Well....I don't know if I can apologize enough for not having kept up with this whole blogging thing this past month. The time is flying by and I can hardly believe that December is already here and Christmas is just around the corner. Feels strange to be anticipating celebrating the most looked-forward-to holiday of the year, but be so far from home. We are going to greatly miss our families and the usual traditions, but we are looking forward to our first Norwegian Christmas! We just recieved an invitation from the pastor of Betel church to join he and his family on Christmas Eve so we are very excited and will let you know how it is!

There is also a big transition coming up as the Haavik family (Chuck, Sally, Rebecca, & Emily) are departing Norway to go home to Duluth on Dec. 12. This has been in the plan all along, but is not easy for any of us as we have become a close knit community and they have been family here in Norway. We are anticipating the things that God has in store for all of us, but need prayers to hear His voice clearly as we answer His call for each one of us. We are thrilled that Chuck will be coming back a few times for extended periods over the next year to continue partnering with us and what is happening here. We are going to miss them dearly when they go. Our family will now consist of Brett and I and Kelly which will be (and has been) such a blessing for all of us...even as we learn the difficult lessons of what it means to truly live in community and to really love one another...it is life-changing, character-building, and Christ-shaping!

We have all been reeling lately from all of the things God has been doing here lately. All of the doors that are being opened. When we look at what is in store for the start of 2007, we are in awe of how quickly God has allowed things to happen here. We know it can only be because of Him! Here are just a few things we are looking forward to (it's going to be busy!):
1. We will be starting cell groups (small groups) in January with some key leaders and other Norwegians which will happen once a week. We each will have a group to pour into.
2. Our Sunday night student service we have had once a month has been so successful that we are going to be adding another night every month...very exciting!
3. We are taking a placement test to get into level 2 Norwegian at the university on Jan. 9...so be praying that works out...it would be 2 days a week for 3 hours each.
4. We will be starting some discipleship and leadership training a couple times a month for leaders of the youth ministry at Betel and university student leaders
5. Weekly prayer meetings with students on campus
6. We hope to start some further theological training through Burean study online courses
6. All of the awesome times we will have continuing to hang out and spend time with students as we have been...it's amazing the relationships that are forming and that we have already...God is so good!!


This is just a taste and we will see where God continues to lead us as we seek Him each and every step of the way. We just want to be obedient and follow His lead. Even in the midst of trials, struggles, challenges, etc. we continue to be in awe at the ways God is just putting things together. We are working hard, but letting God be the director and seeking Him first. It's a great way to do ministry. :)

But even as we work hard, we are trying to balance our lives so that we can be healthy and not burn out...we want to be in this thing for the long haul after all! Brett and I are making sure we spend time with eachother, with God of course, with friends, and with ourselves! It is a tough thing to live a balanced life and though we can often fail, we are working at it and see this opportunity of "pioneering" as one to start out on the right track and be the full, complete people God has called us to be. We pray that we will only get better at this! For a life lived in God should be a life that is FULLY ALIVE! :)

Well, I will end this for now, but want to share more about what God is speaking to us and post some pictures...but for now: Ha det bra og har en fint dag! ("have it good and have a fine/good day")
Again, check out the link on the side of the blog to see more of our photo albums...they have been updated very recently and tell some more of what we have been up to! Enjoy!
We'd love to hear from you...keep us informed on your lives as well! Feel free to email (ckone5@hotmail.com or tterb2401@hotmail.com) or if you have skype, look us up under brett and cortney heerwald!
LOVE YOU and praying for you!!!