Well, here I am in Hamar, Norway. It's my last day here, I can't really imagine a more wholistically beautiful Christmas holiday -- well, I just wish my family could have been with me, but I know that they also had a great Christmas in Minnesota... I can't quite wrap my head around how the end of the first semester at KCA came so fast. I gave four final exams that last week before Christmas. I was pretty determined to get a realistic assessment of the students' knowledge and application of what we learned this fall. I think it worked, and yet I'm still wishing I didn't have to give any grades for the Bible classes at all! :) (I think we do a good job of encouraging the students at KCA, but I still feel a tension between the academic achievement and spiritual formation of the students.)


Anyway, that last stretch, the students worked really hard. I think they inspired me to work hard too. I was able to wrap up most of the grading before I left for Norway on the 22nd. When I arrived in Oslo that night I was swept off my feet by the lit stars in the windows of each house, the aroma of burning candles on every available ledge, and the familiar sound of snow crunching under boots. The word that my Norwegian friends claim is used in about every other sentence is "koselig" -- it means something like "cozy," but they use it kind of like how we use "cool." Although it is much over-used, I think it might be the best way to describe this Christmas. Everyday of Christmas here (not just two days either -- there's "tiny xmas eve," little xmas eve," "xmas eve," "1st day of xmas," "2nd day of xmas," "3rd day of xmas," then two days to prep for new year's eve!) was filled with festivities with family, friends, and cake! There was even some singing around the Christmas tree!


This visit was a wonderful Christmas gift from my dear friend and DTS buddy, Jenny Korsnes. (DTS is Discipleship Training School with Youth With a Mission.) We both reminisced our parting at the end of DTS. I was afraid I might never see her, or my other global friends, again. I have been so blessed to spend these two weeks with her and her family! We have had many good talks with each other and with God.


Tomorrow I return to Kiev. I feel like if I'll ever experience culture shock, this might be the time. I'll be traveling from one of the richest nations in the world to one of the poorest. And, although winter days in Norway are short, the days here have been filled with light; Ukraine has an aura that is not as light... But, have no fear! I am not worried about this transition. In Kiev, I find myself in such supportive communities at school and at home with the Leary family.


Next week we commence Semester 2 at KCA. I would so much appreciate your prayers for me and my young friends as we embark on another chapter during such important times in their lives. I am so fully aware that the experiences that we have together are shaping our lives... I would love to hear about what experiences you are having that are shaping your lives! (Drop me an email or FB message!) It's a new year friends! A fresh start. With God's unending love and grace we can live confidently without regrets! Peace.