My Romantic European Adventure with Jesus!!!
Part 1: England 2005  
Rachele and I arrived in London on October 3 and immediately boarded a coach for Exeter. My introduction to England included gazing out a window at a vast amount of sheep, hedges, and rolling hills. Rachele sat beside a beautiful white haired Irish woman who taught her how to knit a certain stich that works best for scarves. :). And despite my preconception of the weather in Great Britain, we experienced a fabulously warm and sunny first few days!!
We rolled into Exeter and stayed only one night at Helen's house before driving to the Rust family's vacation chalet in Cornwall where we stayed for a week. Just to fill you in, Helen is one of my old roommates from Heidi Baker's school in Africa. Laura, another one of my schoolmates who lives in London, came with us as well. We had an absolutely surreal time together! We had some Holy Spirit Lovin, gallons of Earl Grey Tea, and numerous strolls along the beach. We watched the sun set, watched baby seals play in the waves, watched wave surfers and wind sufers play with the elements, (and we even got totally flashed by a surfer who was changing, ahhh:0). We paid a visit to the quaint little harbour village, St. Ives, and an island castle, St. Michaels.
Afterwards we drove back to Exeter to attend the Fresh Fire conference with Todd Bently and Charlie Robinson. We met Helen's brother and sister, Johnny and Rachel, and his friends , Chris and Martin. So much fun!!! Tears and giggles, late night scrabble games and lots of tea, culteral examinations and profound spiritual revelations! A special thanks to our beautiful hosts who have lovingly welcomed us into their lives and homes . We are so genuinely appreciative!!
(Click on the pictures framed in blue for a closer look!!)
 
Helens lovely Georgian home, the view from the garden with the loveliest flowers of all, Helen and Laura!!!!
 
Momma Rust and her fabulous green thumb (yes, that is a zucchini!!!), a little dose of English Hospitality
 
The view from Helen's chalet
 
A typical day of strolling through the sand dunes and along the cliffs
 
Gwythian beach, were we lived, was where the first Christian landed in England in 350AD. A few years later, 770 believers were martyred on this very beach.
 
On the first night we arrived, we were all sitting together in the living room, and I couldn't even begin to describe how it happened, but the Holy Spirit just collided with all four of us in such a way that, I'm pretty sure I can claim with out hesistation, we will never be the same. We laughed uncontrollably, we prayed with passion, we wailed as our tears made puddles on the floor, we recieved vibrant visions and revelations!! And it was all so unexpected, all we did was just casually invite Jesus on our mini-vacation with Him. He is so beautiful!!!! Ahh!!! I am so honored that he would invite me to experience him is such new and grand and yet simple ways. Jesus, I love you!!!!!!!!!! This trip belongs to you! My heart belongs to you! My life, my breath, my tears, my joy, my love is all yours, all of me belongs to you!!! Do with me what you will, my Lover, my King! How can I love you more, how do you long to be loved by me? Please let it be! Let me be a living flame in the wind, a spring in the desert, a passionate lover and intimate friend. I am a daughter of the God of the Universe, how may I be a servant to all? Please share with me your heart! May I have my blood transfused with your own, blood shed for me so that I may have life and have it to the full! Oh Jesus! I long to be LOVE personified, as you are. I long to have GRACE poured through me and MERCY flowing like honey from my lips. I long to love you, to be kind to others, and to share your gospel of life with the nations. Thank you, thank you Daddy, Jesus, Holy Spirit. You alone are worthy of praise.
"Let no man live for Himself"
- The Order of the Mustard Seed
We spent a beautifully misty day at St. Michael's Mount, which is a castle perched on an island off of the coast. When the tide is out you can walk across the ocean floor, but when the time comes in you hop in a little row boat that takes you to the shore.
 
 
Gardens and Tea EVERYWHERE!!!
 
The gloriously picturesque, St. Ives............with really small doors!
 
My Oh-So-Picturesque Ladies, Helen, Rachele, and Laura!!
 
A kitty watching the street below................. Rachele reading gravestones
 
Picking wild blackberries at sunset!
 
A lovely view, n'est pas!
What I may have failed to mention in my introduction, that we only just barely survived the drive to and from Exeter. After we had piled all of our "American" luggage (code for "ridiculously huge amounts of stuff") into the tiny little car, and we were snuggly situated, Helen's Dad wished us farewell, and then dropped the bomb. "By the way, Helen has only driven 3 times. PRAY!!!!!". Note the giant "L" (code for "Learner!!!!!!!!!") taped on the front and back of the car. Helen, my dear, you did a lovely job! And yes, I am still recovering from whiplash ;)
 
 Part 2: Rome 2005 
We are currently living in Ostia which is a beautiful city on the beach right outside of Rome. It is such an amazing location because we are literally only a short metro ride out of the center of the city, and yet we have the luxery of cheaper food and a lovely ocean view!! Rachele's grandmother, Nona, is such a precious character! She is probably in her 70's, cooks with a lot of salt, and watches soap operas literally 24/7. And trust me, if you have never seen an Italian soap opera, you don't know drama! Nona doesn't speak a work of English, and yet somehow always manages to communicate to me that she is somehow laughing at me! Everytime I go in for another peice of chocolate she affectionately calls me something to the effect of "fat kid"! Haha! And sometimes she gets really playful and will ball up a napkin and through it at me from across the room. She is sooooo cute! I absolutely adore her, and her cooking!
Rachele and I have definately encountered a number of harsh reality checks, but nothing that Daddy hasn't been faithful to give us the Grace for! One little hiccup was that we discoverd, 10 minutes before our flight was to depart for Rome, was that we were 30 kilos overweight in luggage! The fine was going to be well over $250! So we had to quickly ship Rachele's monster huge bag, which Jesus mercifully allowed to be exactly 30 kilos!! Unfortunately, it took about a week and a 1/2 to actually arrive in Rome. If you are wondering why she is wearing the exact same outfit in all of our pictures, that would be the reason :). All in all though, it has been an absolutely superb run in with "the real world". I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly.
 
 
Scenes from Ostia
A Roman water fountain
 
Me on the beach at sunset
Lovers having a picnic...*sigh*
 
Beautiful brown-eye girl! What a blessing you are!
It is usually FREEZING inside Nona's apartment, and so Rachele lovingly took it upon herself to knit me some foot warmers.....not so effective I'm afraid.
Seeing as how it is absolutely freezing, I will often come to dinner is something as close to an eskimo suit as I can manage. This was the final product, and as you can see, Nona is not so impressed, :) heehee, Love ya Nona!!!
A late night snack.....mmm mmm good!
Rachele's luggage did finally arrive. She's still a little short on clothes though.
This has been such a wonderful experience so far! Keep us in your prayers, we will be leaving for France in a week to live with a couple of familes for a while. We long to be a warm source of light and love to each individual we meet. And we long to draw closer to our Lord each day. Ahhhhh! He is so good!!! Bless you all, miss you much!
Much Love,
Grace
Part 3 : FRANCE 
Oh my goodnes, I can hardly put into words the ways that this experience has exceeded my expectations in every sense.
France Section Une
I was invited to France by Hélène Bersoult. I met her and her family on my flight from Pemba, Mozambique to Johannesburg, South Africa. They were seated across from me and we spoke the whole ride and at the end exchanged addresses.
So 2 months and 3 continents later, here I am in Hélène's living room recording some most increadible memories from the past two weeks I have spent here.
Hélène and her 4 year old brother, Enzo
To begin, Hélène met Rachele and I in Paris where her father had reserved a hotel for us in the center of the city. We walked to the Louve and down the Champs Elyseé.
 
We met her mother, Madame Bersoult, and her two brothers, Theo (7) and Enzo (4). We walked inside and on top L'Arc de Triumphe and were stunned by the panoramic view of Paris.
 
Rachele leaning against L'arc de Triomphe, Madame with Enzo and Hélène
 
The staircase to the top of the Arc, the window and the top
 
On top of the Arc, Inside of the Arc
Enzo (aka "my prince") insisted on carrying my purse for me
 
We then took our leave from Paris and drove to the Bersoult Manor in the countryside of Rouen, Normandie.
The mansion is breathtaking.
It is 3 stories of 15 foot ceilings, wood and marble floors, exquisite crown molding, an all antique interior.
 
The gated lawn is composed of gardens and horse paddocks.
 
The lane that leads to the house winds mysteriously through forest and feild.
And this is where Rachele and I have lived for the past two weeks. One morning, though, we were awoken early and told to pack for a day because the family had a surprise for us. We were indeed surprised when, after an hour's drive, we were at the beaches of Deauville (a well renown retreat for the Parisian Elite)!
Mr. Bersoult then showed Rachele and I to our own room in the Royale Barriere (complete with ocean view, jacuzzi bath, robes, and king sized princess bed)!
Left to ourselves for a moment, Rachele and I left our dignity at the door and jumped up and down around the room screaming "Thank you Daddy!! Oh my goodness, thankyou!!!!!!". After a day at the beach and widow shopping in Hermés, Prada, and Gucci stores, we each enjoyed a fabulous bath and were then summoned to dinner.
Our 7 courses included duck, lobster, oysters, cheese trays, dessert trays, and the most increadible white wines.
Needless to say, I slept really well (like a princess) that night!
We later visited the World War 2 memorial in Caen. I am soooo inspired by History, by identified patterns, by the study f cultures and individuals, the puruit and price of power. I asked Daddy a lot of questions during that tour. And Enzo persistanly asked his daddy for an American flag in the memorial bookshop!
 
Afterwards we visited an old Pirate town that reminded me of Pirates of the Carribean! So lush!
Since returning to the manor we have had even more exciting and exhilirating adventures! We spent a day at the fair on the Seine river, riding rollor coasters and watching the guys compete against each other in games (such a boy thing).
Pierre-Henry bought me a carmel apple, oo la la, haha! Later that night we went to Adrienne's house and watched Pirates of the Carribean in French while eating chocolate crépes :). Then we played pool and Rachele and I impressed all the boys with our mad skill.
She made I think one hole, and it was a victory for me if I hit a ball (even if it wasn't our team's ball!). If anything ever depended on my pool skills, we would all be in trouble. At midnight we were escorted on the back of their bikes through the beautiful moonlit countryside. What a finalé.
So much has happened I can hardly describe it justly or in chronological order. Rachele and I have toured the center of Rouen for a day, oh-so-charming.
 
We have spent time at the abbey down the road, built by the Duke of Normandy and King of England. When we visited Hélène's school Rachele's worst nightmare came to life when we were roped into a little class involvement during her English lesson.
The view of the school from Helene's city apartment.
We have ridden horseback through the Bersoult's garden.
 
Hotties in Helmets, absolutely irresistable!
 
Move aside s'il vous plait, pro comin' through
 
We have watched Emmanuele (the oldest sister) perform in a horse show, which was so beautiful!! I love watching horses!
 
We have gone to Theo and Enzo's hockey practice, which kept me laughing for 2 hours!
Imagine an ariel view of 20 little four-year-old boys in super padded penquin suits slipping around on ice, colliding and pilling up on each other, clinging to cones for dear life while scissoring their little legs trying to follow the friend in front of them! Hahaha, it was soooo cute!!! We have attended a televised basketball game sitting front row in the section marked for sponsors.
We met the team members afterwards while drinking champagne in the VIP section of the afterparty.
 
Rachele and I in the back of Mr. Bersoult's work truck....I mean, "being kidnapped by rioters and in desperate need of ransom money, ASAP!!!!!"
I have been beyond grateful for this experience, it has been such a blessing to Rachele and I both.
My attempt at personalizing our thank you gift, yes indeed, those are my grapes.
Our hosts have gone above and far beyond the call of hospitality during our visit. We have been pampered and spoiled rotten and loved on in drastic proportions.
Merci Beaucoup!!!!!!!
France Section Deux
I met Gauthier when he came to Nashville as an exchange student and stayed with my family.
 
He greeted us at the train station with an amazing entourage of friends. Everyone grabbed a peice of our luggage, and it was then that I decided not to leave my multiple manservants at home next time I travel. We love and miss you all!!
We were then introduced to "the scene" in Amiens, which is actually an awesome city.
His friends are sooooo sweet! All of them were so kind and engaging. I want to take them all home with me.
This sign reminded me of what this trip has been like for me!!!
 
The next morning we took a "promenade" through the fields in Got's village. Sooooo beautiful and hilarious!
 
In the middle of the field we busted out a picnic of l'eau and chocolat.
 
Note the tennis shoes with the skirt, I was going for sex appeal. And yes, Victory is mine!!!
 
Since then we have visited Amiens and played at the farmhouse (which is stunning, by the way!!).
 
mmmm.....cheeeeeeese
Rachele and Gaut made a mural on his wall today!
Our host
Rachele and I made a day out of taking fun pcitures in Gauthier's yard:
 
 
 
 
 
^^^^Roquelet Night^^^^
Our Wonderful Hosts
THANK YOU!!!
 
All of Got's AMAZING friends!
A crazy night to remember....
 
(Rach, this is the madness going on while I was on the phone with you!!)
Here we spent the day at his school
 
We just had toooooo much fun together! We love and miss you, Gauthier!!!!
 
And we promise not to treat you like Forrest Gump anymore!
"I will make you in a hole!"
 
 
 
My lovliest accomplice!
After this we sadly parted ways. I went to Paris and then to Switzerland while Rachele headed straight for Rome. This next section is a record of our period apart...*sniff*
PARIS 2005: Paris Nord Train Station
Alrighty, let me keep this simple and spare you the details. I was in a foreign country. I was over packed and underslept. I was in Paris and needed to get to Switzerland. I missed my first train, forgot my bank access card and my ID, my wallet was stolen with my ticket and all of my cash and contact numbers, and I needed a free train to Switzerland before sundown. In a matter of 7 hours I changed train stations 6 times, spent 3 hours waiting in line, rode the metro 5 times 20 minutes each, ascended and descended 30 flights of stairs, with three large bags, and still no train.
And now for the real story...... guess who my Daddy is? BOO YAH!!
On the train from Amiens to Paris I had a powerful experience with my Father as His hot pink sunrise glistened between silver-frosted hills.
The sunrise light paints the clouds pink.
La lumière du lever du soleil colore les nuages en rose.
And when I missed my first train I was already in a position of, “Oh well, Daddy what are you going to do about it?”. And then when I realized I didnt have access to my bank account and would have to go back to Amiens, I nearly teared up at my own forgetfulness. But then I stopped and glanced up because that was terribly unnatural for me to forget something so crucial. And Daddy would have reminded me to bring it if He had wanted me to have it. He had something up his sleeve and I actually questioned Him outloud in the station “Just what exactly can you see up there that I can not?” and then I laughed.
Several hours later, when I was exhausted from my over packing and lack of sleep and I realized my wallet had been stolen and I was nearly penniless, I was actually filled with so much Joy!! And I knew that my Daddy hadn’t abandonned me. I had uncharacteristically “forgotten” my card and ID with Rachele so losing my wallet wasn’t a catastrophe! And in the moment of discovering my “loss”, I was actually being physically embraced. Thats right!! I had been so cold in the open dark air of the station that I was shivering with blue lips, so I prayed that Daddy would wrap his arms around me and snuggle me to his chest. A song popped into my head, “Light up, light up, as if you have a choice, even if you can not hear my voice, I’ll be right beside you, Dear."
In that very instant, the Sun burst through the skylight windows and beamed down around me in such intensity that my hair turned to gold and I had to put on my sunglasses.
Surreal, anyone?? It was as I was looking for my sunglasses that I realized that what belonged to God really did belong to God and was no longer in my possession. But Halellujah, I was so thrilled!!! I love love love it when I am ripped from my comfort zone and my absolute dependency on God is revealed and I am reminded that He alone is my provider and protector. Ahhh! “Sweeeeeet Surrender, is all I have to give”. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, yeah, maybe I was a little wasted in his presence in that station.
And what is Joy if it can not be present amidst circumstances that wouldn’t naturally be condusive for happiness. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and it can only come from Him! This situation was totally proof of that for me. There was no earthly reason that I should have been bursting with smiles, but there was certainly a heavenly reason!!
In glorious conclusion, my awesome provider gave me 15 minutes online to find Dominik and Franziska’s phone number so I could call and give them my train number, I was given a free train to Switzerland, and I arrived safely and joyful and welcomed into a wonderful new country!! And now..........THIS IS SWITZERLAND!!!!!
Switzerland 2005
 
I met Dominik and Franziska Maegli in Tent City, Mozambique!!
You can’t find find this loveliness on a map!! Along with maybe 12 others, we were blessed enough to spend our first three weeks in Pemba in a little patch of sand squared off by bamboo stakes, affectionately known as Tent City. One couple that visited our city for a while erected a HUGE tent that we temporarily titled “The Taj Mah Tent”. We were forced to abandon our beloved tent city after Zach’s tent was slit open and his backpack was stolen while he was sleeping next to it. Good times, good times.
In our intimate conditions we became pretty close, and I was so excited to see them again in their “natural environment”, Switzerland. I was actually shocked when Franziska greeted me at the station wearing really cute clothes because I had become so accustomed to the image of her safari attire.
I began my stay in Olten where Franziska and Dominic live in a beautiful home on a hill. Cows were kept in the pastures outside and their bells could be heard from inside my bedroom.
My bedroom was affectionately labled the Princess Room. The walls were papered in blue spun silk and a crystal chadeleer was suspended over my feather bed. Lushness!!!
We made several trips during my stay, one of which was to Zurich.
 
Franziska's brother, Daniel, accompanied me through the city and then later to the zoo. I felt like such a kid with my nose pressed up against the glass just astounded by Daddy's creativity!
 
Afterwards he made us dinner at his apartment and then took us to his church in the city. I loved it so much, just to worship God with others was like dancing in a waterfall! His friends were so kind an engaging and willing to speak English with me.
Later Dominik, Franziska, and Daniel all took me to a pool house where I actually suceeded in looking like I knew what I was doing...kind of! Maybe all that practice in France paid off :).
After Zurich we vistited Zermatt, a little town nestled in the Alps in view of the Matterhorn.
 
 
And now for some life-changing trivia: Toblerone chocolate is shaped to model the peak of the Matterhorn.
Mmmmmmm......chocolate!
 
There was such a...stillness. No fuel-dependent cars are allowed at that altitude in order to prevent polution. So the only sounds you hear are children, the river, and church bells echoing through the peaks.
The perfect environment for a little hott chocolate and a deep chat on the veranda of the local cafe, right Franziska? Oh yeah, and super nerdy pictures:
Check out the dude behind me, probably sighing outloud and thinking to himself, "Uhhhg, Americans...".
After Zermatt...gosh we just did so much I can hardly remember it all. We rode to Winterthurn to visit Franziska's parents, SO SWEET!!!
I also met her brother Claudius and his friend Gabriel.
 
We drove to the Rhinefalls together in the day and they watched movies with me at night.
Grizzley also watched movies with me.
One of the coolest things we did together with her mom was the swiss science center!! It was like a 3 story warehouse filled with some of the most interesting and expensive toys on earth!
 
 
 
 
 
We also took a number of day trips, one day we just stayed on the train and saw the south eastern portion of the gorgeous countryside.
 
 
 
One night they took me to a diamond ring event. Everyone was dressed in their designer duds and being wined and dined at this lovely event. I learned step by step how a diamond is created and how a diamond ring is fashioned.
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I tasted wedding cake and walked down an isle of white gowns and black tuxes. It lasted until the early hours and was more romantic than I had even anticipated. And ofcourse, when such romance is invovled, so is my first love ;). For 30 minutes or so I just sat in a secluded candle-lit corner and talked with Jesus about The Wedding Day.
It was really intimate, I'll never forget it.
I have had a number of really tremendous encounters with Jesus as a lover on this trip. It seems he is pursuing me with such a gentle aggressiveness. I am being swept off my feet in this dance. I have felt his hand on the small of my back. I have lost myself in bussiness and ignored him. But then I am left breathless by the degree of his patience and loyalty, his never-failing mercy. I have longed for his touch,and burned through dozens of heavenly calling cards :). I have weeped with him for hours, just soaking his shoulder with my tears. These have been my most beautiful hours.
Jesus, thank you. You are worthy of so much praise! Thank you for this trip, this life, this intimate relationship with you. They tell me that you are just a concept....but I know you.
You are more real than this air that I breathe; my very breath originated in you. I am in you. You are in me. There is nothing closer. But I long with an indescribable ache to know you more, to love you most. I need you to push deeper into me, to flood my soul and mind with your light of Life. I can not take a husband or child or friend into any depth of my heart that you have not known first. You are my first everything and always will be. I just want to praise you in this semi-public way...my King, I am unashamedly obsessed with you. Receive this broken little jar and be blessed by the perfume that pours forth. I want to waste my time with you for the rest of my life.
painting by Melanie Weidner
THE REUNION 2005:
After Switzerland, Rachele and I planned to do something truly daring. We planned to meet halfway between our two cities in the coastal village, Genova. It was a sketchy arrangement because neither of us had a way to communicate with the other if things went kaplut, but Daddy seems to be the most reliable and yet surprising travel agant ever. I would highly reccomend Him to anyone desiring adventure.
We were given an increadible place to stay for only 35 dollars a night. And when it comes with a free breakfast and a bedroom ceiling like this:
You know you've found a keeper!!
We took a day trip to the Genova Aquarium:
 
 
me with Nemo
 
 
 
 
We watched a really awesome 3 D film...and looked really hott doing it!!
We also did something very illegal. Yes, it's true. Our rebelious natures came out to play when we came upon the sting ray tank. They affectionately swam up to us and asked us to pet them, really they did.
Look at this little guy flippin, just longin for a little pat.
So we indulged in the henious crime of petting stinkrays.
Until a man came up to us laughing and pointing to a huge sign...that was actually in English (probably for all the stupid foreigners who think that the word "sting" in stingrays is just for flare and serves no purpose). And as I stood there with my hand in the tank, he explained in broken english "You strokie, strokie, then ZZZZTTTT!...you dead!".
Rachele and I looked at each other in horror, holding back tears as we walked away from our new tank of deadly friends.
Une histiore triste, n'est pas?
The seal tank was a refreshing experience though. It was actually a bridge over a glowing cold tank full of baby seals! Here I am dancing on seals:
And here is Rachele dancing like the shecken she is:
 
"Dance, Shecken, Dance!"
And this is Rachele with Splaffy, the aquarium mascot.
Our walk home involved wandering through dark alleys for an hour in the icey wind and rain. I have a tendency to make Rachele stop for pictures with regular frequency. Like for this shot:
 
I wanted to capture the freezing misery we were experiencing in that moment.
Aren't you grateful now, Shecken?
hmmm....maybe next time I'll just keep walking.
Altogether we spent maybe like 50 dollars total on everything, food, entertainment, and travel!! Yeah Jesus!!! And what an exotic experience!
We returned to Rome just in time to celebrate Rachele's birthday with the family!
It was a very Italian experience indeed.
 
You can measure the true "italianess" of a meal according to:
1. The number of generations present.
2. The amount of conversations all being yelled across the table at once.
3. Whether or not drama is part of the main course.
4. How many seconds it takes before every single person at the table notices that you have stopped eating to catch your breath. Usually an awkward silence replaces all conversation, and all at once everyone shoves a platter in your face and chimes in, "Why you no eat, Grace? What, you no like? Eat, my friend, eat!!!"
And now for the after party!! Haha :)
In our last days together, I began to notice some subtle but disturbing transformations in my dear friend.
 
Any resemblance?
SCANDINAVIA 2005
Pop in for a cup o' tea why doncha?
 
I met Kathrine in Mozambique, she was my tent neighbor and soon became one of my very best friends! She invited me to Norway and so I impulsively decided to fly up from Roma and spend Christmas with her and her family. I dare say it was the best decision I've made on this trip :).
SWEDEN 2005
Kitty picked me up at the airport with an entourage of Christian friends. I was soooooooooo filled with joy just to be in the presence of a community of Jesus-Lovers. I hope will never never take for granted ever again the blessing of being surrounded by the body of Christ. These most precious bond-servants included:
Kat's sister's boyfriend, Halvor, whom you now have with you in Nashville:
Kat's best friend, Martin, who now lives in Sweden:
Martin's friend, the lovely Eldrid:
Martin's room mate and YWAM comrade, Graeme:
From the airport Kat and I were picked up in a giant bus filled with everyone's Snowboard gear and off we drove to Sweden. The roads were thick with mirror-like ice, and at several points we were stranded on slopes of solid slickness. Woo, tounge twister! Kat and some of the other boys had to run up to a house in the snow and ask for salt to coat the road with so that we wouldn't die. I was, ofcourse, wearing heels and had to watch the whole event from inside the van.
We arrived in Sweden later that night, fully intact luckily. Martin lives in Are (pronouned "Ora") in a house at the bottom of this mountain slope:
In his house there are three bedrooms and I would guess that on an average night we had about 20 people staying there, haha!! It was absolutely packed! But so much fun! Martin and his friend Graeme moved there because of a vision that God gave Martin a short while ago. He was taken up to heaven and had an increadible encounter with Jesus, and when he shared it with me I could hardly breath as tears filled my eyes. He was given a huge heart for the snowboarding culture.
So basically, Martin, filled with the Spirit, has moved with Graeme into a very secular environment; the notorious party house in Sweden's notorious party city. Four years ago every single person in the house contracted clymidia, if that gives you an idea of it's reputation. The house routine each day is to party hardy all night long until the sun rises, sleep off the hangover, and then hit the slopes for the rest of the day.
So for about 8 days, this was my new home.
And I think it was probably one of the highlights of my trip! We were such a random bunch all thrown in together, we came from all over the world. But there was SUCH a bond between us as brothers and sisters.
I felt like I had known them forever and had such a blast hanging out with them. We immediately jumped in deep with each other, just talking about Jesus and the bible and our testimonies and cultures and love for others constantly! And the best part was there were always people walking by us as we conversed in the kitchen and often people would just come and sit and listen to us. I absolutely fell in love with all of the roomates there.
(note the stripper pole, oh yeah!)
Jonas, Andreas, Matteus, Karin, Emily, Ana, Joel...and so many more.
 
Joel (who we decided should be a male model) and Andreas (Scott Miller in disquise as a Swede)
Often we would cook dinner together and then invite the roommates to join us. We never ran out of food, there was always enough, and we got to bless them in the process.
 
Gosh it was just so much fun! We had such valuble opportunities to witness to the lovlies living with us during the parties, during dinners, on the slopes, while doing their dishes. As much as I am an introvert and need solitude, I absolutely love living in community!!! We went on the slopes during the day (where I skied for the first time in over a decade, ahhhh!!!). This was my fabulous ski instructor imitating my face as I flew down the mountain.
It was the kind of slope that would drop really suddenly, I think it must have been something between black and red. I nearly peed myself as I flew so fast there was nothing but air between me and the ground. The best part ofcourse, was the little Swedish children who would then fly right past me in their stylin duds. They totally had the unfair advantage of having skied from age fetus!
I had such a blast, pro or not.
 
My lovely companions!
At night we would all venture through the snow to the Zebra cafe, which was secretly a Christian hotspot. It was so pimped out, projector screens with extreme-boarding videos, pool tables, internet, and a soaking room on the very top floor. We spent time up there together, just praying and praising Daddy, soooooo fun!
 
The boys with the red hats were celebrating a Swedish Holiday. They sang to us all a horribly off key song, haha!!! They handed out food, Swedish sweet rolls. Then, just for me, they translated the whole song in English.
Guys, I have really been touched by the whole language thing here in Europe. It seems that everywhere I have gone people have made there best effort to include me by speaking my mother-tongue. In Sweden and Norway both, students are instructed in English from age 10 onward and most movies and TV are in english with subtitles. So everyone I met in our generation was fluidly fluent in English, with an attractive accent for flare ;). Often I would walk into a room filled with 15 Swedes and Norwegians and they would all collaborate to recognize my entrance by automatically switching over, sometimes mid-sentance, to English. There were times it almost brought me to tears because I felt so honored to be included, even if it was just small talk. I have had a passion for languages for a while now but here in Scandinavia I clicked into why. It is such a privilage to converse with someone in their language. It tells them that you are making an effort (sometimes a HUGE effort, haha!) to honor them. As a Christian, I have the opportunity to love a people group, even multiple people groups, by surrendering several years of my life to becoming aquainted with an entirely new mode of communication. I want to actively return the favor that has been bestowed on me during my months here. It is such a special gift when someone will sit with me for hours and struggle to construct words and sentances to that I can know their heart and mind and they can in turn know mine.
On our last day in Sweden, Kitty and I played in a giant 5 star hotel. They had an absolutely enormous brand-new spa that was filled with some many fun toys! First we visited the work out center:
 
There was a HUGE pool, but it wasn't just a pool, it was like a magical world of lushness! Rivers, jacuzzis, gigantic slides that wrapped around the building and suspended us over the frozen lake outside, and bubble-massaging jets that were so strong that you could stand on them and rise out of the water to mid-theigh.
 
 
Then there was an entire wing for saunas, 7 sauna rooms (including an ice sauna), a cooling pool, and ice pool, a steam room. Ahhhhh... sooooo much fun!
 
 
Yep, thats right, -10 degrees with snow on the ground, and me barefooted, half-naked, wrapped in a dripping wet towel. Worth every second ;)
And then there was a waterfall wall.....so lush!
We came out of this all-day experience flushed and glowing! Yeah Sweden, rock on with the kick ars spas!
Afterwards we wished Sweden farewell and hit the road for Norway.
NORWAY 2005
From the first second I entered Scandinavia I was absolutely stunned. Any of you who have spoken with me since this experience have probably already been subjected to my talking your ear off about the AWESOMENESS of it all. I'm sorry to say, I didn't even know where Norway was geographically located before I visited. I'm not sure if many people do, actually. It is such a hidden jewel. It is roughly the size of New Mexico with a population of only around 4.5 million. That leaves a lot of room for uninterrupted glaciated terrain which is composed of mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys and scattered plains.
The style of norwgian houses
Wood panels is frequently used as siding on houses and wood interiors (floors, ceilings, etc.) are also common .
The coastline is BREATHTAKING, deeply indented by fjords and with arctic tundra in north. The temperature was between -7 and -15 degrees while I was there.
 
Sunrise Sunset, 3 hours later
Because Norway is so far north, the sun doesn't crest much higher than the horizen during the winter. Which means that for 5 hours a day there is a continual sunset-sunrise. In the summer there is only 2 hours of darkness. By the way, these pics are from Kat's back porch, so essentialy this is her backyard. Pretty sweet, n'est pas? That little hump on the left is the Torgotten, a mountain on the ocean that has a natural tunnel all the way through it, probably formed by water and ice.
We climbed through it on Jesus's birthday.
 
 
Take a closer look at the hotness of this outfit, including the cleet strap-ons so that I wouldnt slip on the rocky steps covered in solid ice. And no, that's not blush, I couldn't even feel my cheeks and lips at this point.
During my stay in Bronnoysund (Kitty's little town in the north of Norway) we had so many exhilarating adventures. We went down to the harbor and watched the cruise ships pass.
We watched the sun go down on a lake:
 
A lake in Summer
A lake in Winter
We drove to a fyord (a basin of salty ocean water that rises between mountains) and skated around on the ice next to it.
 
 
Kitty's sis, Annette (you met her in Nashville)....oops, its a wee bit slick ;)
 
And we even walked up a hill and found a deserted Nazi fortress with underground tunnel systems. Slightly creepy, but cool.
Halvor managed to scare us a few times, and think I almost cried, haha!!
Me coming up from a tunnel
Me in a storage box
Halvor chillin atop a Nazi contraption ( I have no idea what it was, but it was huge and fun looking, so I had to try it out)
 
 
On a Nazi machine gun
 
The sun had slipped down pretty low, so after this we called it a day.
 
Oh wait, except we stopped in the harbor on the way home and hopped on a cruise ship to play around for an hour. Free food and free plastic balls, who could ask for more!
Christmas Dinner with the Rodhal Family ( I love you all so much!!)
Tongue anyone?
After Christmas Dinner with the Rodhal family
 
The sisters and the neices. By the way, Norwegians are BEAUTIFUL!!!!
At church on Christmas
 
God Jul!!
Out on the town with Kat's friends, Tommy and Andrea (doesnt Tommy resemble Evan Reese a wee bit?)
Kitty is a youth worker, so her kids all threw her a surprise birthday party!
 
Randomn thing worth mentioning: We saw a baby fox! Look how close I got to it
Unfortunately, I didn't see any "Big Mamma Mooses" as Kat would call them.
I think the most spectacular phenomenon that Norway has to offer is the Nord Lys, also known as Aurora Borealis, also known as Northern Lights. Photographers and adventurers will often spend months hunting these spectacular light shows. During the few days I was up north, I witnessed 3 brilliant displays. The last night was.....there are just no words to describe. It began with HUGE arcs of florescent green that would stretch from horizen to horizen and twist and puslate like gigantic veins of kryptonite. Then rays of different colors would shoot out from nothingness and increase intensity and then dissipate. It was so mystifying I often wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me. In one moment the sky was black and sparkling with diamond-like etoiles, and then it was as if rainbow oil was poured into a black puddle and wind was moved across the surface. The lights appeared to be breathing, and were so close if felt like we could reach out and touch them! My camera was not equipped to capture the lights because they are quick to dissapear and change, so I found these pics online (all of which are from around the area I stayed in).
"And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the sky."
- Ezekiel: Chapter I, verse 4
When Daddy paints the sky…
Brilliant rays shoot forth from mountain peaks,
 
And little girls gasp in delight and twirl in the snow to the sound of wind in the mountains. Then stillness overtakes laughter and breathe is replaced with wonder at the glory of a Lover whose touch creates light.
fluidly appearing, shifting, and dissipating with such delicate evansence...
Angels dance on passing satellites. Stars twinkle in envy of the phenomenal display. Oceans serve as mirrors to reflect the playful flicks of The Master’s wrist. And we drive home in silence after the show has reached its climax, musing on the mystery of a God so real.
The energy in northern lights originate from our sun. During large explosions and flares (called “coronal mass ejection), huge quantities of solar particles are thrown out of the sun and into deep space. These plasma clouds travel through space with speeds varying from 300 to 1000 kilometers per second. When the solar particles are stopped by the earth’s atmosphere, they collide with the atmospheric gases present, and the collision energy between the solar particle and the gas molecule is emitted as a photon - a light particle.
But nobody really knows what processes produce the many forms of the Northern Lights---the rays and arcs, the folds and filaments, the spirals and patches, the diffuse, pulsating veils and curtains. The mechanism for energy transfer to particles [electrons and some protons] in the Van Allen belts, which would cause them to move in spiral orbits that wrap around magnetic field lines, and to then to tunnel into the atmosphere at the poles, is also very obscure.
WHERE DID YOU SPEND YOUR NEW YEAR?
 PARIS 2006
For New Years, my sis and her friend (now my friend ;), Madeline flew to Paris to meet me!
Rach and I on the road to La porte d'Arsenal.
 
The zoned-out-zombie look that everyone seems to have on trains these days with, ofcourse, "l'accessoire du jour".
 
The Champs Elysees all spruced up for the holidays
Inside the Notre Dame
On a sunny day
 
Our favorite mode of transportation. Gimpy busted a knee and got a ride for free:
Once again, manservants seem readily available in our new favorite country ;)
Unfortunately all of this Cleopatra treatment has given Madeline a most threatening superiority complex.
At the end of the day we had to remind our little Cinderella to get back to her roots; she still had our daily responsibilities to attend to.
Quote of the trip:
"What? You want to order french fries?? But now is the time of bread and chocolate! The waiter will laugh at you if you order a fry!"
My one and only Forrest Gump, I'd be lost without you.... mwa!
The view from our window
our posh parisian accomodations
our posh host family!
By the end of the trip Rach and I looked more like twins than ever before!
Je t'aime, Paris!
London 2006
In Trafalgar Square
Why 'Ello There!
Much more to come........ | 
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