Quest Winter Weekend Get-Away in Søvassli

March 6-8

Finally, an update about our winter retreat! Feel free to take a few minutes to view the slideshow above to get a better idea about the great time we had. There were 12 of us who drove 1.5 hours to a snowy mountaintop to get away with God and each other. As always, this was a great time to bond as we spent the days and nights together playing games, hiking, worshipping, praying, and making meals together. What was different about this time is some of the even greater openness we witnessed in many of the students through tears, laughter, and the sharing of our hearts. We felt like God was really bringing us together to encourage and lift on-another up. We all left feeling closer to each other and God. After times like these we always seem to see significant growth in relationships so it was a blessing to spend this precious time together. We only wish we could do it more often! We are continually reminded about the importance of community and how God enriches our relationships with a deeper love and greater authenticity.

It was such a blessing also to have a dear friend come along with us who is not a Christian but who is genuinely seeking to know God more and learn more about the Christian faith, especially the life of Jesus, through us. It is simply the acceptance, love and peace that our friend feels in relationship and community with us (since we arrived in Norway, in fact) that has deepened the desire to more recently actively seek out God. To learn from oneanother and to be a part of this process in our friend's life (with no pressure or strings attached) is truly a blessing and honor. Isn't this how the Christian community should be- welcoming all in and journeying together? It brings fresh new meaning to the concept of "belonging before belief" and we feel it enriches our lives just as much. It certainly seems to be the way that Jesus would have wanted it. May we all pray that God would so fill our hearts with his love for people that all we meet are naturally drawn to Jesus.

Fredrik and Brett at our table at the university- we were giving out free coffee and talking with students about prayer and faith

"Quest" has truly become more than just a word to us these past two years. Even more so this semester. To see God answering our prayers of forming a community for students where they feel connected, cared for, and challenged in their faith is truly a blessing to us in this time. Hearing encouraging words and creative ideas coming from students has given us a focus, strength and joy that we really need for this semester. It still surprises us when students tell us how thankful they are for "Quest" and how they don't know where they would be without it! To know that lives are being transformed and foundations are being laid that will have lasting effect in lives is something that brings us to our knees at God's faithfulness. There is a hunger that we have not seen often here since we arrived.
God is stirring something in Trondheim...thank you for your prayers! May you also be assured that God knows the desires of your heart and He is faithful!

Our monthly Worship Night/Lovsangskveld at the university- now almost entirely led by students

Chuck Haavik leading "Developing Prophetic/Holy Spirit Community" Seminar at Kelly's- great turnout and response and everyone received individual prayer


*******************************************************************

Some Winter Scenes in TrondheimOur neighbor's home and zoomed view from our kitchen window of downtown- yes, we still have lots of snow!!

Forest and lake within walking distance of our apartment- many places to walk and ski

That's Cortney looking very small in the forest!

Nidaros Domen (Cathedral in Trondheim)- The International Student Festival projected images onto the front