On a journey...

Part of my heart is in the windows of Amsterdam. The windows of the Red Light Districts. Although not the windows per se, but the women each of those windows represent. Women whose identity is “everlastingly loved by God and beautifully created by Him”, and being daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, friends. Women who are not “prostitutes” because their occupation doesn’t define them. It’s been three years since the women in those windows were part of my every day. Three years since I got on a plane with a ton of luggage, making yet another move towards what is now home here in Norway. This seems to be the month of walking down memory lane, and so I figure I might as well take little walk through the streets of Amsterdam... Some windows are empty; representing women who were but are no longer in them. Women who have taken steps and are now living lives of dignity, bringing life instead of slowly dying on the inside. Some windows remind me of the times when I was invited into ...

Almost ten years ago to the day I sat in this very spot. Also on my way back from celebrating my cousins birthday in Bergen. But the difference being I’d just moved back to Norway two days earlier, and was a little more dazed. Ten years. I remember walking to my gate in Fortaleza. My face red and blotchy from the tears of saying goodbye, and glimpsing through a rare window into the main airport the group of friends-turned-family waving another goodbye as I walked past them. I was so sad to be moving from the place that had been home for the past 6+ years, and yet the sadness in a strange way fuelled thankfulness. Thankfulness for the time I got to live there, and proof that the relationships built went deeper than surface level. Ten years. It still feels so recent, and yet 10 years of living away. It feels like an appropriate moment to stop for a moment and reflect. Fortaleza, Brazil. The amazing privilege of becoming part of the lives of so many people I met on the s...

As we started to sing the Norwegian Christmas song “Mitt hjerte alltid vanker i Jesu føderom” (translation: My heart it always wanders in Jesus’ birthplace”), they took the initiative to stand up and take each others hands. It’s was a powerful moment, and I think that at that point there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Singing of finding home and the blessed Christmas night , a place of such hope and peace and freedom, moved us all. It caught me off guard and I hadn’t expected such vulnerability from these women. Many of them live with a wall built around their hearts as protection from a life which they have experienced as far from safe and kind. Now they find themselves literally behind bars, and yet behind the tough exteriors, are hearts that are still capable of being moved. Moved by being literally overwhelmed by presents and love and the message of value and hope. Moved to maybe, just maybe, believe that they are worth more than what life has communicated to them so far. ...

As we sat there quietly in the pews of the church, all I could hear was the occasional sniffle. Looking around me there were many faces with red rimmed eyes and tears silently trickling down their cheeks. In the front rows I could see those who were her family, their shoulders weighed down by the sadness of the occasion. The white coffin and flowers surrounding it made it clear that this was a sad sad day. A day to lay to rest a young woman who couldn’t bear to live anymore. Another reminder of the frailty of life, and that for some the pain and chaos of living is just too much. The tables were carefully placed to enable 30 people to sit down for the Christmas dinner. They were decorated with white tablecloths and small vases with red flowers in them. The whole house was filled with the smell of dinner having been lovingly prepared, and the guests were arriving. It was a beautiful evening of constant conversation, laughs, eating and games. A time of community and family, and of cr...

As I drove towards the Kruger Mpumalanga International airport, I almost doubted it was an airport. With impalas grazing, and rustic architecture, it definitely gave a different feel to the leaving of a lovely four days in Nelspruit. Getting to the gate I even had to reassure myself that this was indeed the one and only gate in the airport. The flight was uneventful and after a couple of flights and cups of coffee in airports, I finally arrived in Port Elizabeth. I was met by my dear friend who I hadn't seen in 17 years, accompanied by two of her children who were barefoot as seems to be the norm here. It has been an amazing long-weekend here. Hours of chatting and catching up and drinking tea and coffee, while at the same time getting a little glimpse of what their life is like. They run an incredible ministry called Penuel which is basically a children's home or haven for children coming out of very bad situations in Port Elizabeth. Children who are going to be adopted wher...

At 5 am the safari jeep picked us up. The weather was misty, and as we drove to the park I was hoping it wouldn't rain (it turned into a lovely day). Arriving there I was so excited, and hoped, just hoped we might get a glimpse of an elephant. It was an amazing day! As soon as we entered the park the first thing we saw were several elephants right next to the road. Needless to say I was busy taking many many photos, which probably became hundreds throughout the day. We saw so many animals up close- many more elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hyenas, wilderbeast and buffalo herds crossing the road, hundreds of impala, kudu, wharthog and hippopotamus and baboon in the distance, monkeys, one with her baby under her stomach, and a lion and a leopard. The lion looked straight at us and walked across the road at such a leisurely pace it was breathtaking. The leopard was hidden beneath a tree and scuffled away after a few minutes, but left enough time for us to photograph it. And the giraffe...

After a very peaceful morning, a few of us headed to the mall. Earlier in the morning I had got a message from a dear friend who did the Shine Seminar in Brazil who is from South Africa, and who just happened to be coming to Nelspruit for the day. It was such a treat to get to have coffee with her and her husband, and catch up on life and have a time of fellowship together. I had wanted to see her since we were in the "same" country, but her living 2 hours away I figured it wouldn't be possible. She is such an amazing woman of God who is really making a difference by reaching out to and loving the women in prostitution in her area. In the evening our hosts made us a South African braaii, which is a barbeque. It was fascinating to watch the grill they use, and we got to taste braiibread, some special sausage, special marinated meat, pap (maize starch thing), and milk tart for dessert. A true taste of South Africa. That combined with lovely company made it a great ending t...