Home Sweet Home in the Jailhouse

 First of all, before I go into the detailed explanation of the place where I live and the people I live with, I believe that an update on my suitcase is due. As of Thursday morning, my suitcase arrived at the base with everything in it. I am super happy to have it now, but I also learned a lot through the experience including packing another pair of socks next time I have just one backpack to survive on while waiting for a suitcase. I also want to thank the many, many people who were praying for my suitcase to get here. I can not tell you enough how much I appreciate it. The reason that I have not been able to tell you this important information until now is that just after my suitcase came on Thursday morning, the entire DTS staff and students left for a wilderness trip. I wish that cameras had been allowed so that I could show you the beautiful countryside of Norway, but that is something that you will just have to Google for now. As for the wilderness trip itself, it was a fun way to bond with everyone in the DTS and we all grew closer together as a team.
 Now for the real story; allow me to tell you about the place I live and the people I live with. The YWAM base in Skien was originally a jailhouse that was built in 1891 and before the YWAM redeemed it, the building served as a shopping mall and a night club. No worries though, many people have prayed in this place before this year.

                                                                        The Base

 

This is the first part of my room in the jailhouse. It is actually one of the bigger rooms here.

 

The second part

  This is the staircase that goes up to the second floor where I live and then the third where the bathrooms are.

The dinning hall

 

A good view of Skien

 

The harbor. I can walk two seconds from the base and see this.

 

The town hall is the white building. The street on the right side of the picture is the one where the jail is.

The main Norwegian State Church in Skien.

 

Okay, now that I've given you a small tour of the jail and city of Skien, let me introduce you to some of the people that live at the base. I wish I could introduce all of the people I have met so far to you and tell you there stories, but I am afraid that it would fill a book since there are at least one hundred people who are involved with the YWAM Skien base this year. Why so many, you might ask? Well, in addition to the DTS, there is a School of Evangelism that takes place here at the Skien base and an awesome dance ministry called Reboot. Most of the students for the School of Evangelism and the DTS live here at the jailhouse, along with the staff for both schools and the base, but there are some people that live off base too with their families or in apartments. Life at the base is great. At lunchtime, the basement dinning hall is packing with people and there is always someone to talk with. There is such amazing diversity and wholesome fellowship here. I could fill volumes with how great this place is, but as not to waste your bandwidth, I will simply say that I will only be able to introduce you to people on a basis of picture by picture. 

These beautiful girls are my roomates, minus one who abides in the neighboring cell. From left to right, it is Martine, Ase Marie, Tina (who is our neighbor), and Rebekka. They are all kind, generous, and extremely patient with me when I try to speak Norwegian.

 

From left to right this is Jussi, Knut, Christina, Philip, Martin, and Ashild. They are all my fellow DTS students and except for Jussi, who is Finish, they are all Norwegian. 

 

From left ot right it is Jannika, Hannah, and Andy. Jannika and Hannah are DTS leaders and Andy is a School of Evangalism leader.

 

A view of the Skien's town center.

 

           

The Adventure Begins

 As I write this, I am sitting safe and sound at the DTS base's lounge, my new home. Actually, safe might be an understatement because the DTS base used to be a prison. But more about that later. 
 Okay, I know I said that this blog would be about more than just me and the beautiful country of Norway, but the story of how I got to the base in Skien from Florida is rather interesting and my parents, who are probably up by now checking the computer every five minutes, just might want to know the fine details of their child's journey abroad.  
 There were some highlights in my trip to Skien like seeing the fjords and countryside of Norway from the train to Skien, waking up on the plane to behold the stars and moon as never before, and then finally meeting all of the staff at the base, but the main point is that I am here by the grace of God: literally.
 If you were to ask me what God was speaking to me throughout my journey, the answer would be that He was telling me to trust Him. The plane I took to Philadelphia to make a connecting flight to Oslo was delayed both in taking off and in landing by storms. After getting off the airplane in Philadelphia, I ran to my gate and with no time to spare for a bathroom stop or dinner, I got on the plane to Oslo. I was the last person on and minutes later we were in the air. Needless to say, my suitcase is missing in action. For all you praying people, please pray that it comes soon. 
 Did I also mention that I experienced the grace of God a lot on my journey here? Sleep plus me plus planes equals one tired person the next day, so figuring out the Norwegian train system and then getting off at the right stop to catch the bus to Skien was something I definitely did not do alone. Thanks also to everyone who was and is praying! I have no doubt that your prayers opened doors in my travels.  
 So back to trust. Even if you have figured out what this has to do with trust, please let me explain. There were times in my travel where I had no idea if I was going to make a connection and I asked God what the heck was going on. All He said was "Trust me Emily". I had to trust that He was calling me to Norway, that I was supposed to be at this school, and that God was going to come through for me. Long story short, He did. There is a verse in Proverbs that says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." I trusted in God, although my flesh screaming at me to panic, and He led me straight here. Even now I am trusting in Him still to come through for me. My God, our God is mighty to save.
 Next time I write, I will give you, my readers, a tour of the Skien base and an opportunity to meet some of the people here via this blog. For now, there are no pictures because the necessary equipment to connect my camera to the laptop just happens to be in my suitcase that is coming sometime hopefully soon.   

Prayer

 Over the past few weeks, I have been astounded by and deeply grateful towards the many people who have told me that they are praying for me and my time in Norway. To those of you who are praying, I thank you sincerely. Your prayers are precious to me. 
 If you wish to partner in prayer with me or you are praying, but are unsure of what to specifically pray for, here is what my family and I are praying for in regards to my time in Norway and beyond. 
 Firstly, we are praying for unity among everyone at the DTS in Skien; that everyone would be of one mind and one purpose to seek God and His will. 
 Next, we are praying that God would open the ears of everyone at the school to hear His voice and that He would use us for His glory.  
 We are also praying for protection and favor with traveling in and out of the various countries that the different teams from the school will be going to. 
 Additionally, we are praying that God would open the hearts of the people that we minister to so that they can come to know Jesus and see their lives radically changed. 
 Please also pray for the leaders of the DTS in Skien for wisdom and strength throughout the school year and during the mission trips. 
 Finally, I have one request of my own that is dear to my heart. Please pray for strength and protection for my family.  They are behind me in support 100%, but I know that it is also difficult for them to have me go.
 Thanks again to everyone who is praying. Ha det bra! (Goodbye in Norwegian.)