Thursday, September 29, 2016
Operating Out of the Overflow - Jeremiah
- Jeremiah
So we finally have our basic schedule figured out! This is a huge relief because we have had no boundaries to know when to say "No" to things, and we don't have to guess what the next day will look like. In making a schedule I have been learning more about how I find rest. For example on Wednesdays we are busy from 9am until 7pm, sometimes longer. My body and my mind have helped me realize that I need a break on these days. Also, if I am relying too much on the fact that work is completely separate form joy I still find myself struggling before the day is over.
I believe that we are all created uniquely. What may be hard or stressful work for me might be fun for someone else. As I think more about this concept I am convinced that when I am working it is OK to be joyful. When I am working out of an overflow of joy and passion not only is it easier but my work has a much better quality.
I have just started a guitar class at our local baptist church, Skien Baptist. We have classes on Wednesday. The whole reason I thought this would be a good idea is because I love helping other people get excited about guitar. When I see someone realize that they can rock out just like the people they listen to I feel like I have helped them open the flood gates of what has been dying to come out. If I forget this passion I have for teaching guitar then it really isn't any fun. But when I let my passion drive my words and actions I am having the time of my life.
My recent discovery is that God has made me with a fountain of joy and passion that overflows out of my life. Operating out of this overflow, I think is why God created me. Now that I know that I can teach guitar until the cows come home I am actually thinking that maybe teaching guitar is linked to another passion. Teaching guitar is only great because I get to help people discover something that has been dying to get out. Now it seems like I have discovered something dying to get out of me! I have discovered what operating out of the overflow is by asking God to show me who I am. My newest and most exciting passion is helping other people get to know themselves so that they can find out what makes their life joyful to live. It is to help people find out how God made them uniquely with their own passion and joy that is ready to overflow out of them. Conveniently this fits perfectly in the realm of working with youth.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
HOW to find Heaven on Earth
**A FEW FUN SNIPPETS from our OSLO Sabbath/Children's Choir Videos are posted on our tumblr today. Check their more media: secretfood4us.tumblr.com **
an allison post
In our last newsletter we focused on Making Space within our understanding of seeking the kingdom. Its easy to do this with people you understand, who make you feel a little more like yourself.
EXHIBIT A: Trip to Oslo!
God is ALWAYS PROVIDING, and there are not extents or boundaries. Immensely blessed. So my birthday celebration (as I believe that a birthday should last for the entirety of the month in which it debuts) continued into the next week with a short excursion to the capital of Norway which is thankfully only an hour and a half away. (The world map is deceiving, the length of Norway is almost equivalent to the distance between the Islands in the Florida Keys, all the way up into Maine. SO LONG!) We were thankful for an inexpensive getaway and exploration thanks to the hospitality of many already dear friends! SHOUT OUTS to Shalome & Jeremy Croos, Marius, and Frederick for being fantastic tour guides and hosts.
While there we were able to not only see the beautiful city, but to authentically worship together with a lot of thanksgiving in some unexpected ways. We found ourselves wandering into deep conversation about how the LORD had saved us from death, transformed our families and communities, and gave us true friends. We were whole together and in those sharing places, it was so easy for us to make space for each other.
But it gets harder when your neighbor is outside your circle of friends and people who have proved they seek your best interest.
EXHIBIT B: The world around us, diversity from its front cover
Turmoil and Uprising seems to be an ever-present overtone in the activity projected in the news (most recently the all too common unarmed black men murdered at the hands of police), media, and communities. Its all too common to look at the news and lose heart as I see repeated offenses and suffering, stories with the same pretense, the same outcome, and the same response. Terrorism in Syria as the civil war continues, Migrant deaths and displacement in Europe as fear and confusion cripple opportunity for healing and progress, and National Terrorism in the states as we fight over what an American citizen really is and what rights certain people should have. People ask me all the time how different and what's so different living here in Norway although I find more similarities than i do differences considering the universal human experience. Sure, different social constructs, rules, cultural practices. But there are power struggles, isolating nationalistic views, and misunderstandings between people. I'll show you what I mean:
So, Jeremiah has been volunteering, really just hanging out at this really cool rehab center for post detox patients who are trying to rebuild their lives and do practical things to improve their daily living. Its meant a lot to him, and he's been jamming with music and affirming people there. He invited me to come, so I did. We got there at lunch time and after talking with a lady about some jewelry she was making we moved to our spots at the long farm-style lunch table and began to eat. I was practicing my Norwegian a lot at the table while asking people to send the bread or differentiating between which meat was poultry of red meat or whatever and they were really impressed saying "Du er veldig flink" or rather "You are very smart/clever". After a couple of them were saying that it was crazy how much Norwegian I knew for only being in Norway for 2 1/2 months, I responded with:
"Well, this is your country and its the language you speak. So why shouldn't I learn it?"
(Obviously pleased and and agreement, the conversation soon changed with the following responses):
"I wish those other [foreigners & immigrants] would do that" and "YEH, i know some people who've been here for over 20 years and STILL don't speak any of the language."
Where had I heard that before...a very familiar way of thinking. Not all wrong, but DEFINITELY jaded and without compassion and consideration, dangerous. What I had left out of the question when I had asked "...why shouldn't I learn it..." was the conditional side of the question that also asked: "...why shouldn't I learn it, if I am engaged in a relationship where we can know each other?" THAT changes everything! Thus I had responded to one of those last judging questions with this:
"Well, I know that I came here with the intention of knowing people and being known. I can see that people value what I say and what I do here and thus its super easy for me to share by learning about who you are. But maybe these people who aren't learning the language don't feel like they are invited to be apart of what's going on here, and if they aren't being valued for who they are, then what's the point of them trying?"
Nobody threw objects at me thank the LORD. It seemed like that spoke to some people, and it spoke to me too even though it came out of my mouth! I think if our world realized and believed that everybody had value, even if for our own selfish benefit, it would at least make us treat people a little better. I'm imagining then if we believed it because its how God sees people, and because we purely want to see the best in people. I think that's what I'm supposed to be looking for when I pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS HEAVEN." Negativity about this not being a perfect world and how we're never gonna have piece is disbelief in the power of what God can do and what good people can do in the world.
Looking for a bit of heaven today and tomorrow. Hope you will too.
an allison post
In our last newsletter we focused on Making Space within our understanding of seeking the kingdom. Its easy to do this with people you understand, who make you feel a little more like yourself.
EXHIBIT A: Trip to Oslo!
God is ALWAYS PROVIDING, and there are not extents or boundaries. Immensely blessed. So my birthday celebration (as I believe that a birthday should last for the entirety of the month in which it debuts) continued into the next week with a short excursion to the capital of Norway which is thankfully only an hour and a half away. (The world map is deceiving, the length of Norway is almost equivalent to the distance between the Islands in the Florida Keys, all the way up into Maine. SO LONG!) We were thankful for an inexpensive getaway and exploration thanks to the hospitality of many already dear friends! SHOUT OUTS to Shalome & Jeremy Croos, Marius, and Frederick for being fantastic tour guides and hosts.
While there we were able to not only see the beautiful city, but to authentically worship together with a lot of thanksgiving in some unexpected ways. We found ourselves wandering into deep conversation about how the LORD had saved us from death, transformed our families and communities, and gave us true friends. We were whole together and in those sharing places, it was so easy for us to make space for each other.
But it gets harder when your neighbor is outside your circle of friends and people who have proved they seek your best interest.
EXHIBIT B: The world around us, diversity from its front cover
Turmoil and Uprising seems to be an ever-present overtone in the activity projected in the news (most recently the all too common unarmed black men murdered at the hands of police), media, and communities. Its all too common to look at the news and lose heart as I see repeated offenses and suffering, stories with the same pretense, the same outcome, and the same response. Terrorism in Syria as the civil war continues, Migrant deaths and displacement in Europe as fear and confusion cripple opportunity for healing and progress, and National Terrorism in the states as we fight over what an American citizen really is and what rights certain people should have. People ask me all the time how different and what's so different living here in Norway although I find more similarities than i do differences considering the universal human experience. Sure, different social constructs, rules, cultural practices. But there are power struggles, isolating nationalistic views, and misunderstandings between people. I'll show you what I mean:
A story for Exhibit B
So, Jeremiah has been volunteering, really just hanging out at this really cool rehab center for post detox patients who are trying to rebuild their lives and do practical things to improve their daily living. Its meant a lot to him, and he's been jamming with music and affirming people there. He invited me to come, so I did. We got there at lunch time and after talking with a lady about some jewelry she was making we moved to our spots at the long farm-style lunch table and began to eat. I was practicing my Norwegian a lot at the table while asking people to send the bread or differentiating between which meat was poultry of red meat or whatever and they were really impressed saying "Du er veldig flink" or rather "You are very smart/clever". After a couple of them were saying that it was crazy how much Norwegian I knew for only being in Norway for 2 1/2 months, I responded with:
"Well, this is your country and its the language you speak. So why shouldn't I learn it?"
(Obviously pleased and and agreement, the conversation soon changed with the following responses):
"I wish those other [foreigners & immigrants] would do that" and "YEH, i know some people who've been here for over 20 years and STILL don't speak any of the language."
Where had I heard that before...a very familiar way of thinking. Not all wrong, but DEFINITELY jaded and without compassion and consideration, dangerous. What I had left out of the question when I had asked "...why shouldn't I learn it..." was the conditional side of the question that also asked: "...why shouldn't I learn it, if I am engaged in a relationship where we can know each other?" THAT changes everything! Thus I had responded to one of those last judging questions with this:
"Well, I know that I came here with the intention of knowing people and being known. I can see that people value what I say and what I do here and thus its super easy for me to share by learning about who you are. But maybe these people who aren't learning the language don't feel like they are invited to be apart of what's going on here, and if they aren't being valued for who they are, then what's the point of them trying?"
Nobody threw objects at me thank the LORD. It seemed like that spoke to some people, and it spoke to me too even though it came out of my mouth! I think if our world realized and believed that everybody had value, even if for our own selfish benefit, it would at least make us treat people a little better. I'm imagining then if we believed it because its how God sees people, and because we purely want to see the best in people. I think that's what I'm supposed to be looking for when I pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS HEAVEN." Negativity about this not being a perfect world and how we're never gonna have piece is disbelief in the power of what God can do and what good people can do in the world.
Looking for a bit of heaven today and tomorrow. Hope you will too.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Sprouting Ideas: Articulating purpose in the places where we are
an allison post
I TURNED 26 years old and this time I feel like a REAL LIVE adult ;)
I'm not 100% sure about what that looks like, but I do hope it means more power to turn dreams into realities. A confidante I have here named Marit shared a really great idea/challenge to write down 100 dreams to pray into. I feel like I'm sprouting so many great ideas already.
People are often asking me "how we're adjusting to Norwegian life" or more interestingly, "is it everything we thought it would be." Funny thing is I didn't have picture frame in my mind about what I thought it would be like before coming...beside the realization that we are very VERY far away from the norwegian "isbears" (a cuter name for polar bears). I just finished a book called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and there's this conviction that plants in Francie that you see progressing from time that she's 7 years old until the thought's complete at 15 years old. She's been dreaming about crossing the Williamsburg bridge for just about ever thinking believing it to be this glamorous and magical experience. She finds herself disappointed in her teenage years as she must lie to work in Manhattan to help her family survive, finding that the city is not what its cracked up to be. She say some phrase to the effect of "somethings are different than brooklyn, and somethings are the same. It is what it is."
So I'm not half as melancholic as Francie was about these parallel universes not being so parallel at all! I do get it though, and I've seen that same way living here for the past 2 and a half months. With belief, preference, sexuality, tradition, relationships, there are cultural and societal norms, values and expectations here that definitely differ from the states: the amount of meat they aren't eating over here, lack of beeping car horns, and people not using the phrase I love you for its sacred connotations. But it in the same way I'm finding trends and happenings that you'd see anywhere else: people searching for success, going on vacation in the summers, suffering from addiction. People trying to be people. Sometimes I wished we remembered, all over the world, that we are humans trying to figure this life out.
It makes me think hard about our work in shaping the youth, in our way of challenging them to live for the most. I'm excited about creating artistic spaces here for young people to grow together and in their community. Current Great Ideas:
I TURNED 26 years old and this time I feel like a REAL LIVE adult ;)
I'm not 100% sure about what that looks like, but I do hope it means more power to turn dreams into realities. A confidante I have here named Marit shared a really great idea/challenge to write down 100 dreams to pray into. I feel like I'm sprouting so many great ideas already.
People are often asking me "how we're adjusting to Norwegian life" or more interestingly, "is it everything we thought it would be." Funny thing is I didn't have picture frame in my mind about what I thought it would be like before coming...beside the realization that we are very VERY far away from the norwegian "isbears" (a cuter name for polar bears). I just finished a book called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and there's this conviction that plants in Francie that you see progressing from time that she's 7 years old until the thought's complete at 15 years old. She's been dreaming about crossing the Williamsburg bridge for just about ever thinking believing it to be this glamorous and magical experience. She finds herself disappointed in her teenage years as she must lie to work in Manhattan to help her family survive, finding that the city is not what its cracked up to be. She say some phrase to the effect of "somethings are different than brooklyn, and somethings are the same. It is what it is."
So I'm not half as melancholic as Francie was about these parallel universes not being so parallel at all! I do get it though, and I've seen that same way living here for the past 2 and a half months. With belief, preference, sexuality, tradition, relationships, there are cultural and societal norms, values and expectations here that definitely differ from the states: the amount of meat they aren't eating over here, lack of beeping car horns, and people not using the phrase I love you for its sacred connotations. But it in the same way I'm finding trends and happenings that you'd see anywhere else: people searching for success, going on vacation in the summers, suffering from addiction. People trying to be people. Sometimes I wished we remembered, all over the world, that we are humans trying to figure this life out.
It makes me think hard about our work in shaping the youth, in our way of challenging them to live for the most. I'm excited about creating artistic spaces here for young people to grow together and in their community. Current Great Ideas:
- knitting circle (I've become a knitting monster these days. I probably better work on finishing on project at a time...)
- youth art gallery
- classical/improvisational small ensembles
- mandala-worship drawing workshops
More to come as I return to the drawing board about these ideas and the things that are already in motion. Stories coming soon, and PLENTY more PICTURES to come in the next blogpost. Don't forget to view our tumblr for crazy videos and pictures: secretfood4us.tumblr.com
Friday, September 2, 2016
Culture and Offense {A Woman in the World} PT 1
*The topic for this blogpost is an ongoing one as I feel like I can write more on it. It's not a finished or wellpolished thought, but its here.*
an Allison post
In a previous blogpost entitled Sore bodies, I included a detail about the only people playing volleyball on the court were mostly men, a lot of foreign men and no women. I thought it was strange and relevant to some things I've especially had to work recently.
This month, there have been many instances where I've had to challenge myself to name my own prejudices and also where I've been challenged offensively by the prejudices of other individuals, mostly concerning women.
There are a lot of refugees here, many who identify as muslims. I admit that whenever I see a woman wearing a hijab and cloak walking down the street, I have an influx of complicated feelings: curiosity, irritation, sympathy, and anger all stirred up. I'm ignorant about what it fully means to be a muslim, let alone a muslim woman. I've made assumptions about these women just by their appearances asking "Are they afraid to show their beauty", and "Why don't these men have as pressing restrictions on concealing themselves", and "Why do these women let men tell them what their freedom looks like". I DO realize that that those are audacious questions to ask without knowing person. Just as much as I think that I'm fighting in my brain for these women's voices, I also take it away from them with my unsupported judgement. Cultural differences and contrasting beliefs can be really difficult to navigate, and even more difficult if we don't know how to combine closed lips and open ears to at least hear the stories and perspectives of others.
I spent some time kicking this ball around with Jeremiah, some other friends and then myself. Didn't come to any earthshattering conclusions beside the idea that I needed to pray on it and ask for some serious understanding and sensitivity as I processed this. I thought maybe this area of culture and openness in relationships was a part of journey this month as spent more time with people. I was more right than I had hoped about this as I've painfully walked through some hard conversations and experiences. I couldn't believe how frequently I was offended on multiple occasions ranging from words to physical opposition rooted in inferiority and disempowerment.
I don't believe they were scenarios sent from God, but I do believe I've harvested some serious good fruit as I journey on, gaining more confidence in my identity as women of color and advocating for confidence and empowerment in other women. I've learned again and again that there is power in being who I am, present and honest just as I am before God. I think i've gained compassion for the women who who do wear a hijab, for people and ways that I don't understand. But I have also gained a boldness to be present and aware, honest wherever I am. I'm conditioned out of indifference and inferiority to ask my questions which I think is better at least coupled with my ignorance. That's a humble start.
an Allison post
In a previous blogpost entitled Sore bodies, I included a detail about the only people playing volleyball on the court were mostly men, a lot of foreign men and no women. I thought it was strange and relevant to some things I've especially had to work recently.
This month, there have been many instances where I've had to challenge myself to name my own prejudices and also where I've been challenged offensively by the prejudices of other individuals, mostly concerning women.
There are a lot of refugees here, many who identify as muslims. I admit that whenever I see a woman wearing a hijab and cloak walking down the street, I have an influx of complicated feelings: curiosity, irritation, sympathy, and anger all stirred up. I'm ignorant about what it fully means to be a muslim, let alone a muslim woman. I've made assumptions about these women just by their appearances asking "Are they afraid to show their beauty", and "Why don't these men have as pressing restrictions on concealing themselves", and "Why do these women let men tell them what their freedom looks like". I DO realize that that those are audacious questions to ask without knowing person. Just as much as I think that I'm fighting in my brain for these women's voices, I also take it away from them with my unsupported judgement. Cultural differences and contrasting beliefs can be really difficult to navigate, and even more difficult if we don't know how to combine closed lips and open ears to at least hear the stories and perspectives of others.
I spent some time kicking this ball around with Jeremiah, some other friends and then myself. Didn't come to any earthshattering conclusions beside the idea that I needed to pray on it and ask for some serious understanding and sensitivity as I processed this. I thought maybe this area of culture and openness in relationships was a part of journey this month as spent more time with people. I was more right than I had hoped about this as I've painfully walked through some hard conversations and experiences. I couldn't believe how frequently I was offended on multiple occasions ranging from words to physical opposition rooted in inferiority and disempowerment.
I don't believe they were scenarios sent from God, but I do believe I've harvested some serious good fruit as I journey on, gaining more confidence in my identity as women of color and advocating for confidence and empowerment in other women. I've learned again and again that there is power in being who I am, present and honest just as I am before God. I think i've gained compassion for the women who who do wear a hijab, for people and ways that I don't understand. But I have also gained a boldness to be present and aware, honest wherever I am. I'm conditioned out of indifference and inferiority to ask my questions which I think is better at least coupled with my ignorance. That's a humble start.
Preparation and Realization - Jeremiah
-Jeremiah
Preparation and Realization for the Road Ahead
Preparation and Realization for the Road Ahead
I have been able to work along side some really great people since I have been here in Skien. I am learning more about Ung Baptist, who is the organization we are working for. We recently went to their training weekend to talk about things we should be preparing for. We also talked to them more about what our specific jobs will be. We heard awesome testimonies about how God has restored his children with peace after traumatic events have taken place, and when burn out has occurred he has provided rest. We learned how it is really important to take care of our bodys and minds. We used an analogy: When a person that is well gets sick it easier for that person to make a full recovery. When a person is not fully well and then gets sick it can be much harder for that person to survive the sickness. This analogy has helped me think about how much I rely on God for everyday things. If I couldn’t rely on him for the simpe things how could I remember to do the same for the big things.
We talked through different difficult scenarios and learned the best ways to respond in these hard situations. As we have gotten to know the staff more we have been able to really see what their mission is all about. It’s completely about letting God guide their lives, and providing a platform for young people to do the same. I like Ung Baptist. This is basic, but hard stuff to wrap my head. This kind of training has been exactly what we needed.
Our identity is completely and only what God has made us uniquely to be. He knows who we are. Letting him guide our steps is really the only thing that makes sense. I am still learning who I am and who I am supposed to be. I can’t really decide what is best for myself sometimes. This is strange to write because I am realizing again how much I have to submit to God. This is really scary though. When I don’t know what God is going to do next it makes me really nervous. But trusting God is more than just blindly letting go and giving up. It takes persistent engagement and listening to trust God. It takes my body, mind, and soul a lot of energy to fall into this kind of submission. I have to ask God for help completely, without doubt and believe he loves me. Then do my part of being engaged in prayer and in honest conversations with people. I even have to invite people in to the kind of ugly parts of my life. This also includes being completely real with God too. Not holding back and letting God know if I am happy or sad or angry and why. He already knows, but when I say these things to him it’s kind of a discovery process for myself. Then I listen and repeat.
As I listen and respond to what I think I am hearing, this is when the Holy Spirit is active and guiding me the most. And also showing me the work he has done ahead and behind me in preparation for the present. Through this I see how God has the power to complete any thing he wants. This is amazing to be a part of. I see also just how much grace I am given as an imperfect human being because God is using my imperfections to speak to others and others to speak to me. He is using the “mistakes,” I have made or mundane decisions I have made to actually prepare and serve as foundations for things I could never have planned for. In this process I am seeing the trinity of my God fully working in and all around me. His grace, power, vast knowledge, and love is being poured out on to my life. I am seeing it happen. I am learning to accept my identity as a child of God.
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