So...I don't even know how many times I have sat down to try to write an update on life here, but each time I have, the screen remains blank or I keep having to start over and then have to try again later. I'm hoping this time I will actually find something to say that will lead me to publish it. I guess I want so badly to put into words all that has been going on in a way that will make you understand. But I realize that will be nearly impossible unless you were actually here. I can try, but no words seem to capture the joys and trials we have been facing.
I will start by saying HALLELUJA because we completed our Norwegian language course last Saturday by taking a 2 hour long exam. I'm not sure how I did but thank you for praying, I was much calmer than I expected! It was pretty hard, but I was amazed that I coud read most of the test and manage to write a very uninteresting essay! We have much to learn still and are now going to have to be very dilligent about studying on our own, but I'm very glad we took the class, as hard as it was. I experienced moments of frustration that brought be to tears in the course of the three weeks and it was one of the hardest things I've done, but I made it through and am thankful for the opportunity and the friends we made along the way.

We celebrated that night at a Bar/cafe downtown with our class and had some awesome converstations with our new international friends (mostly Germans). As they sipped free beer and we downed our free mocha's (courtesy of the course) it's amazing how much God and religion came up in conversations. Everyone is so respectful of what we are doing and interested as well. We haven't met any Christians yet (that I know of), but everyone is open to talking about spirituality and I think God has already opened many doors into being able to share our hearts and really just listen with compassion to the stories of those we talk to. Most people here don't seem to have an extremely negative view of Christianity like many do in the U.S., they just aren't very familiar with it, haven't grown up with it, or just don't know what they think about it. One person commented that they didn't really feel like they were missing anything without it, but I challenged him by responding maybe that was so, but how did he know? He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, I think he was thinking about that. Who knows what God may do in his life in the future! :)

It has just been awesome to listen to people, talk with them in a non-threatening, genuine way, and experience God's heart for them, which I am always praying for more of. They are great people who I love to spend time with and learn from (the day we stop learning from those around us, no matter what their beliefs, will be a terrible day indeed), they just haven't met Jesus yet and I know that though I can share my heart and show them Jesus through my life, they need to have a powerful personal encounter with Him before they will turn to Him. So that is what I pray for...for God to touch them in a way only the Holy Spirit can do. And God willing, maybe I will get to be there when He does.

We are now excited to meet more Norwegians and have many opportunities in the upcoming weeks to do that. Tomorrow we are going to go to the university to prayer walk and just be where the students are and pray for God's guidance and divine appointments. We met together today as a team to pray and talk about possible direction and what God has been putting on our hearts. There are many different options for us to take right now and we are just seeking His wisdom and guidance as to where we should devote our time to be most effective. We want so badly to follow God's plans and desires and not just our own.
Sigh. Once again, I have written a book and only scratched the surface of everything and told you virtually nothing about what is going though my head and heart....maybe that would bore you anyway! But I want to be as honest as possible on here...I'm certainly not one to try to hide my true feelings! I think it is important to be real and share how things really are the best that I can. But things really have been going well, but difficult all the same. Being somewhere like this really tests you. I question who I really am, why in the world God brought me here, and then remind myself who GOD says I am and that really much of what He is doing here has nothing to do specifically with me (thought He has given me certain gifts and abilities), but that I was willing, listened and followed His leading and now, only through Him am I going to blessed by be a part of what He wants to accomplish.
Well...more on this later. Thanks for reading and hopefully you'll hear from one of us again soon! You are loved and thought about often....
Cortney :)

Here are a few images of our last few weeks in Trondheim...more will be coming of our weekend excursion with our Norwegian class. God has truly made some beautiful country here and we are being blessed by it. The sunsets below are what we get to see many nights from the deck (and our bedroom window) where we are living. Incredible....
Here is a view downtown across from one of the NTNU campuses. Nidros Cathedral is in the backround.

Well, we have been here for two weeks arleady and this my (Brett) first time blogging with the world. :) It seems that I have not had the time, or not made the time, to even reflect on the first two weeks. I am of course constantly thinking about the new culture and life changes that this new territory brings to my life, but without some solid life reflection time. These past two weeks have been in one word "wonderful," but all things wonderful are not great at all moments. There have been moments of complete confusion and feelings of helplessness, which I think everyone should experience from time to time. It proves to you that you truly don't know everything and are not all-powerful. But with the help of the angelic Norwegians we have come across, we have been able to get direction and comfort.

We have seen many differences in this country, and the biggest change to our lifestyle (alongside the language) is our mode of transportation. We walked about 20 miles the first week, but now we are taking the bus almost everywhere. We also have to walk 10 minutes to the grocery store and carry our food in our backpack or plastic bags. It is kind of fun, but ask me that again when winter arrives. :) Cortney and I were able to spend our 1 year wedding anniversary on the 29th by hiking in the woods and swimming in a lake that was very refreshing. I also had the opportunity to go fishing in the fjord and caught my first norwegian fish, a cod. These two weeks have been filled with Norwegian language class during the day, homework at night, and many times of hanging out with Norwegians.

It is exciting to think of what lies ahead of us in the future. We really have no idea what will happen or take shape, and as frightening as that is sometimes, there is also great comfort in that. I'm excited to further rely on my relationship with God and allow Him to guide me through the days and steps I should take. I often don't know where I'm going, but I know it will be an adventure.

I'll leave with my favorite passage as of late, Ephesians 3:14-21. "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Every time I sit down at the computer and try to write another entry, words seem to fail me and I don't know where to start. So much is happening so fast that I can't keep up with it all. I wish I could record every detail, every memory. Not so much for you, though that is one reason for this blog, but for myself. At the certain risk of sounding cliche', I will say a big "God is Good" and hope for an emphatic response from you of "All the time"...that is the battle cry of those in the international service we went to 2 weeks ago. Though I have had great ups and downs in the past week, I always seem to come back to this truth. God IS good, and we must trust Him.

For those of you who have been praying for my sickness and for my hearing to return, I will say a huge Tusen Tukk ("a thousand thanks") because God responded by hooking me up with some nasal spray and then completing that with a miracle of my ears opening!!! On Saturday the first one popped, and yesterday the other. I'm not completely 100%, but I can hear a thousand times better than last week. Thank you for praying, it is the difference is amazing. I am also feeling better, but still struggling some with congestion. Kelly is now experiencing physical attack as well with a really sore leg and Brett as well with a sore in his mouth. The enemy is trying to attack our bodies, but we aren't going to back down. We are more than conquerers through Christ who gives us strength...
That was one of the verses God spoke to me last week. Remember I said I was going to try to listen to Him since I couldn't hear anything else? Well, is amazing how quick He speaks when you give Him the opportunity. He led me right to Romans 8:28-39 and Romans 5:1-5. Look 'em up, they're some good verses to cling to.

As for our norskkurs (norwegian course), we are learning more everyday and plowing onward. I'm amazed at how much we do know already, as well as how much we don't yet! It will come...I still can't belive we are learning Norwegian. I'm learning another language. After Spanish in highschool I took sign language in college to cover the language requirement. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?

Let's see...Brett will hopefully write in here soon. And yes, the pictures are coming. Hopefully today. The three of us skipped our class social outing today because we are just too tired. But had an awesome trip last Saturday to a ship-building museum where they still build the tradition viking-style ships. We got to sail in one also! We had a great time hanging out with all our international (well, mostly German!) friends who are taking the class. What a joy to make new friends from another places. We also had a blast hanging out with Ole-Johann and Annette (Norwegians living below us who we are renting from, they have an adorable 17month-old Samuel) last night and learning to play Swedish Poker.

Okay, this is getting really long again. Sorry. I hope to write more frequently if things would slow down a bit. Again, much love. Family and friends are missed greatly. I still feel like we're going to be coming home soon. What a beautiful place we are living in, but it still isn't home yet, nor will it ever completely be I suppose. For now, "ha det" and I'll leave with this:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?....For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Rom. 8:35,38-39

"Forstar du Norsk?"= ("Do you understand Norwegian?"). Well, we're beginning to! Oh my goodness does my head hurt from all we are trying to cram in there with this language class. We have just completed our 4th day of class and we are on our way... or at least trying really hard!
It doesn't help that I am going into my second week of being hearing impaired, but I'm trying my best. Thanks for the prayers, I know God is hearing them and that He just must be up to something. The three of us (Kelly, Brett, and I) are just exhausted, so rest is much needed. I forgot what it was like to be in school and to be nervous for tests and stuff. I've been frustrated more that once because I wish I was grasping it more quickly. But it's only the first week and I know we have learned a lot and it will come with time.
Besides that, we have just been hanging out with our new Norwegiandfriends that live below us and wondering around downtown trying not to spend money on all the great looking food at the mat festival (food festival).
Well, I have to go for now. Time to scrape up some dinner...it's slim pickens in our cupboard. Yay for bread and the peanutbutter we brought from home! :)
I'll fill you in on what God's been teaching me soon. I decided I should use this whole involuntary silence time to try to listen to Him. ;)
Ha det! (Goodbye!)