One of our friends, Siri-Helene, who is a freshman student and will be joining us this weekend

Weekend Get-away this weekend!

We just want to ask that you be praying for our student retreat that we are having this weekend. We leave Friday afternoon and come back Sunday afternoon. We will be going to another Church about 30 minutes from here that has room to host groups. Kelly, Brett, and I will be leading the weekend with a theme based around the pursuit of God and Community. We are going to be having many times of more interactive teaching, time to get away alone with God, pray for one another, and enjoy fellowship (and food!) . Each time we have done a retreat in the past, these have been amazing times of growth for people- both with God and in relationships. We pray the same for this time and believe God is going to do some life changing things.

Our other prayer is those who He wants to be there would find time to come. We have a small group right now, which is great, but it would always be wonderful to have more! In this culture it can be very difficult to get students to commit to anything, especially a weekend away, no matter how much time in advance they know about it. So...we know that there are many things that could keep people from coming but we believe God has even greater things in store for those who would hear His voice and allow themselves to get-away with Him for a weekend. We all need uninterrupted times like these in our lives- away from distractions and the stresses of life. Pray that those students who come would be refreshed in all areas of their lives and leave with new friendships and an understanding of what it means to live out true community, as well as have a greater understanding of God's love and a fire to pursue Him with all that they are.

Thanks! We can't wait to tell you about it when we return- it's going to be a blast!

The winds of change...

(A rainbow that appeared Sunday after church as Brett and I walked along the river that runs through the city)

It is difficult for me to express how I feel after Thursday night's worship night at the university. Thank You for your prayers! One thing I keep sensing is that something has simply "changed". I feel changed, I saw others leave changed and I am continuing to see the effects even now in the lives of those students of this "change". I guess that is what happens when we let ourselves be open to what God wants to do and allow Him to move without hindering the Holy Spirit. We are changed.

Was it a success because of how many people were there? By the world's standards, certainly not. But of the 20 students who were there, many we had not met before and are now new friends, and we kept hearing over and over after we ended how amazing of an experience it was for those who came.

Was it a success because of the rockin' worship band and hyped atmosphere? By the world's standards, no. But we had an amazing, gifted freshman student play the piano and sing in a purely humble, Spirit-led way that helped usher people into the true heart of worship. One girl walked in and said that she immediately felt the presence of God so powerfully that she requested us to sing the song "Majesty" and so we all sang it a cappella and it was completely beautiful and moving (see video below to hear it).

Was it a success because of having a well-known speaker lead the time? By the world's standards, definitely not. But from the mouths of ordinary, broken people came words of truth, vision, prayers, prophetic words, visions, and dreams. 2 hours of uninterrupted worship to God that I am certain flowed out of that room and through the halls of the building, changing the very atmosphere of a place that is usually so resistant to God.

There was a spirit of freedom in that lecture hall that I have rarely felt amongst students here in this Norwegian culture. It is quite rare for people to desire to pray out loud at all, much less pray out in a group like that, but the prayers kept coming- for Trondheim, for the university, for students, for themselves...
I couldn't keep back the tears as I realized that what we were experiencing was a small part of the dream we have for students here in Trondheim. To be so touched by God that they are transformed on the inside in a way that they can't help but see the vision for their lives as dearly loved by God and called to be His servants right where He has placed them, as students at the university.

I am so thankful that I don't live by what the world often defines as success- especially in the ministry-realm, and instead can be confident that wherever God is moving, that is where I want to be, that is what I want to be a part of, and that is success in the eyes of the only One we need to look to for our identity and approval (who is as unchanging in His love as His love is uncompromising in its completness). We may plant seeds, but it is God who makes them grow. And we believe this is the beginning of something special. It feels as though the life-giving rain is beginning to softly fall... and it was just the encouragement we needed.
"He who has begun a good work will bring it to completion..."

"The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?" -Henry Nouwen

Please Pray!

We need your prayers for tonight! Tonight we are having our first worship night on the university campus. This has been a desire of ours for a long time so it is now finally happening! Please pray that many would come (we have been spreading the word throughout many of the churches in the area) and that students would experience the presence of God there and be encouraged to let God use their lives to change the very atmosphere of the university of Trondheim and to be a light to the 30,000 students in this city; that they would know that their lives as students are not separate from their Christian lives, but that they have been put at the university for a purpose!
Thank you and we will let you know how it goes!

The simple joys of living in Norway

I (Cortney) just have to say that there are some wonderful joys that I have discovered in this place. They remind me of how living here has allowed me to appreciate even more the beauty of nature and rekindled the desire for a more simplistic, peaceful way of life.

A couple of weeks ago I went on a hike in the forest, which covers an enormous area here in Trondheim, near our house, alone (something people do here without fear all of the time). It was such a precious time for me and I felt God's presence very near.

I feel I am most myself and most at peace when I can immerse myself in nature, far from the sights and sounds of the rest of the world. As I was on my way back, I stopped and happened to look down and to my delight, saw these yellow mushrooms peaking out. I knew that they were great for eating (something I learned from my Norwegian friends) and very expensive in the store, so I filled my pocket and made them for dinner the very next night. A few days later we discovered these berries, called "rips" here (red currant I think in English) and found out that they are great fresh off the bush with sugar and vanilla cream/pudding. Such simple joys but wonderful just the same and gifts from the God of creation. It is things like this that make me feel most fully alive and all it cost me was some time.

Some scenes from my new favorite place I discovered on my hike"In these sanctuary spaces, these Sabbath spaces...I'm giving up the need to arrive at some destination...I'm giving up my need for accomplishment. It's not about what I get done or how I perform. My focus has changed. If I'm lucky, I take this new focus back into the other space." - Terry Hershey (Sacred Necessities)