'Beyond the clouds'

On the 16th we left Stavanger for Oslo where we were to leave the following morning for a 2 days conference in Denmark. The conference was called the 'Nordic students' conference'. The students in attendance were from the five Scandinavian countries: Norway, Finland, Denmark Sweden and Iceland. Well as you may already guess my attendance was as a Norwegian which may sound ridiculous now that I can't even speak Norwegian. Nevertheless there I was as a 'proud Norwegian'. I attended tracks on 'glad you asked' which is a small group evangelism strategy through exploring different questions asked by seekers. I found this very helpful as we reach out, particularly to the youth in the postmodern era where we question everything and need mind cracking reasons to believe.

It was organised into plenary sessions and small group discussions. It is amazing at what really joins us all together as Christians in the world that we could speak of the same things, connect socially, pray together and discuss God’s word in consensus. Surely this Gospel is real and alive in all nations of the world! This meant to me so much, finding students who have such a commitment to God amidst the social difficulties to the advancement of the Gospel. At the same time we also attended the largest mission conference in Denmark which was held during the same weekend. It was such a nice experience to see such a large group of people gathered to hear God's plan of salvation for the world. The sun is still shines! Above, Discussion group giving feedback durung the 'glad you asked' seminar. Below, the missions confrence.

The conference held in Arhus city four hours drive from the capital city Copenhagen gave us an opportunity to view the flat landscape of Denmark, amazing road technology having the second largest bridge a cross the sea and the many windmills. In the midst of all that great and beautiful sessions, the Scandinavians have a way of lighting up moments by making a lot of jokes about each other. In particular the Swedish and the Norwegian guys. Well I didn’t know why Jesus could not have been born in Norway until then; and this was ‘because there were no wise men from the east’. If you have a map you will understand the joke, and if you are a Scandinavian then it is even funnier!
As the plane took off from the Oslo airport on our way back to Stavanger, there was a lot of fog, the clouds were thick grey and it was dark on the land yet it was 9.00am. As we gained height and we were past the clouds, wow, there the beautiful blue sky and the sun shining big and bright. Despite the clouds the sun was still shining bright and beautiful. Isn’t life beautiful beyond the clouds of difficulty, uncertainty and failure? The sun is still shining, am determined to always look beyond the clouds!!!

Awakening Chronicles

As life unfolds so the weather seams too. Since I was a small boy back home, weather was not one of the topics I used to discuss only in my Geography and sometimes Science and Agriculture classes. However, today it seams to be the major consideration when I am to do something including dressing; is there snow, wind, rain and what is the temperature? In the last two days the temperature has been as low as 2 degrees. This is the lowest I have experienced. A friend of mine joked that back home 12 degrees in the city makes news, here 2 degrees makes small talks. However students still keep the smiles. Too much for the weather and hence small talks.

A week ago my team mate and I embarked on a 7 hours train journey to Sandefjord which is some what on the east of Norway. We were attending a staff and volunteer staff meeting for the student ministry. On reaching the first destination where we were to change trains in Drammen, we had precisely 7 minutes to do so. Well it is common back home that our vectors studies are efficient so when moving from track one on railway lines we just jump over them especially when you suddenly realize that the train is just about to leave. Well, we tried the same! If I have ever heard a shout it was that day. It was one of the railway workers shouting that we get of the tracks!

The meeting was good coupled with a good reunion with all the International Hald students in the students’ ministry. We had sharing moments of the progress in our work, bible study times, prayer meetings and team building activities. We also attended a teenagers meeting dabbed ‘Get Focused’ where more than one thousand students attended. It was fascinating to see such a big number of teenagers gathered. This weekend one of the big question I have had for long was answered. I have always asked myself what makes a true leader. That weekend I thought; just observe a true leader, and there you will know. I took time to listen to the NKSS general secretary keenly and sat next to him during the last dinner. Within 5 minutes of my close interactions with him I had got the answer I have been looking for!

Above, leaving the Get Focused meeting with friends. Opposite, a bible study and prayer sesion in the nature in Sandefjord during the meeting.

One of this days that I like working to finish a task to the end before I take another, happened last Tuesday. I took sometime finalizing work in the house while at the same time I forgot I was to catch a bus to school and learn some Norwegian. When I looked at the watch I noticed I had 2 minutes to the time the bus leaves. You can almost imagine what happened. Well, to keep you away from guessing, that day I came to know what it coasted the world 100 metres champion, Veronica in the Commonwealth Championships. I had never run that fast before.

Learning Norwegian is interesting and I have learnt three new “alphabets”, å, ø and æ. Also ‘y’ is read as ‘I’ and so both are vowels. ‘J’ sounds like the English ‘y’. Where a vowel is followed by two consonants makes a different word and pronunciation as when followed by one consonant. Hence the words ‘pen’ and ‘penn’ are very different. The easy part is the ‘er’ takes place of ‘are’, ‘is’ and ‘am’ so I will say ‘Jeg er bra’ to say ‘I am good’. Well that is a 3 hours lesson. Soon I will start reading the Norwegian news paper. Since I came I always asked myself why when you ask a Norwegian to teach you something they say ‘I will learn you’ instead of ‘I will teach you’. This week I actually discovered. This is a direct translation from their mother tongue what we used to call back home ‘DT’ (direct translation). In Norwegian you say ‘Jeg vil lære deg’ so it is automatically ‘I will learn you’! I warned you if you hear it again!

Hands on....

Working among students is always energizing and rejuvenating. My working involves two students groups in Stavanger University; the International students Fellowship (Christian Union) and the Norwegian students Movement (LAGET). Both groups are part of the Norwegian International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) movement called NKSS.

Above. A joint fellowship between LAGET and the CU

Our focus is to make Jesus known, believed and followed in the University. We do this through, fellowships, bible discussions, camps/retreats and leadership development activities.

Students in a Bible study in a recent camp.

Informal gatherings such as social evenings, meals and outings are good opportunities of making contact with the students and other people too. I have visited several families and met several people in cafes here in Stavnger, it is a very common practice. Back home we call it 'Fellowship and swallowship'.

Finn Ivar Vold trying is hands on Ugali (Kenyan meal) and Chicken together with Elias (Visiting Kenyan, left) and Joe my team mate (right) in our house.

I am a part of a weekly bible study group in the city of Stavanger, the G12 group. It is a group in IMI church made up internationals leaving in Stavnger city. Here I try many things including baby sitting.

With young David in the bible study group.

Use of every small ability is highly appreciated here ,to develop it and to serve.

Playing drums in the bible study group

I also attend the international church in Sandness. See; http://www.kif.sandness.googlepages.com/. Both the bible study and the churches are places of growth, meeting other people and off course areas to serve.

Pastor of the International Church in Sandness Fransis Kamau and his wife Janne.

The Global Leadership Summit organised by the Willow Creek Association was a good growth point. Together with the staff of NKSS office at Stavanger and two student leaders I participated for the two days the summit run. The topics discussed were: Vision to die for and inspiration by Bill Hybels, Tough Choices by Carly Fiona, Building humanity by Jimmy Carter, Lead where you are by Colin Powel, Go put your strengths at work by Marcus Buckingham, A leader's greatest fear by John Ortberg and living for greater good by Richard Curits.

Above. Discussing a point with Åusmud the LAGET Chair duirng the Global leadership summit.

I have had some reflections and questions on some few issues I thought after the summit, such as:

• How to use my spiritual gifts (Administration, faith and Leadership) in what God wants me to do with my life while here on earth as a leader.
• How do I stay in the course of God’s call even when there is no motivation and inspiration to stay?
• What inspires me and what motivates me most in my life and leadership?
• How do I want to lead in my context and cause Godly impact?
• What are the Shadow missions that can distract me from God’s mission for my life and how do I counter them?
• Discover deeper my strengths take more time and build on them and get a way round my weaknesses.
• Getting my cutting edge and playing my part in the lives of the less privileged, the poor, the HIV infected and issues of justice in the society.

I am still thinking through, praying and finding answers, for some I may not find answers soon! The summit will remain a great highlight of my time in Norway, am glad I was there.

Being in Stavanger, a new city it could be lonely, but meeting Tom made a big difference. Well, he is from Stavanger and Nairobi too, after having visited Kenya 26 times in 19 yrs! Getting to make a home in a new land the aquitance approach is the best, with the people and the land and this started on this beautiful Wednesday of Moi day.

Tom steering on a highway.

Above a beautiful water fall in the middle of a city in Kilppen Community. On the left a historic site marking the

making of unity between leaders in Norway 1000year ago under the leadership of King Harlod 1.

Being in an new environment the body and the mind take some good time to get into the system. I have learnt that taking more time in the outside to breath the fresh air, get the cold, get rained on, meet the people, make mistakes and laugh loundly about them is a good part of life. The beauty of nature is healing and refreshing. It speaks of the greatness of the invisible maker who put it all together and his invisible nature controls it. At one point I thought, 'If I never believed then I would have believed', that is, "...since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Warumi moja, ishirini.

Below. May be too much walking without some sleep makes Sammy and Knut dull boys!

A little rest on the pulpit rock was not that bad, especially after 2hrs 30 minutes climbing to the o the top, walking over rocks and above beautiful fjords. The trip was with Knut an electrical engeneering student at the University of Stavanger . It is amazing how friendship grows and blossoms with time and how one would give for their friends. It wa a day well spent!