Stepping out

When an eagle is preparing a nest in which it’s young ones will live, it usually places first a layer of thorns before it places some several layers of grass to ensure a comfortable place of growing for the eaglets. Over time, however, there comes a time when the eaglet must move out of the nest to learn how to fly.  At this point, the soft cushioning of grass is removed and the prickly thorns revealed so as to motivate in a prickly way the eaglet to move out and learn a special skill that is going to be useful to it as long as it lives: flying. So without moving out, no new skill will be leant.

For a few weeks now since arriving in Norway, we have been at Hald learning a lot on cross-cultural exchanges and now the time has come time to go develop our practical skills further out of the nest. The prickly thorn of leaving is here and so this Friday, my teammate, Grace, and I leave Hald for Trondheim  via Kristiansand and Oslo where we will be working with LAGET (Pronounced Lah gey), an organization that works with students in Universities and High schools to encourage them to live for Christ and to make Him known at universities and colleges in Norway.

I feel both excited and fearful. Excited because this is the real chance to test the knowledge gained about the Norwegian cross-cultural experience and more importantly, to live and work in Norway as I share and learn. The fear is quite natural because I know not what lies in Trondheim. It feels like a fish being moved from familiar waters to other waters. All in all, I look forward to this entire six month experience and I hope to make the most of it. I have purposed to go, learn and become as the Hald motto encourages us. And before we go, remember this:

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

Of fathers and their kids...

One of things that has struck me in Norway, other than the beautiful and amazing Norwegian Scenery, is the bonding that Fathers have with their young kids. It is completely normal to see a father taking the young kid on a ride around in a crib. it is also perfectly normal to see fathers changing the kids diapers, feeding them, stroking them to sleep, and even taking care of them when they cry. These are things that in most parts of the world mothers are 'expected' to do.

Today in church was the day of baptism for the babies of around three months. You should have seen the beautiful sight of the fathers carrying the kids to the front of the church with the mothers at their side. You may think that this is just for the show but you change your mind when you meet these fathers later even after church still cuddling the babies close to their chests in a tender and loving way as they head home. The glean in their eyes, the grin in their faces and the glee in their mouths tell it all. I remember one of our teachers at Hald International Center, who was teaching us on raising kids in Norway, telling us on the joy he had at being at home for six months raising the kids at home while the mother worked. You see in Norway every new mum is entitled to a year off work with full pay on getting a child. This one year can be divided between the mother and father of the kid in such a way that each gets six months. And these six months, are what my teacher told me were the most exciting for him.

This close bonding between father and kid i feel is something that all the men (your truly included) can commit to. Having grown up in a home without a father, i could be biased in my recommendation but i still think it is beautiful and pleasant to have this in a family. Think about it!

Compelled by love...

What an awesome, fun-filled month it has been in Norway thus far! Put together 84 participants from 18 nations representing 4 continents in one place (Read Hald International Centre) and you have a portent concoction that has the sort of energy to create the vibrant atmosphere needed for cross-cultural sharing and learning. In each of these participants' lives, I sense a passion, a desire, a zeal, a fire to change the world. A closer observation of their lives reveals the burning, passionate heart of a global God who is on a global agenda to change people's lives and reconcile people to Himself through Christ. As I interact with them, I have seen my perspective of life expanded, my mindset challenged and my heart gladdened by the heart of fellowship here.

The Diversity at Hald International Centre, Mandal, Norway

Picture this: I reside in a small lovely room with four participants each representing a different country: Cameroun, Norway, Tanzania and Kenya, where yours truly comes from. I wake up earlier (mostly) and have the cool task and pleasurable experience of waking up each of them at different times. Before this, as I sit at the table, I watch them in their sleep and I thank God for this wonderful richness of diversity. I call to mind  that in the Bible it is written that a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, was seen by the apostle John, standing before the throne and before the Lamb at the end of age.  I feel glad to see each day how God is working out to make this come to pass.

As you move around and meet new faces, you will observe that we have many differences within the Hald community. We speak different native languages; we prefer different meals; we are fascinated by different sports activities; we have different cultural backgrounds; we have different worldview patterns; our countries are different, the climates we have come from are different. And the differences go on and on. Yet you will also realize something that that unites us. You can sense it in our cheerful play of volleyball or football, in the hearty laughter as we share meals, in the talk down the hallway, in the music as we sing our hearts out, in the yearning by each participant to make a difference in their area of placement, in the struggle to learn a new language, in the enthusiasm to go to a new part of the world and participate in changing lives, in the passion to read and learn and share. You realize that we are all compelled by love.

I pray that that love shall fuel our hearts and fire our bellies and move our feet and, above all, compel all of us at Hald to act wholeheartedly in making a difference as we share and learn  in our cross-cultural experiences around the world.