Skip to main content

On the road again...almost.

Today is Norway’s national day and it was so nice to be in Norway for it. Got to wear my national costume, watch the schools walk in a parade, eat hot dogs and ice cream, wave my Norwegian flag, take my niece to watch the parade called “folketoget”, blow soap-bubbles with my niece and nephew on the veranda, see what the royal family were wearing on television, and have nice food and enjoy celebrating this wonderful country I was born in. It’s been a great day!

Tomorrow will be a busy day. Mainly packing and getting ready.... “ready for what?” you may ask. Ready to get on a plane Thursday morning back to Amsterdam.

After a lot of waiting and trusting and talking and listening I am now heading back to Amsterdam for a month to “spy out the land”. I’m going to join with the “Lighthouse” and “Tabernacle”, two ministries of YWAM Amsterdam and see how that goes. See if it could be and is the next place I am to stop and work in... see how God leads.

So tomorrow will be busy. I’ve had my “list” for a week now, but somehow I always end up with a bunch of things to do last minute. Things I could have done earlier, but just didn’t. The other day I was pondering this fact. I’ve been doing the travelling to and fro for years now, and the day before I leave is always the same- a day consumed with packing and finishing unfinished tasks. I always have great intentions of packing early and having a day of chilling, but it never works. I don’t quite know why. Maybe it’s because starting to get the list done puts me into the “leaving mode”, and I’d rather “be where I am” a little longer, than extend the travelling period? Whatever the reason, the conclusion of my ponderings was that it probably won’t change, and so I just need to accept the fact that the last day at home will be one of those days and go with it. And so I will. Tomorrow will be that day, the day to get through my list, ready to set off. I imagine it’ll be a tad stressful. Change and travel always is. Leaving my family again is always hard. But it’s part of the journey, and so I recognise it for what it is and just go with it, and try to encounter the peace of God somewhere in the midst of it.

All that said, it’s nice to know the next step of my journey, and (almost) be on the road again.

Popular posts from this blog

Small moments that mean a lot

Walking home on the crunchy snow that lights up a December evening,  I felt so thankful. The revelation that fellowship and being together is the best gift you can give someone, and realising that although it might seem small, it can turn into something big when a person feels seen and valued.  Yesterday I helped out with a crafts workshop for a group of lovely women volunteering for Crux where I worked before (well, in all honesty: they were making angels while I ate Christmas cookies, Quality Street chocolate, and chatted). I love walking alongside people in conversation, and realise sharing life for 2 hours can last so much longer in value and experience.  This evening we had our Christmas dinner for volunteers and people who are part of my current job. It was a delightful evening with many nations gathered around the same table…. eating the same food… and for a few hours creating a small fellowship moment that will become a good memory for the future. Often in my job ...

Tired.

Today I've been really really tired all day. I guess it's part of life and also part of getting ready to leave. Today I dragged myself out of bed, and had a cup of tea to get going. And when the mum we were taking to see her son in prison wasn't in, the morning went doing bits and pieces. This afternoon we were at the bussterminal to see the streetkids. It was a good time I guess, but the group of kids there at the moment are really just so lost. Totally drugged, dirty, and don't really care about anything. It's like they've lost all innocence. When I got back I looked through a few past reports getting them ready to do the monthly overview of the kids we've met this month. I felt really sad. One kid said her dream was that her mum would stop drinking, another girl told of a stepfather who molested her and her sisters, and another boy told of how his dad would hit his sister. And I am left with the question of: where is the hope and future for these kids? So...

In transit... an airport post.

Here I am sat using the free internet at Schipol airport in Amsterdam. I have almost finished my koffie verkeerd also known as cafe au lait or simply coffee with a lot of warm milk. Somehow airports are great places for reflecting and pondering, or maybe it’s just travelling alone that fuels the process. A situation of having time and not much to do. Yesterday evening I ate delicious arepas from Venezuela, or rather made by my Venezuelan friend. Then I packed and cleaned and slept, a bit at least. This morning I was up at bit after 6 am to finish packing and getting ready before heading off to catch the train to the airport, and here I am. It does feel strange to be leaving yet again... feels like Amsterdam in some way has become a little bit “normal” to me.... I got into some kind of routine, and I engaged my heart in the ministry and bonded with the people. Yet I’m not sure how Amsterdam fits into the journey and picture of my life. Still I am sitting here feeling such peace. I am on...