A Sunday Challenge

First of all, my hat goes off to everyone around the globe who has done and is still doing a great job giving time, efforts and money to face the famine in Eastern Africa.
Aftenposten published an article the other day on how the famine has awoken the Norwegian people's sense of solidarity, and millions of kroner have been collected in a short amount of time.
In Kenya there is a fundraising campaign going on which has engaged large parts of the population through the slogan "Kenyans for Kenya".

Both people who are affected themselves by the crisis, and people who live so removed from it that they only notice it in the media, have mobilized and come together as a global society to assist our brothers and sisters at the horn of Africa.

Unfortunately the same article in Aftenposten also states that the aid agencies will need twice as much money to be able to keep up with the situation. That's why my challenge to you today is the following: Whatever you have contributed to relieve this crisis, double it!

If you've already donated 100,- to the Red Cross, give them another hundred, and so on. And of course: if you haven't done anything, you're way behind and should get moving! :)

Not only is this a social responsibility which we all carry as global citizens. It's also a great opportunity to challenge yourself: are you able to get through the next month on a tighter budget? Which measures can you take in your everyday life to free up more money for this kind of disasters?

Here are some useful websites:
The Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nødhjelp)
The Norwegian Red Cross
CARE

Harambee - Let's pull together

A letter from Nairobi (pictures coming soon)

Hi, everyone!

I just came back from a two-week trip to Nairobi and it's about time I give everyone an update on how the kids are doing (allthough I don't know if I should call them kids anymore, they've really grown!). First of all I want to thank everyone for the interest and support that we receive in this exciting situation that we find ourselves in. As the big Book says: Paul planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. I hope that this update will give you the impression that what we have sown has been fruitful.
 
Physical surroundings:
Since last fall the guys have been living in a place called Mowlem. It's pretty far from the city centre and is, by Nairobi standards, a quiet and secluded neighbourhood. The house we're renting is big by Kenyan measures and has four bedrooms, living room, kitchen and three bathrooms spread out over two stories. We're renting this house at a really cheap rate, and thank God for that. It's worth much more than we are able to pay. The eight kids stay there together with Charlie P, Antony Macharia and Dominique Malonza.

School:
All the kids have been in school since May last year. The seven "original ones" are in a school a five minutes' walk from the house, while Peter is in a school run by the local church. Simon, Ken, Jacob and John will start class 4 come this August, while Kevin, Peter, Michael and Kim will start class 6. They have all done an exceptional job catching up in school. Most of them have spent less than a year advancing from being the poorest students in their classes to being above average today. Ken has been the top student in his class the last three terms. In spite of them being a bit older than their classmates they have been able to stay motivated and focus on the sense of accomplishment that they feel by continuously improving. I am very impressed by them.

Material conditions:
Even though our budget is pretty tight, the guys have most of the things they need. They have three nutritious meals a day, have most of the school supplies they need and get new clothes from time to time. They have purchased a TV and a DVD player, so like most teenagers they spend a lot of time watching movies. As everyone in Kenya we have felt the consequenses of the food crisis, with food prices almost doubling in the last few months. With eight growing teenagers in the house food is a significant expense and the grown-ups are doing their best to stretch the budget.
Personal growth:

When I got to Nairobi this time around I was surprised at how much the kids had changed. They have always been good kids, but now they are also very reliable and responsible. They take (relatively) good care of their belongings, listen to what you say and do as they're told. This is a remarkable change. At the same time they become increasingly confident about themselves and their talents. They have a healthy take on the time they spent on the street and a lot of dreams about the future.

Spiritual growth:

These are guys who from the start have known very well that God is the one who has brought them to where they are, not us. They are very aware of and grateful for God being present in their lives, and having a plan with them. They belong to a local church and participate in Sunday school and teen gatherings there, in addition to being taught about Christian faith in school. They show a lot of interest to learn about who God is, and it is very exciting to take part in their growth.

The ones who make it all go around:

I thank God for giving Antony, Malonza and Charlie P a heart for these boys, and for the huge responsibility that they have taken on. They do a fantastic job taking care of everything from money management, following their progress in school, mentoring, devotional life and everything else it requires to be a part of this family.On top of everything, they do this in addition to their own work and studies.

Challenges/prayer issues:
I know that I tend to focus on what is good in every kind of situation, but I will try to put across some of the challenges that we are facing:
- Some of the boys, especially one, still struggle with their relationship to their families. Next week he is going home to try and reconciliate with his father, and it is hard to tell how it will work out. Please pray that he will have strength and wisdom, and that God will open the father's heart.
- There has been a tendency that the kids keep problems to themselves, rather than sharing them with the grown-ups. This is understandable seeing how they have been used to dealing with their own issues, but it is still not a good thing. It affects the emotional climate in the house, at the same time as it prevents the grown-ups from knowing about challenges they should be dealing with.
- In a home of 11 individuals there will inevitably be certain dynamics and people will rub each other the wrong way from time to time. Please pray that anything which might resemble favourizing, "cliques" and such may be resolved. There have been tendencies of this, but Antony, Malonza and Charlie P are trying to deal with it.

In the end I want to share some quotes from the kids with you:

- "When I was living on the street it was just as if I knew that God had other plans for me. I used to come to a new place, and after a while it was just as if a voice told me 'this isn't where you're supposed to be'. Then I would get up and keep moving. Now I know what God wants with my life: he wants me to praise him through song and music. I had to experience what I did in order to have something to sing about." (Kevin)
- "I have a whole collection of exams and test sheets that I found lying around in school, many of them on class 7 and 8 curriculum. When I find these sheets I bring them home and try to solve them to see if I can do it. When I grow up I want to be a police officer, and I want to help other street children to get an education." (Kim)
- "There are a few things I like more than food(!) and one of them is maths. I really love everything that has to do with numbers. But I think English is difficult. What I really want to be is a pilot." (Michael)

Again, thank you for all your support! If you have questions, suggestions or constuctive criticism, I'd be happy if you left a comment. As they say in Africa: it takes a village to raise a child.


Have a beautiful summer's day!
Lots of love from Michael (16), Kim (15), Peter (14), Kevin (14), Ken (13), Simon (13), Jacob (13), John (12), Antony, Malonza, Charlie P and Kristina.

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. :)

The "Courage to make someone happy day"

About a week back my facebook informed me that 23rd of November is the national "Mot til å glede-dagen" eg. "Courage to make someone happy day". The concept is started by the organization MOT, which works to combat substance abuse and bullying in schools. On this day they encourage everyone to make people around them happy through small gestures such as smiles or a helping hand.

(The organization behind the day, which by the way also has sponsored my basketball team for years: thanks!)

Some friends of mine and I decided to take the challenge. And so on Tuesday Natasha (Connect China last year), Katrine (Act Now Peru last year), Carol (Focus Bergen now) and I headed to downtown Bergen armed with loads of coffee and banana cake. Target: foreigners waiting in line on the curb outside of the immigrations office.

(This was more or less what we expected to find at the immigrations office in Bergen, allthough this picture is from Oslo)

Well, I guess God had other plans for us. For would you believe that for the first time in history there was absolutely NO line there. Not a single freezing foreigner in need of coffee. Oh well, we thought.. Good for them, and there should be other cold people around. We started walking around town, offering coffee and cake to street magazine sellers (who generally told us they didn't have time to drink coffee) and foreign people sitting around asking for money.

Especially one Romanian lady made an impression on us. She looked like the sweetest grandmother, in her coat and coloured head scarf. She gladly shared a cup of coffee with us, and told us in broken Norwegian: "My hands were so cold, but now Jesus has sent me a cup of coffee to keep me warm".

After rounding up basically every street magazine seller and beggar in the city centre, we still had lots and lots of cake and coffee left. We decided to widen our search and went to the main square, where we occupied a bench, put up a small sign and started asking people passing by whether they wanted coffee or cake. We had lots of different reactions:
- How much is it?
- Who are you collecting money for?
- Which organization are you from?
- Which church made you do this?

We tried our best to explain that the coffee and cake was free, that we did not want any money, and that we were doing it on our own initiative. Most people didn't believe us and some even started looking for hidden cameras, thinking they might end up being the highlight of some comedy show later that day.

Some people still came to share a cup of coffee with us, and we soon discovered that love is a more powerful currency than money. When love takes the place of money, big things start happening. We saw an old, respected baker engaging in a 20 minutes' conversation with a lady selling street magazines. He ended up buying one of the magazines, paying twice what it was worth. We saw a man confessing to have social anxiety come over and share a piece of cake and a conversation with us. We saw beggars dancing off down the street. But more importantly we saw people having their eyes opened to the joy of making others happy; not simply by giving off a coin or two but by spending time seeing, loving and serving others.

For me the whole day turned out being an experience I really needed. I needed to see that there is still room for community in Norway. I needed to see Norwegians laying down their scepticism and individualism and daring to receive. The awesome thing about God is that He usually doesn't send one person to help another, but two people to help each other. I have regained some of my faith in the Norwegians. I guess all we really need is for someone to take the first step. 

Introducing: The green kitchen!

After a few weeks of cleaning, painting, carrying furniture and other stuff from the attic, convincing the teachers and just plain going creatively crazy, we are proud to present the result: det grønne kjøkkenet, la cocina verde, die grüne Küche, A zöld konyha, THE GREEN KITCHEN!!

All put into life and action by:

(made by Maybrit)

(made by Maybrit)

(made by Maybrit)



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. :)