Thanksgiving

We’ve been here for about 4 months and we still are weighing whether some aspects of our experience is cultural, personality or what we call: ‘getting lost in translation’. This, is indeed, a cold-weather culture. Gathering around a cozy fire or going for a hike together is common, but you have to ‘get-in’, in a way. Norwegians are very loyal people and committed to their friendships. There is plenty of time; people share about different activities going on in the community, no one seems to be in a rush to stop conversations. People are quite open and curious when you get them talking. I wouldn’t say that they are exclusive or uninviting people. But as far as really building friendship, I believe our family presents a tad more as a novelty in our small village.

We are American’s living on a farm with a family that many people love. Undoubtedly, this is very curious. People inquire and love to hear the story of our arrival, or may be fascinated by our homeschooling. We enjoy exchanging pleasantries of where their family is from and what they do, beautiful locations we “must visit” but it typically stops there. It can be easy to start wondering if people actually like you if I’m going to be honest.  Everyone we have met is polite, kind and engaged, but not all give you the added encouragement of building relationship. Am I making sense…?

I think novelties are enjoyed when they are around, but in this culture, certainly not permitted for every day. Candy and alcohol are traditionally only weekend pleasures. Maybe the novelty of an American family moving to a small village in Norway is simply a sweet story or the stuff of Instagram fame. Who knows… we are still figuring this out.

All of these observations remind us that when invited by the Lord to anywhere, He will make clear where and with whom you are to engage. Not everyone is designed to be a forever friend. So we don’t necessarily feel sorrow or loneliness, just missing familiarity or maybe just the security of knowing, generally, what to expect.

But then, there is the warm-weather culture crowd and immigrants in general… These people are overwhelmingly grateful to have someone come right up to them and start a conversation. They express their enjoyment and gratitude openly. It’s not such a mystery to know what they are thinking.

Astonishingly, several people from Congo are attending the church we go to here. We had introduced ourselves to two different individuals and had a very pleasant chat with them. Our kids were enjoying a few of the Congolese children during Sunday School and expressed how much they would like to spend more time with them. All of these people spoke good English, which is an added bonus. We told our friends on the farm about all these people and, of course they know them; they suggested we have a big Africa party. So, instead of trick-or-treating, which is not quite the thing it is in America, we decided to invite the Congolese we had met to join us for a party. We also invited a Norwegian family we recently met, who just moved back from Kenya (they approached us at a café!). Our friends on the farm arranged all the invites, helped prepare food and we set up the house, games and atmosphere.

What a time we had! All we did was open our home and do our best to be ourselves in what felt like a radically different context. But people are just people, no matter where they are from, where they have moved to, what language they speak. We invited these near strangers to join us at our table of thanksgiving and the most amazing things happened. We heard stories of arrival, miracles, overcoming intense fear, Swahili greetings and prayers between two people groups. While listening, the sound of our hearts implored us to see the world differently and to be grateful for all the many gifts we’ve been given.

One of these men, when asked if he had a job in Congo, said that he had never had a job, because he was so young when he moved to the Ugandan, 15 million person, refugee camp, that he couldn’t develop a job skill. He carried his bed with him in that camp, because there was no designated place to sleep. When he arrived in Norway, nothing looked familiar and he was scared. A stranger picked his family up and as they drove through long tunnels from Oslo, he thought maybe all of them would be killed; he hardly could sleep, as he kept watch over his family for the first days. To have an indoor toilet and a washing machine, to enjoy running water, was extraordinary to these refugees. The miracle stories of how they got here, how they praised the God who protected and gave to them was beautiful and heart-wrenching. Whether in a refugee encampment or the four walls of a house in Norway, they testify to God’s always-enough provision.

In the midst of sharing, we encouraged them to convey to Norway their stories and the joy that they have, despite the hardships they have faced. We said, “Norway, needs your infusion of joy, like defibrillators, awakening the heart.” One man responded, “Yes. Norwegians have a 1,000 reasons to praise God, and they forget.”

“You must remind them, our friends”, we said. “Remind them with your smiles and with your gratitude, your song and dance. When we live with so much provision and fail to give thanks, our reality becomes skewed towards perceived suffering, grumbling and misery.”

We enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving and we get into his courts with praise. If you want to feel near the Lord, you do not need to beg him for more of anything, you can simply express your gratitude that He is near.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise;
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

- Psalm 100