Love Feast Craziness
Monday, November 26, 2012
Highlights of Grace
Life here in Norway continues on! All the different tracks just got back from their different mini-outreaches. Here are some highlights of what God's been doing in Norway at and through YWAM. :o)
. Dance party!
Though dancing has taken place in the kitchen, we had our first official dance party with everyone on the base after the staff treated us to a "Love Feast."
. Thanksgiving!
JoEllen (a fellow America) and I planned a Thanksgiving celebration for everyone. We baked three apple pies, two pumpkin, had vanilla ice-cream, a whole turkey and turkey breasts, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, homemade croissants, apple cider, and stuffing. It was a wonderful, cozy time with everyone. JoEllen and I also did a dramatic reading of the Thanksgiving story--we were a hit ;o)--and we played "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on a screen in the background. We also went around the table and said what we were thankful for-this is a personal family tradition started by my aunt and I was happy to continue it in Norway.
. Hip Hop!
Our last creative week the dancers got taught hip hop and breaking! Unfortunately I had hurt my wrist and couldn't do much of the breaking, but the hip hop was a blast! I never knew I enjoyed hip hop so much. I won't say I'm very good at it, but I can get into the confident attitude pretty fast and I enjoy the beat-filled music. Our hip hop teacher was a YWAM staff and family man. I actually babysit for his little son, Liam, once a week. It was so nice to have a male dance teacher! Yay for males who love dancing for Jesus! Our breaking teacher was also a part of the YWAM family and he actually has a dancing crew back in California-they formed out of Bethel School and their dance style is amazing-combining breaking with contemporary style.
. Night of Worship!
We had a night of Worship one Saturday evening from 7-12. Each hour had a different person leading with a different emphasis. I got the privilege of leading with a fellow student, Mathijs. He played guitar and we both sang. We both decided we would sing only old songs, meaning older than the 2000's. We sang a couple hymns and some classics such as "As the Deer." It was so nice to sing the songs to Jesus that I grew up singing in church. Mathijs has a lovely voice, and harmonizing to these songs was such a blessing. I thought of my family and my sister Emily and how much I enjoy harmonizing together with people as we lift our voices in praise to Jesus.
.Room Change!
After praying, talking, waiting, hoping-our room got to switch to a room with a loft! And who got the loft? Me! I am so happy and grateful. God continues to bless my life with these wonderful reminders of His love. It is nice to still be with my roommates, but to have a bit more of a private space. It's like a tiny room-and it's up high! As I write this, I'm enjoying my first night on my new bed in my loft, feeling cozy, happy and blessed.
. Letters (and packages!) from home!
I love receiving mail and I've gotten some great postcards from Hawaii, as my parents took a little visit there. I also got a great card from my sister Emily that had the characters of "Hoops and Yoyo," two goofballs that remind Em and I of ourselves together. The card was one of those talking cards-fun! I also have received many neat packages, complete with tea and gum. I share the wealth and each week try to give my housemates little gifts in their mailboxes. (Tea, gum, Dr. Suess stickers, chocolate, etc.) My last package had one of my favorite chocolate bars-white chocolate with oreo bits. Yum! And....candy corn!!! I was a bit giddy receiving that package. All in all I am, again, so grace-filled and blessed, as my family likes to write. I have received more packages and letters than anyone else here. My parents rock.
.
. Dance party!
Though dancing has taken place in the kitchen, we had our first official dance party with everyone on the base after the staff treated us to a "Love Feast."
. Thanksgiving!
JoEllen (a fellow America) and I planned a Thanksgiving celebration for everyone. We baked three apple pies, two pumpkin, had vanilla ice-cream, a whole turkey and turkey breasts, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, homemade croissants, apple cider, and stuffing. It was a wonderful, cozy time with everyone. JoEllen and I also did a dramatic reading of the Thanksgiving story--we were a hit ;o)--and we played "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on a screen in the background. We also went around the table and said what we were thankful for-this is a personal family tradition started by my aunt and I was happy to continue it in Norway.
. Hip Hop!
Our last creative week the dancers got taught hip hop and breaking! Unfortunately I had hurt my wrist and couldn't do much of the breaking, but the hip hop was a blast! I never knew I enjoyed hip hop so much. I won't say I'm very good at it, but I can get into the confident attitude pretty fast and I enjoy the beat-filled music. Our hip hop teacher was a YWAM staff and family man. I actually babysit for his little son, Liam, once a week. It was so nice to have a male dance teacher! Yay for males who love dancing for Jesus! Our breaking teacher was also a part of the YWAM family and he actually has a dancing crew back in California-they formed out of Bethel School and their dance style is amazing-combining breaking with contemporary style.
. Night of Worship!
We had a night of Worship one Saturday evening from 7-12. Each hour had a different person leading with a different emphasis. I got the privilege of leading with a fellow student, Mathijs. He played guitar and we both sang. We both decided we would sing only old songs, meaning older than the 2000's. We sang a couple hymns and some classics such as "As the Deer." It was so nice to sing the songs to Jesus that I grew up singing in church. Mathijs has a lovely voice, and harmonizing to these songs was such a blessing. I thought of my family and my sister Emily and how much I enjoy harmonizing together with people as we lift our voices in praise to Jesus.
.Room Change!
After praying, talking, waiting, hoping-our room got to switch to a room with a loft! And who got the loft? Me! I am so happy and grateful. God continues to bless my life with these wonderful reminders of His love. It is nice to still be with my roommates, but to have a bit more of a private space. It's like a tiny room-and it's up high! As I write this, I'm enjoying my first night on my new bed in my loft, feeling cozy, happy and blessed.
. Letters (and packages!) from home!
I love receiving mail and I've gotten some great postcards from Hawaii, as my parents took a little visit there. I also got a great card from my sister Emily that had the characters of "Hoops and Yoyo," two goofballs that remind Em and I of ourselves together. The card was one of those talking cards-fun! I also have received many neat packages, complete with tea and gum. I share the wealth and each week try to give my housemates little gifts in their mailboxes. (Tea, gum, Dr. Suess stickers, chocolate, etc.) My last package had one of my favorite chocolate bars-white chocolate with oreo bits. Yum! And....candy corn!!! I was a bit giddy receiving that package. All in all I am, again, so grace-filled and blessed, as my family likes to write. I have received more packages and letters than anyone else here. My parents rock.
.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Another Week of Jesus
So, for the past two weeks we have had prophetic assignments that we've worked on.
Explanation: each student and some staff were given a number. This number represented a person-none of us knew who this person was. We were to pray about this person and ask God to speak to us for them. Then, according to our different tracks, to create a piece, (dance, song, painting, etc.) that spoke to them what the Lord had inspired us to create from.
For my person I got a clear scene in my head and created a dance out of it. Though I was nervous and wasn't sure about this-it was awesome how God was so specific and the dance was perfect for the person who received it.
Then there was JoEllen. She's a fellow American and though she's from Wisconsin and we do have differences, it's amazing how we actually relate a lot. JoEllen is in the acting track and decided to make a video for her person. God gave her a story line and some specific words. She asked me if I could be in her video-as she needed some help. I enjoy acting very much, and making films, so I said, "Sure!"
"Wouldn't it be funny if you're in it and it's for you?" JoEllen asked me.
I laughed, "Yeah, that would be funny."....yeah, you know where this is going. ;o)
On Friday when we showed each other our pieces and it got to JoEllen, I was excited-I was in this! Then they called the name who it was for-- "Beth."
Me: What?! haha.
I sat down and watched....here is the link to the video-watch and then read the rest:
After I watched this I was a bit confused, but I also understood some things from the video. I laughed when I watched myself chasing myself....I realized- I'm the one who puts the labels on myself. And the hand in the video that slaps the post it on? Yep, mine. And who wrote those words on the post its for JoEllen? Yep, me. And the fact that is was JoEllen "being me," allowed me to receive the video more than if it had been someone else I think. I thought about the video and prayed with someone after that God would give me clarity about it.
Testimony. God is doing what was happening in the video-He has and is always completing to write on my heart my identity in Him. I realized I try to pull those labels off myself, I know I don't walk in the lies of the enemy. Yet God has been teaching me that I can pull those labels off, but they'll still be there unless I allow God to write His truth on my heart. God has been romancing me here in Norway-He's such a glorious God, and yet He comes close and pulls me into His heart and shows me how much He loves me.
This video has already touched people in Belfast (!) and I know will speak to many more. I am so grateful that God not only pays attention to me, He works specifically in my life to give me just what I need. He wants to do the same for you. God is speaking-will you pause and allow yourself to rest in Him. Listen to His words of love-
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." ~Jesus
You are Beloved.
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