my open window

moved!

2010-09-26T17:25:00.003-05:00

for those of you who still check this blog faithfully and quite often get NO new post....and click away disappointed and a bit frustrated that the blog has almost ceased to exist-----this news is for you!

Will and I have gotten married and would like to keep you up to date on our comings and goings, thoughts and whatnot.....on a combined blog at a new address. Here is our new blog.

www.thewechronicles.blogspot.com

Enjoy and please replace this blog address with the new one. we will not be updating on these blogs anymore.

Bless you!

summer is here!

2010-05-31T18:05:00.005-05:00

Summer is here and we are hitting the ground running. The winter quarter has come home from DTS and graduated. We had a great friend in the school. She was a girl we met at Bethel Church in Redding California two years ago before Will and I were even together. We will miss her as she is up in Homer, AK again. We love you Karen Joy!

Will and I have a child!!! I guess we kind of have to explain ourselves. There is a girl we work with at the base named Jae Van Winkle. She is a great girl and we have so much fun with her. Even though she is 40 she takes us as her parents. She is also on our T-mobile family plan. It seems impossible to have her at my age and Will and I just being married for 2 months. Anyway, it is a funny joke that we try to live out. She got me a mother's day gift and we helped her move some stuff to her apartment. That's Will, jammed up into the steering wheel with Jae's stuff in the back of the car. What a great dad!!!

We are really proud of our daughter....we hardly raised her and now she is full time in YWAM and we actually work in the same office. What a delight. We will get some family photos up soon. Jae thinks that she is much more like her 'dad' Will because they both procrastinate. And we have been trying to figure out how she is like me. Perhaps the fact that we both like to try to be funny while giving public announcements.....can be our mother-daughter connection. It's a rude awakening to have a child----at least one I never knew until 2 months ago. It makes me wonder how strange it would be to adopt someone who was older than you. I suppose that does not happen. That would be very odd. We enjoy it though.

I climbed up to the top of one of the flat top mountains near Golden with Julie on Thursday. It was a great hike. Super easy, which is good. The altitude is enough to make you feel 100 pounds overweight by itself. On the way down from the top I was scaling some rocks, balancing myself and so I went to lean back on a rock and under my hand was a SNAKE! I hate snakes so much. I screamed. Julie tried to hurry, she is laughing, and I am in panic mode. I didn't care if it was poisonous at all. It was a slithering snake and that is all we needed to get us moving quickly down the path. I found out later that it was a non-venemous candy cane corn snake. People have them as pets. I don't know who would be so gross to do that. Imagine if I had not looked back to see where I was placing my hand. I would have actually touched it. YUCK!!!!!!

I'm hearing some strange summer birds in the tree. I've gotta go and check it out.

my new life in Denver

2010-05-22T20:57:00.006-05:00

SUSHI SURF BOARD!

Family day!!! Kip, Erica, Anna Kate, Will and I went garage sale shopping this morning. We used $3.50 on two scarves, a pair of earrings, and two small green tea light votives. We finished our day together at Hapa in Cherry Creek Denver area for sushi. I used to hate this stuff, but now I really like it. That was the biggest change since knowing Will. I like to get a California and Philidelphia roll. Not much raw stuff....and I eat it with a sweet soy sauce. mmmm!
Today we got a new table for free from some friend's of ours, John & Michelle Connor. It's solid oak, spray painted black. We can do what we want with it later, perhaps sanding it down or something. But I think it looks nice with the brown chairs. The new painting on the wall was a gift from Matt Kunnari (artist friend from Dordt College). It is called Church Juice and we just love the concept and his very painterly technique. Thanks friends! You make our lives beautiful!

ON THE JOB!

2010-05-19T22:10:00.004-05:00

This is a picture of Will and I on our last night in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Vacation is OVER!!!!
Back from the honeymoon....and we are getting into the swing of things here at YWAM Denver!

Here's an update for you: (Will wrote this, I just stole all of the text, and put myself in the 'writers' position....I had to confess! Ok Ok Ok Ok, I have been lacking inspiration to do it myself. Next time....)

WILL & ERIKA UPDATE!
We hope and pray that this update finds you all deeply enjoying life and the goodness of our Father as we are seeking to do the same here in Denver, CO. Since being married, I have joined staff here at Youth With A Mission Denver and have begun training to take over the Creative Ministries Dept. at the base. I am the assistant to the in charge of equipping and teaching each of the teams that then go on outreach to many nations and touch hundreds of lives. It’s a joy to be involved in training students to know how to express the love of Christ and then communicate that across cultures, languages, and religions.

Will, is continuing to run the Worship Department here and is now the new director
of our School of Worship. This three month course is designed to equip young worship leaders
with the musical and spiritual skills and confidence to go out and lead people into the presence of God. We’re excited to be a part of such an amazing opportunity!

God has also blessed us with many connections here in Denver to be leading worship all over the city. Just recently we were able to help plan a twenty four hour prayer and worship time for the National Day of Prayer and play for 7 of the 24 hours. The entire event was viewed online throughout the day by over 20,000 people and more than 100 came to know the Lord! Later on this summer we will also be able to lead worship at a large Christian music festival called, Heaven Fest, an event that over 15,000 people came to last year.

Now that you know what is going on...you know how to pray for us. Please keep it up!
Love you all,

erika's heart and will's words

a month away....and so ready

2010-03-09T00:15:00.002-06:00

we are only a short month away from getting married. I can't believe it has been such a short time and yet we have been waiting for a long time. I have not been recording these feelings and these anticipations in any journal, blog, prayer book.....nothing. I am sitting here a little bummed that this time in my life is just about to move forward and I have some snippets here and there to capture the whole thing. I guess I always will have that wish of remembering everything---the good especially.

if I would go back two months and give you some highlights I would have a hard time. I think that would be because it is all a flexible mush. I had a lot of time, a car, and a private apartment to find peace. I feel so free now that I had that car to find out how to get from here to there by myself. I even took my third official manual transmission driving lesson tonight----wow my world is changing.

but why do I not spend time doing the things that I want to? well that is an interesting question. A couple weeks ago I was getting really overwhelmed with the wedding stuff (for no good reason, because not much has changed since then....it's just my perspective). Will did not allow me to check my email, to work on any wedding stuff or even be around that temptation. He told me that I needed to do something that I wanted to. I was stuck. What do I love to do? Have I lost all my love for other things. What will I do when I am not planning this wedding if that seems to be the only thing I find worth my time to do now? That was a scary moment to be stuck. I didn't even find sleeping in was very satisfactory anymore. You know when you have whatever you want, you tend to just not appreciate it anymore. I contacted my friend who lived downtown Denver. We met up, ate at Chipotle, went to the Denver Modern Art Museum, drank coffee, and talked about things that are important long after any wedding ceremony and day. It was truly a refreshing day. I found that I was on the edge of melt down. Later that week I moved out of my apartment, gave back the car, and moved in to the YWAM base again. NO car, NO privacy, NO control. You know.....God has a way of moving strongly in my lack of control.

I look at what I could have done with my time and I could get all upset, but then I guess I would rather be thankful and happy for the rest that I got. THe light that is in my eyes, the time I got to spend with Jesus, the practice time on the cello. These are truly some of the last times in my life that I will spend all day (only a few times) by myself. I think I did not even open my mouth a few days. I was not with people to talk to.....and it was a different kind of revelation. A silent revelation. Things are going to seriously change and that is a big deal for me.

I am grateful to the Lord for the big things that have been accomplished over the last month. We have an ALBUM!!! THe Lord provided the money from friends to cover most of the reproduction costs. What a providential gift!! The album is such a testimony of God's love and timing in our relationship and a big arrow pointing to where we should go.

Thank you for your prayers. MOre to come! There is a wedding soon!

2010-02-01T16:09:00.001-06:00

some of my newest friends!

2009-11-06T12:09:00.004-06:00

On Tuesday night Will and I drove to Castle Rock to meet THE BEST MAN! Will's best friend, Paul Downer, was in the area and I finally got to meet him. We had resisted to becoming facebook friends because we hoped to meet in person first. A couple weeks ago we became friends on facebook because we thought it would be SO unlikely that we would actually meet. Well.....we were wrong. It was so refreshing to meet Paul. He knows Will in a totally other way and to get inside that world is fun! We talked alot about our relationship and I soon realized how fun it is going to be to have Paul in my life now too. The wedding is going to be so fun with him around.

This is my roommate Brianna. She is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I think we figured out that she was visiting the tulip festival in 2001 when I was the queen. She was 12! This girl makes me laugh!
This is my friend Micha (I call her MITCHA) . Her name is cool because it's like the boy name Micah but the girl version--pronounced the same exact way. We dressed up in red and green one day. It was not on purpose but still it was awesome. She is a wonderful gal who loves the Lord and has a beautiful voice.In my school we are divided up into small groups. This is mine! We had a themed bowling night on Wednesday. It was so fun. We dressed up like crayons. I was green!! The hats were folders that were stapled so it looked like the point of a brand new crayon. Let me introduce my small group to you. RED- Elaine BLUE- Judith (staff leader) GREEN- me ORANGE- Laura PURPLE- Emily. We were the best dressed group there....in my opinion. I think I will throw in the detail that I won both games!
The girls in the front are my roommates (minus the Korean gal Synae) but we had some intruders from lanes 16 and 15. Getting to know new people is not so hard...or draining. I just love to see that God is using people from different places to do His will....which has been made perfect for each person.

it's true for you too.

Girl's Night at Will's House

2009-10-29T12:03:00.003-05:00

It was so nice to get off the base campus and go to a home where there were couches, carpet, and a movie. Will and his roommates let me invite my new Phase II friends over for a nice evening together. We watched the movie Once and I made Norwegian buns. YEAH! Thanks Will for your couch and carpet!Elaine (PA & Chile), Micha (AL), Brianna (SD), Kyrgie (Kyrgestan), Ilsa (CO), me, Becca (IL), Stephanie (AZ)

under the dump

2009-10-29T09:19:00.005-05:00

This is the view from my bed window--under the dump of snow! Alot of it!!! I think it will continue to fall throughout the day. Yesterday the boys that live at the alternative campus in the mountains could not come down because of the weather. They just played in the snow and had a day off all day! We went to class and did work duties like usual. Today we will do the same. As it has not stopped. It's fun, I just have a hard time letting go of the reality that I will not ride my bike anymore. boo.

I have had a great last week. I will share some photos with you now.
Will and I got engaged...as you saw and probably knew. We also celebrated our one year anniversary soon after on Oct 22. We were in Redding, CA last year for the Open Heaven's Conference at Bethel Church. Will had come to actually figure out if I was the one he wanted to date. It was Oct 22 when he called my dad and asked him if he could pursue me....then we changed our status on facebook. That makes everything official! So it has been a whole year now. A hard year of distance, growing with God, and figuring out what the Lord has already told both of us....but we just needed to learn it again.

To celebrate Will made shrimp alfredo! I LOVE SHRIMP!!!!! It was so great.We played and sang a little together on his new piano.
We did a little wedding planning too.

A delightful night at my future home! He splurged and even bought me flowers! I love this man so much. I am definetely blessed.
On Saturday of last week it was bright, shining, and warm! It is a bit different now you can imagine. We met Christina and Geneva in Boulder for brunch. We ate at Duchambe's Tea House. It was so fun to talk about wedding plans with her...she was helpful, curious, and generous.
Saturday evening Will and I drove down to Colorado Springs and joined a small party of people in a private home for Indian cuisine and a night of discussing art, Christianity, and our role in today's world. It was so exciting to meet up with artist who are INSIDE of thier craft. They are doing this stuff. They are committed to the Lord in so many areas. They have discovered that art is the way to communicate God's heart so they are doing it. It was encouraging to hear from some people about thier struggles and triumphs. We were both blown away by the years of experience in that room.
Dr. Michael and debi Story Maddox were the hosts. She is the artist that I met at the Arts Coference I attended in early October. She has her huge prophetic paintings hanging all over her house.
Sunday night we got to spend some time with friends passing through town. I did my School of Worship with Brittany on the right (with her husband Taylor). They were stopping in for two nights before heading up to Estes Park for a YWAM Conference. The others in the photo are Stephanie Snell (staff member here in Denver who married my other cell band leader from my SOW) and Megan Gilles (who recently married the electric guitar player in my SOW cell band). It was a lot of talk about marriage, engagement and pregnancy (Brittany just found out she and Taylor are expecting). This is a strange and new life.....to be in these girl groups talking about being wives and mothers. Oh boy.......what a change. It's fun.

Will and I started our pre-marital counseling from a pastor and his wife that Will knows from his church. It is going to be great!!! They are so similar to us. She is from Storm Lake, IA!!! It will be a wonderful time of learning and growing.

Have a great day!!!

our story told

2009-10-18T23:52:00.003-05:00

The day was all planned out, sort of. I think Will had the gist of it, but how it all played out was decided on the spot. Remember I honestly did not have a clue. I just thought it was a nice day for a hike. And I do not get surprised very quickly. I might have to rethink that.
Anyway, here is how it all happened:

Will tried to trick me by giving me a few gifts at the top of the waterfall we were hiking to near Vail. It was close to our 1 year anniversary so it didn't seem weird. They were just decoys: a beautiful scarf and then silver circle earrings. We began our hike down, but stopped along the way. Will was looking for the river's edge. He was fascinated with getting there, but I didn't know why. We were nearing the end of the trail, so he just said, 'sit down on that rock'. He asked if he could wash my feet. What a cool symbol! That is why he wanted to get to the water!! He then pulled out this beautiful letter and read it out loud. I could have gone home happy after that. The tears were welling up in my eyes trying to wait until he was finished to burst forth. Seamlessly he popped out a little black box with a shiny ring!

What beautiful ring! It is perfect. And fits perfect too.
Through my tears and sobs I managed to say YES!

We're Engaged!!!
Let the fun continue!!

10-10-10 Oct. 10, 2010

2009-10-10T11:17:00.006-05:00

Here is a photo of me and my beautiful mother. We ate at HuHot for a goodbye dinner. Love you mom and dad! I miss you already!

I left Pumpkinland with a bang! There was a VOTA band concert behind the shed + 500 youth. It is so sad to leave that wonderful place, but I am so happy I got to be a part of that wonderful pumpkin patch family. The special art piece I had been making (batik: wax and dye process) was for Dave and Helen as a thanks for all their wonderfulness.
I need to paint again soon. I have felt God's surge of creativity pouring through me as of lately. I have been overwhelmed with ideas and concepts to express through painting, but no time. Pray for that please. This is a 'blow your mind' piece of artwork from the Arts Conference I attended with Don Harding in Colorado Springs last weekend. The artist, debi Story Maddox, is painting from a place of deep prayer and meditation on God's Word. This painting really struck me because it reminded me of my calling---and who I am!
We went to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs with our good friends Sara & Ross. Yeah!!!!! for couple-friends!!!Being in Denver is different than anywhere I have ever been before. I think it is the mix between a
--new place and
--new place in life.

I have been here for a week now....officially!

Will and I are discovering very important fundamentals in our relationship. Now that we are finally in the same place on this earth that poses some transition as well. Keep our relationship in your prayers as we joyfully discover what it means to be ' two people in relationship' not just 'a relationship'. ponder that one!

The school has been in session for a week now. The real meat of the teaching and classes begin next week. We are bonding and getting used to the dorm living, work duties, and schedule this week. I have a few wonderful roommates and a small group that has already been a blessing. I begin the reading soon. I found out my weekly work duty. Monday through Friday I will be in the kitchen preparing dinner from 3:45-5:30.I made this veggie tray! Isn't it delightful?

Will and I looked for cars Wednesday night. I think I want a 4 door, used, foreign car of some sort. It's exciting to think that someday I might be able to own something like this for my very own.....wow! The Lord is such a great provider. Think back to your first car......that's me now. ha ha ha! If you want to help finance this car with me.....let me know. :)

That's it for me now. Enjoy your weekend.

dnab noititepmoc

2009-09-29T17:33:00.005-05:00

band competition
STAR FEST 2009! Tracy and I were sitting in the September sun this weekend at the band show. I love to do things with her and I will truly miss this best friend of mine when I leave. Just when we were getting back to our place of buddy-ness. (sigh)
Matt and Morgan crossed *marching band competition* off of thier FIRSTS list. Matt actually feels like someone hid this field marching culture from him...how could he not know it even existed!! It was enjoyable to see my old high school march...and wonder how anyone can make hundreds of teenagers do such absurd things on a field in a funny outfit and not get paid. I AM A BAND GEEK!

I got my hair highlighted. It really is not a noticable difference....it just looks normal, which is the difference.
and it was straightened and cut.....the salon look can never be reproduced by Erika's hands.
this is a very cool painting by a Dordt College alumni named Sara Mulder. Matt (mentioned in above photo at the band show), had a combined art show with her. She uses a lot of strange materials to get tons of texture on her surfaces.

it's time to smell the flowers

2009-09-25T21:39:00.005-05:00

I realized that I had not included a self portrait in a while. This one will have to do. I was the model to show off the HOME BAKED GOODS sign and the beautiful rainbow that arched full across the sky. I am donning the muddy jeans and 2009 staff color: TEXAS ORANGE. I wear my $7.00 Norwegian scarf with it and Helen says I, 'just bring so much style to the farm'. What can I say....it's Pumpkinland. One day this week I wore my tall brown boots in celebration of the first day of fall. Boy did my feet hurt! I am going to stick to foot comfort while carting around gourds, squash, and home baked goods. I don't want to leave this place for many reasons....but there is one reason why I do want to leave. This reason sits comfortably in the middle of my stomach and stretches down around my thighs. I am representing and CONSUMING those delicious home baked goods. Today I had pie...but merely in honor of the 'time that is coming when I will not be able to have pie'. hmm......that was lame. But really....Carmel Apple Pie is so good! I have been able to taste some very delicious things, but I need to leave in order to stabilize my sweet tooth. I am praying that YWAM Denver doesn't treat me as kindly as Pumpkinland. I might have to start a revolt----but that would be hard to convince myself to do. Perhaps I can just pray for self control and learn what it means to take care of this temple of the Holy Spirit.

These flowers are planted outside of the shed. Helen asked me to help her do something creative in displaying the flower, the name, the kind, the so on and so forth. She tells me that she can't even count the number of people who pull their cars over to take a closer look, to ask what the are called, their kind and so on and so forth. I guess she is sick of answering the questions you are all wondering. Do you wonder these things?.......just ask Helen as you drive by.

So, I am counting the days down to my departure. I am splitting at my seams here. As you have read....I enjoy being here so much. I also on the other hand am anticipating so much coming up. As a friend told me recently. BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED. She had actually given me a small window decoration with that phrase upon my return to Norway in 2007. It was a great encouragement to me. It actually was a catalyst for discovering my calling in life. I feel like ministry and discipleship always had something to do with all or some of these topics---growing, journeys, paths, mountains, valleys, watering, harvest......and so on. It seems really typical to say this as my life goal, but do believe that the Lord has shown me over and over that this is a lifestyle I GET to live in. My personal manifesto goes something like this: 'Planting and Growing Fellowship with God and with Each Other' Sounds like a church motto.....yeah yeah it could very well be that too. I just know that THIS IS WHAT I DO!!!! I can work at Nederlander's Grille as a waitress or picking pumpkins at Pumpkinland or even work in a situation that is more mission oriented and do the same thing! I love that about God. He is so GOD! He is in all and through all.

So....do you know your personal manifesto. Sounds big....but its not. What do you tend to do when you arrive in a new place. What do you search for.....and bring change about?

Do tell.

Indian Corn that we picked today....so magnificent!

in the squeeze of the hug

2009-09-22T00:14:00.006-05:00

yes.....I painted this pumpkin. Helen (the Pumpkinland lady herself) asked me to fix the little pumpkin problem. A stem was broken off and we can't sell those. Would I find a large white Scallop from the field and create a hat for the stemless pumpkin? Use these paints and make a face....and here is HOT GLUE! I have to say it was a first for me.....painting pumpkins on the clock (the 100 minute time clock). Helen was satisfied and it now is displayed on the stairs in the shed. Come and see....and marvel!
my favorite little gourds. This variety is called 'Galaxy of Stars'. It looks like a flower with a stick through the center. So......sort of like a FLOWER KABOB. They are very unique.

on to the juicy stuff...

I was talking to Will on the phone last night and I was just sort of sad. I was trying to explain to him that I am just beginning to realize how wonderful it is here in Orange City. My month has been WAY too fast. He said I was in the squeeze of the hug. I was like......yeah. You know when you say goodbye to someone you don't just give a little pat on the shoulder, 'thanks for coming, see ya' pathetic farewell. When you are really saying goodbye you give a solid hug....one that is memorable and strong. I know that some people can't really hold themselves together to do anything during goodbyes. I have been one of those....to just make jokes up until the point that you say those parting words. It's all fun and games just to hide the sadness of it all. No one will see how hard this really is. So....hugs are good. They are a moment to bury your face in the shirt of the one who is going away. It is a way to connect once more. It is a final touch to remember. If you believe in GOOD goodbyes then you will take time for this very important part of your transition.
I am in the squeeze of the hug right now. I will not just ignore the goodbye I must deliver to Orange City and its orange pumpkins. But instead I will embrace it. I will take and give just a little bit more before I release. It is as though that last ummph in the hug will communicate the last bit of 'things I can't say in words'.

On the contrary I am about to say HELLO to a new world in Colorado. I feel really excited about that as well. I sense a shift in my energy and a refreshment to do what I am made to do. Ahhh! It is so nice to hear the Lord and follow. I am asked to 'stay in ORange City and be here with us' over and over, but I am so sure that it is not where I am to be. It is so nice to give that ummph in the hug and feel closure.

I went to Lillian's birthday party this weekend. It was probably the first time I ever drove down to Omaha with the intention to just visit and then leave. The other occasions have been as I was about to move somewhere in the world. It felt good.....different.....real....and special. The idea that I am going to be at least continentally available is so good. The idea that I am going to be a part of YWAM but in the states is so different. The idea that the nieces and nephew are growing whether I was there to see every step or not is real. And the idea that God has presented this time to happen at this very time in my life is special.

question to you:
what in your life is...
-good
-different
-real
-special

Saying goodbye is just as important as saying hello. I can't just skip over the last chapters of a book and I can't try to read the last chapter before I get there. God has His timing....rest in it.

peace friends.i enjoyed the high school and college volleyball games i attended.

Lillian's 5th birthday was FUN. We had pizza and CINDERELLA cake. Cinderella was wrapped in cling wrap and frosted into the cake. It's sanitary. Lillian is growing into a little lady for sure.
Brielle! She has just learned to walk by herself. It is so adorable to see what kind of personality she is developing as her older brother and sister are living their walking, running, talking, singing years. Who will Brielle be? Beautiful and gentle.

today's color is ORANGE

2009-09-13T13:42:00.003-05:00

I know it might seem like an article (which it is) to read my blog, but go ahead read and be educated on today's fruit and vegetable color for better health! I have one recipe included at the end. It is a favorite of mine that I made while I met Will's parents. They loved it and I think you will too!!

Orange is one of the healthiest colors you can look for. Orange vegetables contain beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A, which is great for eyesight and eliminating free radicals. The beta-carotene gives the vegetable its orange color.

Some of the healthiest orange fruits and vegetables are:

sweet potatoes

squash & pumpkin

carrots

mangos

oranges

papaya

These fruits and vegetables are great sources of nutrients and usually have a sweet flavor, making them ideal for satisfying those cravings for sweets.

Sweet Potatoes are one of the best orange foods. Part of the root family, they have huge amounts of beta-carotene, manganese, copper, fiber, B6, potassium, iron and just about anything else you think you could possibly pack into a small potato-like case.

Squash & Pumpkin These two foods are closely related, and actually come from the same family of vegetables, known as squash. They're loaded with fiber as well as beta-carotene. The squash family of vegetables is great at fighting off cancer, especially lung cancer, reducing the risk of heart disease and aiding in fighting against type-2 diabetes. Pumpkins specifically are great for urinary tract support and aid in the function of the kidneys. Years ago, pumpkin seed oil was even used to treat burns and wounds.

Carrots, a great food for eyesight, are the richest vegetable source for beta-carotene. Carrots reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, help prevent macular degeneration, and help control insulin levels to those with diabetes. While cooking foods typically removes some of their nutrients, this isn't so with carrots. Lightly cooking them actually helps to release the carotenes, which are otherwise trapped.

Mangos are high in iron and help fight against anemia and reduce kidney problems, fever, and respiratory problems. They can even relieve clogged pores of the skin.

Oranges, the typical orange fruit, is not so typical when you take a closer look. Oranges eaten in larger amounts can even decrease a runny nose.

Papaya contains digestive enzymes, which help break down some of the more difficult foods in our stomach, such as beans, dairy, and even meat. Due to the high fiber content, papaya also helps with constipation and even upset stomach. The one thing papaya has been known for around the world is its ability to prevent nausea, including morning and motion sickness if taken in the juice form.

Trinidad Mango Salsa

yields 1 1/2 cups

1 ripe mango or papaya

1 red chile, minced

1 garlic clove, minced

juice of 1 lime

salt & ground pepper to taste

Peel the mango or papaya, discard the stone or seeds, and chop the fruit combine it with the remaining ingredients.

Spoon the salsa into a jar, cover tightly, and refridgerate. It will keep for a month. Use Trinidad Mango Salsa as a condiment with vegetables or fish, or serve it with chips.

I would love to know what you think about the recipe. Enjoy!!

oh the land, of Pumpkins!!

2009-09-06T22:26:00.004-05:00

I love my life right now....no joke! It is so splendid to be here in Orange City for the month of September. I have just returned home from a long and amazing road trip around the states, spending time with Will, skydiving, getting some missionary therapy, and seeing God's timing as perfect! I can tell you more about that later if you want. But now I just have to spill a little about my current time and place. As I was traveling and talking to Will about this next month in OC...we discovered how hard it will be to once again be separated from each other, but also realized that the time for me in OC is to ENJOY! I really can't imagine a better way to ENJOY Iowa than to be working on a farm. I have never worked on a farm and I have lived in Iowa all my life. Since I started at the Pumpkinland in July I have enjoyed the work outdoors and the type of labor it required. Not to mention that working for the owners is a kill! I love them so much. They probably don't know how cool they really are...and think we talk about how wierd they are when really we talk about how great they are!!! I bet if you took a survey of the employees who have worked there over the years they would list 'working for Dave and Helen' as one of the top reasons for coming back and enjoying it. TIS TRUE!! They read my blog about the nerdy time clock mystery and the other day Helen was like 'Erika, you have to print that off for me so I can hang it on the bulletin board.'

So, God has really brought this land of pumpkins into my life at a perfect time. I have the whole month to do as I please with...and have really sensed a bubbling joy to work on the farm! You should just ask Will....when we talk on the phone I always have some sort of pumpkinland adventure to rattle off. I think it makes him happy to hear that I am happy. That's how that sort of stuff goes sometimes. Who wouldn't be happy with pumpkins? They are so jolly.

assorted small gourds

flying saucers (squash)

baby boos, my favorites

Here is what I do at Pumpkinland:

-pumpkin patch manager- which means I have an overview of the field and can go pick produce when it is needed and tell others to do it too. i even have a map. i have to learn all the varieties fairly quickly though. I also take names and numbers of people who want certain produce saved for them. I will call them when we get a good fresh load in of their desired harvested item.

look at the far field...beautiful pumpkins, squash, and gourds

-a few days last week I was preparing the maze for the grand opening last Thursday. I went through the mile long maze with a heavy machette-like knife and chopped the overgrown leaves that stretch into the maze pathway. I felt like I was blazing a trail through the Amazon jungle...then I realize that I am in Iowa. come and enjoy the maze sometime and remember how delightfully clear the path is.

the maze

the billy goats gruff gruff gruff

-i enjoy the animals....even though i don't have any chores :) But there are many things that are brand new for me here on the farm. It is a delightful adventure here at Pumpkinland!

ohh! these kittens are cute!!

The kitties are always a big deal

2009-09-06T22:16:00.002-05:00

these are the precious ones at the Animal-land portion of Pumpkinland in Orange City. They are so cute....I had to give you a taste of my job atmosphere. Come out and visit us!

Debriefing and Renewal

2009-08-24T16:34:00.003-05:00

I drove down to a town just outside of Colorado Springs yesterday. The drive from Denver was quicker than I thought it would be. The only real problem I have with it was the small grooves in the road which makes the wheels on the geezer car shimmy and shake. I was going like 80 mph and was double attentive to the constant jiggle. Nothing is wrong with the car it's just the tread on the tire is not happy with the groovy road. Nevertheless the trip ended at MTI...Missions Training International. I am participating in a debriefing program that will allow me to process what my experience was in Norway and be ready to step into the place I am now. I have met a few people already and it is so cool to know that they have been beaten and battered in thier adopted countries too. Is that good? Or just comforting to know that there is hope and peace from that place. Yeah....that is the good thing about it. A couple of us walked to Lake Palmer (about a mile) to find icecream. Well we laughed and had a great time while we sort of got lost. It did help that we were all missionaries so we were 1. leaders 2. outgoing 3. friendly.....we found the place and made some friends along the way. One friend was this deer...
we caught him crossing the road in the PEDESTRIAN CROSSING. You know there are deer crossing signs that he could have used but DID NOT! I saw the Sinclair sign too....the dino...and perhaps the deer saw it too and was confused, thinking it was a deer and crossed anyway. What you don't see is the mini van that is ---just---cut off from the shot to the left. Every one is safe....but the deer was not practicing good road crossing habits. DO not learn from him.
Along our walk we saw this beautiful scene. The sun streaming in between the hills and the slow moving train just below. I felt for a moment that I was overwhelmed by a Norwegian sight....then I saw the size of the houses....and it popped my bubble.
there's that.
there's that.
This is the view from my bedroom window. I have a room to myself for the whole week here. It is a peaceful place with a great staff. Many hurting people and just exhausted folk.....needing deep emotional healing. A great place to do it. We will have group gatherings, small girl groups, and then individual meetings beginning tomorrow. I guess I feel I have been debriefed quite a bit since I came home...but there is always more. One thing I really hope I can do is to spend time ALONE. I have a tendency to spend time with people ALL the time....even when I really want to be alone. I hope I can do some painting, hiking, solo speed scrabble, reading, journaling, and worship. If you think to ask me about my progress, just ask me. Rest and release is a huge part of change. When there is huge change like moving to a new country I would suggest a cease and resist. But you know as we talk in a group we discover that the debriefing from missions can look like really trying to just fit into your new culture. It is so complex. I would encourage you to reflect often because maybe you are not moving from another nation, but there are CHANGES in your life...and you are allowed to be successful at them. As the Lord to show you how to be prepared and how to cope.

I shall post more frequently now that my amazing vacation is over. I was in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado....and more. I am refreshed and feel ready for this week here in debriefing.

P.S. I love my life. I think it is good that you know that.

SKYDIVING in BOULDER, COLORADO!

2009-08-23T01:43:00.003-05:00

We went skydiving today! It was a birthday gift from a generous friend of Will's and I got to be a part of it too. I was a bit nervous but not really. The experience was so crazy, but not as terrifying as I thought. It was so chill....I mean for jumping out of an airplane. The guys we were strapped to were fun and the experience was therefore.....fun. I got a short video of my landing and Will in the background. Today was our 10 month celebration...and we got to go skydiving, nice life. Enjoy!

life is a peach!

2009-07-27T22:39:00.003-05:00

this week has been filled with adventure and it is only Monday evening. I love to be here in Iowa...reuniting with friends of college days and good old Orange City townfolk. Sunday night I gave a 45 minute presentation on Norway and my experience in missions. God filled me with a wonderful peace that just melted my heart all the way through the program. Afterwards I was able to talk to some who came and even met a NW Iowa woman who has been in Figi and Samoa in YWAM in her 20's. I didn't know they existed here. Cool! After after after that I walked with Tracy and her tall, dark, and deep husband to Dianne's house for round one of Sunday evening desserts--homemade popcorn. We walked to my house (just around the block) for Sunday Sundaes on the patio. What a life it is to enjoy ice cream with friends and misquitoes!

Tracy and I are finally back together after 9 long months apart!

Domestic Endeavor for the day: Canning Peaches
It's me and I am looking more 26 1/2 every day!

The travel turtles made a really good outline for my presentation on Norway and missions. I used some pictures I had taken of them around Europe and the States---and shared about fellowship with God and fellowship with each other. One man thought the turtles would be as big as your hand....because I took really close up pictures so the proportion looked off. When I took them off to show him he gasped....'what?? they are so small'

This is CaPo from Hong Kong. She was really curious about these turtles at the service. She had us come for dinner tonight and find out more. Now these little guys (made in China) have been held by a native to thier birth place. Does that mean I can count it on my travel turtle atlas log?
TOmorrow is art day with Matt Kunnari and more weeds at Pumpkinland with Poncho. I love my life....it is a peach!

God loves me

amen.

2009-07-22T15:29:00.004-05:00

The Backyard Bible Xploration Song 'This is Why I Worship You' sung by Lillian & Josiah Hydeen

Andrea, don't give me a 'look' when you get this song stuck in your head for another week!
Also, enjoy the video link I have placed on the side. You can see any videos I have uploaded to YouTube at any click!

1/2 birthday joyfulness

2009-07-21T14:45:00.007-05:00

NORWEGIAN LIPS!

Today is my 26th 1/2 birthday. I have decided to celebrate by sleeping in until 8 am. what has this last 1/2 year brought? SO MUCH that I have to think about it more.

I then spent a large chunk of the morning/afternoon talking with Cindy Strickland. I learn so much from her and it is so special to get to know Will's mom even before I have met her face to face. she is walking me through Biblical Foundations of Freedom....getting free from disappointment, fears, shame, and other crap that holds me down. It's really a special relationship that I have never had with another mentor before...it being so specific in its task--yet we find ourselves chatting too---a bit of 'get to know you' at the same time. It's awesome.

I am grateful that the Lord has me here in Orange City as well. I love being home although it is so different that being in Norway. I am living in a community of summer life, babysitting kids,

nieces and nephew, and lots of food. My mom is awesome cause she buys us all the vegetables we could ever want and know how to eat in a short time. We get to see Steve and Andrea and their whole family quite a lot and that is so fun! I love those guys and don't realize how much I missed out on....but get to spend all the time I can now.

I AM LUCKY!

Last night we did back rubs and ate left over birthday cake
(pre 1/2 birthday cake...post Brielle's 1st birthday cake)

These are good times...relaxed and enjoyable.

Christa will leave for Honduras very soon so we called last week 'Sister Week'. We picked weeds at the Pumpkinland, figured out the time clock mystery (that seems to be not so mysterious to anyone else...or no one really cares but us), played games, and finished by biking 17 miles in Sioux Falls then watching My Sister's Keeper at the Sheldon theater.

Yeah for Sister Week!!

Here is a photo of my handsome Denver man....just to keep things fresh!
See you in a couple weeks!!! YES!

So....now I will study a bit in the Word.....and get more free from fears and disappointments that torment me and really don't have the right to...ha. It sounds like a nice afternoon activity.
Later I'll eat stroganoff and then help paint a garage for some of my friends in town, maybe ride my bike, and pick weeds.........

but first.

freedom in Jesus' name through Jesus' blood.

nerdy weed pickers

2009-07-15T23:28:00.004-05:00

i am a nerd. and my sister is too--let me tell you why.

So we are employed at a farm just outside of Orange City called PUMPKINLAND! (Anne Randi...that was for you!) At this farm we are asked to pick the weeds that have grown up between the precious pumpkin plants. Christa has worked here last year quite a lot so she is sort of a self proclaimed site manager. It is just her and me so she is keeping me in line. She makes me do the weeds around the plants because she is irritated by the juice that emits from the pumpkin leaves. She is the weed nazi and the math wizz!

Ever since we started working there on Monday we have been on a search to solve a little algebra problem. We are both well out of our high school algebra days but we had a problem and we had to try to figure out the answer. So as we picked weeds we brainstormed, used her phone as a calculator, and dreamed up solutions to our curiosity.

Here is the senario that we spent many hours pondering.

So everyday when we come into the barn we CLOCK IN on the punch clock on the wall. We notice that the time clock sometimes says numbers that are not 'really' the time and that caught our attention. Us being equally and most intensely curious we wondered how that could be and perhaps it had something to do with our paycheck?? Maybe the punch clock is run on a 100 minute hour which would mean we would get paid a little over half of what we thought! OH NO! I have never heard of a 100 min hour....but it could be. No it can't be that....it has to be an hour otherwise the whole system would be screwed up just after midnight everyday....you see the punch clock turned 9:00 exactly when the wrist watch did. So we figured there must be a pattern to the strangeness. For example, we clock in at 8:06am and the punch card says 8.10. So how could it be off already?

Ok....so this is what we came up with. The punch clock runs on a digital 100 cycle. It also has a clock on it which tells the correct time on a digital 60 cycle (like normal). So how can 100 and 60 work together? How can I manage to punch in at 8:98 and someone is able to understand that??
Christa and I talked it through and presented ideas for dividing this and that....and finding the difference here and there. Tonight was our crowning moment when we tried making a line graph to measure the ticks (of the punch clock) compared to the minutes in an hour. To tell you the truth, we had the answer to our questions a long time before we understood it. Christa somehow got an answer of .36 or what we thought could be 36 sec=1 tic. That was a fluke.....but it was also our solution. The punch clock ticks every 36 seconds so that it can make it to the 100 mark at the same time as the minutes get to the 60 mark. WOW....as I tell this I just feel smart for working on this nerdy math problem and getting so much joy out of it!!

As I look at it now......in hind sight....we could have taken the ratio 100:60 and then found the highest common number. That would be 20. Take 100 / 20 and you get 5. Take 60 / 20 and you get 3. The ratio of ticks per minute is 5:3!!
We did not just find this answer....oh no...we did the line graph. I made the x axis and the y-axis and I put dots on the graph going up every .36 seconds from zero. We saw a pattern come forth when at 5 ticks.....it was 3 minutes. Christa freaked out and said....WAIT! There is something here.......and then we had it. That was it.....we got the pattern and now the mystery is solved.

The punch clock ticks every 36 seconds that way it can get to 100 by the time the clock gets to 60. We made a chart of numbers and dots...we think it will help us. (no....it's purely nerdy)

So if you want to do some math yourself just take the ratio equation 5:3=ticks:min.
you have to cross multiply. it is hard to express this on the computer but put 5ticks on top of 3minutes like a fraction and set that equalling the ticks your punch card said over the time in minutes. x is the number you are trying to find. you multiply across and opposite then divide.

EXAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. Christa punches the card at 8.98 what time did she clock in?
You would take 5/3=(98 ticks)/x
WHAT IS X?
so since '5' and '98' are the same units you do not multiply or divide them together. you are trying to find x....which is minutes. you multiply 98 by 3 (across the equal sign and down (opposite)) and then you divide by 5.
X=58.5min
Christa punched in at 8.98 but the time was 8:58(.5sec)am

2. Erika is on her bike going home after work...she forgot to punch out for the day so she looks at her watch and sees it is 9:34pm. What number will she put on the card the next day...in order to be correct?
5ticks/3min= x ticks/34min what is x?
x=
(if you can figure it out....please post a comment)

THIS NEXT PROBLEM IS AN ACTUAL SENARIO:
3. Erika is going to participate in a missions debriefing program in Colorado Springs at the end of August. This program will be good for her to respond and move forward after spending 3 years in Norway. The program cost $745 dollars. $150 of the total has been taken care of by anonymous givers but that leaves $595 to raise. She gets paid $9 an hour to pick weeds and do math in the fields. If she rides her bike it is 3 miles out to Pumpkinland from her house.
1.How many hours does she have to work per day to spread it out before Aug 7?
2.How much money does she earn per tick?
3.How many miles does she rack up from riding her bike to work and back?

thank you for enjoying yet another educational blog by yours truly.
my cold sore is healing up incredibly.....and so is my heart!

goodnight!

rika

cold sore devotional

2009-07-15T00:45:00.006-05:00

God is good! I wanted to start this blog with that statement because sometimes what I write here in this space is not entirely clear and complete for how I am doing. I am great. I have struggled to get used to the life here in the USA---I needed some boosting that is for sure. but now...i am great and I can see clearer. when you ask, you will receive.

i am here in Orange City now after a weekend vacation in Wisconsin and the weekend before spent with my brother and his family near Omaha on the campground site 21 and 22. I will begin my biking adventure tomorrow. I will bike 3 miles...pick weeds at a pumpkin farm for 4 hours...then bike 3 miles home all before lunch. My sister Christa is getting ready to leave for Honduras to teach 2nd grade. Who would have known that the house I grew up in would be a mission send out base too. ha. so yeah, things are good on this end. they are a lot better since I have been spending time with Jesus.......duh!

Have you ever wondered what was missing in your life----why you are easily bothered, why things are overwhelming, why you have sadness, why you never seem to be able to communicate what you mean, and why you feel restlessly stuck inside of a body that doesn't portray who you really are inside? I have been there. I have recently discovered (or really just understood and I made a choice to be transformed) that everything starts to plummet when I live on my own strength. I lose respect, I have fear, I am trapped inside my emotions, and I have no hope.
If I don't live from the Source of life--met in the quietness and relationship with Jesus EVERYDAY I will eventually slowly fall apart. I need Him so much and I am thankful and willing to serve Him and be transformed into His likeness. get quiet...in your heart today.

:)

At this point i have decided to educate you on the life cycle of a cold sore.
(the photos included are not to gross you out---but to help. this is MY face you are seeing...not some creepy health book model. this is just a warning)

#1 LATENT
The cold sore is hiding in the nerve in the back of the jaw. the virus may "sleep" for weeks or years without incident. Your body's defense "soldiers" keep them in check. When there is stress your defenses may drop. Then the cold sore virus can escape and reproduce - beginning the active cold sore stages.
#2 PRODROME
The cold sore virus travels down your nerve fibers to the surface. This movement causes your cold sore target area to itch or tingle.
#3 INFLAMMATION
Your cold sore virus has now arrived at the surface and begins it's reproductive cycle by entering the cells at the end of the nerve. This causes a lot of swelling and redness.

It began when we were camping over 4th of July in Omaha...I felt the tingle and wondered if I would be getting 12 small zits in one place....that was a clue I guess.

#4 PRE-SORE
A full blown cold sore is not one big blister but a grouping of small blisters called vesicles--tiny, hard pimples or red bumps that are painfully sensitive to the touch.

I got one big red one first then some days later I recognized those vesicles near the corner...it was outbreak number 2! but notice how these cold sores NEVER touched my lips.

#5 OPEN SORE
The most painful and contagious time is when all the vesicles break open and merge to create one big open, weeping sore. The weeping fluid is teaming with newly born cold sore viruses. Touching this fluid, you could easily spread the cold sore virus to another part of your own body or to someone else.

#6 CRUSTING
It will develop a yellowish crust or scab as it begins to finally start the healing process.

eww! can you see in this photo that I had started yet another outbreak just under the nose and a dot in the nose corner? I finally went to Walgreens and got some topical medicine which was a relief! I am taking daily doses of L-Lysine for strengthening cologen in the skin.

#7 HEALING
Once scabbed over, it begins healing from the inside out as new skin forms under the crust.

after a sweaty bike ride I gently wiped my face and the scab fell off...wonderful! Number 3 up by the nose just turned into a golden orb with nothing inside and number 4 was scared to start growing so it quickly died.

#8 POST SCAB
Cold sores at this stage no longer have a visible cold sore scab and your skin has totally healed. Under your new skin, healing is still taking place as the destroyed cells are regenerated. This produces a red spot that may linger. You are STILL contagious until this red spot disappears.

i know it is a bit gross to read all of that...but interesting enough i hope.
it turns out the cold sores have a connections to fear, stress, and anxiety.
i have dealt with these connections strictly and don't see cold sores being a problem in my life much more.

i am thankful to God that he takes the ugly cold sores on my face, but also the grossness sleeping deep in my heart waiting to express its ugliness. Through His process and time...I am fully restored and healed. That which was destroyed is renewed and it's better.

do you get it?
hope so.

here and there.....where?

2009-07-07T00:27:00.003-05:00

i have been trying to come up with a reason to update my blog for a week now. i guess I came up with a couple which kept me from doing it....obviously. i guess the whole jet lag excuse could work. i think the one involving the camera battery dying and the cord was in my big suitcase that didn't get unpacked could fly too (except I never leave my bags unpacked...it's a silly and stringent habit of mine). I guess the best excuse to not update my blog after a life changing event like 'LEAVING NORWAY' would be that I am not ready to respond to it yet. That is the one I will claim.

I have been home for a week and it hasn't hit me yet. really.

I have to admit that I have not been myself lately....my new and improved self that was found again during the last month of my time in Norway has again gone on a vacation from her strength to find transition and anticipation and stress a new hobby and occupation. I never gave myself permission to do that...but a fight or flight response is due in times of change. There are times when I want to be more of a fighter. When it comes to God's word, truth, and hope....I want to fight (but it is easy to flee). Sometimes it is easier to fight for the last word in a conversation just to prove that you were RIGHT. Sometimes it is easier to find the fault in someone's arguement than to just show mercy, love, and grace and move on....bringing each other forward. I find that as I come home to the states that the defenses I had up while I was there in Norway....are not as useful here. there are definetly different spiritual strongholds in each country and since I have spent my time letting the Holy Spirit build me in Norway....I have to be torn down again (in some aspects) so that I can be prepared and built up for the things that are happening here in the USA. I would love to flee from it all. If I were to be honest......and I am. I would love to communicate my heart-------but the doors to the house look different, don't have the same key hole or lock, and the knob isn't the same.

I guess it is pretty vague what I am describing here. Sorry. But then again I am not about to explain it in depth. I think what my friend Kate said was best 'I like that you think in pictures'. Thanks Kate....I do too. It's the only way I understand myself---glad that you understand as well. There are only a few that understand my picture talk....and those few humans on this earth have been given a supernatural gift of interpretation. Congratulations!

So here I am in Orange City and I am thinking about what I should do with my time. Will asks me if there was anything I just wished I had time to do....but didn't have time to do while in Norway. YES! There is always something I want to do when I don't have time to do it. But then again........what if you actually had time? What would I do? Would I spend my time doing random fill in jobs or would I focus my time and energy on getting refreshed and rested in God? I think I know my answer because my spirit is just crying out for rest. So then that is what I shall do here in Orange City. I will rest....and take advantage of this time.

My biggest prayer since I have come back would be to be like those the Lord delivered from bondage. It talks about them in Psalms 126:

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

I want to dream again

I want to laugh again

I want to sing songs of joy again.

It's not happening now....but I believe it will come soon.

The tears that have been shed will not be wasted by God.

so....here's a toast to transitions and new seasons. drink up!!

last day in Norway

2009-06-26T17:34:00.003-05:00

so...it is strange to say that today was the last day in Norway. I am not sure when I will be coming back to this nation-so it is safe to say goodbye.

our little family vacation is finally over. it has been long, good, but long enough and drawn out enough for me to just say.....AHH LET ME GO HOME! We have had a wonderful and relaxing time in Hamar with Anne Randi and the gang. The sun was shining just like a summer day should. I think it was the first and second warm day I have experienced.

but now, alas....we could play 10,000 more games of speed scrabble if we wished...but no we will go home. I have said that the feelings are mixed---and that is because of the people that I am leaving behind here. I am not mixed about leaving the place and the job for a while. I know that God is expanding my heart in a broader way...so I look forward to how that develops in the next months.

for now....just some airplanes more and I will finally see Andrea, Steve, Lillian, Josiah, and Brielle! AND TRACY!!!!!!

here are some photos of Norway's northern land:

the family up above gjerstad and the bay where we kayaked.
(sortlandsundet fjord)

the ever-so-famous jumping pictures---got to love them!

three kayaks on a misty sunday morning

don't we look like pros? it was so much fun...and meditative
I love kayaking!!

I will be on my way to the states by the time you read this.
wierd.

ha det bra,
erika

bergen...ålesund...and now the NORTH!

2009-06-20T14:06:00.004-05:00

I tell you---this vacation with mom and dad and Christa just got a bit more crazy.

We have been enjoying the time in Bergen and in Ålesund since I last wrote a blog. It has been over a week since then. Yikes.

Bergen was great. We spent Sunday night until Thursday morning with Ragnhild and her family. They have a beautiful home and have such fun activities planned. We visited some outer islands, went to the city, ate lots of fish!!, and had a roommate date! I will miss those girls so much. I think it was the hardest goodbye.

It is wonderful to know that God has everything in His hands. We will meet again very soon! I love you Ragnhild and Helina!

Will left Tuesday for Ålesund to spend time with Erin and Caleb and to work on the Threshing Floor Music Project we started in May. They spent many many hours on the music and having a great time without me! Well well it is for the best.

Our family took the bus to Ålesund on Thursday. 10 hours! Yikes. It was worth it. The sights were great and we even rode 4 ferries over all the fjords. Gunhild was there to meet us at the bus station. She was our gracious host for the long one day and a half we were there. We probably did more in one day than anyone should. We took the train tour by Jan Honningdal around Ålesund first then I met up with these great kids...Erin, Caleb, and Irene! We had a grill out and then got to ride in a boat through the fjords in the late evening. The sun was setting and we were just cruising through the waves. It is pretty incredible I tell you.

Gunhild, Will, Christa, me, Erin, Irene, & Caleb outside of Lyspunktet in Ålesund

Now I am in the north. 3 flights later. Stokmarknes. It's an island. I might go kayaking in the fjord. you never know what we will eat either. nothing too scary.

tonight we will travel to see the midnight sun in a good spot at a nearby town. The sun makes a circle around the area...and never goes down. The 23rd of June is the longest day of the year and I think all of Norway throws a party. Huge bon fires and hot dogs will be grilled. We shall see what we do.

greetings from the Polar circle

leaving Skien---leaving Norway.

2009-06-14T11:58:00.004-05:00

It's been a pretty sweet last couple of weeks here in Skien. I must say I have not had much time to reflect on what has been happening to me...but I do believe that the finish I SO wanted to go WELL....has gone well. I left Skien yesterday morning. I don't know when I will go back there anytime soon. It was a bit strange and sad at the same time. I tried to muscle up some emotion as I left the office building, but since I never really loved being in the office.....no tears came. But as I said goodbye one by one to the people I have been spending all my time with here...I noticed how I was feeling......sort of speechless. How can I sum up a year? How can I say to my friends all they have meant to me?

The Wellspring's last group photo. Bye girls, I love you!!
Thank you Frøydis for letting me use the Methodist Church to play piano and just be. You are a great friend and I will miss you alot!
How can I even know what they have meant for me when I am not sure yet...because of not being able to reflect. I started to cry when I hugged Hild Mari. She has been a great friend this year and I will truly miss her talks. She would let me ask her any question I ever would want to ask. I mean....really....any question!! :) Remember Lyndee and Kristin?? But as I packed up my bedroom and walked my stuff to the base before our morning train I just wondered...hmmm what has God done here in Skien? I know it has been quite a lot. I know that it has been significant that is for sure. I don't think I know yet. I am okay with that.

Mom, Dad, & Christa came on Wednesday and were as you can see very excited to get to Skien.

And we were very excited to leave Skien. Bye Bye!!!

Yesterday the train stopped in Ål and we got out to meet my mom's cousin Patty running towards us on the train platform. She was the most excited person I have seen yet in Norway. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that she is part Dutch and she is not from Norway originally. We stayed with Patty and her daughter Julianne up in her lovely home on the side of the mountain. We ate Norwegian meatballs and drank boxed wine and Hollingdal's beer! I mean this was a party!! ha. It was relaxing and that is what I have needed for so long. Just a relaxed night. We went to a little town gathering they were having which included showing lots of farm equipment, selling waffles, and listening to various music groups. We saw some Norwegians dance the Hollingsdanse....the regional dance of Hollingdal in which a Norwegian boy kicks a hat off a stick that is held up high in the air. All the while I froze and demanded to stay in the sunlight or I should surely turn into an icicle. Will is wondering if I have actually stayed in Norway longer than what was good for me....now I have very poor circulation and body temperature regulation. hmm.

This is Will with all of HIS luggage! Gosh....
Ok...that was a lie (he was afraid that people would think it was all of his--it's not)

So we hurried down the hill this morning to the train station where we threw all of our things onboard and rode from Ål to Bergen. It was about a 5 hour train ride over the most beautiful scenery sights in Norway. We are lucky! I like to think that the best thing about this trip is that after every place we visit the luggage slowly gets smaller and smaller. This is for a number of reasons. One, I am trying to lighten the load by getting rid of things along the way.
Here I am on the train--throwing away my nasty 'indoor/outdoor socks' (thanks to everyone who encouraged me to do so) and some other items that I just 'left' on the train. I also got rid of the shirt I was wearing later that day.

Here we are unpacking everything and sifting it through the 'Will Strickland Save it or Lose it' Test. I got rid of a 7th round of clothes and things. I know I have to get survival clothes when I come to the states again. And I still have a LOT of luggage waiting for me to pack into our stuff already in Hamar (thank you Anne Randi). Reason two, mom and dad are giving gifts to everyone they have been planning to stay with. Reason three, someone could potentially lose a bag because there are like 10 now...and what is one less, really?
So some advice to you who are really planning on traveling to Europe and through this place....pack light. There is no need to pack a new outfit for everyday. There are things that can work out much better when the load is light and you can just enjoy the surroundings.

Now we are in Bergen with Ragnhild and her family. The train ride was beautiful. Unfortunately mom dropped the video camera and it is now unusable. It is a sad situation. I think that we have enough video taking machines with us that it really might not matter. The Ferstad family is so great. Tonight we ate reindeer stew and then had homemade apple cake. I think our time here in Bergen will be wonderful. Tomorrow we will drive down to the sea and have a picnic on an island. In the evening we will say goodbye to Will as he will go to Ålesund two days before us. Tuesday we might hike up a mountain and Wednesday we will head out to the city center for a tourist visit. This will be the hard part of the trip....well at least one more. I have to say goodbye to my roommates Helina and Ragnhild. That is not fun. I love them so much and will miss them terribly! oi.

i read today in Psalms about boys growing like plants and girls being like pillars of the temple. I like that. I thought that boys would be the strong ones....but in this moment I realized that boys think they are supposed to be strong so they don't grow in thier hearts....in turn not doing what God intends. Girls are supposed to be strong and build the house (so to speak)....and not grow? well.....ok....I am still just pondering it. I don't think it was a specific role here being defined...I just think it was an invitation for a broader perspective of a role in our walk with God. Any other ideas?

Tonight we will go to the Old Town Bergen. You know that silly sun just stays up so long that we don't go to bed until like 1:00am. Just wait until the North of norway.....the sun never goes down! amazing!!!

adios!

2009-06-10T10:28:00.002-05:00

mom and dad and Christa are coming to Skien in an hour. This week is the last week of work at YWAM Skien. It is so strange!! In two days we are going to go to Bergen...then on to Ålesund...then the NORTH....then to Hamar...then Oslo.....then IOWA.

I will never forget this time in my life.

And it is going so quickly!

more later,
erika

rocks outside

2009-05-28T06:09:00.003-05:00

this morning when I came to the office to meet for worship I noticed some unique changes in the city center. our office building is right in the middle of the city...and our city is not THAT big so it's not THAT cool. (H&M is only 100 meters away) There was a lady, a clipboard, a big truck, a crane, and some massive rocks--considered boulders. This lady was using her clipboard to show the big truck where to position the crane to place the massive rocks---considered boulders. What is the point of that rock being moved by that crane from the big truck from an instruction on a clipboard from that lady? I would like to know that.
Perhaps it is an installation art piece where she just puts huge rocks outside our building to make a stir amongst the people---to create a curiousity. It works. I think it looks ugly and I am an artist who usually appreciates a good art installation. The only redeeming part about it is that it makes for a couple really nice surfaces to sit on in the next two weeks.

i have begun to pack my stuff. oi. I have a lot. I really hope my mom and dad are not packing a lot in their bags because I have to use thier space well. speaking of rocks...my suitcase is a considerable boulder. I will be taking most of my stuff up the Hamar...4 hours north before my mom and dad even get here. Hamar is the last place on our adventure vacation. I will pick up my stuff in 4 weeks on my way home to America. I thought I had gotten rid of all the excess stuff but apparently there was a lot of stuff I really thought I needed to keep. To pack up so early is really sad. I think it's hard to just make this move home and by packing I am just reminding myself more and more of the inevitable final goodbye.

i have been having a better week. i am encouraged that the Lord has opened my eyes to His heart and to rest. there have been quite some changes in how I spend my time. We have been running from this to that in the last month and so now....after this weekend in Hamar we will be IN SKIEN for the longest amount of time since Easter. The DTS is graduating today. It's a bit sad to have to say goodbye to new friends. I think that the Lord has great plans for next year and for the staff and students. there will be new students, new adventure, and new seasons for everyone. it's good. the only thing the same is God.

I wish I could be like that lady with the clipboard and the truck and the crane and the rocks. She has so much authority to move rocks. it must be nice to go to bed at night knowing how much power she has. wow.

home, but not yet.

2009-05-25T16:16:00.002-05:00

here we are back in Skien. i am tired and i have those chills in my body like I am soon sick. it has been a hard weekend. i must say...the hardest in a while. i guess that would be since the wellspring tour. i am pretty sure that God is really calling out to my heart in a deep way. we have been in Warsaw for the weekend and it was the LAST STRAW! i am desperate for rest.

if you are interested in the Poland journey, just check out the pictures soon.

day off tomorrow.

i shall be silent.

Warsaw is what I saw!

2009-05-22T14:28:00.003-05:00

we are here!

Wizz Air brought us right into Warsaw without much of a problem and Tomasz our great contact man met us here. He is so good at English and has a heart for lost people. I mean really, their church is handing out bread every Friday to poor and needy drug addicts and such. They really care about them all. After the handout there is a meeting for those who are intersted in knowing more about Jesus.

We got some Polish sausage and french fries at the HUGE grocery store (no more small Norwegian stores) and some American style cereal-----I feel like we are in America! And it is so cheap. No joke! Right afterwards we went to this 'extra meeting for wanting to know about Jesus'. We sang some songs in Polish and then were invited to speak and share a testimony. Right on the spot.

I got to sing a song for them--There is no fear when you are here JESUS!

Andrea and I are staying at Monica and Ania's house near the worst streets in Warsaw. These two girls are missionaries and really working the streets with thier hearts. I have already seen that they LOVE to be here in the middle of the mess. It is so neat. Inspirational.

Tomorrow we will meet in the city center and get some supplies for painting. We will have an evangelism time from 2 to 430. Please pray that we will see healings and salvation. God is doing big things...we want to see it!

If you want to get extremely inspired, just look at this updates website for the RISK project. The teams are all out in thier places on the map. JUST READ A FEW. It's amazing that we have been all together worshiping just two days ago and now we are all experiencing what God is doing in every country in Europe!
This project is really exciting and backed with a lot of prayer. Thanks!!

RISK UPDATES HERE.....and check it many times a day to get it all!!!

blessings!

PROJECT RISK

2009-05-21T05:57:00.002-05:00

last night we gathered 130 people in one room praying, worshiping, and wondering....WHAT WILL GOD DO IN THESE NEXT DAYS?

we have begun the project....RISK: Jesus to All of Europe.

Of those 130 people we are divided into about 40 teams averaging 3 members each. We are going to TAKE Europe this weekend. Starting from Norway we release team by team to go to their nation of choice. All of Europe!! I mean, I am talking about Andorra, Lichtenstein, Italy, Greece, Albania, Russia, Latvia, Belarus.......all of them! It's amazing. We are almost at 100% but then the team that was going to Romania BACKED OUT in the last moment. If team Romania knew that they would be the answer to the 100% victory mark on this project would they have backed out? Who knows. I do know that the enemy doesn't want us to reach Europe. He will scare us with silly ideas of 'not getting enough money', 'getting robbed', 'not having a contact person', or ' not having a team'. These might seem like practical things to consider when going to a foreign country...but for this project and us as a WHOLE MISSION BASE, we have seen that God can fix all these issues in His time---not ours. Although not all the money came in that was needed for the teams to go to the end reaches of Europe--like Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Russia we took an offering amongst ourselves (the ones that have already paid the way for our own travels) and raised 19,000 KR to go towards those others. It's so special to live in a community where we support each other.

So you want to hear about my team and our mission to WARSAW, POLAND?

TEAM: Erika, Will, and Andrea (she is a beautiful Norwegain girl, 20...and has a great heart for what God is doing)

Friday:
We will leave tomorrow and arrive around 4:45pm. We will be joining a man named Tomasz and his church called Praga for Christ. We will be participating in an evangelism meeting on Friday night. Andrea and I will stay at some girls' home near the church and Will is going to sleep in the church.
Saturday:
We will have a worship time and orientation with the church people, and they will join us to the streets or so for a two hour evangelism time. They are very outgoing. We shall see what God is up to. We would love to just pray about some clues God would give us to find people He wants to heal, save, or bless. We also have thoughts about music and painting on the streets. Warsaw is a beautiful city. It was on the Lonely Planet's top 10 cities list at one point (says Will). So...I really want to check it out. We will be stopping and praying at specific times during the weekend. All of the teams in all of the nations will pray at 12:00 and 18:00. Join us.
Sunday:
We will have some time in a local church to bring a message of HOPE and support for Europe.
I really hope we can have some meals with locals. I want to just enjoy the city and the people from the church. I can not expect myself to be anything more than ready to smile. Smiling on Sunday...that sounds nice and spiritual warfare-ish! Yeah! It's called 'Laughing at how dumb the devil is Day!!!!
Monday:
We fly back to Norway around noon. Then there will be a gathering of all the teams who went out. It is time to hear testimonies from the travels. God is good already.

If you want to keep up with the blogs you can try on www.ywamskien.wordpress.com
The reason I say 'try' is because many of them will be in Norwegian. But there will be some reports from some nations in english. So...just try.

My team would love to hear from you. Do you have any words from God? Any encouragements and prayers for our way out and our time? Just share if you will.

FYI: mom and dad and christa come to Norway in 3 weeks. I leave Norway for good in 5 weeks.

so much.
so little time.

but I am ready to get out of here.
ready for a change.

amen

missing Tulip Festival, but still saw a parade!

2009-05-18T11:07:00.006-05:00

17th of May
'Gratulerer med Dagen'

The 17th of May is the Norway's Constitution Day. We were here to celebrate with the whole city...and really the whole country. We started the day with a big breakfast with Ragnhild's mom and dad. No shrimp...but we had muffin bread (made by Will) and homemade foccacia bread (made by me and Ragnhild).

Ragnhild was wearing her traditional outfit from the west coast province. She was beautiful.

It is so exciting to see the fantastic outfits (bunad: the Norwegian word for their traditional clothing). I was however missing our very own Tulip Festival from Orange City. As I walked around and saw the costumes I thought....hmm I would love to have my Dutch costume too. I really felt like an outsider---for not wearing one. At least in Orange City you have 1/4 of the crowd in a Dutch costume and the rest just enjoying the people wearing them. There was a parade where all the children from all the schools got to walk. It was sort of boring and pointless---except the kids really liked to walk. We just looked for our favorite costume. We saw some friends of ours throughout the day. These two were so cute. Hild Mari and her daughter Salome had matching outfits on.

I also ran into Unn Karin and Torfinn Myhre. Unn Karin has been a mentor for me while I have been here in Norway. Last year we met quite often. I have not seen them much so it was so great to meet again. She has this beautiful bird broach on her bunad. Hers comes from the north of Norway. It was homemade too!!

We ate cake and ice cream too. This is important to do on a day like this. There are even more hot dogs being made than on a normal Norwegian day. Silly string and whistles being blown. I tell you everyone was having a fun time. Even this beautiful girl from Estonia! Hip Hip Hurra!

We are saying goodbye to our lovely friends Brad and Laura. They will be going back to the USA tomorrow. Brad has been working in YWAM for 8 years. Laura has taken a School of Evangelism here this year. They were so kind to cook a curry dinner for us. See you back in the states friends!!

shrimpy in my tummy

2009-05-18T10:45:00.003-05:00

Ragnhild's mom and dad came on Saturday.
They are so generous!! They bought a refrigerator full of food for us. They came home with everything we could want. And more.

pop
candy
meat
bread (white)
tomatoes
apples
strawberries
cheese
orange juice
AND
whole shrimp

I was just about to say I was going to bed on Saturday night around 10:30 and Gunnar (Ragnhild's dad) says 'well we better start the food then'. Huh? I always thought Norwegians were strange because they ate food so late at night...but this was ridiculous.
Yes folks, those whole shrimps were going to be going in my tummy just before bed. I was like WHAT!!! I suppose I didn't have to eat. But you know cracking the heads off those little guys while their black eyes are still looking at you has a little bit of satisfaction in it.

The process was something like this:

1. Pick one up from the ice cold stash in a watery bowl. Try to chose a male (the females are always carrying young ones in a creepy black eyed pouch underneath thier legs)
2. Snap off the head
3. Open the ribs
4. Pull off the tail like a sock off your own foot
5. Create a small pile on your plate (after gathering enough to cover a piece of bread move on)

6. Toast WHITE bread (don't ask why...it is just the way it goes)
7. Butter the toast
8. Lay the shrimps down
9. Squirt lemon juice on top
10. Sprinkle lemon salt over them
11. Squeeze some dashes of lemon tasting mayonaise on them
12. Eat (preferably right before bed---it helps to create crazy dreams)

I guess this was such a hit with me here....that Gunnar and Janne are going to have some shrimps available when my mom, dad, and sister come with me to Bergen in June. I know that dad will love it....I think mom and Christa .....AND Will might squirm a bit. HA HA HA! So fun!

recording the first steps

2009-05-18T06:09:00.007-05:00

If you wonder what has been going on since Italy then get ready for a run down!
Will and I arrived fresh and relaxed from Italy. Wow, what a great trip. Not only was this time together good for our friendship it also helped us get a healthy stand back from Norway. I think in most cases you are really a good judge of what is happening TO you...when you have a moment to step away from it. At times I guess it is the opposite. You realize what you need to do by stepping INTO it instead of AWAY. For us...we needed to step away from Norway. It's so hard to see what things are happening to me while I am in the middle of it. Being down in a warm culture helped me to appreciate the people who just simply 'looked' at us on the train. The idea of someone just giving a little smile seemed so distant and sort of hard to imagine after spending so much time in a colder country up north. It was WARM: the people and the weather.

So we were refreshed for sure. And ready for the job that lay ahead of us. RECORDING our little project called 'The Threshing Floor'

Last week we started our music project with help from two wonderful friends from the west coast of Norway. They have taken thier DTS in a creative school in Ålesund and because of my good friend Lyndee (who worked on staff with me in Skien last year) I got to know her sister and brother in law--Caleb and Erin Paxton. Wonderful musicians and fantastic people. They came to help us. Look at how cute they are!!!!!

We laughed a lot. I mean if you want additional details you can just look at Will's blog (willstrickland.blogspot.com). I was so proud of my instrument tracking skills. I was in charge of getting a banjo and a cello. WHAT? WHERE? WHO? It's a miracle actually. I contacted the man that asked me to join the blue grass concert and asked if he could get one. He did. I asked for a cello and three days later we had one. Who should play the cello on our songs? ME. So fun. I definetly want to get a cello and start playing when I get back to the states. Thomas, the cello owner, asked for his instrument a day too early so we rushed through the recording. I did ALL the cello parts in a half hour. It was fun to try and I felt fairly successful. Thomas....as he took the cello away--said it was good playing. YES! All I have to say is---LOOK FORWARD TO MY CELLO DEBUT ON OUR CD!

It was so amazing to see our songs that we really didn't have much idea for---come to life. I found it to be quite difficult to open up and be creative. There were some moments that I just felt unproductive and like I was hindering the group from progress. I know that God was using this time to teach me about trust. I need to trust Him and to trust my friends. He has anointed us to do music. I need to trust that people are not going to reject my TRYING...and to just be willing to screw up. That is why there is a delete button---and grace.

We spent a lot of time in the YWAM Skien office building but the second half was spent in the Skien Methodist Church. It was a blessing to use that big acoustic space....and the huge wonderful piano. Frøydis (my beautiful Methodist church pastor friend) was a sweet heart to let us borrow the place and she even came in with hot coffee for us. It was a sweet moment!

I think it was obvious that Will and I needed another couple to experience some life things with. To have a young couple the same age showing us some first baby steps in the direction of our hearts...is a dream come true! God has gone above and beyond my expectations of this time. Will and I are on this super strange adventure that sometimes seems like a LIGHT SPEED space mobile. We then look around and wonder 'Hey this is nice and wonderful, but how did we get here? God....show us what we need to know and do.' I am contantly trying to understand. I guess it is the process of trust. This project was that first step towards really letting our hearts open up to God in a new way.

Be still
Lay down
Rest in the Father

Give thanks
For everything
Comes from the Father

Italy....transport and beauty.

2009-05-03T14:49:00.002-05:00

We are here in Italy!

Let me tell you it has been quite the travel though. I thought RyanAir was going to never let us off the plane....but we didn't know that our journey from Norway to Italy would not be the longest wait of the day. Skien to Torp=50 minutes. Torp Airport to Bergamo=3 hours. Bergamo (Airport) to Milan Train Station=50 minutes. Milan to Sacile=4 1/2 hours.
The train was supposed to take only 3 hours but the rain storm broke the electricity line and so we were seriously delayed. But we made it.

We are meeting and getting to know Sarah...Will's fabulous and marvelous cousin that he has never met until yesterday! She lives here with her husband William (the actual 1st cousin) and he is in the military so he is stationed here in Aviano Airbase. It is crazy that we are here....and Will is reminicing about the olden days with cousin Will. We wish he could be here too but he is now deployed in Afghanistan for some months. It is great to get to know Sarah, entertain her, and see her drive around the city in her smooth American car.

Today we had egg casserole! I have not had crescent rolls in forever!!! We went to church this morning and it was in English! It was a Bible study about Ruth and it was fantastic. Read it....it's good. Later we went to a PIZZERIA! My Italy dreams came true today when we had pizza! It was fun to meet up with more Americans that are here in this small Italian city and are planted here on the base. It is refreshing to eat good food and talk with understanding and with a vocabulary people can understand. Hallelujah! I think I have a speaking problem though. It might take a bunch of time to get back into my English speaking. I can't really communicate things yet. I am just learning to speak English again.

We went to Trieste on the Adriadic Sea! We saw a castle!! We got lost...or at least a little frustrated with the traffic and the GPS.....but that was because Sarah denied the help of the GPS! We got authentic gelato icecream in the middle of our long travel home.....so that was relieving!

Now....before bed we are eating speghetti, drinking red AND white wine, eating authentic Italian cheese and having a great vacation.

It's beautiful.

Tomorrow........VENICE!

home....but not for long

2009-05-01T17:11:00.002-05:00

hey there!

the drought is over. I am getting in contact with my friends and family again. the tour really threw me over the edge in some ways----one huge EDGE is communication. I just dry up when there is a LEADER job at hand. I should not let that stop me----but alas, I am learning.

now I am home and it has been wonderful in Skien. The weather is like 80's and sunny. My skin is crying out for mercy as I sit on our back porch in skimpy stuff soaking in the SPF lotion. I washed all my clothes and hung them out to dry. It was dry in about 4 hours. Sometimes in the winter the clothes would take 3 days to dry inside. yikes. I have been thinking alot about the two week tour we just came from. I had a debrief session with Helga, Maria, and Will. It is good to get feedback about things that went well, things that didn't, and hopes for the next weeks.

today Ragnhild and I spent the day together. I rode my bike for 11km with Will first...then I scrubbed the outside of the house with a thick brush....and washed the porch....in my skimpy swim suit. I soon realized that I was not the only one in the neighborhood. The Polish neighbor was doing some yard work...eek. I should not make people look at this winter white skin in bulk! We ate delicious burgers...drank coffee...and icecream. I wrestled with SKYPE...because my microphone is broken. I talked to mom and dad. And updated my whole life!

tomorrow Will and I are going to Italy. I am looking forward to it. I have not packed.

I think I will sleep first.

thanks for the prayers for the tour and in general for what God is doing here in Norway. We have seen amazing things during the tour. I want to share them with you later. Would you like that???

goodnight

the man on the ferry

2009-04-23T08:56:00.000-05:00

We were just traveling a short distance from our last place at the Bye household in Bergen to the Pederson household in Kopervik on Tuesday morning. I had been interested lately in getting more hungry for God and for the depth of His heart for me. I have not really been surprised by events such as the one that met me on the boat that day. As usual we drove the car onto the ferry and then all piled out to go up to the observation deck or to sit inside the passenger area. I always like to walk to the top and see the view. We did it together then I pulled away by myself. I found a little place in the back of the boat, away from the wind and still in the sun shine as it tried to peak through the clouds. It has been an extraordinary bunch of days in regard to the weather. Today is the only day that it seemed a bit cold and the wind had picked up over the water. I stood there behind the smokestack looking out into the expanse of water. It was a couple of moments to be alone, to not be the leader of the team, and to just hear from God. I started reading from 2 Corinthians. I of course sort of wanted Will to wander past me and enjoy the scattered sun and the view, but I knew that I needed to be there alone. A few minutes later a man came behind me and got my attention. 'Excuse me, Jeremiah 33:3.....I feel like the Lord reminded me about Jeremiah 33:3 for you.' He walked away. I shouted after him....'Thank you! Are you a Christian?' I figured he was but I just did not really understand where in the world he came from. Did he just see me reading my bible and figure I was a Christian....then pray for me and get a verse for me to find? I don't know, but one thing is clear----the verse he gave me was from the Lord for sure. As he walked away I had this thought that I should run after him and find out more. I felt the Holy Spirit slow me down. I stopped from following him. This was for me. The moment was made for me, for my heart alone. I turned to lean against the smokestack again, resuming my position of great revelation. I looked up the verse quickly. It read, 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you did not know.' Hmm.....wow. I was inspired by this verse!!! I have been wondering what the next step for me is. I have been struggling with some strange things lately---some questions of why I was not improving my skills as a painter, artist, musician, or anything. I have stopped doing most of those creative things. I guess in that same regard I have stopped calling to God and hearing His answer. This was a needed calling out. BUT THEN>>>>>>>the greatest part of it comes last. I was looking closer to the verse underlined in my Bible. Sometimes I underline them when there is an event that brings about a revelation or something. I then write the date and the place where the verse came to me. So this is what I looked closer to find. Written there next to the verse was 'May 2006 Bye Family Bergen' REALLY??? Wow! We just left that house only hours ago!! I remember that Wenche Bye had given me that verse when I came with a Norwegian team after my DTS outreach. I had just experience a disengagement relationship and was dealing with the heartbreak of that. She encouraged me and helped me see forward to what God had planned. When this reminder about Jeremiah 33:3 came it was like the circle was completed and the restoration had come in my heart. Only a few days ago (April 18) I remembered the heartbreaking relationship split just 3 years ago. I was at the Bye house on that day. So......what a strange man on the ferry would not know was that he was a part of God bringing a completion to my broken heart healing. Amazing! God is good and He is doing great things----do I believe it? OH YEAH!!!

2009-04-23T06:23:00.001-05:00

Cafe Lyspunktet in Alesund, Norway
(Trouble Won't Go by Enter the Worship Circle)

the dawdler!

2009-04-09T16:17:00.003-05:00

so...when Erika needs to take a day off...it feels like a month. I guess this means I do not know how to rest very well. I think I am finally coming into some good habits that I wished I had kept a long time ago. The habits like spending hours with Jesus in the morning, dancing, riding bike, eating a long and slow breakfast, and dawdling. I love to dawdle. Just walk slowly around and fiddle with things as I go. I think it can be so annoying for some...and maybe if I was watching me dawdle I would be annoyed too. But really, when would you get to pluck your eyebrows if you never dawdled?

we have been walking everywhere, and eating lots of bread. I thought I would be running with Will until I had a break down. No more running---just riding my bike until I can manage to breath while exercising. we have been cutting wood and making large holes and lots of noise to try and get those pieces of wood to stick together in the shape of a square. I feel like I am hosting a small scouts club---and Will is the only one who came. thanks. I think Helina would have been there if she was not drumming her heart out in preparation for the tour. Helina would have shown us how to make those wooden sticks into kitchen cabinets. I think I would hire her just to tell me how to do things better in my life. good thing she just helps for free.
There were some moments that I thought I was being a bit rude to Will...as he make the most noise....with his hammer and with is grunting---but later he told me that he liked that sassy attitude. sweet! Norwegians are not well known for their understanding of humor that is not their own. i have to admit that I have forgotten how to communicate to my type of people. Will is my type of people. I guess that is a good thing. I am sometimes shocked at how much he understands without me having to run through everything three more times...with new words in place of the hard ones and the milk has turned into water. It's so refreshing to be understood.

we have new neighbors. the old ones moved out and left a bunch of stuff in the garbage can that you are really really really not allowed to leave there. In Skien here they use advertisement on public buses to describe with photos and words what NOT to put in your garbage can. You are supposed to put the food in a green bag, the plastic in a blue bag, and other things in a white one--that is flipped inside out and tied. This is excluding all loose trash like a set of blinds, frying pan, a pillow, and a cardboard box with your mailing address on it. You can guess.....the items listed in the last sentence were the items we have found loose in the trash can. Oh yeah! So....anyway. They moved out. The new neighbors are nice. They remind me of the neighbors who used to live on the east side of our house. OH WAIT....that is because they are the same neighbors!!! The Persian-ish folks moved two houses down. Have you ever done that? I know it is strange but some people do it. I thought about throwing them a WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY. It would be fun. I hope they are better with their trash.

tomorrow---finish the wooded frames and stretch canvas over them, read the Bible, eat a lot of food at various house invites, and hold hands with my boyfriend. I am so lucky!

by the way....this whole blog exists because I am dawdling before bed. see, I told you. :)

a week feels like a month!

2009-03-31T00:30:00.003-05:00

I would say that over the last WEEK not only has my life changed dramatically....Will moving here and the Wellspring team's ministry takes off...but time has slowed WAY DOWN! Will was picked up from the bus stop last week Sunday! I just can not believe it has been so short. I guess he came just in time to get a busy week and weekend, just short of exhaustion. It has been good. The team has been bonding and getting to know each other. It is fun to be sort of teacher-like and provide a place where we can create, evaluate, and have faith. God is showing me great things in how to be a leader too. We were involved with everyone's activity last week. The base is sort of scarce these days and so if we want ANYTHING to happen it is going to be US who does it. We had three times of worship leading at a YOUTH WEEKEND at the YWAM base in Skien, a love feast (with all prep), leading worship at two churches in which the response to us being there was---one: the first church said they had never had anything like Wellspring here before and--two: the second church didn't really respond except for three people from the first church coming to the second and responding again. hmm.

WELLSPRING at Bethel Church in Gjerpen, Norway

I would not say that I was disappointed because that is not my job to do the responding for people when we worship God. I would say that I wonder if Wellspring can do a bit of a better job communicating what worship is. I think we can make it easier for people who have NEVER known what it means to worship---to understand and participate in it. I guess I am glad we had this opportunity right away in our travels. I don't think this is going to be the only time I have this burden on my heart.

As far as personally...this week has been super encouraging. To have Will here is like breathing better. Why breath worse when you can breath better? I can imagine that this time will be a breakthrough in many areas for us as a couple and individuals. Something will happen when we put ourselves together in various places around Norway and Europe. God is about to use us dynamically...but first we have to give each other a taste of what Jesus is like in our lives. I am prepared to let him affect me...and I think he is under the realization that 'I AM TROUBLE' for him too. Those are nice words especially if the Holy Spirit is that TROUBLE that will bring FREEDOM! Than BRING IT ON GOD! Will said he thought his mother would love me when we all met someday...(I think she does already) but she'll say 'OH ERIKA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY SON? THANK YOU!!' I hope so. There are just some things that a beautiful girl can do to a boy that his mother can not....she just waits in intercessory anticipation. I pray that God can use me to bring Will into a new freedom and strength as a leader and as a man of God. He is a delight to me....and I am honored to spend this time with him. So.....there you have it!

Will tries Norwegian brown cheese....in which I DO NOT LIKE!

WELLSPRING IS ALWAYS UP FOR A LAUGH!
Maria begins her very successful percussion career.

2009-03-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

I guess you could say I have peace in my heart!

it's amazing and blue

2009-03-25T01:40:00.004-05:00

I love my life right now. I have always been a fan of living, but if I could capture this time in a bottle and then revisit it every once in a while...I would. I don't know what I thought it would be like to have Will here. I maybe thought it would be good not to have to suffer my loneliness ALONE anymore. I perhaps considered my emotional instability to be resolved. I wondered if I would have a closer look at my future in an instant. But you know what I have so far? An overflowing fountain of bubbling joy. I think that is enough. I walk in the halls and I am just LIT UP! Helina, my roommate said to me that she was so glad to see I was joyful. As though other days I am not.....hmm. I think it's a new joy. I sleep like a baby at night. I go to bed on time! I awake to see the possibilities of the Holy Spirit. I think it has to be because of Will. But then I think I am giving him too much credit. He is a wonderful man of God.....but I think that God is much more credible. God has really healed my heart in the last weeks. I have been struggling with a judgement issue by holding unforgiveness in my heart. It started a month ago--and then I was walking through some practical steps of forgiveness and prayer. I felt just two weeks ago that I had connected with God in my heart over the issue and in forgiving this person for those things I can not change----there was freedom. I have seen a BREAKTHROUGH in the spiritual realm and even the communication realm here. It has always been hard to be here...but two weeks ago---it changed. I had several significant conversations and all of them....pretty significant (about me leaving) ended with peace in my heart. I was so careful to guard my heart and then realized that God had already let the overflow of peace flow out. AMEN! Of course that is the story before Will came. So now you might know how I can be walking on clouds. I wouldn't lie about stuff like that. I am a happy person but at times my emotions get me! oh they do. I have to tell them to STABALIZE IN THE NAME OF JESUS! It's good to be honest about how I feel---but not decide my identity because of it. I am constantly in a battle to put my emotions under the authority of Jesus. There is not enough time in this life to see all those thoughts in my head come to fruition. I get myself into dark messes where I am 'looking at my own navel'. So lift your head girl. Get under the authority of your friend Jesus...and LIVE!
Is this a message for you too? I wonder sometimes if we just don't know where to start with the thoughts so we don't ever start getting them under control. I guess my hope and message to you today if you are in this position....is to really ask the Holy Spirit to show you where the lies are....where the unforgiveness is....and what thoughts are not from God. And as a good friend of mine says, 'Have grace for yourself.' I suppose God has enough....but do we?

I must say that another amazing thing exists in BLUE GRASS MUSIC. I thought I would update you on the last weekend...before Will came and before it got REALLY amazing. Look here at these wonderful photos of the cowboys of Norway.

I could not believe I was with men over 45 who were passionate about blue grass all Friday! They loved to talk about themselves too....about how great they are, how awesome their equipment was, their studios, their tours, their experiences in AMERICA....and all the blue grass musicians that they idol. To tell you the truth...I don't really care. I just came to play the music. I had never played before and that was something these people had a hard time swallowing. They of course have wrapped thier lives around this music so to meet someone who is only 1% passionate about it....and 99% humored by it was not their time to impress. Nope.....didn't care about it all. I just had a really fun time playing those fiddle licks. It was a real music gig. I got paid and everything. The money I got will help me pay my rent for the rest of my time in Norway. YEAH! God knows my needs. Of course....how will we get to Poland for the evangelism week? Don't know...but we shall see how God works it out.

Any gigs you want to hire me for? blue grass, classical, irish? I am open to learning!!!

The wait is over....but has begun again.

2009-03-23T01:03:00.004-05:00

Will has come to Norway!

I am so calmly overwhelmed by it all. It really was just me picking him up from a bus stop...but really-----IS HE REALLY COMING? IT'S SO SURREAL! I stood at the pink hotel (in photo) for a half an hour with my heart in my toes and a prayer on my lips watching for the bus to come around the bend to enter the city center. Oh that strange peace was over me. Then...

the bus came!

I wished I could see into the window of the bus to catch his eye, but I just waited until the man I recognized (with the great looking scarf and H&M jacket) came out to step upon the ground that I know----and is completely strange to him. In two seconds, there he was. I realized how nervous I really was. We hugged and got his bags from the bus before they pulled away. So......now what?

It's just strange and wonderful. He lives at the base in jail cell number 15! I lived there for two years myself (and strongly disliked its feeling of a jail). He will get the experience of this first hand which is a crazy way of doing life together. I am so thankful for this time. I guess if I ever talk about Skien, the jail, Norway, my friends from here and the food again....he will understand. I do not take that lightly. There is so much I can not be light about. God is truly good and making these things come to pass. My nerves are calmed, but my heart stirs. What is God really going to teach us while we spend three months in Norway with a small team and a skeleton sized YWAM base? I have the inkling that my relationship with God is going to be great....I will need to hear His voice on every level!

Perhaps you were unaware of the fact that this is my last year here. I will be finishing my time in Skien come June! I am very desperate to finish well here and be released from the leadership to move forward with my life. I am so grateful for what I have learned while here in Norway and will never forget the times God taught me great wonders in His name. I look forward to see myself somewhere else and there is peace in my heart. I have to be thankful for the fact that my heart is not running from Norway. It might have been some months or a year ago. I enjoy it here now....finally. Then as I decided to go the decision was harder---but God has been making it clear to me since last June and through this year. I made my decision last week upon speaking with the base leader here. Maybe Will likes it so much that he wants to stay? Well then we have to fear the Lord about that----and it will work for me to be in the states and him to be here. However, I just don't see that happening.....but God is in control.

I look forward to hearing from Will what he thinks of the culture, the food, the people, the clothes, the ministry....blah blah blah. I will try not to be overbearing but let him fend for himself a bit. That is the only way to get a real CULTURE SHOCK. I would be mean to not let him experience that for himself. It's the only way I could hear God speak to me. Culture shock is a way to get foreigners close to Him. It works.

This week is busy with many things on our plate----a leader weekend with worship and lots of practical work plus two church events on Sunday. And adding a member to the team is not an easy task either. So....there is much to keep in prayer as I seek wisdom from God. How to be the leader of this team and what He is speaking to us about these events coming up. The first couple times we are together as a team will indicate how we are for the rest of the time. I want to hear what God has to say about it. That is where the life is!

Thanks for reading my blog. To all of you who were faithful to declare your faithfulness to a blog that sometimes is a bit boring. I hope that this helped you. I got an inspiration to share a lot today....enjoy and please comment to help me clear my thoughts. any advice??

check out the new WELLSPRING blog at .... wellspringskien.wordpress.com

so yes, the wait is over as it is said on the title of this blog. the wait for Will to come is over...but in my heart I am still waiting. I am waiting to finish my time here in Norway. I enjoy it as I go...but I am in fact in another special count down. These next three months are so special to me. I wish you were all here with me too!!!

blog thoughts

2009-03-19T04:53:00.003-05:00

so you want a new post?

I will do it very soon. I tell you there is

SO MUCH TO SAY---God has been transforming hearts and changing my whole team!
SO MUCH TO SEE---roommate adventures, Wellspring on the road to Mandal
SO MUCH TO SING--Will is coming to Norway in three days, a new season for creativity
SO MUCH TO SELL--this could happen....when I play with a blue grass band from Sweden!
SO MUCH TO SAND--we will be doing some hard core construction work on building a third floor
SO MUCH TO SOW---seeds of fellowship, health, and good time with Jesus! to ALL!!!

do you want to know more? let me know by adding a comment. otherwise it is just my boyfriend William who reads this and it seems funny for me to keep this blog going on if he is the only one who cares. so.....do you??

it's a matter of things

2009-02-22T08:09:00.002-06:00

how you look at it, matters.

when i am in the glass, drowning in the juice things seem different than when I am on the outside looking at the juices.

sometimes I feel like I am in the juice and its over my head.
i am usually there because I am an 'all or nothin' girl.
either in the juice or not. somehow through brutal punishment to myself.

i like to be drowning!

this clarity has come because i have an amazing relationship with William!

he is outside the glass.

that helps.

Fiddlin' Around kind of

2009-02-18T00:52:00.003-06:00

I have returned to Skien! The weekend was a nice trip away. I really can't believe that I quick went to England and found my sister there for a few days. I have been curious now as I am back why I did not miss more of what was happening here. There was no time to miss much. The trip was quick...but I had some great times. We ate at a great family's home on Sunday after church. Later that day we went down to The Beacon and I prepared for joining an Irish Band called Murphy's Law for a few songs. Here is a sample where the fiddle guy wanted to play fiddle not mandolin so we switched. I am on the mandolin and had never played it before. No one cared because first of all they could not hear us and secondly they had been drinking since noon. I guess the music was my style but nothing else. Needless to say we left after the bagpipes and the short drum lesson I got. Good times!!

This week Maria is gone and so Helga and I are thinking about what we are doing in our team. We are of course getting excited about the future and weeks ahead. I believe it is going to be fun to step out there and do some bigger things in churches and youth groups. I feel it is very humiliating to just go and do it on our own power so....we are praying GOD HELP US!

It's only a little over a month until Will comes to Norway! There are great things in store!

English Drop-Off

2009-02-14T03:50:00.003-06:00

On Friday of this week I gathered a small bag's worth of personal items and headed off to the airport. Christa and I plan to be together in Scunthorpe for the long winter weekend. I have really looked forward to being with her since she has visited me in Norway already 3 different occasions and I have not paid her the favor back. I have heard some stories about her roommates and the kids at the school and I think the only way I can truly understand this time for her was if I came and experienced it myself. I was looking forward to a little vacation, but I had no idea that my travel would take a turn for the bizzare. My Ryan Air flight (which means cheap ticket fee=no leaning back chairs, in-flight service, or guarentee to the destination you booked for) was bound for Stansted London airport on Thursday night. I guess you can imagine what happened? Stansted was closed because of snow on the runway!! It's so bizzare. Christa said that all the other flights were landing in Stansted and it was just mine that was redirected. The guy on the intercom said...'we are sorry to say that we will be not landing here but going to Birmingham'. It seemed okay for me in a way because I was just taking a train, but you should have seen some of those grown men!!!! It was like they just got told they would not get chocolate after dinner. I wonder sometimes at the age of maturity. I think maturity is truly in knowing and living like Jesus. I could definetly see that these people lacked peace. It was a bit troubling to see...but confirmed in me that I could handle it with the help of the Holy Sprit. It's so wonderful when I find myself in those situations to just say, 'Ok Holy Spirit, what are you going to do now?' I get my heart, eyes, and ears ready to receive the provision. Of course it came...without fear I asked a girl if I could borrow her phone. It seems when tragedy strikes (not too tragic) then people gather a bit of community. She said OF COURSE, understanding this horrible situation. Christa was thrown off a bit, but i guess they were driving to pick me up in another town altogether. We landed and I had the most peace I had ever had. Where do I go Holy Spirit? How will I get there? While many other people were running around with thier heads cut off. I had a thought though...what if all the airports closed because of the snow. Would an airpland that needed to land just fly around until it was out of gas??? I am glad I thought of that while I wandered the airport alone--not in the air.

Getting on a train seemed to be a challenge because I had NO idea where I was going. But never fear I grabbed a map and thought OK....where can I go that is close to Christa? I felt a gentleness come over me when I talked to the train ticket lady. She helped me, I paid. I ran to the train and the one I should ride DEPARTED! I gently ran back upstairs...she would remember me of course. I talked to the other lady and descirbed my situation and WOW she was so helpful. The ladies reminded me of two desk clerks at the Waldhotel in our Christmas in Germany. They were both searching the tickets for which one would be best, the blonde one got out a huge map and began flipping through it to see where I should go...THEY REALLY WANTED TO HELP ME. It was just about closing time so I would imagine they were annoyed, tired, finished....but they were so kind like they got a fresh wind of energy to see me through. 'You should call your sister and ask her where to come.' I did not have a phone either.....did I say that? Yeah, This incredible peace remained especially because I had no communication item with me. I told her that I was unable to....she said 'Come around that wall and in here you can use our phone.' WHAT!!! So much favor from the Holy Spirit. At this point I had not used a single dollar more than i would have. We worked out the details and the cost of the departed train was put back on my credit card and the one I should now take to Nottingham was much cheaper. HALLELUIAH. So all in all I got on the train, borrowed another phone, rode for and hour or so on the slowest train ever, and then found Christa! I felt like I was dropped from the sky into a random place and THEN I saw my sister. A very strange feeling, but welcome because it was a joyful reuniting as always.

I went to Christa's classroom and it was like I was Hannah Montana or something. They all crowded around me and asked a million questions. Christa had prepped them for my visit and I guess she did a very good job with making me sound FANTASTIC! I hardly spoke a word in the class and it was bringing this spinning energy just by me being there. Some boys were arguing who would come and ask me a question...Christa said it was funny to see her kids like that. We sang a song together for them and we got the biggest and loudest cheer ever. I thought about doing Hey Away Away....but there might have been a heartattack in the room from the excitement. I felt like if I gave effort to speak, smile, or even something surprising...it would put them over the edge with glee. So for a half an hour I was a movie star signing autographs in a 4th grade class in the ghetto school of Crosby Primary. Hey, there is nothing wrong with that!

The time of teaching is finishing for Christa and her other cohorts here. Many of the people in this 'mixed' community are leaving soon. They are a part of a teaching program which gets them substitute teaching jobs for 6 months. I think the most interesting part about it is how dominant thier lives can be to Christa. I mean Christa is a hard core believer and in this group, there is not much of that happening. I can feel it when I am here too...the presence of lies. I mean dont get me wrong of course these people are nice, but when I can see and hear the lies coming streaming out of thier mouths and in thier actions I am doubly convinced of the enemies joy. My heart breaks for those who are not necessarily 'bad' people but who are so far from understanding the heart of the heavely Father. I can feel the dominance of lies and darkness as it is more appropriate to talk about drinking and shallow things before letting a depth and truth come forward. It is interesting. Just merely experiencing that group made me an intercessor. I could enjoy them normally, but my heart broke for them too. But I wonder how someone can actually seem very happy...very content in lies---and making bad choices constantly? Is it temporary? Is God's grace even bigger than I imagined?

It is good to be with my sister again. It seems like we just have to get together in order to talk. I have been so occupied in the last weeks. But it is always easy to be with her-and she is always ready to share her life with me. She has decided to come back to Norway when mom and dad are coming in order to visit me and help me move home. What a blessing. In the next days here in England will be filled with shopping a bit in York, perhaps playing piano and singing in church tomorrow and eating at a lady's house. THEN....I was asked by a man who ate with us at the restaurant to come and be a part of his Irish Acoustic Band on Sunday night. He will find a fiddle for me and I can join!!!!!!! I don't know Irish fiddle but I have a feeling if I can join them that I will learn FIRST HAND! I am really thrilled. Monday...I will travel again back to Norway.

So many exciting and challenging things that the Holy Spirit is always in charge of. I am glad He is doing it and not me. I can experience His love and love others with its depth and that my friends is the best thing I could live my life for. Amen.

homecoming

2009-02-09T00:28:00.006-06:00

My Skien team and I had a breakthrough involving forgiveness and tears which always paves a way to see where God is taking us. I am so glad. We changed our department name from being the WORSHIP TEAM to being the CREATIVE TEAM. Nothing against worship...but we felt sort of limited in our own perspectives and especially in the perspective of the mission calling. We can surely be creative everywhere and worship while doing it.

Homecoming

Erika & Anne Randi (DTS Roommates in 2006)

Last weekend we invited about 30 guests to come and reunite with us from years past. My good friend Anne Randi was amongst them. She had just had a surgery to put a metal rod in her back because of scoliosis. She looked very good....and seemed taller too. I cant imagine having that surgery either. yikes. There was also a volleyball tournement amongst us here at the reunion. I was on a vibrant team called 'Pretty Awesome'. We played well and got second place. I sprained my ankle in the first game. That is a pretty awesome thing to do. I was forced to relax, to sit back and not join in the worship band---and it was pretty awesome. Someone was praying for my ankle because the next day it was healed! Go God! The reunion was the beginning of new anticipations for me and my team. We will plan a tour to the west coast of Norway and my contact people in whom I am in charge of contacting were here in Skien. I got to talk face to face about us coming and it just started a burst of energy to spin in me. It's going to be wonderful to be with my team on the road and to be with WILLIAM!

A Christa Sista Celebration

We wore orange on Feb 5 for Christa's Birthday. I will fly to England on Thursday to see her for the weekend. I am so excited!

Wellspring on tour!

The new band in town. The group formerly known as 'The Turtles' gets a new name. We are now Wellspring. The concert was fun and went well. We are more encouraged as a team. Amen.

The trumpet was found! This boy lost his trumpet in Skien at our base two months ago. We didn't know whose it was of course and Maria started to play it. It was great to have the new instrument with us. THEN....we come to Seljord and the owner of the trumpet is there. He has been praying that it would come back to him. His aunt bought it for 20,000 Kr. God really showed His character to him personally when we OUT OF NO WHERE brought it back to him. It was nice to be the messenger. But now we are out of a trumpet. So....pray that we can have one now too.

new moves!

2009-01-28T00:47:00.002-06:00

this week has been so busy! but it has been good. I guess when the week is incredibly stuffed with every type of activity it is no use trying to fit mine it too...but I have found a measure of success lately.

in one case I have already this week met with two classes for a half hour of exercise at the end of the day. I am leading some pilates moves and some isometric muscle training. Monday was a group of 15 girls and one boy. Then yesterday I was really shocked...the girls were in an ONLY girls meeting so I figured no one would want to have the class. To my surprise one DTS boy comes running into my office saying 'Pilates...where are we having it?' I smiled as I got my stuff ready for the class. Three DTS boys want me to lead them in muscle stretches and ab work. So funny! We worked on legs too and one guy came to me later and said, 'WOW, Erika I can feel it in my butt.' I'm telling you---YWAM Skien is about to have missionary buns of STEEL!

otherwise tonight I will lead a ballroom dance class
tomorrow is a base day where we gather and have ALL BASE activities
the weekend is saved for a YWAM Skien Reunion. It's a busy one.

but I think I get Monday off. ha.

Finland=Funland

2009-01-26T04:11:00.002-06:00

we have returned to Norway now.
first we drove to Turku, Finland and then took a 11 hour boat across the Gulf of Bothnia which is between Sweden and Finland (an arm of the Baltic Sea) to Stockholm, Sweden.
it really was a fun land. i guess you can imagine.
in all honesty I can say that being away from the base was the best decision I could make. i felt so refreshed to meet the people there.

sometimes there are times that I am not myself. but on this trip i challenged myself to be just as I was and let down some guards. i was definitely refreshed by trusting God in this way.
i will say more later....while I add some photos.

ken and linda helser are here this week. it's a heartfelt love that i can enjoy now.
they are like a mom and dad for me---one that I met when I was in some hard times. it has been good already.

ragnhild and I made a snow-mama for Helina when she came home. She was wearing a scarf on her mis-shaped head and had candy lips and licorice eyes. i wonder how long it will last. we have some strange neighbors who might have a good time taking thier strangeness out on that snow mama.

i just heard that my boyfriend Will and his traveling mobile team had a trailer filled with instruments and it was broken into last night. All the instruments were stolen. There are some instruments to be used in the next couple of gigs....but what a challenge. God has been keeping them encouraged and will provide all along the way. Please pray for them as they are keeping on the road there in Chattanooga, TN.

things are happening...are you hearing what God is saying to you today?
listen.

you can hear God in everything and miss God in anything too.

what day is it?

2009-01-20T15:50:00.001-06:00

i am turning 26 in Finland in about 10 minutes from now. So all I have to say is, yeah.

thank you for reading this self-proclaimed birthday card to myself. It is nice to do once in a while.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME!

from Finland with love,
Kiitos

erika

surround cd released

2009-01-10T04:52:00.004-06:00

do you want to purchase one? ten? i can get a good price for you. please let me know.
regular price: $28
ywam price: $14
MY PRICE: $10

Christmas in the Black Forest with Christa

2009-01-06T09:36:00.005-06:00

The video is done.
If you want to watch the adventures of Germany from the comfort of your own homes...then click here and take a peak.
Christa and I had a great time in Germany and yet there was so many times we wondered how we were going to make it home.....back to reality with a small black forest tree in our bag. it is a wonder we made it back to Norway.
If you ever think about going to the Black Forest...the south of Germany, do it. But keep in mind that Ryan Air tries to make you travel at the most ridiculous times of the day. Make sure you have a game plan. Or you will suffer. But only those who suffer for righteousness will see the victory.

Lykke til. Good luck!
Kos deg! Enjoy!

a German update....for once in my life

2008-12-30T12:12:00.003-06:00

wow. what an adventure here in Germany. The comments have been correct coming from family and friends. 'It looks like you are really busy there in Germany.' Yes....tis true. But I believe that Christa my sista and I are having a really amazing time. It has been amazing to be here with the Albiez family and their amazing staff in the two hotels here in the Black Forest. I just dont know what to say. There have been so many adventures and new things.

check it out here on You Tube and on Facebook (click here). Just to get caught up.

A trip to Germany & so much more!

2008-12-22T05:48:00.003-06:00

Today my sister and I are flying to Germany. If you think of us late in the Monday evening...we are probably somewhere in the middle of the train ride towards Frieburg. I have asked a friend of mine who lives down near the beautiful Black Forest if we could come and visit them for the Christmas season. I hope we get there by Christmas at least. We lost contact for a bit....me and Benjamin ( the friend who lives, works, and loves the German forestry there) and just yesterday received a message about what we might be doing as we visit him. His family has the overall run for two beautiful hotels there. I have always wanted to be a part of a group like that. They have the hotels packed for the season and we can come too! I of course offered my services as a violinist...and we could even work in the kitchen peeling potatoes, shoveling snow and whatever they needed. I guess Benjamin took up the offer and now we are going to be helping where we can. We will be the 'animators' of the hotel. I know I have three violin gigs...and on the 26th after dinner there is a DANCING LESSONS WITH ERIKA HYDEEN! Can you believe it.

So....we are about to set out on our journey. I hope to keep you updated on the journey.
Spa
Skiing
Singing
Dancing
Eating
Serving
Laughing
Speed Scrabbling
Sleeping
Christmasing with amazing Germans!

Merry Christmas!

oh and by the way....William my amazing boyfriend has a plane ticket to Norway. He will join us here on staff from March 22, 2009. I am so excited! Yeah. God provided so much for us!!!
Testimony of the Holy Spirit!!

YWAM Skien Christmas party

2008-12-17T02:21:00.003-06:00

Roommate #1
Helina the Estonian Queen
She looks gentle here, but she really likes to wrestle. I'd say Ragnhild and I won last night!

Roommate #2
Ragnhild our Norwegian Delight
She made this dress she is wearing. She might even move the buttons on my coat someday!

The winners of YWAM Skien's first ever
D A N C I N G . W I T H . T H E . S T A F F
Tim (England) & Melissa (USA)

Me & Marcea
(DTS staff from USA--my one on one gal and a housemate to Sarah Oliver from England while they took a DTS in Kona, HI. I met Sarah in Denver. I met Marcea in Norway. cool!)

I am so encouraged by what God is doing here at the base. I have been saying quite some revealing things in the last weeks. I hope you can just walk with me on this journey. There is no fear when Jesus is near. At this Christmas party we had some time of worship and during this time people were open and sharing about their lives. People from the base started to be transparent and even repent publicly for hindrances in their lives. I also had a break through. I was keeping myself from dancing for so long and on this night I began again. It has been a hard and long journey with dancing. Ever since last year I slowly gave it up---was more and more convinced that I was too old to dance, too tall, too fat, too wannabe, too something...and the joy has been stripped of it. Maybe I am one of those....but I don't believe it is supposed to affect me like this. I reject those lies and now begin to step into what I should do here in this life. I have lost some joy somewhere and then on Friday at the party I began to dance in the worship and that joy swelled within me. My heart almost burst. God really showed up with his joy in my heart. It has been a long week---hard, but good. I think it has been the most honest and open I have ever been on a blog. I am so glad that it has stirred in you too. The comments I get are ones of concern and help. thank you. I see that the shallow blog entries do not stir like the honest ones do. I intend to stir....to awaken...to bring light to darkness.

now it is Wednesday and I have been discussing with people about my job here. I wonder sometimes if I am not in the right job. I have to seek it out more. Should I switch some things? Shall I pursue the area I actually feel called to? What does that mean for me? Hmm.....there must be answers to these questions. And I am not afraid of asking them anymore.

I hope you are not afraid of asking the Holy Spirit questions. Ask Him the hard ones....and when that peace comes OH it is worth every moment of doubt. I figure if I don't ask the question like---'Is my boyfriend Will really supposed to move to Norway in March?' and I just go about my business not even thinking to ask, consider and desire God's heart. I think it is not a matter of doubt......as though if I dare ask God will probably say no. Erika if you just keep your mouth shut and do what you want than everything will work out. NO....this is not the issue. I have been realizing that if I DO open my mouth and open my heart to God....asking him what he wants----I usually get this peace that confirms in my heart the things that have already come my way. So now....in all things I want to first listen, than discover, ask, ask again, listen, discover, and of course keep walking the whole time. I have peace about Will coming. He does too. I know that now. I just never want to be STUCK in a place that I can not consider...than reconsider. I want to obey God....and this is how I am learning that. The reward is good---so trust and obey!!!

it's the last day of work today and my sister comes on Saturday. We fly to Germany on Monday! Wow!!!!

i am not in this alone

2008-12-14T15:40:00.004-06:00

i understand that many of you are unable to actually read my blog entries if it contains confusing abstract details about darkness, tunnels, rats, the power of God, and a random guy named Gary Sadler. I am sorry. You should hear my roommates when I tell them things going on in my heart and head. I ask them what they think and they are like, 'Um....I dont know if I understand, I don't get it....you've been talking for like 20 minutes straight and how should I respond?' I ask that the Lord will first of all bless them back for all the time they have spent trying to understand my abstract thinking and second of all that the Lord would give them fresh understanding. It's hard to be stuck in my mind. I guess sometimes I think that others see what I see....but it is not true. They do not. I have to be very clear about what I am saying...then someone might get 2% of it. Think of those odds. yikes.

I am sorry if you were confused by all the things that seem to be happening in my life. I am going to try and be more open...not so abstract.

if you wonder if I am living in this darkness and letting the spiritual warfare just overtake me....then please consider the fact that I am working here in Norway as a missionary...called to the job I have for just a time like this. I am fighting for victory in Jesus' name. I have only just begun to share with you more openly about all the things that I have seen for almost two years. This is hard to just admit openly. I mean when you are living in a place, it is your home...the people are your people...it is hard to say it is not best. For example, living here at YWAM Skien is good. The people are amazing and the visions are out of this world. But as I am here leading worship, just seeing people get free in front of God...I realize that I am doing my own fighting. I am fighting for worship and prayer to be the heart of this base. I am fighting the principalities that keep worship and prayer from just exploding all over us. I am not fighting the nice and pleasant people here. They are affected by the pressure to keep 'normal' to keep 'under-control' so I have to just come in with the heart that God has given me and BE! LIVE! What could be harder than that? Seriously. Life gets sucked out of the bones of people here....it is easily replaced with routine, performance, and standardizing actions. It breaks my heart. So to explain the darkness one more time.....hope you get it.

I am underground. I am feeling around on the walls. I am getting a sense for the foundations. (practically....I am using the voice of the Holy Spirit, using my heart, emotions, observations to consider what is the situation like here in Norway and in YWAM Skien). It is dark down here....(in these thoughts and prayers). I am not sad ( because this is my job that I am called to). Yet, I weep bitterly (for the heart of God has shown me deep things....broken walls, potential crumbling, areas of danger). I pray. (seeking wisdom to know what to do). I try something (desiring to be obedient to Him). I usually hit my nose on the wall....(ouch). I realize as I am trying to rebuild these ruins here....underground....that I am getting hurt in the process. (this happens in ministry too. I am trying to let my heart be vulnerable for a bigger purpose than myself and I get hurt...wounded...and discouraged). Sometimes I wonder----'does anyone know I am down here caring about the foundations? (Does anyone know that I care about the hearts of the people here in Norway). Sometimes I wonder---'does anyone want the foundations to be fixed? (Why is it so hard to lead people into worship? Do they even want to be giving God glory? Is it performance once again??) Sometimes I wonder----'is there anyone else bumping their noses into walls...feeling the holes in the foundation....wishing it would heal, become strong, be what it was supposed to be' (is there anyone who will come alongside and weep bitter tears about this? who? who?)

So...that is the big deal in my life right now. God has revealed so much. I am amazed. I am not however in the least bit discouraged. I am more enlightened and encouraged because through this openness and transparency to the heart of God....He has begun to heal the wall. By recognizing the hole...pointing at it...and declaring victory for it to be fixed by the power of Jesus,----He started to do it!

I am amazed at the great God we have.

The tears were not for me. They were not because I was going off the deep end and having an emotional breakdown. The tears were for something bigger than me. The heart behind it all. The faith behind it all needs to be boosted. My heart broke because I felt God's heart breaking. I wept because something was missing. And now the tears of sorrow have brought reason to see joy.

That is victory.
That is God.

p.s. I heard a couple amazingly confirming things from my wonderful boyfriend too---which made me cry different tears---of joy, renewal, and delight. That is victory. That is God.

amen.

tending the cracks

2008-12-12T01:39:00.003-06:00

today is the Christmas party in skien. i realize that I am not a fan of big get togethers...because if I have to plan them they are a disaster. if the party has anything to do with my home, my things, my time, and my understanding friends.....it will be okay. But I would not enjoy to plan a party for strangers...to do things that have to impress them ALL! yikes. Ragnhild is planning the Christmas party and she is doing a great job. I hope she enjoys it while she plans. Helina is sick today. She has been having headaches for weeks now. She will get better through the blood of Jesus!

i am walking in the darkness. i keep figuring it out. many things that used to bring me joy do not anymore. things that were fun, enjoyable and inspiring now bring me pain, burden, and weight on my shoulders. i find myself looking for things to do that will bring me fulfillment. i am a bit embarrassed to say that as a worship leader I have been so disconnected with God. I have been dealing with grief because I missed Him so much these last months. i just feel so lost in the darkness at times. now...don't get me wrong this is not a darkness that is depressive, but a darkness that swallows light, drowns me, brings me bruises from bumping my nose on the walls as I try to find the foundations. that is what it is....i am underground. there is nothing bad about being underground. i am walking in the sewer system here in Norway. I feel like I am searching my heart and this nation for the foundations of Life. It is a burden....but I value it so much. I have been quiet about what I have found in the past years. I have kept this discovery to myself within my prayers for answers. i am bumping around in the darkness down here, running my nose square into the things that I fear the most: embarrassment, rejection, loneliness, and failure. the walls of the foundation this nation is standing on are critical. i can see it within the walls of the YWAM base sometimes. What holds this place up? We are visionary for sure...but without that heart of worship and prayer it is going to just collapse and come to ruin. I put so much of myself into this place because I have been called here. I had a breakdown this week. It was good to just let God capture my heart and break it. I want to be transparent. I don't want to cower anymore. The solution to the situation is still a mystery. how to patch up a broken wall? how shall we rebuild the ancient ruins?

i felt my broken heart all week. every day this week I wept bitterly. i think I just am in the beginning stages of realizing my loss---in not obeying God when He wants to be with me. I am just weeping because of the knowledge of who God is and how amazing He is. i have not cried in a long time. i have become a bit of a shell---hurts tend to do this to you. art didn't affect me. music was so unsatisfying (still is....I have a hard time doing it with passion and not just to communicate in a worship setting). exercise is not happening. things that inspired do not anymore. i miss God so much. I dont want anything else but Jesus. what if my job here at YWAM Skien was not to bring the results of worship but was to first and foremost reveal the need of God...and the longing. if through bitter tears of sorrow i can see my way through this darkness than so be it. i might not see the healings, i might not see the foundations be rebuilt. perhaps I will weep again because I do not see the results my heart is working so desperately for...but then the Lord will keep me and restore me. this is His work. not mine. I am grateful I am being used. i believe I am coming back to a long lost hope and prayer.

'Lord, if only one will come closer to You---than I would be satisfied in your mercy.'

my prayer is that I am not bringing a new mask for a mess. i am not afraid of mess. i am only beginning to see how consuming the mess can be. am I strong enough to receive joy in mess....instead of stress.

Lord help me. I long for you....and miss you.

I know that I am not the only one that has these longings. those that are closest to me have been tending to their own cracks and messes----longing for God. I see the strain in their eyes, and hear the deep sighs. WHAT IS HAPPENING GOD? Why am I in this? Why are we being shaken to our cores? Helina says she would like to have a coffee date sometime just so she can sit and talk. She said, 'Erika, you should hear yourself when you sleep.' (am I snoring?) no. she said she just was concerned with the deep sighing and grunts and gurgles I produce. i should listen to what my body is telling me. I guess I have recognized a deep troubling but who knew that it would have a physical sound unconsciously. So, whatever is going on is not hidden anymore. God is stirring up my insides and at the same time has desperately taken my close friends and stirred them too.

i wonder if God is going to use this blog entry as a eye opener for many...for you. this darkness we walk in is not against man, but against the powers and principalities of that darkness. we are not alone. i am not alone. the darkness and the potential fears however present they are....do not scare me. I will not give room for fear.

but now....you know what to pray about. if you will.

without fear because of the Life given on the cross,
Erika

2008-12-10T16:36:00.003-06:00

ha! this is ironic. Gary, the guy I have been talking about is now commenting on my blog. Aparently I am good at telling tall tales...or making up stories I guess. you can read the true stories on his comments. sorry Gary....my information was from the horse----RUNAR! He likes to tell stories too...and stretch things. I guess I believe them. I will check my stories from now on. I receive this as a healthy correction in my blogging life. you know I desire to live righteously so it will start with my blog. i might actually start by telling what is happening in my life. i might begin by actually letting you know how hard it is to be here in YWAM Skien. I suppose it means I am going to let it on thick-----well at least as thick as it needs to be. truth hurts.....but truth changes things. anyway...back to Gary----great guy as I have said. really funny. and nosy (he found my blog out of all of them---what a crazy guy)
i've heard the cd as it has progressed to the mastering stage. it is good. there are some strange little details to work out. for example there was a violin part just plunked on to the end of one song....in which I did not play on in the live or the studio. they just took it and made it work. it sounds a bit wierd because I would not have actually played some of those things if I were playing for the song it was plunked onto. and there is one note that is just sour! oi. but it really sounds great overall. i just have to be honest about it. I think Gary is giving me a hard time because I gave him one. the whole process was fun, but there were some things that made it great. Gary was leading us in the studio recording with his hands...and big facial expressions and all. one time he and the other vocal lead went to the studio and I got to BE GARY! I was doing it like him...with the faces and the hands. Hope that didn't hurt your feelings Gary! It was fun to push the 'record' button on the keyboard. I was sitting in the pilot's chair for a little of one song. Anyway....i hope you can all forgive me for not researching my sources about Gary. I take full responsibility and I let my pride fall. I humble myself before the truth. I realize that I just did not know Gary like I could have. but......it's okay and grace is there for me and you! do you know Susan Ashton? is she a world renowned singer? guess who told me she was.....RUNAR! He is one tall tale himself.

i just experienced some amazing breakthrough here. this week is a special one. i am fasting for a specific reason and i am beginning to hear God's voice...seek Him and find Him again. it's good that the worship leader says that. what a tragedy to be any other way. oi. we are in a fight against the powers and principalities of darkness----not each other. sometimes I get the sense that people I know and love are falling between the cracks that are opening up around us. the cracks that are holding our foundations together. those cracks are swallowing up people here. things are getting messy---and beautiful. just like my boyfriend says: 'I'm not afraid of messy'. I think I challenge him in this area often. (if you are reading this: i miss you) He challenges me too. The more I realize that this battle is not about me...but it is about God and his desire to be worshiped through these people than I have to do everything with the Holy Spirit to see breakthrough. I have not felt the support of the base at all in what I am doing. some comments have come to me last year that spoiled me. I was not strong enough to deal with them and to combat. i just climbed in a hole and cried. and i started to ferment there. then I went to the school of worship and things got harder for me. i met my fears on the side of the road.....and they beat me up and left me to cry again. the road has been lonely. the road has been so hard!!! Tonight I finally got to share about this with my small group. I dont know why I have kept silent all this time. I think it is because i believed that people did not care. i was getting hurt because people were hurt. but.....listen---something is happening and it is messy. it might involve confrontation. it might involve people being honest and even angry. it might involve redemption. and it will involve righteousness and obedience. halleluiah! i'm just fed up with darkness. sick of it. the enemy is going to get it! oh yeah. The Holy Spirit....is in Skien! Amen.

video updates

2008-12-04T15:13:00.001-06:00

LIVE recording of Surround in YWAM Skien

Recording: There is No Fear with Gary Sadler

surround

2008-11-30T18:25:00.002-06:00

that is the title of the cd.

it is not made yet...but it is being made as we read this. Last night was the LIVE recording in the culture house and it went well...for the most part. There were two songs that we really crumbled on, but we had a second chance at one...and the other was the TITLE SONG!! no joke. the song entitled Surround was a bit of a messy deal during the concert. oh well. there are masters of technology out there.

my voice is hashed. i am so tired....like twitching tired, but I am encouraged. I believe that this cd will reach many people. that is....if they buy it. there was supposed to be a break through in the cd sales, but only 33 bought some-----disappointing. there were 230 people at the concert. we even gave them a great deal too. oh well....you can't buy them all.

i hope to post a video soon. i had one violin part and it went really well. later I realized that playing the violin is a major strength. i was handicapped a bit when I was just singing. i could not manage to express with melodies what I had in my heart. with the violin I can actually express what is in my heart. Gary told me that I was a very good violin player. that means alot coming from someone living in Nashville. He told me he has known hundreds of violinists and yet I have proved to him over and over that I have a beautiful and natural melodic tone. it is a tender mix between country and blue grass....but really more like something that is celtic and born out of worship. that is what it is....born out of worship. I have not studied any violinists and i actually do not know famous violinists. maybe I should. but then again....., but then again.......

yeah. do you know any?

our last rehearsal

2008-11-29T03:46:00.002-06:00

The recording is tonight! Last night we finally put the singers with the band. It was a bit nerve wracking to believe that we would get all of the words right...and we would be singing from our hearts. It's a hard connection. To be perfect, but to be natural...and to be worshiping and not performing. It is a good lesson to learn of course. We have practiced so much...hours and hours of singing. I am awake now on this Saturday morning and my voice is rough. I don't know what to do to make it clear and angelic. I hope I can participate with my whole sound. And if you ask anyone here...that whole sound---is loud! So I might just want to participate with my whole heart and part of my sound.

These are the girls singing from the stage. Alice (YWAM Skien leader, with the face), Kaja, Hild Mari, and Maria. It is good pressure for us to learn these LIVE album concepts.

A stolen photo taken of us relaxing between songs.

There is a lot of energy coming out of these people. I sometimes wonder if I am in Norway! It will be fun at least to be here with them.

I hope the rest of the weekend is going good. I am sort of crammed into this position and can't really go around and enjoy the other parts. I missed the meeting last night....which was packed they say. I hope today is just the same! We could be surprised how many youth come to be together. I know that my roommate Ragnhild is just organizing everything like always! She is great. SO great!!!

the weekend

2008-11-28T00:28:00.005-06:00

since last weekend....it has flown here in Skien. I think the finger of God is in all of this...He continues to bring unity amongst His people. The events leading up to this weekend's excitement are all part of God's plan. What is this weekend?

We are recording a LIVE album here in Skien. We have invited youth from around the county of Telemark to come and be with us for an encouraging conference called Embrace. I believe it is a great way to combine our hearts and efforts with the churches in Skien as well as take a big step forward in our small world here. It is exciting to think of what God will use this LIVE worship cd for in the years to come. We see the need to encourage youth from around Norway. Many of them are the only Christians in their towns and the towns can be dark places....not just in the winter.
A man named Gary Sadler from Nashville, TN has come to produce this cd. He is doing a fantastic job. I really enjoy getting to know him and.....even Runar admits that without him this thing would be a disaster. He is very clever and creative. His personality is just winning. It is so easy to honor him. He loves the Lord. He was going to start a church with Micheal W Smith many years ago but decided to pull out because Micheal was so much more well known. If you listen to any Susan Ashton cds...than you hear Gary Sadler's songs. It is amazing that we have such a musical genius and Christian music world star with us. AMAZING!

So if you are thinking of thanksgiving and turkey this weekend....try to focus your food stuffed self on Norway for a moment. We are stepping out in a realm we have never stepped out in before and we believe that God is going to do some big things. It will be great!!

Let me know if you want a copy. I can buy one cheap for you in January!

P.S. One of my songs that I wrote in Switzerland is going to be on it. Not played Live...but a hidden track put on there later. I am honored!

rites of the music junky's world

2008-11-23T04:37:00.006-06:00

I joined Arvid Petterson (a Christian album musician from Skien) and his make-shift band to Tøfte (near Drammen, Norway) for a Saturday night concert. There were some things I had to learn about the concert scene. There are rites to such an entertainer's entrance.

1. The outfit. What slightly unique items could I find in my closet to complete this winning 'stage outfit'?
I found:
a salmon colored pleated skirt and a grey cardigan (both lost and found items--$0)
black ankle tights--totally a Norwegian winter necessity (hand-me-downs from Anne Randi--$0)
2 black tank tops (Old Navy--$15)
thigh high black and grey striped socks (H&M--$7)
black scarf (Gina Tricot--$7)
Norwegian boots (Kristiansand--$15)
glittery broach to keep the gray cardigan closed (Ragnhild's closet--$0)

2. Loving the stage kids. This is Arvid's youngest daughter Josephine. She and her sister Johanna sing with dad. Only 11 and 14...but they can harmonize well...and are not shy! We're best friends now and will hang out 'off stage' sometime.

3. Eat cake with famous people. This is Charlie Blackwater. He is one of Norway's most talented harmonica players. He is from Kristiansand. This man is so unique...not only do his teeth make him a star....his hard like a rock diaphram muscles do too. His first words to me....'Erika, Erika...I, I'm not a junky.....I, I am a musician!' (well said). He gave me a stage name: FIDDLE ROSE

4. Be willing to WING it! I sat with Arvid in the car on the way there and he told me....'A, B, Bb, C....than repeat that, wait 4 measures...D, C#, C' OK.....now that is without ever hearing the song, or having my violin out. I get to the stage....with my outfit on....and go. A major wing! A large even enormously giant wing!

'Smile' by Arvid Pettersen. I am not playing on this song...but I am dancing and having a good time in the audience.

moving up in the communication world!

2008-11-18T14:24:00.003-06:00

we have internet now in our apartment.
and now we are discussing the rules.
helina says we should have time lock box so it cannot be used until after 5pm.
erika says we should be able to talk after midnight!
ragnhild says we should have a schedule and go to bed at midnight

hmm. will this be good.

at least better with our family and friends across the sea.

yeah us!

skien is coming alive!

2008-11-15T12:34:00.005-06:00

well...when I feel alive then I feel like the whole city is alive. so...I feel alive! so SKIEN.....you are alive!!

come in and learn and have time with good influences! I am so proud of my students....they areI started lessons this week. I had a group vocal lesson on Wednesday night. I was surprised that more than 15 showed up. They were all so excited about being a part of it. I was impressed! Then last night I had the first Ballroom Dancing Lesson. It was also a HIT! There were close to 25 people there. I taught the basics of Fox Trot and Swing. They love it! The students and staff absolutely love it. I think I might open it up for others to join....like friends from the outside can fantastic. And you know....I am just a teacher in and out. I love to teach and I love to help! It is a great LIFE. Thank you GOD!!! These are my delightful students learning the Fox Trot.

I mean, come on....who will EVER use the Fox Trot? BUt.....it is so fun to learn old fashioned things like this. It teaches so much about posture, man and woman relationships, courtesy, and appropriate physical contact....according to YWAM values. YEAH!

so fun! I think you should be here!

more photos of fun November in Skien....click here

some old videos to share

2008-11-13T11:08:00.004-06:00

August in Switzerland:
At the Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne, Switzerland with Richie Elles. Amazing Spontaneous Music!

September in Norway:
I am playing the violin in these performances here playing in Ålesund, Norway for the YWAM European Arts Gathering (find me in the back right corner) . I had no practice. I just was thrown in. Nice!!

First one is: 'Intro' by Chris DeLuke
Second one is by Gåte

the end is always the beginning

2008-11-08T18:24:00.004-06:00

New videos posted! I want to share what we played tonight at the conference. It is only a snippet of the two songs...but you can hear the violin soaring through the air. Just imagine 1300 women crammed in that church. wow.

'You are my Sanctuary' by Gary Sadler

'Be Near' by Shane & Shane

Alice, the singer, is the base leader in Skien. I have really enjoyed getting to know her more on our trip. She has become like a big sister or an aunt to me. If she ever makes a cd and travels around Europe with it....she will call me and I will be her violinist! YES!

I don't know why I was here at this conference yet. But i do know that one girl had heard me play violin at Catch the Fire in Oslo and was so blessed as I was walking around the audience and playing to people. She was sitting next to a man that I stopped by to play for. She was so tired in her mind and heart and when I played it just brought streams of refreshing tears to her eyes. Alice suggested that I get my violin and play for her again right now. GREAT IDEA! I went to fetch it.....and then realized that I should be doing this more. Why not? The violin is my spiritual weapon. I use it to bring joy to sadness and healing to brokenness. She was double blessed as she listened to the private concert we had. God used me. I am used.

Unfortunately, I have been having these painful ear aches lately. I have gotten them at other times of my life and now it has been plaguing me since I flew to Norway from the states two weeks ago. It was in the right ear...now it is in the left. Every touch of the outside of my ear is painful and also there is a deep thumping and dull ache. It's painful. Alice with her reckless hands gave it an accidental big smack and I writhed in pain. Perhaps I should see a doctor? I bet it is just deep in the head congestion like the other times.

Well on my way out of the meeting...which lasted until 10 minutes before midnight!.......I saw Carol sitting on the chairs. I was like....'no, why is she just sitting there...so available?' I wanted her to pray for me...for my ear and I also wanted to ask her how her knee was (the one that Will prayed for while we were in Redding, CA) I battled a bit in my mind...'no, she has been praying for 2 hours now...she is tired, you don't need the specific prayer from her, just go....it's late!' BUT NO!! I was bold and I asked an ministry teammate if I could have prayer from Carol. She said YES. So I knelt down beside her and as I started to ask for healing prayer for my ears I just wept. I could hardly speak. The words that came out were..' I'm afraid I will go deaf, my ears hurt a lot of the time, I don't want to go deaf!!' She looked at me...taking my head in her hands and prayed. Her fingers were pressed really firmly in the side of my head and it was not actually painful at that moment. Her ministry companion laid a hand on me too. It was like the whole world stopped and God had given them both the little bit more energy they needed to receive me. Carol took my head again and looked at me....then gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead. I thanked her. My ear was not healed in that moment....but I got a moment to look into those deep eyes of love. The eyes that have seen hundreds and thousands of signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit. And the cool thing was....I was not afraid. I asked her about her knee. How was it feeling? She said it was doing so much better since California. I told her that it was my boyfriend that had prayed for her. She got bright eyes and said, 'was it really??' She said it was much, much better and that I should thank Will for her. So....Will, if you are reading this....THANKS FROM CAROL ARNOTT!

we drive back to Skien tomorrow.
i get internet in our apartment soon!
will we go to Germany for Christmas? I believe so!!!

taking the time

2008-11-08T02:50:00.002-06:00

this is the song that I wrote for Tracy's wedding as well as the song that I played here at the women's conference in Kristiansand. Enjoy!

is this a women's conference?

2008-11-07T10:02:00.003-06:00

i got in the small car that was going south. the women's conference was the destination. alice byberg (YWAM Skien's base leader), maria (from my team), anne-mari (amazing woman), me, and evan wilson (who we called Evalyn....for the night). we led worship on thursday for 400 women who were pastors and leaders. i played violin...and then afterward there was an opportunity to play the song I wrote for Tracy's wedding. it was perfect. so many people came up to me and told me how amazing it was....how it ministered to them. it was an honor to play music hand in hand with Carol Arnott. She was using time to pray as I played over the women. it was special. I have to believe that God used my wrestling with His heart in the month of October to write this song just for his good and perfect plan for his women here in Norway. God is good!!after the meeting we went out for a girls night---kebab and hamburgers at midnight!

maria and i

then....we were filled with joy and food and decided a girls night was not complete without some jumping on the bed. wow! this is really fun!!

maria is flying high

alice and i had the most fun on those norwegian beds. i love this picture...especially our faces.

but then, there is this photo which is fantastic. it looks so weird.
all that kebab was tossed up in me. I am surprised i kept it down. and I am surprised the neighbors did not mind all our noise.

want to see more? click here

i am not sure why i am at this conference again. there is so much spoken about spending time in face to face moments with Jesus. i really feel like I am saying... I GET IT! Yet something draws me to wonder...am I on the far edge of a season I already know or am I on the front edge of a season I am just blind enough to not see? I suppose I will wait and see.
All I know is that I want to become Mary of Bethany, to give a great big hug to Anna the Prophetess, and kiss Jesus!

making all things new

2008-11-05T15:00:00.004-06:00

i am in my new office. i upgraded to a larger, colder, and quieter place. I have moved a desk up to the window overlooking the city square. we are in a building that has a great location in the middle of Skien. the man who owns it is actually letting us borrow it for free. I suppose if the for sale sign on my 'looking out' window was obeyed we would have to move out within 2 weeks of notice. i suppose that is something that would cause a leader to not sleep at night, but Runar...our base leader...doesn't worry. God knows what we need. It really builds my faith to be on staff here at YWAM Skien. Most of the time I am just trying to follow the meetings which go between Norwegian and English but otherwise we are discussing many issues. I find it amusing that our base is just exploding. There is NO room for anyone else to sleep here! I am surprised the teachers still want to stay there with the crowded hall and very acoustic sound levels. A topic at every leader meeting is 'housing......so...where will we put this new boy?' Ugh! If sleeping on the street was legal we would suggest it. I mean come on, we already have a camper in the backyard of our 'middle of the city house'. Crazy!

so you wonder how I can have this quiet and large office? well...the second floor of the office building (different than the prison, which doubles as housing) is the prayer, counseling, and lost and found boutiquen floor. the traffic here is light....since the store on the first floor will throw a fit if we stepped on their ceiling with anything but Indian moccasin silence. The room also doubles as a hotel for any youth that come for conferences. So....then I just hide my things I guess. I am not an office person but since I have so many relationships that are not HERE AND NOW in Norway---I am forever on the phone! Let's celebrate NEW OFFICE DAY!!Prayer Room

View out my window

My new office

Boutiquen-Lost and Found Shop

The view from behind my desk

get this!! I was just emailing my mom and dad about buying a nicer (like fashionable) winter jacket for my time here in the north. I didn't think much of it when I went across the room to the new Lost and Found Boutiquen and looked in the 'Men's and Women's Jackets' closet and amongst three items--a bathrobe, an ugly dress and a jacket----there it was. A black and white patterned coat with a furry collar. I tried it on---a little short in the sleeves, but isn't everything! I looked like I might be 39 years old...but it works. Hey! I am in Norway for this short time and since it seems like EVERYTHING IS FASHION...then I will wear what I find and call it good. Let's celebrate NEW OLD LADY COAT DAY!!

P.S. I made it onto a very important list on this other guy's blog. check out my status!!

polish kids and men in pajamas

2008-11-02T16:14:00.004-06:00

as I promised, cookies were baked for random neighbors and Polish friends up the street. I made 50 so we (Ragnhild and I.....she was recruited for the job) made 'God November' cards and wrapped up those little chocolate covered raisin cookies . Who celebrates November for no apparent reason? We do! HAPPY NOVEMBER! Can you imagine getting a random person at your door saying that? We met a man living next door who we had never seen before. He came to the door in his bathrobe and short socks...come on! It was 2:30 in the afternoon. We were adorable....so he probably thought he was still dreaming!
but he was shocked (stunned is a better word) ...but he was the one wearing a bathrobe...so we were shocked too!
...tttt tusen ... tttakk!

but I must admit....on behalf of me and Ragnhild...this little encounter with people was just what we needed. It was fantastic to get in contact with those around us. I have discovered something more about myself and in the process, realizing a depth of my calling. These things that bring me the most joy do not always include music or leading worship. The things that bring me the most joy are connectedness with people. I am discovering my shepherd heart. I am so happy! I am so glad that I am not actually called to be just a leader of worship, but a leader of hearts! It is good....to discover peace in this. I spring to life on the inside when I have fellowship with people. To tell you the truth...the best year of my working life so far was not here in Norway, but it was working as a waitress in Orange City, Iowa. I was alive on the inside and out! I was encountering people all the time...and they were encountering the love of God through me. Now.....Lord, more love for Norway....serving, shepherding, creativity, and rest! You know how. So let's do it here in Skien. Maybe even for those Polish kids...and all the neighbors in bathrobes.

victory

2008-10-31T02:42:00.002-05:00

i went to sleep last night. i woke up at 5am! Hallaluiah for sleeping through the night!

i just visited the DTS classroom and invited the students and staff to consider an area that they would love to be better equipped in. I have offered myself as a piano, vocal, violin, painting, dancing, drawing, theater, or sculpture teacher. I did some free private lessons like this last year and they were a HIT. I know that God has called me here to teach and to be active in the lives of the people at the base. i felt great about this meeting...and I sense that I am stepping into my calling once again. Halleluiah for hearing God's voice!

this weekend I will make cookies for the Polish family that lives up the street. I want an excuse to bless them and make a good contact. it's the best plans I have ever made on a weekend.

and by the way.....no one can ever say they had a hard distance relationship. Will and I always take the cake on that one. ha!!

wide-eyed nights

2008-10-30T13:01:00.001-05:00

so I am going to bed at a decent time, but I am laying in my bed for hours upon hours with my eyes wide open. ever since I stepped off that bus from the train from the plane which was just one of 5 planes in two days, I have been exhausted. I just managed to conclude something about something today--three days later. I woke up at 1:30pm without the knowledge of where I was and a massive muscle ache in my shoulder on Tuesday. I showered and made my way to the office, leisurely of course. While there I was pleasantly reminded of how great the people at YWAM Skien are. They welcomed me with many hugs, 'glad you're back, we missed you!', and congratulations on the new boy! I could barely tell a story so I managed a smile. Missionaries are used to overwhelming times...they will wait for me to be ready to tell them more later. I opened my email to see 44 new! Guess how long that took me to read through? 5 hours!! I was so absent in every way.

as I slithered in bed i realized that there was this curious feeling in my skin. i somehow knew I would not sleep very well. i tossed and turned for hours. Finally after really sensing a presence of God and the small multitude of angels around me...I got up. I read, listened to some sermons, wrote in my journal, and prayed. I have been getting up between the hours of 2 and 6 every night. Doing just this. I believe I have found my purpose. I am an intercessor. I find joy in spending time in God's presence. Just being there.

it's like when I find my identity in this way I can just as well say no to other things that are in the way. it makes my choices very specific.

so I will be discovering this calling more. intercession in painting, worship, music, relationship, mentoring...and life!

any comments?

if I had a role model from the Bible that was not Jesus...it would be Mary of Bethany. She rocks!

worlds collide

2008-10-25T10:48:00.003-05:00

California really marks the collision of many worlds. I am so honored to see of the destruction before my very eyes!!Fez & Jamie finally are reunited after a tragic international puppet separation

my man Denver meets my girl NorwayMicheala, Ragnhild, Irene & me...how we all met each other is more like a scribble on a page...not a circle, line, or arrow. It's amazing how God brings people together.

Will & I: I am so honored that he came to California to spend some time here at the conference and with me and the girls. This is a collision all on it's own.....now add it to the rest and you get overwhelmed quickly.

Of course! The Dodge truck and me. We met on the road from Sacramento to Redding. Never thought I would drive one of these babies--nice rental option that swallows gas like vitamins.

I will exit this state today.
I'll have a 3 minute goodbye to Will in the Denver Airport.
On to Omaha.
On to Norway.
On to rest.
What shall you do with me God....I'm all messed up now!

2008-10-24T05:21:00.002-05:00

So....there's this boy....;)

Meet Will StricklandMy boyfriend :)

We're in the wilderness in Northern California.... Whiskeytown to be exact.

The Sundial Bridge in Redding, California

Will is a worship leader for the YWAM base in Denver, Colorado. We are here in Redding, California to get some face time and go to a conference at Bethel Church. Its been an amazing time so far and we are both so excited about what God has for us while we are here.

shooting arrows

2008-10-16T08:50:00.002-05:00

i am here in Orange City, IA. a week and a half ago I was in Oslo catching the fire with the base. It has been a crazy week coming to this point. we traveled, we talked, we planned, we hardly slept, we drove a car, we went to seven states in 24 hours, and we still have quite some to go. I personally am doing very well. There have been some moments though where I question my whole ministry. I question my integrity in the scheme of things. You know it is one thing to preach about spending time with God and finding our purpose for life...to glorify Him. It is another one to yearn so much in my heart to worship Him and sort of wonder how to make it happen. I do not want to live my life hypocritically. It seems one day I am looking to obey in my ever step and the result is active and outward. Other days I wish I was active and outward and I am only just thinking, pondering, analyzing my heart. Am I able to get OUT of this body. Am I able to live OUT of this heart? Am I able to reach OUT to a hungry world?

Yesterday was one of these days. I had spent two nights ago in my bed feeling my heart break for something. I have learned now in my walk with God that when I cry and weep it is not always for myself...or my own emotions. I have asked God to transform me to be like a barometer for him. My emotions, tears, anger, confusion....whatever can be a reflection of the spiritual temperature. This has been sometimes a hard concept to run on but overall God has been teaching me so much. Often the feelings I have are not just mine....but a collective feeling of the group I am in, the family, the city, the country even! It's about spiritual sensitivity. What is happening around me.....that I can not see? So as I was saying two nights ago I was just weeping with a broken heart. I couldn't explain it. I just asked God to speak to me. I felt this stirring inside. Finally after a half hour of soggy listening I fell asleep into a deep deep peace. When I awoke yesterday I was heavy with peace. Like I had soaked all night in the presence of God and he had embraced me. My broken heart had now turned strong. What an amazing experience! So as I met with people yesterday I was sharp and filled with the love of the Holy Spirit. Every conversation I had was like shooting arrows of truth deep into the heart. I can only imagine that the Lord prepares His children to be his messengers. I want to be so sensitive to the heart of God...so that when I meet His lost ones, His angry ones, His shame-filled ones, His shallow-hearted gossiping ones, His lonely ones, and His weary ones....I am as He. Shooting arrows of love.

I am tired. I need to be renewed again from a long day of archery. God is the everlasting. Without a revelation of who He is than I am still just a clanging cymbal. Lord! Give me more of your love!!!!

-erika

catching the fire

2008-10-05T06:54:00.002-05:00

home again from a long week.

it seems as though i can not stay home long enough to have some consistency in my life. i find it a bit discouraging, however the moments I am away from home and discover something fantastically amazing about God there...i know I am walking in his providence. the only thing that is discouraging is the time I have to create good habits, good routines to keep my heart radiant. i believe that God is bigger than my routines so I just pray that I can be transformed in my mind so I can realize this bigness no matter where I go, how often, and for how long. as I prepare to leave Norway for the states I am overwhelmed. we came home last night from Oslo. i did three loads of laundry and think my sleepy roommates are ready for some home time.

perhaps many of you are under-informed---but i have entered into a very special relationship. i am happy to say that the pleasant friendship of this man of God has changed my world. you might wonder how it is to be in Norway----and is he in Norway? it is great to be in Norway and no he is not here. that is not why it is great....of course the Lord has answered my prayers from all corners of my heart. think about it like this....

once upon a time I prayed that I would find a kindred spirit friend to walk with----God answers
once upon, another time, I prayed that I would fall in love with Norway so my work here would be not in vain---God answers.

I just try to fathom how complicated it must be for Him....but it is not. He answers prayers just the timing of them are not always what we expect. so I love Norway and I have a kindred spirit in the form of a man named Will who lives in Denver. hmmm. I just keep thinking that God is good.

my time at the conference in oslo was great. there are some skeptical people that are walking around in my circles so I find it hard to express what I experienced....but that fear is not from God. So here in this context I will express! The Holy Spirit is a person and I have not been taught so much on it in my church history. I have to look beyond the things the church has taught me and try to grapple a bigger perspective. many people at this conference were connecting so powerfully with the Holy Spirit....I also want that connection. I want to know God! Just knowing God is also knowing the Holy Spirit! i think just becoming radical, and bold to take steps of faith that put my reputation, my heart, my future, my present, and my pride in danger are things that look more and more like Jesus. God is my protection and he has given me the angels of the heavens to gaurd me.....but if I never step out and live from the inside out...I will never see the Kingdom. So what does this mean? I believe it means taking practical steps of release from the busy world. I will never see the work of God's heart if I stay in the busy mindset. I am thinking of taking my team of girls (helga and maria) and just cancelling all our planned activities and just soak in the presence of God, read the Bible, paint, have time to talk with people, be filled up with that everlasting peace, interceed......and all of them done by getting our hearts clean and connected to the source. I find there is nothing else I would do. I begin to see that there are not so many people with this deep desire...and since I recognize it I must act on it. I am waiting for my hip to be healed as well. I want to dance for God. My hip hurts. So when you think about radical.....pray for that healing. I believe I have my healing!

this is much to swallow....as it is raw coming to you. do you have any comments or questions. I am up for talking about these things.

gonna go have a sabbath (I wish that was in the form of a SA-BATH...with bubbles and a rubber duckie!)

He in me,
Erika

Oslo

2008-10-01T01:10:00.002-05:00

Hey all!

Greetings from the capitol city. I will be here from Monday until Saturday. It is the longest I have been in Oslo...and it's nice. I am staying with my staff friend Janelle (Canadian---quickly becoming Norwegian) and my DTS roommate Karen Amalie in thier sweet house. The reason I am here is because I was asked to play my violin for a conference called Catch the Fire. There is a ministry from Toronto that has seen revival for 15 years...they come and teach and preach and heal and all sorts of crazy things. I am playing in the band. Its wierd how God just puts me right in the middle of all the things I never knew anything about and get to see it. wow.

I also will be interviewed for www.lovsang.no it is a worship website. there is some interest in my story. I will let you know what comes of that and if you can get translation. Maybe my dad would do it. huh huh?

My roommate Ragnhild and I are coming to the states next week. It is a three week endeavor. We look forward to every minute of it. I hope to see some of you if it is possible. Just send a note!

gotta go catch the fire now!

Ålesund

2008-09-21T19:21:00.003-05:00

I'm back from the West Coast now. Ålesund is so beautiful. I was inspired so much and the time that was spent was worth it. Check out my pictures here.
More stories to come.

hearing the heart

2008-09-16T13:45:00.002-05:00

it's been a super cool adventure so far to hear the heart of God with my two girls Helga and Maria. I am so blessed to walk with them in obedience to what we sense in our guts! I have never in all my life been this close...and far at the same time to knowing where I was walking, but with the increase of faith been ready and willing to go. i of course have to admit that because of some events that were difficult in Switzerland...appointed meetings from people giving encouragements and rebuke I have grown to see a new perspective. shall I share? humbly I confess that my pride has made me the center of everything. I have been riding the pride train....thinking I was so humble. its fairly easy when the tasks at hand are not incredibly difficult but what about when it becomes difficult? is the failure my fault? or do I start leaving the blame somewhere else....hmm. I have been defending myself...my pride instead of fessing up to the weakness. Its easy for me to pretend I am strong. I guess that is what pride is---keeping your reputation. so to give you more meat...in switzerland I was opened up to the reality of my pride and how (to my prideful surprise) I actually was annoying to someone. WHAT? People dont think that I am completely awesome all the time? What a concept. oi. this is very good. I remember the feeling I had when that was said by my friend....and it was a good hit in the gut. i still feel that hit in the gut....but it's how I recognize the call of God. the tough love and the asking---will you change for me? will you transform to my image? will you lay your pride down and obey? I want so desperately to hear the heart of God. I struggled quite a bit when I was in this music thing for the performance of it. I stopped hearing the heart...and I almost stopped having compassion for the lost. one great man of God in Switzerland told me to always have a good judge of a ministry: look at the fruit--is there compassion? is there a heart for the lost? are people discipled? hmmmm......I look at my life as a ministry ( as I am a minister of reconciliation) do I have compassion? do I have a heart for the lost? are people discipled in whom I walk with? I was saying no to 2 of 3. NOT GOOD! How is that for humbling. so let's start from the beginning again I say. what is the root of that fruit? i think that if there is no love then there is nothing. read 1 cor. 13. Perhaps I was a clanging cymbal. clang clang clang. so all I can ask is that God fills me with his love every day. he hits me in the guts with His love. now I am beginning to hear His heart. amen.

2008-09-02T00:15:00.003-05:00

I-Wish Band in Switzerland

2008-08-28T16:43:00.002-05:00

worship.

the idea is genuine, but the heart is hard to get to.

I just pray that all who read this will desire a heart filled with worship, surrender, and God.

it is possible that to worship you need a revelation of God....and to get that...you need a revelation of yourself. I am a temple of the Holy Spirit...what is this house the HS is living in?

So reveal yourself God.....by revealing me to me.

its not just an idea, it's possible to live.

so do it.

2008-08-28T07:01:00.000-05:00

Journey to Switzerland

wow it was quite the trip but we are here now. Check it out!

that open window commercial

2008-08-26T19:57:00.001-05:00

Here is a new concept. I am going to start to use this blog for my travels...since there will be quite some traveling this fall. I would love to keep you updated on where I am and what I see. You can catch up with that here. The other blog will be about things having to do with Skien.....or home....or family.....or mind boggling thoughts on the foundations of God.

So click here for SWEDEN
and here for SWITZERLAND

Nedre Elvegate 6b

2008-08-23T07:33:00.006-05:00

VEG OUT PARTY

We bought a billion vegetables to make a smattering supply of salsa for our moving in party last night. I never cut so many vegetables in my life. No one was injured. And the salsa was fantastic!

The spread was as follows: homemade salsa, tortilla chips, carrots, broccoli, peppers,homemade dip, and coffee.

Ragnhild sets the form, Helina sets the function and I set the table.

The party was a hit! The fellowship that was had....was something we prayed for. God is good. He has set a standard for fellowship in this apartment and it was shown last night big time!

Thanks for coming to the party. Love you, The Girls from the Ghetto

I am in love!

2008-08-16T14:17:00.008-05:00

Erika....in love

Ok.....let me explain. I am in love in more than one way. I guess you can see that the letter I wrote to Norway has worked. God has shown me a love for Norway more than I can even make up...or imagine for myself. I am so grateful that I am free to say that I LOVE BEING HERE! It is the first time EVER that I love being in Norway. Really it was an answer to prayer. I hoped that I would adjust to being here quicker than 6 months. 'God, can it be two weeks?' and it was! God is good. I am in love with Norway for the first time......if peace is love than that is what I got!

The road went twisting as shown, but it also eventually went to heaven.

Check out that waterfall, and that amazing bike MONGOOSE!

I have been on a 21 mile bike ride today. We took a mountain pass to discover the hills are fun to go DOWN not up. Helina and I are a reckless pair on the bikes. It is fun and educational. As roommates we have decided to begin making small videos teaching each other how to do things. Today was the first. Helina's bike tire popped.....then we found a bike tire.....and used it to replace. Got it on video.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY??? Can anyone take a good guess without cheating?

My two lovely roommates Ragnhild and Helina and myself have now moved into our apartment and we love it there!

moving madness. our stuff. putting it through the open window. yippee!

We have a small deck outside the kitchen window in which we can climb onto and overlook the canal. We have spent some evening hours reading, chatting, and drinking coffee there. So much peace and discovering the foundations of life and how that always equals God. mmmmm TRUTH tastes good.

On deck: it is a wonderful place to read, rest, write, and reflect

We have been studying up on how to eat better and are together looking at ways we can change our habits and make good choices. We eat alot of raw foods...fruits and vegetables. Ragnhild is really into it and it is fun to explore the options of this way of living. Our first meal at the apartment was looking this this. It was warm pasta with a dressing over a delicious salad.

Nedre Ellvegate 6b Special #1:
Ragnhild's Hot Pasta Salad

Nedre Ellvegate 6b Special #2:
Carrot Bisque and Homemade Rolls

If anyone is interested in the recipes...we can share. You give us one, we will give you one.

WHAT IS NEXT?
August: SWEDEN STAFF TRIP
September: SWITZERLAND OUTREACH
October: USA TRIP: Omaha, IHOP, Kansas, Iowa (Tracy's Wedding), California

GO.....GOing FEST

2008-08-07T02:40:00.002-05:00

Place: Stavern, Norway
Event: YWAM Norway's GO Festival
Weather: sketchy, in Stavern there is the most sun all year....not this weekend
What's Up: God is working on me in ways that I have never seen coming
Who is here: All of the Norwegian YWAM bases' staff, that includes my good friends Anne Randi & Pølle.
What's Happened: Last night YWAM Skien won the soccer tournament trophy.
Something else: I am a bit bummed that I had to pay 840KR to come....when the food is hard to eat with my stomach and I would rather make my own. I could have saved 500KR!!! (that is $100)
The Best Part: I walked this morning down to the bay and sat on a rock. I was listening to Kim Walker on my mp3 player. I was dreaming about what a foundation of worship is. I listened to the water rushing up to the rocks. I felt a peace come around me. What is the foundation of worship? It is fellowship with God.....to bring reverence to Him we need to see that he is reverent. To worship we need to believe that he is worthy of worship. I can not do this with music alone. I must boast of God. I must bring His name into the light....all the time. It's not about music and an environment of performance that I am so often pressured to produce. I sense my spirit rebelling against the performance. I have to believe that God will show me what to do.....and that the funky comments are not forming me....but God is. So.....it was a good rock to sit on.
Another Best Part: I see beautiful Norwegians here. The people are just beautiful! And they don't have to try.
Cool Part: I thought I would not play violin at all....but good old Jan Honningdal saw me and made sure I was joining him last night. It was the longest worship set ever. We played in the spirit for 2 hours.....just listening to people sharing verses and prayers. All the while we were dinking around in the back. Anne Randi's little brother Stefan was on the electric guitar. It was cool to play with him.

I leave you with these words.

REJOICE, AND I SAY IT AGAIN REJOICE

a new beginning

2008-08-02T16:38:00.003-05:00

Dear Norway,

Please forgive me for being a jerk. One time I was talking about you behind your back and I did not say such nice things. It's just that sometimes I was discouraged by being here and then when I thought about coming back and hanging out I was sad and sort of worried that you would hurt me again. I was wrong. Please forgive me for thinking that you would hurt me...instead of letting me bless you first. I hope and I pray that I can come with an attitude of grace and peace as I walk through your streets as I talk to your people and as I take pictures of your landscape. I believe you mean more to me than I have actually understood. I suppose it will come down to the last moment when I will finally say goodbye and I will wish there was more time. I hope I can have that time now....instead of remorse for it later. So let's start on the right foot.

I want to be here. I want you to know that. There are of course other places that I would love to be right now, but God has not prepared me to be there yet. There will be time for those things later. Don't be anxious is what goes through my heart. I am sure you felt a little neglected when I first came....but know now---my attitude has changed. I choose to be here. I have not failed at this. I will not fail because God has anointed me for the job. I look forward to blessing you beyond your wildest imagination...because God is going to do it through me.
Are you okay with this Norway? I suppose you don't have a choice. You are my flower and although you have thorns and you try to poke me....I will water you, care for you, prune you, and share your beauty with the neighbors (from Sweden to Denver & South Africa to Orange City).

Listen here....let me tell you the truth:

An Ode to Norway
* you are beautiful as you cast a long summer shadow across the 10pm sky
* when I see your people I think about a successful humanity who knows how to use resources and is really lucky to live here...they accept refugees, love the outdoors, and eat at all times of the day and never gain a pound & when the time comes they go to bed.
* as I travel across your land I see heights and sights never explored by anyone from Iowa---and even those from Denver would wonder what the Rockies were missing.* there is a certain seriousness to your weather...as though the humans are one with the temperature. Very curious how you trained them like this. I can see a Norwegian granny naked on the beach in August or discover her shoveling wildly in her decked out December wear.
* i am not afraid to enjoy you because you mean me no harm
* i thank you for your generosity for the time being......even though like a strict parent you kick me out every year demanding that I apply to come back in and live here. That get's tiring....but you are good like that---not everyone can be here! I learn to lean on your discernment.
* one more thing----you look good in scarves and hats----just like me. I guess we are twins.

Sincerely your friend!
Erika James

p.s. I am really looking forward to getting to know you better. I mean this could be our last time in this context. Let's make the most of it. Yipee!

Adopted.....but keep your receipt

2008-07-30T02:57:00.002-05:00

So...Russo, the adopted cat was not working out. Will decided to have some peace about this whole thing and bring him back to the Pet Smart store. He will no longer be Russo...but his other boring name, Denim. There will be some serious deliberation of 'other' pet names---in which Russo will always be a first option I suppose. Imagine if you could do that with people too. 'Yeah, we'll adopt her!'

'And sir, if this doesn't work out you have up to 30 years to bring her back for a full refund, just keep your receipt.'

ha

good morning all my friends!

dumbfounded for sure

2008-07-29T16:54:00.005-05:00

I have arrived here in Norway around 5pm. I have been traveling 25 hours! I began at 9am yesterday. To get to Skien, Norway was not easy. I took a car. I took a plane. I took another plane. I took a train. I took a bus. I walked. I was surprised to discover a dumbfounded feeling that came over me. I recognized the places, the language, and the procedures....but where was the excitement?? there was something bizarre (this is a good speed scrabble word!) happening. I just dont understand why I do not feel this unspoken excitement like the last two years. I am actually numb. I was so numb that I felt like I was driving into Sioux City, IA--boring! I hope I discover why I came here....and if that includes painting, teaching lessons, and being available I pray my heart is okay with that. I dont know what to expect! I just hate the feeling of nothingness. Yeah, so that was a weird feeling.

I took a bunch of photos of the whole journey you can look at them all here. I met a mother and two daughters before boarding Newark to Oslo. They were sweet. I was able to encourage them...and laugh too! The two girls were beautiful and their mother Robin was ALIVE! They live in Haugesund, Norway on the west coast. I hope I can go visit Anne Marit Pederson again and then I can see them as well. So...its been a long day and I am excited to spend the week relaxing....really relaxing! The whole YWAM Skien staff will arrive on Monday! Yoinks here we go! Blessings and love to you. If you would like to email me and be a finacial or prayer partner let me know erika@uioskien.no

Here I go!

2008-07-28T08:45:00.002-05:00

My bags are all packed. Norway is just a 24 hour moment away. Its amazing! I have to be honest and say that I have been trying not the think about it because I just imagine myself dangling between life seasons---when I think about it I remember the pain of trying pull my arm away from the last place and let it join with the other arm that has already stretched itself out over the gap. Boy do I feel stretched out! I will fly at 1234 from Denver to Newark, NJ....then a straight over the water flight to Oslo in the night. I will arrive at 9:35 Norway time (7 hours difference) and then my beautiful roommate Ragnhild will be waiting there for me. We will start our journey by train. And then....I will post again. Until then, HA DET BRA (have it good)

Orange was a better time for us.

2008-07-28T02:20:00.010-05:00

A tale of two instruments who can make lovely music, but perhaps they are out of tune.....

The task seemed to get harder and harder as we progressed on our painting adventures. Let's just say that there were glitches in the system. It all starts with the painting of the brown on the opposite walls in the master bedroom. So the short story is that the color brown brought disconnect and annoyance to those involved with painting. Of course now continuing to share it only makes it certain that there was frustration there. It was not Will or me to blame....but our styles and our levels of perfection. I suppose I discovered that I was a lot less perfectionistic. So, the season of brown painting was wretched! But we knew there would be a new season coming. And orange was that season. It was a better time for us!Starting in on the orange was a good idea. It was close to 10 when we started....oi! At least we were not using the horrendous Country Cottage Grandma Georgia Peach color they gave us at first. We demanded to get the color remixed to something like Copper Pot. We had a revelation about tape. We should use it.It was hot as boilers as I was sticking my hand up in the corner by the lights

It was cramped as cubby down there on the linoleum. Will found his joy by squeezing his brush in the most impossible places (behind the toilet & under the heater) Good work Will!Now I can surely admit that this time of painting orange was much, much better for us. But the orange time will always be a time of redemption. That has to be an encouragement to someone who is in a brown time. ...just wait the orange time is coming. Recieve the peace!Today we had a bundle of ladies over to paint with us. I finished the orange. The hallway, the living room, and the dining room were tackled with female gusto! In this picture are YWAM Denver cats: Chey, Will, Abbie. Trish & Sam. They were awesome workers and we had fun today.

Trish brought lunch! THANKS!

Meet Kerusso! Will bought a cat on Saturday. His name was one we discussed greatly. When the sound of Kerusso came around it was immediately a winner. He is a lovely cat, playful, a Russian Blue mix, and getting used to the new condo. (By the way, I have a shirt on....it just does not have straps---believe me that would scare the cat for sure)

Adventures on a bus to Colorado

2008-07-26T09:56:00.006-05:00

This is the First Reformed Youth Group before we headed out on Wednesday on a Colorado adventure. I, of course, was all packed up for Norway....I will be spending the weekend with my friend Will (helping him paint his new condo) and then flying to Norway on Monday. I said goodbye to mom and dad. Oi!

The bus air conditioning broke so we used an old car wash to get cool!

It was a delight to be doing this trip with Christa. I had to say goodbye to her last night. But, since she will be teaching in England....we will spend Christmas together perhaps in Greece?

I was blessed to spend some days with the KOINONIA girls (Anna not pictured) it was hard to say goodbye to them. I will be looking forward to what God does in thier lives this year.Will came to pick me and Christa up, we got to see his condo!!! Yeah God! Later I went back to say goodbye to the group. Will said he felt like the jerk, driving off with me as I yelled goodbye out the window. It was a short, but straight forward goodbye.....just what I needed to do. Later, Will and Trish and I prayed over the condo and wrote verses on the wall. We began laying the primer for the master bedroom! Such fun!

Hi to all my family and friends! Love you all. Keep in contact!

2008-07-18T13:26:00.003-05:00

My newest paintings posted here

2008-07-18T11:10:00.004-05:00

Brielle Shaye Hydeen

July 16, 2008 - 8lb 13oz - 21 in
Brielle & Tante ErikaLillian & her new baby sister BrielleSteve & Andrea have three kids! I am so blessed to have been here for the birth of this one. In all of my travels I have been at all the births. That is a gift from God I believe. I can imagine that this type of miracle could never have been planned by man. I am grateful to God for his providence. I wish I could see the kids grow up and I could be closer to them, but in my life right now it looks distant. This makes an auntie sad. The place God calls me to is where I must be. Hopefully the kids eventually see me as the crazy missionary aunt who loves them from a foreign country and will send them crazy trinkets in the mail. I just hope we can be friends someday. The cry of my missionary's heart. Sigh.

2008-07-18T09:37:00.004-05:00

ACCORDIAN TO THIS.....

Judy teaches me the basics of accordian. It's really amazing how multi-tasking one has to be.

Poncho does not know how to play the accordian, notice the confused face.

Dad does not know how to play the accordian and that was super frustrating for this master musician, notice his shocked face.

Dianne does not know how to play the accordian but it was her birthday, notice her maturity.

Erika does not know how to play the accordian notice her overconfident smile

So ACCORDIAN TO THIS......NO ONE CAN ACTUALLY PLAY THE ACCORDIAN! But thanks Judy!

Iowa: Time to say goodbye

2008-07-17T23:38:00.002-05:00

ENGAGEMENT PICTURES
by The Hiding Sisters

Eric & Tracy
(our first customers...and maybe our last)

The Hiding Sisters

All of the kids plus Molly Keese and Lindsey De Jong on fourth of July