La Sonya

top 100 thankful things

2009-11-30T22:47:00.001+01:00

*these are in no particular order.

Rachel V
Andrea
Mom
Christopher
Dad
Pa
new friends
snow
skype
IKEA
trains
sledding
scarves
coats
camp wawona
hope
thanksgiving feast
packages
nature
space (outer space)
books
Bible encouragement
visitors
baking
apples
spanish
french
tchad
missions
knitting
wildlife
bears/bjorn
lions/love
swedish hot dog loaf
fires
candles
wooden homes
scandinavia
norway
cottages
duvets
hotties
love
encouraging books
CS Lewis
stick shift
charcoal
garlic
tea
hot chocolate
dysfunctional pink tea pots
popcorn
music
hiking
cultures
warm homes
potluck
kitchens
cookbooks
internet
mail
God's unconditional love
memories
lamps
sheep
cows with bells
walking through forests
Fangekasa
inspiration
motivations
boys
green
purple
Advent
Christmas
tights
traditions
change
constant
farms
fall
good smells
Bessaggen
Adventure
future
yosemite
campers
moose
Mowgli
Honduras
Norway
kindred spirits
Estonian friends
garden friends
trees
beauty
time
heaven
Christ
me

Thanksgiving Norwegian Style

2009-11-30T22:25:00.000+01:00

In the start of November Maggi Harrel asked me if I could coordinate Thanksgiving day for the group of Americans. At first it was easy I just told people what to bring and to go to Gabriela's house, that is until last week when we realized Gabriela couldn't host it because her kids had the Christmas concert to go to. I then volunteered Gronvold because I had the space.

So that's how I got to host my first Thanksgiving day feast.

I was a bit worried on Thursday and Friday but it all melted away. I cleaned up the house and put out my Christmas decorations. Sunday I woke up ready for the festivities to begin. People were set to start arriving at 12 to eat around 1pm. I had to make an apple pie and mash potatoes. (I signed up for mash potatoes because that is my brothers favorite part and I though I should make them in honor of him, although I am sure they didn't taste the same because I didn't have the same ingredients).

Everything went great. We had 12 people and 1 baby. There was Joy (American) and her 4 children (Norwegian/American), Nila (American), Luke (American) and his wife, Inga (Latvian), Maggi (Norwegian, married to Jason who is American and the sponsor on the Tanzania trip with the EBS students), Bjorn Åge (Norwegian) and his wife Erin (American) and of course me (American).

We had a full table of food! Gluten, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, salad, cornbread, dinner rolls, rutabaga, elder berry juice, norwegian cranberries, McCormick gravy, and AMAZING deserts! Pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie and my apple pie, tofu and regular ice cream.

After we ate the main course we left all the dishes on the table and went outside to play some football on the icy grass. It ended up being the full blooded Americans versus the Europeans :O) No one won. We were all just that good. It was nice to add that to my traditions. I hadn't played in a while and it was quite fun. After the game we ate desert and played more games inside. Taboo and Fantisi, a norwegian game like gestures and pictionary combined. It was much harder to play with teams of mixed languages and cultures. I was a bit off my game, but there were some moments of shinning glory.

All my plates were used, my serving utensils, silver ware, cups, bowls, pitchers and chairs. A dream come true. I truly was thankful for it all. Thanks to all of those who were a part of the celebration of Thanks.

Where ever I am next year I hope I am able to share the special day with people as jovial and lovely as each person at the feast.

Here's to good food, family and friends.

Somewhere, Sweden

2009-11-30T17:09:00.000+01:00

What a start to my trip through Scandinavia! Just getting up at 4:40am is a big ordeal. Then getting up to my world blanketed in snow! Ivo drove me down to Hokksund train station and I missed my train by minutes, but there was still time to make the train from Oslo to Stockholm. Just 6 minutes. In those 6 minutes I had to get my EuRail ticket stamped and find my train. Of course I always panic and can't decide if I am no the right train or not. Realizing I was just before my exit I lug my suitcase to the door to make my dash for it. I get in line to get my ticket stamped after speed walking past everyone, get my ticket validated and turn to look for the track with my train just as I hear over the loud speaker in english ''last call for Stockholm'' Ekk! Quick which one is track 6! Following behind an equally late man, we push through the stream of people going the opposite direction and make our way to the train. I literally got on seconds before they rolled out! Amen. Praise God for guiding everything.

So now I sit on the train waiting out my 6 hour ride to Stockholm.

heads up.

2009-11-29T22:59:00.007+01:00

Just so you know I am going to be posting my Thanksgiving adventures. Stories from all three meals and pictures/video too. I will also be posting my adventures from Finland, Sweden and the mother IKEA store. . . .

Just not today. I am tired from all the festivities today and have to get up at 5 am to make my train to Oslo, Norway that takes me by train to Stockholm, Sweden that takes me by ferry to Turku, Finland by Tuesday morning. So I am off to bed to sleep what few hours I have left.

Many blessings to you on your Sunday night.

Ps It's snowing, why does it always snow when I am leaving?

I'll tell you where you will be . . .

2009-11-27T16:54:00.004+01:00

So the other day I was thinking, "Five years ago had God told me where I would be doing right now I would have not believed Him."

Really if God had come and sat down next to me while in the Destiny Drama Company bus on tour and begun to tell me that in five years I would be driving a stick shift, big, red bus/van down a dark Norwegian road with a charcoal poultice on my infected ear and my, then new friend, Ben from DDC, to pick up a Bulgarian named Tzveta, at the train station. I believe I would have laughed and said thanks for the funny story. But to have believed it, no way.

Let us rewind my life tape and see where I was five years ago. I was back from Honduras as an SM, going through the reentry shock of America and University life again. I had finally been accepted into the touring theater group Destiny Drama Company, after two years of rejection. I was on fire for life, spanish, student missionaries and God. I had a minimum of two years left in University before any life long decisions needed to be made (even though I took three). I was young and as they say innocent. My eye's had only just begun to open to the difficulties of the world and I knew that I wanted to do mission work more than anything.

However for better or worse, here I am. Sitting in a dark Norwegian flat at 3 pm on a Friday typing on my mac computer. God is crazy sometimes. He gives us our passions and dreams and then the opportunity to live them out. I think God does not tell us our future because we would not believe Him. So we dream up lives for ourselves and pray and hope they come true, yet God has an even bigger crazier life in store for us. When I stop and think about my life over the last five years I see where I have slowly been trusting God more and more with my life. I am learning to just let go of everything and go where He leads, because I have I have found myself driving a stick shift, big, red bus/van down a dark Norwegian road with a charcoal poultice on my infected ear and my, now old friend, Ben from DDC, to pick up a Bulgarian named Tzveta, at the train station.

I am reminded of a phrase I learned my freshman year of university at a Bible study at the Owen house.

Let go and let God.

It is when I do that I find myself doing amazing things for Him.

Tales from an exile

2009-11-22T13:21:00.002+01:00

Well today the majority of the students have been gone from the school leaving me and just a very tiny group of working students and green house workers to run the place. I must be honest I wasn't very excited about being left behind while everyone else went to an faraway land to do mission work. Especially because one group was going to Honduras, the very first place I lived outside of America. I would have LOVED to visit my old home at El Hogar de Ninos. But alas I was left here to 'run' things.

After I saw the light of all the fun, Kaisa, Tiina and I could have I began to get excited. So now after a week I would love to tell you about our tales.

All week I worked doing things from cataloging library books, covering new books, planning my recruiting trip through Scandinavia, cooking in the kitchen, taking the trash out and cleaning Solhoug down the hill. The days have been diverse enough and I have been able to listen to great music and books on tape. (a side note about the music, if you have never tried it I recommend putting on your head phones and dancing for awhile by yourself. It's a blast) Not so bad and boring so far. . .

This weekend was also very nice. On Friday night after vespers a group of us leftovers came back to Gronvold to drink hot drinks and sit on the sofa with the fire roaring and the candles burning for light. We sat and sipped our hot drinks for a long time while talking about little bits of everything.

Saturday was potluck at church, always great. After trying bits of all the food, Ben, Tiina and I went for a little walk around the river to help the food digest. The plans for the evening included a concert in the State Church up the hill on the other side of church and then pancakes at my house. Since the sun goes down around 3:45 we stayed at the church till it was time for the concert.

Oh, boy this concert was great. It consisted of an organ, trumpet, mini organ and pan flute. The organ reminded me of Southern, it made me feel like I was at Even Tide. The lady who played the flutes was amazing too, she played music from Handel, and Baroque. After the concert we came back to my flat and cooked up some great tasting crawafle. Yes, I typed that right. It was a cross between a creepe, waffle and pancake. Tasty, it was quite the little feast we had.
So I might be in exile, the numbers here might be few. But we are having a rock'n time :O)

Tonight on the docket is fort making in the living room with a movie, hot drinks, baked apples and perhaps some pepperkaker!!!!

I can not remain silent, so I’ll sing.

2009-11-20T23:02:00.002+01:00

In vespers a few weeks ago we sang most all of Fannie Crosby’s hymns. She has written several personal favorites. As we were singing I remember one part standing out to me more than the other songs. It was “I sing because I can not be silent.” How beautiful is that!? Sometimes I find myself singing songs out loud. For example at camp this last summer I found myself singing “It’s a beautiful day and I thank God for __________” How wonderful it was to find myself walking around with that song bursting forth, not worrying about who will hear me, how I sound but just singing with all my heart simply because I can not be silent. The rest of those words are just as profound, as you read the words think about what they are saying. Are they true for you? Do you love to proclaim it? When was the last time you found yourself singing out loud because you were in love with your boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse? If you have, think about when was the last time you sang because you were so in love with God.

That last sentence has been on my mind lately. How in love with God am I today? Do I crave time with Him, not necessarily worship but time to talk with Him. Do I prepare myself for our weekly dates or do I just arrive on time for the date? I want to be so in love with God that I cannot remain silent. I want to sing it from the rooftops, because if I don’t then the rocks will.
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. His child and forever I am.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed through His infinite mercy;
His child and forever I am.

Refrain:
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am!

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus—
No language my rapture can tell!
I know that the light of His presence
In me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessèd Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent—
His love is the theme of my song!

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in Whose law I delight,
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.

I know there’s a crown that is waiting
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be!

The land of flowing soda and M’n’M’s

2009-11-13T22:16:00.000+01:00

While living in Tchad we, the SMs, used to dream of the Embassy as we drove past it in the Capital. We would imagine that inside there was air-conditioning, plush couches, fountains flowing with CocaCola, AW rootbeer, and cream soda and bowls filled with MnM’s and soo much more. We visualized something of a cross between Disney World and the Marriot. After all when you are in the American embassy you are on American soil we are compatriots lost in a foreign country, we deserve to see something of our homeland. Nevertheless, we never went in, not even when there was a Coup on the capital and all that danger. Having never seen inside we just let our imagination believe what we wanted.

February 2001 I received my first passport. I was 16 years old and heading to Costa Rica for my first time out of the country. My picture was bad but the stamps I have received over the last d10 years are cool. I’ve got stamps from Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, United States of America, Tchad, Camaroon, Iceland, Bahamas and France. It’s a nice passport. The time however has come for it to be retired. A nice new picture is due. I was going to Oslo on a trip and decided to stop by the Embassy to renew it in person.

Once in Oslo the American Embassy was right across from the stop and we went over. I had to leave all my bags with Ben because you can only take a small, very small, purse/wallet in with you. When I went back with my friend Tzveta, who was applying for a transit visa, she got in line and the guard came over and asked through the tall metal bared fence what we needed and I said, “I’m a citazen and am waiting with her in line until she goes in and I need to renew my passport”. The citizen line was much shorter, actually there was no line. It was cool saying that I was a citizen as if that was so much better, but in this case it was.

Once I got all my stuff put down and only had my wallet and paperwork I went through security and passed into the golden homeland . . . I must say I was thoroughly disappointed. No soda fountain, no MnM’s, no plush couches. Just chairs, windows with people on the other side and and a burocratic feel. Ahh, it was nice to be on my homeland again. I got my passport taken care of and on my way out made sure to go potty before I left America.

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

2009-11-13T16:38:00.000+01:00

I applied for my first visa in August. I was still living and working at Camp Wawona when that went on. It was quite the ordeal. It was hard to get into town and I ended up sending the paperwork overnight to my dad so he could get my money out of my bank and send it to the embassy. It was a close call. I came to Norway with the expectation that I would only have to pay the ‘club dues’ only once.
I finally received my visa papers and went in to the Police to get it officially put in my passport. It took me at least four visits to finally go when the office was open. (they are only open one day a week and then they were having meetings so they opened on another day. . . government offices) Finally they put in my visa and noticed that the expiratory date was for December 24 due to the fact that my passport was expiring in February 2010. The nice lady at the Police told me that I shouldn’t have to renew my visa or pay for it. . . at least that’s what I understood her to say. After visiting the American Embassy for my new passport, with a much nicer passport photo, I received the empty new one. I took it to the Police to do the simple switch . . . not so easy. I had to go home and ended up calling the UDI people and almost cried when they told me I would have to pay again for the renewal of my visa. I had only been in Norway for a few months and was having to pay it all over again. This time the American dollar was down and it cost me almost $200. Sob. A very kind donor in the states said they would help pay for it. The idea still made me mad though.
Today (Friday) I went to the Police for what I wish was the last time. I went to turn in my renewal papers and pay. I was planning on paying with my American credit card as I don’t have lots of cash hanging around. Guess what? They don’t take American Visa cards. Trying not to cry or be angry at the nice man I asked where I could go to get cash and he vaguely directed me to an ATM several blocks away. After trying 2 different ATMs, two different banks and almost sitting down in the middle of Kongsberg to weep I got help. The nice bank guy whipped out an old-fashioned sliding credit card machine and called my bank and we got it worked out. In the process I missed lunch, almost cried, and had to walk in the cold snowing land. It was rough. I got my visa applied for and in around 3 months I will get it. Yes that’s right three months, March.
I was angry at this injustice. I like the country, the people and the surroundings but I wasn’t sure if it was worth $200. I decided however, that sometimes there is absolutely nothing I can do about it and even crying wont change anything because in life we just have to bite the bullet.

My waking dreams

2009-11-10T23:08:00.005+01:00

I'm trying to sleep but I can’t seem to find it. My mind just keeps running instead. Perhaps I’ve just got to much on my mind. I’ve been thinking lots about my future and what I’ll be doing in five years.

I’ve got dreams. My waking dreams entail many things. I’m not trying to be picky with God, I’ll go where ever He sends me but I just have things I would like in my life.

I would like a home or a flat. A place to call my own. A place where friends can come over and veg on my couch, or students can come and feel as if they were at home. A place that people can come to and feel safe and welcome.

I would like a job that challenges me. Something that keeps me thinking on new ways to do something. I want a job that keeps me busy and active. No desk for me please. I want to be challenged to get people motivated, inspired, empowered and to find new ways to show them that they are not alone.

I want a job that offers me freedom to think, plan, create and explore. I want to try new ideas that are a bit outside the box and most people wouldn’t think of.

I want to teach people, not in the conventional way but in an outside the box way. I want to teach people to try new things, to trust themselves and others. I want to teach people to love more and better. I want to teach outside the normal classroom. I want to teach people in an active way they won’t forget.

I want to talk to people. I want to motivate them from the front of the meeting hall. I want to talk to new people, make new friends and I want to talk so that people listen and are inspired to not stay the same but to change for good.

I want dishes and pots, not necessarily all my personal ones, but I want to cook and serve people food. I want to be able to make cookies, breads, and pies. I want to cook meals for friends. I want to feed students who haven’t seen a home cooked meal in weeks or longer. I want to feed people so that when they leave my house they are full and content.

I want money to travel. I want to be able to visit my best friends in their homes. I want to explore the world. I want to be able to travel and do short term or long term mission trips. I want to see the world and it’s people.

I want to live long term in a foreign country, long enough to know it’s language as well as my own. I want to live there so the people become my people and my children their children. I want to live in a mission field and be creative with my surroundings and lack of utilities.

I want to love someone and be loved. I want to know that there is someone who will love me for all that I am and have to offer. I want to love someone who challenges me to be a better person. I want to love someone who will teach me new things. I want to love someone longer than I am alive on this earth. I want to be loved in return.

I want to know that I have done my best with what God has given me and that I haven’t missed an opportunity to love others. I want to know that every day counted for something bigger than myself.

These are my waking dreams.

To whom it may concern:

2009-11-06T15:39:00.001+01:00

Dear creators of Skype,
I can’t thank you enough for creating free video conferencing. It has helped me survive these last few months here at my new home in Norway. I can call family and friends and share a few words and looks. It’s amazing what a few faces can do to help lift moods.

I have been able to eat supper/lunch/breakfast with people in California, Tennessee and Texas. I have been able to see every bite of a luscious looking corn on the cob, watch my friend cook her loaf in the microwave and sip tea with my kindred spirits thousands of miles away. Using Skype has helped me to bridge the gap of too many miles.
Most recently I have been blessed with the opportunity to worship with my old friends in California as they had their morning staff worship. I was able to listen to their prayer requests and then take them to our Heavenly Father in prayer. How amazing is that? I was able to feel like I was sitting right along side Derek as he gave the worship thought. I was able to ask Ryan how is mom was. I felt like I was there.

Skype has meant so much to me these last few months. I wish I could thank you enough for what you have given me. I wish I understood how the whole thing worked. I remember watching Back to the Future II and watching Marty McFly get fired while video conferencing with his boss, I never thought I would actually get to play with the same type of program. I never thought I would be living Back to the Future, but I guess I am.
So if you ever need a face of Skype, a representative of sorts please look me up and call me. I would love to help. Thank you for your ever giving gift.

Your biggest fan,
Sonya Reaves

Freight train dysfunctional pink teapot

2009-11-03T20:27:00.004+01:00

I love making hot tea; I love drinking it, serving it, the while process. I am also old fashioned and dislike greatly microwaving or electric hot water makers. I prefer to do it the same way my grandmother did it (at least I assume the way she made it), on the stove in a teapot. That was one of the exciting things about having my own kitchen was that I could use my stove to make tea when people come over or when I want to sip apple cider before bed.
My flat here in Norway came furnished with lots of things, including a mini cheap teapot, that doesn’t have a whistle hole. I was using it all the time and once when I had a lot of people over we had to refill the little guy lots. Then one day when I was cleaning it out because it had smelt a little funny I noticed something on the bottom on the inside. On closer inspection I saw it was three tiny rust holes! Gross, I had been drinking nasty water. It’s a wonder I didn’t die or something. So on the shelf my teapot went to never be used again. Thus began the serious quest for a new worthy teapot.
I went with Tatiana to get groceries for the school and myself on Monday. We stop at a mall with a grocery store inside and then head over to a place that has cheap overstocked groceries. At the second place, Price, you don’t always know for certain that some items are there because they are overstocked items. I had been there a few weeks before and glanced around at the teapots just to see what there was (I wanted a whistling teapot) .The only one I had found was one very obnoxious bright pink one, which I quickly voted a big no on. Here I was a few weeks later looking for a new one, knowing that the pink one was not for me. I looked around and looked around and couldn’t find anything, not a pink one, not a black, red or even blue one. Nothing. I was beginning to get a bit sad because I really wanted a teapot; I was tired of using a regular pot to heat my water. There was nothing romantic about getting hot water for tea from a big ugly pot. So I kept looking and looking. Again nothing, I even thought about that funny pink one but nothing was to be found. I knew that this would have been the cheapest place to buy one and I am on a budget so I started praying. I know this might seem silly but how was I to serve tea to Jesus when he comes to visit if I didn’t have a teapot? So there we are talking about it and I told God as I was looking that at this point I would even take the bright pink one. I was looking around and got distracted by the hair driers (I might need one come winter) and thought maybe I would get one this trip instead of a teapot. I decided against it and instead asked God to just help me find a teapot and I would be happy with the crazy pink one, figuring it would fit in well with my flat. I really just wanted a teapot at this point. After I said that I looked at the end cap in the big bin that holds random things and guess what I found? Yup, my bright pink teapot. I smiled and told God thank you for giving me this crazy pink little teapot. I put it in my cart and finished my shopping.
You might think my teapot story is over but alas it is not. It has a bit more. I took my teapot home and right away wanted to take it out and play with it, you know how it is with something new. So out of it’s box it went. Once it was full of water I put it on it’s new home and put it to work. I got my teacup out and selected my favorite tea of the day and waited for the whistle, that’s my favorite part of teapots. As I was waiting I noticed a very loud rumbling sound coming from the obnoxious pink teapot. I thought perhaps it was almost ready to whistle but it wasn’t. My pink teapot was dysfunctional! Then I waited a while more and it never whistled! My teapot was nutty! In the days since I have found out that sometimes it whistles and sometimes it doesn’t and it always sounds like a freight train while it’s on the burner. What a funny dysfunctional pink teapot I own. But you know what? It’s mine and I kinda like it even if it is unique, cause I’m unique too and I like me. Best of all God gave it to me :O)
So when you come over we’ll have to drink some tea and talk louder to be heard over the freight train dysfunctional pink teapot.

New Episode of Cooking with Sonya & Friends!!!!

2009-10-27T20:20:00.002+01:00

2009-10-27T17:07:00.001+01:00

This is me drinking the "Pesto-Lemon Head" tea concoction that is supposed to kill anything bad in your body. It's nature's way of weeding out the virus.
Here's to health and happiness.

ugg.

2009-10-25T12:52:00.003+01:00

I had hight hopes of posting a lot of blogs this weekend. Unfortunately i don't seem to have much energy to do that seeing as how I've come down with what feels like the bubonic plague (don't worry it isn't actually). I don't understand how I could go all of last year working at GCA without getting sick once and now I've been sick twice in the last 5 months. The same things wrong, head ache, neck ache, clogged head, sore body, no energy. Maybe it's my tonsils? Whatever it is I am not happy with it.
Last night Tzveta gave me a Russian Steam treatment. I sat on a wooden chair wrapped in a sheet. There were wool blankets all around me that I was tightly wrapped in. I had my feet in a bucket of hot water with a cool cloth on my head. The most intense part of all was the pot of steam underneath me making me sweat. It lasted for about 3o min then Tzveta rubbed my hands and arms with the cool cloth and I had to rest for 30 min before I could get up. I am not sure if it helped because today I feel worse and I might have a small tiny fever. So this morning Tzveta and Tatiana told me I should take a garlic and lemon tea. I pressed about 8 garlic sections and two lemons and put boiling water in a tea pot to drink. It wasn't so bad at first but the novelty soon wore off when I was still having to chew a bit of garlic and the lemon was giving a bit of a kick on it's way down. But like a trooper I have drunken all of it in hopes of getting better. I just can't believe I am actually sick? I made it so long before now.
I was feeling really ug and like I didn't want to go on but then I remembered I have a package coming to me in the mail this week, it gave me the hope and joy to go on. I just hope this passes much faster than the last one did and that I am not down and out for long.

We'll see how things go from here, perhaps I will never get better. . . perhaps I will just waist away. . . perhaps tomorrow when I wake up my head won't hurt and my throat will not be tender. . . only time and garlic and lemon will tell.

true love.

2009-10-12T22:05:00.001+02:00

I need to go to bed but I must write this first. I've been reminded of my life back in Africa. The power has gone out and I am writing now to you by light of my lantern [on paper]. Perhaps I am a true romantic at heart or a pioneer spirit but I love this. I often wish it was always like this.
This is my true love. Rustic. Simple. No frills. Just me, the lantern and . . . the lights just came back on. . . boo.

photos from around Skotselv

2009-10-08T22:05:00.001+02:00

Garage and leaves
Originally uploaded by dreams with faith

So the other day I went for a photo hunt with my friend Joar. He's a great nature photographer so I went to learn a few things and be inspired. These pictures are what came from it. I hope you enjoy them and the colours they offer, because now all those vine leaves are gone and I miss them terribly.
Love from Skotselv,
La Sonya

Mote, Norwegian fashion

2009-10-06T17:39:00.006+02:00

So I’ve always been one to not be afraid of dressing in what makes me happy. If I want to wear bold colours I do, if I want to dress in tights the colour of purple flowers, I do. In fact once in high school I had a sweater that I loved to wear, it was bright yellow and as my best friend put it, it was the colour of playdoh. I decided long ago that it’s okay to dress in my own fashion. Sure sometimes I stand out and feel a bit funny but for the most part I enjoy what I wear. I enjoy adding different styles from people, cultures and other inspirations. I was recently at a fair here in Norway. Something similar to the State Fair of Texas, booths, food, culture, machineary, hand crafts. It was a lot of fun. Erin and I wandered through the stalls looking at everything from homemade knives to Peruvian llama hats. But the best part of this fair was when we were waiting for Bjorn Age (her husband) and Bjorn Aron to finish their rides in the fairway. Oh, the style tips I was able to get! It’s easiest to get ideas from the youth of a place. They are the ones most up to date on style. This is what I learned from them: wear tall socks and tuck your jeans into them. Don’t worry about putting them in nicely so they don’t bunch just get them in there. In fact don’t worry about much else so long as they are in your socks. Your socks don’t have to be anything in particular just tall enough to hold your pants. This was such a great fashion statement apparently that not only were your average adolescents sporting the fashion it but your middle aged mothers were enjoying the idea as well. Perhaps you will see me in the next few months wondering your streets sporting the fashion that I have come to adapt to my life, pants in the socks.

Embrace it, and tonight when you are home go ahead, tuck those pants in, it kinda feels nice.

The weather report via Skotselv, Norway

2009-10-04T09:48:00.003+02:00

Snow

2009-10-04T09:45:00.003+02:00

For Pete’s sake, October 3, 2009. I can’t believe it’s snowing. I am sitting in my flat listening to a sermons as I eat my breakfast and I look out the window to see something floating around outside. What is that? Great, snow. If it is snowing today only the third day in October, what am I going to do after just one month!! Now it’s coming down more obviously, not so much a mini flutter but more of a salt shaker falling. Happy Sabbath. I’m excited about snow, but I’m just a bit fearful, although I will like the idea of sitting next to my wood stove enjoying the warmth while I look outside at the snow. But really? October 3? My mom is going to the state fair of Texas on Monday. It’s still in the 80’s Fahrenheit /high 20’s Celsius in Texas. Here I woke up yesterday and it was -3 Celsius/26 Fahrenheit. Of all the crazy things. Snow.

In case you were wondering, it’s still snowing outside. Things are beginning to turn white. And I know those of you from the north, west and everywhere else it’s cold and snows must be thinking that she will get used to it, I beg to differ, how can one get used to seeing such a miracle? Yesterday this time I could see all the grass, the gravel, the roof tops. Now I look outside and see white lacing all of that. Will I ever see things the same? Does this just melt off in a few days and look like it rained? What happens next? This is so new to me and forigen. I have no idea how to mental anticipate what happens next. Last year at Christmas time when I was in Washington State for the holidays and I experienced a LOT of snow I learned about the concept of size, texture and good snowman snow. But I wasn’t there to learn what happens when it snows in October. Will it melt and go back to what it was or do I need to wait till spring for the grass and trees?

Now they are big fatty flakes.

Is it to late to take back my prayer for an early snow fall?

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(just a late night update on the snow, it fell for about an hour and a bit more this morning. However the snow falling soon turned to rain and all through church and lunch the rain fell melting the snow and making a big muddy mess. The locals tell me that this was a freak incodent and the weather should be nice the next few weeks. [They also said it wouldn’t snow. . .])

Norwegian mushrooms

2009-10-03T14:23:00.000+02:00

Norwegian mushrooms
Originally uploaded by dreams with faith

This mushroom I found on a road that loops around back to the school. It makes me think of magic places in fairytales. I don't eat them but lots of the other European's told me some are edible and others are not. Maybe one day I'll try one. . .

just click on the picture to see others on my flikr account.

velkommen

2009-10-02T16:19:00.005+02:00

Velkommen Ben to Skotselv!

My friend from university has come to EBS to volunteer for a few months. Boy am I excited! I met Ben at Southern when we were both in Destiny Drama Company. As we both realized yesterday, that was a long time ago. He's here to help with the PR things, he's quite productive as he's already edited a brochure, made me business cards, updated the webpage and is almost finished with the news letter. But really I'm glad he's here because he brought me a few of my scarves and he is company to have in the office during the day. Now when I get the 11:30 munchies I can at least have someone to sympathize with :)
All through college we had crazy adventure with Destiny, the photo lab, and listening to music class, now it will be exciting to see what crazy things happen now!

And we get to listen to Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack, re-live Destiny intro music, talk loud, kill flies, and eat vegan food!

If you know Ben give him a shout out if you know me, give me a shout out!

Tussen Takk!!!!!

Ben and me at practice way back in the day, practicing "Are We There Yet?"

sing a song, sing it loud!

2009-10-02T16:12:00.002+02:00

One of my favorite songs in Nandjere, the tribal language in Bere, Tchad. Ka Kang De.

Enjoy!

http://africaaviationministry.org/20090610-20090808-video/mvi_0406.avi

The Lord's Supper

2009-09-27T12:35:00.002+02:00

A couple weeks ago we had the Lord’s Supper at church. We were not at the Skotselv church because of plans to go up to Fredhiem (the health treatment part of the foundation in a town 30 min away). The church wasn’t planning on having so many guest, they knew we were coming but then several other visitors who were on holiday came through as well. We had a beautiful full service.
I’ve always enjoyed the renewing of my covenant with God during those services. I have so many special memories connected with that service. I remember my first time that I took the bread and juice, I remember as a child staying back during the foot washing service and hearing a children’s story, I remember being at the Student Missions retreat and sharing the service with my fellow first time SMs. I also remember the Sabbath where the real meaning finally hit me, that Jesus gave up so much for me. I remember last year at GCA walking upfront as an Elder in the church to help read and pass out the flat bread and juice.
So many memories tied to that service. I wonder what it will be like the first Sabbath we are all in Heaven and Jesus gathers all of us together and we listen to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit not read the scripture but tell us the scripture because it was so real to them. I can’t wait to partake of that memory. Can you imagine the emotion that we will feel when Jesus takes a drink of the wine? He is waiting to partake of it until we can be with him. Oye, I can’t wait. Come Lord Jesus come!

another day another kroner

2009-09-21T21:33:00.005+02:00

Phew, I am tired! Another day is done, they seem to be speeding past! We had staff meeting, Family meeting, I picked up someone from the bus station, worked on some paper work and finally got home in time to clean my flat. Tonight we filmed another Cooking with Sonya & friends. It took awhile, but it's supposed to. We laughed and giggled and worked on our English skills :O)
We baked apple pie, Sonya style. I'll let you know how it tastes tomorrow!
Tomorrow I get to go to the police station and get started getting my personal number so I can have insurance, a bank account and finally be allowed to play with Erin and Bjorn Age Vik! (that way if I brake my arm I will be able to get it fixed) It makes sense really ;O)
This weekend I went for a Sabbath hike with some friends. I was able to talk about lots of exciting things, everything from Andrew Peterson to Three Cups of Tea. It was a fairly easy hike. A piece of cake compared to Besseggan! But most things are after that. It was 25 km round trip (16ish miles). I wasn't to tired after it. I really do think that after all this hiking here I will be able to climb most anything.
I was also able to talk to my bud Andrea on skype. Boy that thing is great. Who would have thought that Back to the Future II would be true? Remember the part where the old Marty McFly get's home and his boss calls him on the TV phone? When I was a kid I thought that was soo cool and so never going to REALLY happen. But it did! I've used it to talk to my family and friends. Bless those creators for bridging the gap of miles and miles.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I love it when I hear from you as well (yes that also means you friends who are local, I like it when you respond to my stories that you find funny. I also am glad that I am able to remind you of what it was like when you first came here.)
Take care all and brush your teeth.
Sonya of Norway.