day, after 48 hours of not seeing a shower, a toothbrush, clean underwear or a bed.

(We really got to explore the roads of Kenya during these few days. Picture taken from the internet.)

- Seeing the Hald students again! It was great to catch up, see how they are doing so far and how their time in Africa is shaping them in all kinds of different ways.

- Taking the Hald students to visit the Lepta Community, who had prepared an awesome program for the day (you guys never let me down)! First we divided into groups of three where each group got two guides from Lepta. We walked around Mathare, visited the homes of our guides, talked about our lives and shared experiences with one another. After eating at my favourite place in Eastleigh we went back to "The Dream Centre", Steve and John talked about Lepta and MI Faya sang two of their songs. It was in that moment it dawned on me that I was actually back in Kenya, back in Mathare, back home. 

(The Recreation Factory is part of the Lepta Community, picture taken from the internet)

The greatest highlight of all was of course to see all my friends again, talk, share and spend time together. The love that I was met with was overwhelming. As I told Antony the night I was leaving: considering how much I move around, I am extremely grateful to be remembered and loved in the places I have called home so far. It would be understandable, myself coming and going as much as I do, that people would forget me or at least not be willing to involve themselves in my life to a great extent. However I have experienced time and time again that I am remembered and even missed. This is what it means to be a part of God's kingdom, and can't stop thanking God for it. I can't wait for the day that we will all be united at His table, having finished the race well to His glory.   

(And we get to take part in it! Picture taken from the internet)

    Have a wonderful new year, may all your dreams come true!

Nothing special

As a few of you know, I have this nerdy hobby of translating songs that I like from Spanish to English. It's a bit because I like languages and a bit because there are lots of beautiful songs out there that I want to share with my friends who don't speak Spanish. However I have had to come to realize that it's nearly impossible to put across the same feel of a song once it's translated. So I have kind of given up the whole thing.

But today I will make an exception. Lately I have been listening a lot a song by the band Bacilos ("Germs" in English) which I think lots of us ex-halders can identify with. I know I do, and this song is kind of a reminder of what I don't want to happen to me.

So I recommend that you look up the song "Nada Especial" by Bacilos on Spotify. And courtesy of your nerdy friend, you'll find the lyrics with my attempt of an English translation underneath:

Estamos sentados en una piedra – We're sitting on a rock
Sabiendo que el mundo está vuelto mierda, sí, señor – Knowing that the world has turned into crap, yes sir

Estamos quemando lo que tenemos – We're burning what we have
Estamos jugando al que no sabemos – We're pretending to be something we don't know
Estamos en medio del apogeo – We're in the middle of the highlight
De un mundo que tiene mucho deseo aún – Of a world which still has much desire left
Los números dicen que estamos bien – The numbers tell us we're fine
Lo dicen los genios de CNN – That's what they say, the geniuses on CNN

Y cuando te acercas a la realidad – And when you get close to reality
Otro comercial vuelve a anesteciarlo todo – Another commercial numbs it all down again


Y al final – And in the end
Me voy convirtiendo en un animal – I am turning into an animal
En un viejo más – Into another old man
De esos que se pierden por la ciudad – Like those who get lost in town
Sin sueño ni plan; abeja en panal – Without dreams or plans; a bee in a hive
Nada especial, nada especial – Nothing special, nothing special

Estamos jugandonos la camisa – We're putting our shirts on the line
Tratando de hablarles de la sonrisa gris del perdedor – Trying to tell them about the loser's faint smile
Estamos tratando de resolver – We're looking for solutions
Fregandole platos al mercader de nuestra propia idiotez – Doing dishes for the shopkeeper of our own stupidity

Y un hueco en el cielo – And a hole in the sky
Nos va a recordar que la realidad – Will remind us that reality
No va a negociar contigo ni conmigo – Won't negotiate with any of us

Y al final – And in the end
Me voy convirtiendo en un animal – I am turning into an animal
En un viejo más – Into another old man
De esos que se pierden por la ciudad – Like those who get lost in town
Sin sueño ni plan, abeja en panal – Without dreams or plans, a bee in a hive

Nada especial, nada especial – Nothing special, nothing special

Thank you!

I have just come home from a two weeks' marketing tour visiting schools and talking about Hald. It has been a great experience in many ways: I have gotten to see places I have never seen before, I've met lots of great people along my way and I finally got to some bigger towns where you can get falafel at a reasonable price.

But I think the main reason why it has been a great trip is that I have been received so well in so many places. You see, when you go off into unknown places, carrying lots of stuff and not really knowing where you're going or where you'll sleep you end up depending pretty heavily on others. That can be very scary, especially in a country like Norway where we are used to being independent and managing our own stuff.

However, people really came through for me wherever I went. So I would like to dedicate this (pretty long) blog post to all the great people I met along my way, who made my journey a lot easier. You have definitely given me back a lot of faith in Norway and its people.

- To Maybrit, Earth and Julio: Thank you for coming with me to the train station in Kristiansand and seeing me off! It made me able to leave very encouraged, knowing I had great friends to come back to after two weeks.
- To Nora: Thanks for letting me sleep at your place and for introducing me to new foods such as spinach pancakes and falafel. :)
- To the strangers in Aker Brygge: Thank you for helping me carry my stuff. I was really cold and tired, and you came in just the right moment.
- To Idunn: Thank you for coming with me to KG, it really mattered to have someone there who knew the place and the students.
- To Ida, Marlene and their roommates: Thank you for letting me sleep at your house and for a very nice, relaxing day including great food, nice conversation and movies among other things. I really hope to come back some time.
- To all great KIA goers in Oslo: Thank you for the warm welcome we got from all of you. A special thank you to the guys who walked me to the train station (I forgot the names, sorry!). I felt very taken care of. And of course, to Joffe for giving me the idea of going even though he didn't show up himself, hehe.

- To Mesh, Carol and James: Thank you for a wonderful welcome in Bergen! I was tired and cold after traveling by train the whole night and you gave me a warm bed and some breakfast. It's wonderful to know that whenever I am in Bergen I can stop by your place. I appreciate all of you very very much!
- To the teachers at Danielsen: Thank you for welcoming me in a great way and even let me leave some of my luggage in the teacher's lounge untill the next morning.
- To my brother Eivind: Thank you just for being the great guy you are, in every way. You're awesome!
- To Linda: Thank you for coming with me to Kongshaug and helping me out with the stand. It was invaluable to have someone there who knew the place. Thanks also for a great conversation, interesting reflections and good advice. :)
- To Conny: Thanks for waiting patiently when I was 40 minutes late, and for an inspiring and encouraging conversation.
- To Gjermund: Thank you for helping me find my way around Framnes, and for lending me your computer. It was really helpful to know someone there. Also thank you for getting the Hald DVD to Bergen when I forgot it.
- To guys at YA: Allthough it was a coincidence, thank you for having Mexican Night just the time I was there!
- To my mom: Thank you for having us over for porridge, and for a nice conversation. Thank you for really taking an interest in what I am up to. I appreciate that very much.
- To Hald people: Thank you for being part of Hald evening and for making it a very memorable day. I hope to see you all in my home again some other time. Also, thank you for cleaning up very nicely. Thank you for great conversations both after International Church and on Monday evening. :)
- To Natasha: Thank you for coming with me to Bildøy. I am very glad you were there, and you did a great job. Also thanks for contributing your baking skills to the banana cake! (See previous blog post)

- To my dad: Thank you for all the help figuring out the bus schedules and the best way of getting myself and my extreme amounts of luggage to where I needed to go in the best way possible. I can always count on you.
- To the driver of the bus from Bergen to Haugesund: Thank you for charging me student price even though I said I wasn't a student and for helping me find the next bus I needed to take.
- To the driver of the bus from Haugesund to Ølensvåg: Thank you for helping me get off at the right place and for making sure I got from there to Lundeneset.
- To the stranger in Ølensvåg: Thank you for finding a cab and for splitting it with me and making sure I got to where I needed to go.
- To the teacher at Lundeneset who also happens to be the mom of a former Hald student: Thank you for giving me a great welcome in Lundeneset and for making sure I got back to Haugesund the next day. You really saved me a lot of worries.

- To Hilde: Thank you so much for giving me an amazing welcome in Randaberg. I had a wonderful time at your place! Thank you for driving me everywhere, for feeding me chocolate and for lots of great conversations. I felt so welcome. Also thank your mom for fixing my trouser and your dad for letting me try farm fresh milk. You guys are amazing. :)
- To Therese: Thanks for a great conversations and for helping me carry my stuff! Hope to see you again some time.
- To Hald people in Stavanger: Thanks for good times and nice conversations. I had a great time together with you!

- To the staff at Hald: Thank you for praying for me while I was away. It was a great encouragement.
- And last but not least, Maybrit and Zsofia: Thank you for welcoming me home in a great way, for helping to carry all my stuff, for great supper and for listening to my stories. You guys are the best roommates I could ask for. :)