Leaving on Tuesday!

"Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." John 4:36-38

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:14-16


These are the Bibleverses we were reminded of when we left Hald on Friday. It's good to know that we are going to do important work for Jesus. I am glad the Lord has chosen me to to go to Madagascar, and I know that He will give me all I need.

Today I am feeling very tired and have mixed feelings. The past week has been quite emotional and tiring. We have had to say goodbye to our good friends at Hald, and I have not slept very much as an effort to be as social as possible when I have the chance... Now I'm at home and I have lots of preparations to do before the big journey in only 3 days. Not only preactical things, but also saying goodbye to friends and family here at home. I hardly have time to sleep, and when I try I'm so excited that I can't manage. And then I wake up too early!

I would really appreciate it if you could pray especially
-that I get to sleep so I feel fit when I leave Norway
-that all the prepararations will go well and that I don't forget anything important
-that the journey on Tuesday will be safe and smooth
Thank you so much! :)

Next post on this blog will be written in Madagascar! I will start posting as soon as I get settled and get a chance to go on the Internet. In the meantime I want to say thank you to everyone who's praying for me and reading my blog. I will try to keep you updated as much as I can. For the timebeing I can say that most likely we will be in Tana before Christmas and in Fandriana after. So we'll get to be both places!
Finally, I would like to share another Bibleverse that is helping me in these busy times: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phil. 4,13

Madagascar - here I come!

Change in plans...

In 13 days I will stand on the airport and wave goodbye to the people I love. Norway will be left behind for a while. And today, less than two weeks before I reach African soil, I don't know what to expect... What I am going to pack for. Am I going to live in the industrial capital or in the small village without the resources I'm used to? The thing is that at this point, I don't know.



An email from Madagascar saying there is more need for us in the capital (Tana), is the reason for this uncertainty. There are several schools in Tana that need English teachers, and there are already many "foreigners" in Fandriana, who can take care of things there. So where do they want us? My teacher and the contact person in Madagascar are trying to come up with the best solution. Personally I think it is good to be needed, so I will go wherever is best for the program. And of course where the Boss wants me. Still, it's a bit stressing not knowing whether or not I will have electricity, water and other necessities. Time will show. For the moment I will just have to wait patiently, as the days pass by faster than ever before...

3 weeks left...

67 people from 13 different nations are gathered Sunday evening in a little town in Norway, Mandal. They are all dressed in red, white and blue. Some Norwegians are dressed in the Norwegian "Russe-costume", to show the internationals how Norwegians celebrate High School Graduation.

The first event on the program for this "Norwegian Evening", is a parade in the garden of Hald. All the students gather behind each other and start marching along, before seeing the flag raised on its pole.

The evening continues with plays, stories, songs and pictures; all presented by the Norwegians to teach the internationals what to expect in this cold country. The internationals don't understand the words when the hosts for the evening sing "Hun er forelska i lærer'n" ("She is in love with the teacher") - a very Norwegian song. But they laugh and enjoy the tune. The evening reaches its peak with Norwegian waffels and "sjokoladekake" (chocolatekake). When the food is all gobbled up, the students are ready to begin playing games. So they play "Musical Chairs". Just minutes after, the dancefloor is open and they all gather around to dance the next couple of hours. Who would have thought that the "Macarena"dance is the same in the poor countries of Africa, in South America and even in Norway? Well, we had lots of fun and felt it in our muscles the following day...

But the pain I felt may have been my muscles aching from the running I did Monday morning. I woke up at 6:30 and was going to be back 7:30. Unfortunately I got lost in the woods, and the route I ran became much longer. But I carried on, trying different paths, finding out I had run in circles... Typical. Anyway, I focused on the positive parts: 1) I got a really good workout, 2) I saw three beautiful deers looking me straight in the eyes.

I am still enjoying myself here at Hald, and today it is only 2 weeks and 6 days until I leave. 20 days!!! Am going home tomorrow, then I will have to do some practical things for the journey. Wow-Africa is waiting!

Here is a picture of my Ugandan friend Faith and me. Isn't she lovely? Isn't she beautiful?