Awesome Ålesund!

View from the dinning room of the YWAM Base

Wow, what a change. Climate, temperature, people and food! And I’m enjoying all of it! Bread is still a big staple here, as I found in the Mediterranean as well. Lots of bread, sometimes they have it 4 times a day. Fun fact: Most Norwegians have 4 meal times, breakfast, lunch, dinner then supper.

Bread, jam, brown cheese, ham & cheese

In Norway I’ll be serving at the Creative YWAM Base in Ålesund. It is a prophetic school of the arts.  With the vision of developing the creative abilities and giftings God has given and use them to express and communicate His heart. There are different “tracks” students come to focus on; fine art, acting, music, dance or film. These students are here 9 months doing what’s called a DTS (Discipleship training school) where they cultivate their craft, learn and grow in the Lord, perform and participate in an outreach as well.

Byron, Liam, Jeanette & Martha Eggehorn.

This is the first location where I actually know people (missionaries) from my home town, more specifically, Byron and Martha Eggehorn. Both of them are part of the YWAM staff and Byron’s brother Barry is a guest teacher for Creative Week, that happens once a month. Flew in from Seattle to teach 5 days on song writing. Such a talented, creative family and it’s been so much fun spending time together! There are 30 students and about 22 staff and since it’s Creative Week at the base there are guest teachers too. I have been cooking dinner for the students and staff and really loving the transition from the computer business work I was doing in Albania to cooking with colorful foods and awesome smells and just hanging out in the kitchen with people. YWAM also is associated with a really cool café in downtown Ålesund, called Lyspunktet (point of light), I’ll be serving there too. 

Barry teaching in the music studio.

Everyone has been so welcoming at the base, it really is a close knit group of people. Once a month there is Family Night for staff, guests and previous YWAM students to fellowship, pray together, enjoy a treat etc.  It was so sweet that they prayed for me and did what Barry calls “popcorn prophesy”, about my stay here in Norway.  I’ve never had that done for me before, it was very special and they shared some cool things. We’ll see what the Lord has in store, it’s all good so far! 

God Bless,