The week

The week has ended, and a new is about to begin. And it has gone fast! I've not been blogging too much the last days, and I have not only been washing the bathroom and dishes, so here is some of the other things I've been doing.

On Tuesday I helped out at one of the shelters to unload a lot of food from a truck and the next day I came there to help giving out some of the food we unloaded to needy people. It was nice to do something else for a day!

Thursday was my birthday! It was a quite normal day, one year older, one year closer to halfway to 50. But I got some cards in the mail and in the evening me, Richard and Andrew went to the Art Institute downtown and afterwards we ate deep dish pizza. Which was really good!! Thanks to Aina, grandmother and grandfather and Lynn and Larry which sent me birthday-cards! And I guess the pack that is waiting for me in post-office is from my family. I also talked to my family, to Olav and to Stine on skype, which is always nice! So the day became a little special anyway.

On Friday two guys asked me if I wanted to come with them to the lake to swim, I thought they were just joking, but when we came there one of them jumped in! And he challenged me to do it, so I jumped! The water was freezing cold! But the strong breeze was so warm, so I was not cold for very long.

Saturday I went back to the shelter to help out with giving out meals to homeless people. Before the first group was served, the leader read something from the scripture and prayed. And I thought it was really nice to be a part of God’s love to these people! 

 

 

Me VS dirt

Some of you have heard about the bathroom next to my room. It might be many years since someone cleaned it last time. Last week I just casted a glance at the toilet brush and noticed that it was so long since it was used, so it was stuck in its container. YAK! I thought something had to be done. So today I armed myself with gloves, a scrub, a mop and a bucket with soap water and attacked the dirt.

Before:

After:

The result was not perfect, but I did my best!

Guns, blood and pizza

This weekend was one of the rare ones. I went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to visit Lynn and Larry Mueller. I came late Friday evening, so I will say it started on Saturday. But it was the perfect start. Right after breakfast I hooked my computer to internet to talk with people back home on skype. It was so good to see them and talk to them!!

When we had said goodbye we went for a sweet lunch at Krispy Kreme. Wow, it’s the best doughnuts you can get! My dad has something to look forward to!

Then I and Larry were ready for some action. Larry is in a shooting club, so we went to a shooting range. I tried 5 different pistols and had a really fun time!! I hit the target many times, even twice in the center! Should I say where the blood came from? My thumb was in the way of the thing that goes back to reload.

In the afternoon some youths, that Lynn knows came over, and finally I got to taste the pizza that Larry makes that I’ve heard so much about! And it was three really good pizzas! We had a really nice evening with card games, bonfire outside and we had fun with my camera.

I also found something that I really miss. The sound of silence. Their neighborhood was a really nice area and it was nice to hear the grasshoppers in the evening instead of all the traffic and sirens. 

Homesick

I didn’t think that I would be as homesick as I am right now. I thought it was a little too short time home between Uganda and this trip when I left, but man, I really miss home! I think much of the reason is because, living in a community like this is not my style, or at least I’m not used to it at all. When I’m at work I’m at this house, and when I’m finished for the day, I’m still on the same place. And many times I wished I had a team with me, not doing this alone.

I think even more about home when I see all the kids around here, and nobody knows me, so they don’t want to play with me or let me hold them. And I’m so used to do that, both from home and from Uganda! And that really makes me miss Oskar, Jakob and Tuva. So I think it’s great that my sister, Maria, shares pictures with me, so I can see how they’re doing! And she writes mails about just everyday things, and today I got an e-mail from Oskar, and I really appreciate that!

When I told Kay that I thought ten days at home between the trips was too little, he said something to me that I think is true. “It is good that you think ten days are too little, that just shows how much you care about your family and friends!”

PartyWeekend

I can't say I'm bored in the weekends when I'm not doing dishes. They have been filled with different things every week.

Yesterday morning I went to the McDonald's one block from where I live, to meet Lynn and Larry Mueller. I thought they hadn't come yet, so I stopped in the hallway there to wait. Shortly after I heard a voice behind me; "are you Per-Oddvin?". And there they were, Lynn and Larry, waiting for me! Our mission for the day was Derek's birthday party. So we loaded my stuff into the car and set off.

It was good to once again be in La Crosse, and as always, good to see Derek, Regan and Justus! Regan had made a really nice party for Derek, with many friends and some family and she served a lot of good treats.

 

In the evening I went for a walk downtown by my self, just to see La Crosse one more time, probably the last, since Derek is getting a new job and moving to Rochester pretty soon. So, next time I see them is probably in a new home in Rochester! Wish you good luck with all the things that are going to happen the next month!

And this morning we went to church, where they were kind of sending Derek and Regan off, before we got in the car to drive back to Chicago and Fort Wayne. It was a nice trip, and really nice to see Lynn and Larry! It’s 20 years ago since I saw Lynn last time, and Larry I’ve only seen in pictures. So next weekend, I’m going….hehe, sorry won’t tell you!

Afternoon at the Museum

Tuesdays are free admission days at the Field Museum downtown, so me and Richard, my room mate went. It was very interesting!

In the end today I have a quiz for the loyal readers of my blog (and for you that accidentally bumped into it). Which animals does the following head skulls belong to? The answer is at the bottom.





Answer: Giraffe, black rhino and hippo

A small world

I had a very nice weekend! On Friday we had a café and a guy called Josh Garrels had a concert, and our own house band was warming up for him.


Josh Garrels

On Saturday I met a friend and ex-college from FOCUS Uganda. Norway and Uganda, meeting in Chicago, I will say we live in a quite small world. Nicholas lives in Wheaton, one of Chicago’s suburbs, together with his wife Sylvia and studies something on the university over 1,5 years. It was so good to see them both again! Sylvia had to go to work, so me and Nicholas went around at the campus area, and we took a tour in the Billy Graham museum.
It was so interesting to talk about culture-differences and shocks, and totally understand each other:) He had to go to work too, so we didn’t spend very much time together, but I will go back in the first weekend of May. And then we are going to see the closet from the Narnia-movies:)

I could really feel the spring in Wheaton, as you can see, eating ice cream and wearing only t-shirt outside. (for me it was a little to cold to drop the sweater though)


The alley I cross to come from my room to the main building

Imagine

I’m closing my eyes, and listens to the sound from the lake and the noise from the sea gulls. And I imagine for a few seconds that I’m back home. The weather is nice outside, so I took a walk down by Lake Michigan and saw the nice skyline of downtown Chicago.

Settling in

It’s Friday today, which means that I’ve been here in Chicago for one week. It’s been kind of a strange week, but it has gone quite fast, and I’m glad it did. I had many thoughts like; “what am I doing here?”, “is there a meaning behind this?”, “should I just leave?”, “shall I really do dishes the next 1,5 month?”. But I think it is a good thing to face the problems or struggles, and go through them, with God, and he will make me stronger that way, instead of running away from them. And God equips a willing heart, and He gives me strength to wash:)

 Yesterday I had a really nice day, which I really needed! In the evening we were some people in the kitchen, making different sorts of cookies. We had a really fun time, and I got to know more people:p Tonight we have a coffee-bar and concerts here, so that will be fun!

Wish you all a really nice weekend!