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 :)