First update from Bergen!!

Hello from BERGEN, NORWAY!

Hi everyone!  :)  I am officially in Norway, and have been here for almost a week and a half.  I think I'm finally over my jet lag now, so I'm beginning to fall into a routine!

In this blog post, I'd like to answer some questions about what I'm doing and WHY I'm in Norway (besides the obvious reason that it's the most beautiful country in the world!)

WHY AM I HERE?
I am in Norway for several reasons:

~I am interning with a well known worship leader and song writer, Mary Elizabeth Vorrath.  Mary Elizabeth is an American, but felt God call her to permanently move to Norway several years ago.  She started a worship band/discipleship ministry called Disciples of Worship, and I am here to help her with vision and planning, as well as logistics such as keeping their social media presence active!  Mary Elizabeth is a part of Norkirken (a young church in Bergen) and I will also be playing violin for her worship team while I'm here.

~Mary Elizabeth is the head of the Scandinavian region of Sounds of the Nations.  Sounds of the Nations is a musical missions organization devoted to helping missionaries all over the world incorporate each nation's ethnic "sound" into their Christian worship.  Sounds of the Nations is developing an online course for "musicianaries" in Scandinavia who wish to develop their song writing skills, learn about what God is doing in Scandinavia, and grow closer to their callings and grow in their areas of giftedness.  I am not only taking this course, but am helping tutor it as well.

~Though I am based in Bergen while I'm here, I will have been traveling to other parts of Norway while I'm here and will continue to do so!  This past weekend, Mary Elizabeth and I took a train to Mysen, on the very eastern edge of the country.  While there, we helped lead the congregation of Frikirken in worship at their Sunday service, and also led worship at a house church service and for a small seminar.  Being at Frikirken was a blessing!  I was humbled to be surrounded by people of my grandparents' generation who have deep hearts for Jesus.

Here is a list of upcoming trips/possible trips I'll be taking:
     -October 6th-12th in the northern region of Finnmark, Norway.  I have an opportunity to go with YWAM Kristiansand to this part of Norway and hand out Bibles and reach out to these people.  I am not sure if I can go yet, so please pray for wisdom and God's direction!
     -November 7th-9th I will be in Harstad, Norway with Mary Elizabeth leading worship for a prayer conference.  I am very excited about this trip, because it was in Harstad where Disciples of Worship was birthed.
     -November 14th-16 I will be in Hurdal, Norway (near Oslo).  This weekend is a retreat for everyone in Scandinavia taking the Sounds of the Nations online course.


I am so thankful for your prayers as I continue to invest and learn from this culture!  Please continue to pray and I'll try to be more timely with updates.  :)

Blessings,
Anna

Prelude

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my Great Norwegian Adventure blog!

On September 3rd, I will be traveling to Bergen, Norway to live for 2 1/2 months.  Updates about what I'll actually be doing to come.  :)  The journey God has invited me on is humbling, scary, and SUPER EXCITING.  I am inviting you to journey alongside me!

Why am I blogging?  Besides the obvious need to be "with it" as my students say, I have a few ideas...

1) I want to stay in touch with you!  Great moments are never as beautiful without people to share them!

2) I want to share what God is up to in Norway!  The Norwegian people have a special place in God's heart and in my heart.

3) I need prayer.  I am convinced that this trip is the fruit of many conversations I've had with the Lord about my desire to be involved with worship ministry outside of the USA.  I know I will need prayer as I continue to follow Jesus' voice!

I want to share a few words about the title of this blog: "...all you who live in distant coastlands."  Last summer, I received a verse from the Lord that I like to call my "life" verse.  Kind of cheesy, but ohhhh well.  :D

The verse is Isaiah 42:10: "Sing a new song to the Lord!  Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!  Sing, all you who sail the seas, all you who live in distant coastlands."  Obviously, I don't live in a distant coastland.  Oh hey there, Minnesota!  However, I'm excited that God is calling me out of my comfort zone.  Here I come, distant coastlands!  I am excited to see what will happen as I step out in obedience.

I'll be writing more later!  Until then...

Anna