Packin' it Up

The heavens broke open and cried buckets today that we are leaving Norway soon – or so it felt.  It was a good day to be indoors.  (The photos today are from days PAST.)

Agape Church is in on a “fall break” schedule, knowing many of their attendee go on vacation this coming week since the kids are off from school for their first of many week long breaks throughout the year.  Also, a huge group from Agape went to Israel on a tour on Friday, so their number count is down.  They have meetings the next two Sundays just at night, so that freed us up to attend Philadelphia Church today, which we also enjoy.  It was a good chance to say our goodbyes to folks we know there, as well.

The pastor of that church, Vidar, is a first cousin of Kory’s cousin Odd.  He just took over last year from the pastor who was there for decades, so things are changing in many ways.  Attendance is on the upswing, for one thing.  He gave a wonderful sermon about the prodigal son, and how he wanted that church to be welcoming to everyone, no matter what.

All I could think about was his very own cousin (brother to Odd), who did something about 14 years ago that landed him in jail.  He had been previously very involved in that church and considered it his church home.  He stood in front of the congregation and “confessed his sins.”  He did jail time, lost everything he had, including his wife, and when he got home, he received a letter from the pastor at that time, stating he was never welcome back in Philadelphia Church again.  It was hard to believe, but I saw the letter.

We’d invited that cousin to Agape Church with us as he has a strong desire to be back in church fellowship, so he came one Sunday a few years ago, but said afterwards “It’s just not my home.  My home is at Philadelphia.” 

So after that sermon today I went up to the pastor and told him what a good sermon it was, and I mentioned something that happened in our church back in America where someone had fallen from grace, as it were, but was completely forgiven and welcomed back into the church, as it should be.  It’s a picture of redemption and restoration and is right at the heart of God.  He was nodding in agreement, and then I mentioned the name of his cousin.  I asked him if he knew that his cousin had received a letter from the church telling him never to come back.  He didn’t know anything about it.  I suggested, now as pastor, that he write a letter inviting him back.  He asked if he could just call him, since it’s his cousin we were talking about, then he suggested he pray about it and ask God the best method to deal with it.

I could see he was humbled by the mention of this guy because he wasn’t without judgment himself, I'm sure.  He nearly teared up and thanked me for making him “walk the walk” instead of just “talking the talk.”  So it will be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out.  I felt like, if we came to Norway for no other reason this year, this might have been it – to help restore this cousin’s faith and relationship with God and the church.  I trust God will be in the midst of it all and it will work out for good.  I’m glad we were there today.

After our goodbyes, we rushed out to the island of Vigra to the B&B where we attend Bible study.  Clive and Carol invited us over for dinner tonight, so that was a real treat.  They didn’t know about Kory’s diet restrictions either so we were served chicken wrapped in bacon.  Kory at least didn’t eat the bacon.  The dinner was yummy though and done with an English flare.

We found out while talking to them, that God used us as an encouragement for their ministry and Bible study.  They’d had three weeks of zero attendance to their Bible studies prior to our arrival and they told God if no one showed up the next Sunday, then they would quit them altogether.  It was that week we ran into them at the store and decided to head out to the beach that Sunday and stop in and visit them and then we just stayed on for the Bible study. 

Carol said that the only reason they were even in the store where we met is because they were heading to a meeting and she got hit very suddenly with a hunger that wouldn’t quit – which never happens.  They decided to just swing into that store and buy a snack to eat on their way to the meeting, so in hindsight she felt God gave her that hunger just so they’d meet us.  That was good to hear, and we did feel the need to attend their Bible studies as a way to support their ministry.  We know all too well how tough of a place Norway can be for interpersonal relationships, so they also needed some friendly conversations each week as well. 

We spent the afternoon with Clive and Carol, then had Bible study, then off to the nighttime meeting of Agape Church.  It was one packed day and we didn’t get home til well after ten.  No packing or cleaning got done today, but I knew that ahead of time so tomorrow hopefully will have enough hours in the day to take care of all the last minute details.  Kory called the internet provider last week and told them the wrong date to cut off our internet service so it will probably be more productive without all of us sitting around on our various electronic devices.  Lord, help us all.

(I am having to post this from the library -  The next update will be to my Postcards From the Ridge blog since we are leaving Norway tomorrow.  Adventures in Greece await…).