My Life in a Basil Plant - Allison Post

thankful that God makes us better through unexpected change.

an allison post

It's WILD to look back and see where we've been before. In the last post, we were in Latvia, and I was unaware of being 3 weeks pregnant (which explains the beginning of some food aversions and sensitivity to smell!)

Fast Forward, we are just hitting 37 weeks pregnant and its an ENTIRELY different ball game. I've been up for hours trying to reconcile my hips attempting to separate themselves from the rest of my body, but hey, it's only temporary, right?! I figured this was a perfect opportunity to unpack something I was thinking about yesterday.

So over the past 9 months we have been UP and we have definitely been DOWN. (Sometimes it can be easier to dwell on the down, but balance is everything.) While pondering on the fight for balance, i sometimes ask myself what it's worth to endure suffering (be it minimal and momentary or long and difficult). I turned to my windowsill yesterday after starting this mental discourse and it just hit me: I am my basil plant!!!!

I've killed a lot of herbs and household plants this year, including my birthday cacti. As Kristin Cobwell says, WE DON'T JUDGE! But I have this ONE basil plant that has been more than faithful to me for the past 3 months. Its very green, many fronds, and had many stalks. Super healthy plant...maybe a little TOO healthy. It started needing some crowd control for one thing as the stalks were pushing against each other, blocking one another from good airflow and harvesting which also lead to a small mold problem. Jeremiah suggested chopping off two of the highest stalks which had tons of perfectly fine leaves on them. I was skeptical, but let him thin them. After observing the plant a little more, I saw that some of the stems were pushing to the borders of the container -- this little guy needed a new pot. So my landlord gave me a ton of dirt and my choice of potting containers, and we transplanted. I was concerned that all these changes were gonna kill my plant, stunt it's growth. But to my surprise, it has yielded more happy fronds. It's healthy AND made new again.

I can not tell you how much I've seen me in this plant since we committed to going to Norway. I was doing pretty well where I was, thriving in my cozy Richmond and searching for purpose. Finding it even. But I believe that God knew to prune me. There are ways that I've grown here in which I couldn't have had I stayed in those "good places" at the time in my life. For the eyes God wanted me to have, and the maturation of my spiritual walk, this transplantation has surrendered me into an incredible balance in my life. My dependency on Jesus more than my loving families, trusted friendships, and noble causes has had to define me and compel me in my pursuit to love people, and to love God for that matter. Even though it's not always easy, I see what God has done for me and in me. And I'm better for it.

a Latvia Trip Reflection - An Allison post

An Allison post



A lot happens in 3 months. (We apparently aren't juggling masters when it comes to multiple technology options.)

We've been here for 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!!! Since Sunday anyway. The sun will soon be sharing equal running time with the moon. Sunrise (Soloppgang) currently happens at 6:58 and Sunset (Solnedgang) currently happening at 6:05. THIS is hope for us. 

If you've been reading our monthly newsletters, you know that we've been traveling a bit around North Europe, Latvia and Estonia as new notches to our travel belt. It's been eye-opening in many ways regarding how people view each other and their relationships to one another in this part of the world. On one hand, people are self-dependent, closed, hardened exterior as if to protect themselves. But on the other hand, I can see how much people take pride in the legacy of their families withstanding oppression and staying alive through some tough history. THIS is relevant, and experience similar to the stories of many people I know around the world, including the stories that resonate in the life of my own family.

We took the trip to Latvia a few weeks ago accompanying the "Konfimasjon" group on their service-mission. **Konfirmasjon is a common practice in the Lutheran Church (as well as Catholic/Anglican) where young people confirm the faith that was dedicated for them in their baptism as a baby.**  While there we met a lot of people, and whereas many people remark only of positive experiences, I do remember experiencing some unsavory moments with several people. One woman in particularly was a lady I was asked to help in setting up for an evening gathering of young adults. As someone suggested to her that I could be of help on her team, she protested saying, "Who, Her?! Help with what? I don't need HER!" The argument turned to hostile Latvian in my midst and I was at a loss for why I was even there. I was a little embarrassed but growing more angry as I pitched I would do the job myself. In the middle of my brooding, I heard God saying, "You don't work and give for the sake of people loving you. You are here for me, and your work for me because the glory is mine." A tough pill to swallow. I'm one of those people who lovesssssss serving, when people are kind...or at least not opposed to me. But then this scripture was washing over me:

7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8)

How could I show real love, like God's in this moment? I took the opportunity at the end of the night to say "thank you" to that woman for providing (even unwillingly) some help that I had needed in order to get through the evening with slides. It wasn't what I wanted to say, or what she deserved, but it was what was right. I saw her melt for a second and she walked away saying "Well, of course, that's what I'm here for." There wasn't any major resolve for happy moment that came afterward but I saw 2 things:

1) God wants my obedience and my unwavering devotion as I've been called

and

2) God's goodness changes people and communicates more than what we can logically prepare.

Not my favorite experiences, but some defining and significant lessons that the Lord has prepared me with. I'm closer to God's heart this way, and that's so much more whole.

ADVENTKALENDAR - trying for an advent season approach besides "Getting to Christmas"!

An Allison Post

Today is Day 7 of the Christmas Countdown, or Jule rather (pronounced "yu-la"). Per usual, time passes quickly as we try to savor every bit of this holiday season including but not limited to:

-decorating christmas trees that measure up to my knee

-singing with 53 christmas songs on my playlist that I'm trying not to get sick of after listening to for just 3 days

-making gingerbread houses that cave in after a day because of the humidity in our house

We bought our plastic spruce at a
place called "Plantasjan"! It was all of 20 bucks
and even came with little lights. SHOUTOUT TO
MARTINE for the ride, The LORD knows I did NOT
feel like walking!!!! ;)

But OF COURSE these little details are not the why for Christmas which is why we can happily laugh and thank God for the meaning and reason of Advent. We look forward to Jesus coming to us this month, this week, daily. We see Jesus coming when we walk in the bitter cold to find our 1-foot tall Christmas tree, only to be stopped by a girl we've only met twice who wants to give us a ride to there and back and keep us company. Jesus also comes when people still want to celebrate your birthday 4 months after the fact by taking you to movie they'd rather not sit through (Oh btw, if you're planning to see Allied, be prepared -__-') Anddddd Jesus has also come when friends of friends of friends invite us to a birthday party because even though we are 3 times removed and only met once for coffee, they think we're worth having at special moments in their life.

Maybe I didn't realize how blown away I was be Jesus showing up these recent weeks in the midst of Go Go GO circumstances and unsurfaced lonliness & longing. I wished it were these times that I vividly remembered when people ask me, "How can you SEE Jesus? He's not real!" Christ grace for the world is real, and huge considering how long we've been missing His presence both incarnate and in the heavenly realms.

Pray for my eyes, that they'd be open to see how real Jesus is everyday. I want to see Him!

Jeremiah - A Weekend at Trovassli

- Jeremiah

This last weekend we were at a camp called Trovassli with our youth. Usually by the end of these weekends I am in need of rest, and struggling to find energy. Typically my introverted characteristics show strong when I am around groups of people for a fews days in a row. Even though I was still tired by the end of this weekend I was really excited to see God giving me strength in a new way. It's funny to think about how I was able to stay engaged with the youth in new ways just by being myself. But the hardest part about that is being comfortable enough to let my true interests and desires come out. A few ways I was able to engage in new ways was of course playing guitar, but also playing a fast paced card game called Egyptian Rat Screw. I have no idea why it is called this, but it has been an amazing way to include new people in some great fun.

At Skien Baptist there a few different groups a young people. Skien Soul Children are a large choir consisting of young people from around 12 to 18 years old. Another group is a group that is about 11 to 13 years called the Tweens. Then we have another group that is called the Bæggers group that consists from ages 15 to 18. There is some overlap in these groups, but at the camp this last weekend they got to finally spend more time with each other for a couple days back to back. Here in Norway meeting new people is hard. I would say it is even more difficult when it involves middle school to high school awkward moments. I realized as we were arriving that part of my job was to help those who didn't know each other at least acknowledge each others presence. By the end I could see new relationships being formed.

So we played fast paced crazy card games, we also jammed on guitar, and then since it was snowy we got ski and do some sledding!!

On these camps where the youth are meeting new people it is hard to create spaces where they can feel safe to open up about their lives. But it just reminds me how Jesus is always calling us to him. Whether we are ready or not He is always ready for us. I felt God telling me that even if there are some youth that are not open it is important to continue to talk about God's desire to be with us. Part of my testimony is that God was ready for me, but I ran form him and I ended up in really lonely and empty places. But when I was at my loneliest He was there still ready.

The divorce rate here in Norway is very high. Many of the young people we come in contact with don't have the best relationships with there parents. Also, it gets really cold and very dark here so people don't want to leave there houses in the winter. This creates loneliness too. All of these things contribute to loneliness and can lead to being very closed off to talking at all. Church may be the only place where they get to experience true friendship and love. Out of this friendship and love it creates a safe place for young people to talk about what is actually going on in there lives. It also creates an opportunity for them to talk about how they have seen God bless them so that others can benefit from their testimony.

So we have a responsibility and an opportunity to follow the example of our God. Our God gives us grace when we don't deserve it. Our God loves us even when we run for him. Our God is always ready for us whether we are or not.

Fighting for your faith, Sharing it with others (Girls' Small Group) - An Allison Post

So, its pretty amazing to have the kind of experiences where you can sit in a circle with people in different places of life, and yet realize that we are all so connected and similar, sharing something in common. The revelations that occur in those places are gifts that we didn't even know we wanted, and also what we'd been needing.

Translation: Cozy times with the girls
tonight. AND IT WAS!

This happened last week in our girls' small group. Our sisterhood, though small, is growing into a safe place to deeply encounter God especially through the lens of each other. We've been talking about prayer this fall, looking for definition, the reasons why, and healthy inspiration for our personal walks. Miriam hosted last week, decorating as if she was born of Martha Stewart. There were candles EVERYWHERE, and it was SO "kosélig". After cooking a one-pot pasta meal that disappeared as quickly as it was made, we watched a movie together called War Room. I've kinda been running from this movie for a number of reasons but it was more than appropriate considering the topic and content of the film.

Meet Meeka! Nestled with some
Cadbury Hot Cocoa, she's
articulating how the testimony
of our spiritual life can look like
series of valleys and mountains.
Proud of her for searching.

I loved this concept from the movie that summed up to: 1) Losing battles to the Lord and 2) fighting for your life with prayer. When my perspective is off, its possible that I'm not the evil one, but I'm fighting the Righteous One for the sake of ruling my life. It was crazy to hear what the two girls who could come that night had to say about the movie. One had remarked that she saw a necessary need for transforming from being spiritual police over people to being a construction worker in prayer, helping to clear the path for people to see Jesus. Another had expressed that sometimes it can be really difficult to pray relating to the lonely and ambiguous role she carries as a young spiritual leader in her family. HUGE realizations and tensions for encouragement and accountability. So thankful for the opportunity to have shared testimonies of what it looks like to grow up in my prayer life, and how I've seen the fruit grow over periods of time. 

I've been researching on the early churches from just after the coming of Christ up to the protestant reformation and I've been blown away at the ministry and presence of many women so early in the movement of Christianity. From recognized deacons like Perpetua, to Presbyters like Phoebe, to even Junia who was called among the apostles. I think of what they went through, how they expressed  their faith and belief in a tumultuous and fierce era. I wonder what these ladies would be saying if they leaned into our conversations. I wonder what trajectory and pathways we create for future women as we share and attest to the Living God through our own lives.

New Discoveries in Guitar Class - Jeremiah

- Jeremiah

Here in Skien I have started up a guitar class for youth to come and learn guitar. We are learning all kinds of things: popular songs, worship songs, how to sing while playing guitar, and music theory. However, It seems more and more that this guitar class is more than just place to come and learn about music. In the midst of learning all of this music stuff we have become great friends. We have made up many strange, but funny inside jokes and they have helped me learn many useful and useless Norwegian phrases. This is also a great place where they get to hang out with young people they might not usually hang out with, and make new friends.


I think that providing a place for these young people to creatively express themselves, and to make new friends is amazing. These things are a great combination because they also promote self confidence and a place to be vulnerable. The culture here in Norway considers humility to be very important, but sometimes it is considered more important than having self confidence.


My testimony has revolved so much around learning who God created me to be, and being proud of that, and then letting that push me forward. As these young guys learn to play songs they thought were impossible they learn that they are smart and capable. They learn to have confidence. When I see this it makes me think, "What is God pushing me to do that seems impossible?"

SO, this is a great place to push these young people to do things they didn't know they could do. THEN, it also pushes me to stretch myself to grow as well.

It is so cool to see how just a small guitar class has begun to transform these young people and myself.

"I see your TRUE COLORS..."

...I don't know if "shining through" is how I'd describe those true colors, but as it is said, "we cannot escape ourselves."

an allison post


So this month our youth group hosted Bønn og Lovsang Weekend (prayers and hymns) at our local baptist church. Young people between the ages of 11 and 30 came from various kommunes all over the telemark region. **P.S. A kommune is a mix between a county and a province.**

Alll ready and set up for a fantastic weekend of worship!
Gerber daisies line the tables bringing friendliness and life.

The result of this worship filled weekend -- fantastisk as they say here! The preparation for it -- not as much. You come to realize that ignorance is bliss as a participant on a retreat, workshop, camp. It becomes an all too different beast when you're apart of building that house! 

I got asked to do the food on account of the normal chef dropping out this year. YAY YAY YAY i thought, this is MY chance to serve and get creative with this food because I believe eating is a worship experience. Sounded great at first, but then a snowball effect rolled over my delight as I dealt with lack of information, planning misnomers, and a mini-passive-aggressive culture war that led to a significant God moment:

My sweet friend Miriam from showing her
appreciation for corn! A kind sense of humor and
enthusiasm is always welcome in my kitchen ;)

My friend Anette came over Thursday just before the event to take me grocery shopping with her since she was in charge of acquiring the food. She breaks it to me that the leader isn't so fond of some of my hot meals and that we should cut a couple things out of respect. (Norwegians are bread people, very common to eat one hot meal in a day and all other meals are bread and cheese!) I was pretty hot for a number or reasons, most I thought to be justified, which I batted off for Anette. But my "least" justified reasons showed my heart and opportunity to really worship the Lord when Anette genuinely asked, "I completely understand, would cutting these meals ruin the weekend for you?" Of course Anette was asking purely for the sake of my sanity, but surely I heard the Lord asking "even if your reasons are justified, is it worth it to destroy a posture of worship for others this weekend?" My pride wanted to answer yes to both their questions. But I knew the answer ought to be no. I half-heartedly confessed that, knowing that there's liberty in that process. 

Good ol' Jeremiah always lightening up the food.
God's gift to Allison, LOVE THAT MAN!

From then on, I was praying about my responses and surrendering the whole thing. I knew what my selfishness was capable of stirring up. Even still I found myself in puddles of tears multiple times that week, missing my people home in the states all week thinking, "They know who I am, they'd trust me with the menu, they'd know me!" But I know the Lord was drawing me into see how loved I am, known by God. It propelled me in accommodating our allergen and diet restricted participants with the same zeal and creativity as anybody else (we had nut allergy, vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free, citrus free, onion family-free, and fast-carb free restrictions. Without some intentionality "air" would have been about the only thing on the menu.) Despite being in that kitchen all day friday, saturday, and half of sunday, I felt as if I had soared on the wings of the savior. My joy and passion never ran out, people were blessed, and I believe God was honored.

Blessings go round and round!