I am very thankful to our Open iT fam and church fam who helped us go home safely.We had a nice trip back to the Philippines after several flight cancellations.
Qatar airlines provided protective kits - with a face mask, pair of latex gloves, packet of hand sanitizer and especially the face shield which we had to wear all throughout the flight and at the airport-everywhere.
We had to wait in line for PCR test but that was expected. They had a glitch so instead of filling out the form from the web, we had to fill out the form manually. After that we went to the hotel van waiting for us.
We got the PCR Result the next day and we both got negative results. We got the certifications printed out by the hotel staff.
During the transfer back to Lucena, we didn't have to stop at any check points. Thanks to Mike and Kei for sharing the load of coordination and taking care of us
Jesse made calls to the barangay and a health rep. visited us the next day to get our information and provide forms for monitoring any symptom for the period of 2 weeks.
Francis
arranged for our food supply and other stuff to last us the whole 2 week voluntary quarantine period.
We are blessed with people who extend their blessings to others. To God be the glory.
Thank you Eistein our company Founder who wanted to share his blessings at a wider scope so instead of continuously working for his former company he founded his own.
we left Gardermoen airport in Oslo at around 3PM
catching the sun rise during the Doha flight to Manila
took out our Nespresso Mini and assortment of capsules
Jesse celebrated his 22 d spiritual birthday this year -February 8th- and this year was truly extraordinary for everyone. This year we were supposed to have a <3 month training in the Norway company and the flights have been moved several times due to several reasons including the Taal Volcano eruption and the pandemic. Anyway , it turned out that we will have to stay for 6 months because of airport restrictions around the world. There were a lot of things that we were not made ready for this year however , I think that there have been many learning times and realizations during this special times.
+Donatello -found while he was learning how to drive
So as Jesse and mine's life begins we have many new experiences in Norway.
Weather
My skin started to break-out - I learned that I can't wash my face too much as it dries out and produces more sebum. The sample moisturizer I got from my sister did the trick and a little goes a long way so it lasted longer than I thought.
I probably just used up one bottle of lotion in a span of no more than six months and Jesse rarely applies body lotion. However, in Norway we are on our third bottle as of this writing.
the many products for skin and hair care
Body Shop Haul
The dry air circulation in the house and dry wind while going on a bike and possibly over exertion -resulted in pingueculitis in my right eye on the weekend of March 28.
Learned how to bike on the weekend of March 21 and 28 but I still get scared of steep lanes and bike lanes in the open roads without barriers.
Food Grocery shopping is a trip we enjoyed doing - as long as we can get the First Price items- from laundry and cleaning needs to snacks and all kinds of food.We can even buy a disposable grill to use in a picnic.
Cooking was convenient because there is an induction stove and oven.
store-bought cake, raspberries, icing mix voila!
Frozen pizza we just throw in the oven, potato buns
Croissants were my favorite (3 for 15 Kr for chocolate or plain)
baked Salmon and Ramen
baked chicken
Food prepared by kingdom friends. Some of our friends in Norway like to cook like JM& Julia, Kjell and Tess, Sandro and Silja.
Farikal prepared by Kjell and Tess
picnic at the Gronvoll neighborhood with Hans, Charlene, Isabella and baby girl
10th anniversary celeb with the Stenseth family and first try of moose meat
barbecue day that turned into in-door dinner due to rains -Lyseveien
finally the barbecue time |game of "what you have/haven' done 28 Degrees C
Korean Samgeupsal at JM and Julia's place -Lyseveien
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Restaurants
We tried some Norwegian local food scene and others and enjoyed both the food and the scenery.
Frognerseteren Restaurant and cafe
Escalon Restaurant just next to the Mt. Floyen Funicular station, Bergen
Godt Brod Floyen ,Bergen
Take out from Fresh Asian Fusion in Helsfyr
wagyu beef Ramen from Sapporo Ramen Bar in Mathallen, Vulkan
Dalen Hotel taste of Scandinavia spread-Telemark
Salt, Art and Music Sentrum Oslo-we got waffles and coffee
fish and chips Amundsen Brygerry
Wine
Wine is available everywhere : )
Dalen Hotel - with the view of the fjord-very nice in person
white wine house blend Amundsen Bryggeri
Amundsen Brygerri -chardonnay and Oslo City Hall in the view
Rose wine in Lekter'n in Akerbrygge
Art Supplies
It was totally amazing to see so many options for water color, pastel, colored pencils, charcoal, everything is here! So I think I kind of hoarded a little. Jesse even picked up some tools for himself.
Torso-favorite place to shop for art supplies-another is Panduro
Recycling
We tried our hand in recycling and exchanging plastic bottles with Pant system labels in Kiwi, and Rema grocery stores with recycling machines.
Transportation
We were using metro cards for one hour or 24 hours then switched to 1 month cards for the tbane , bus and others to get around. Fare is expensive. so far we have tried the cruise ship from Bergen to Modalen , Vy train from Oslo-Bergen, the funicular in Floyen, Bergen, Vy bus from when we went to Dalen back to Oslo and many times in the tbane and Oslo city bus. All of that through cash less transaction and sometimes coins (but we had to get them from the convenience stores). we don't carry cash I think machines started not to dispense cash a few months after the schools were closed. That or our card just got damaged.
Our trip was scheduled at 15:32 and Jesse was able to pray during the married's prayer time before we boarded the train coach 6 seats 5&9 but we were able to sit next to each other because the train is at its limited capacity so the seats beside ours were vacant.
We joined the marrieds' prayer time together and lifted up prayers for the families of our brothers and sisters who passed recently. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
While on the train we ate the snacks that Jesse brought and got coffee from the kafe.
I celebrated my 18th baptism anniversary in Norway during the COVID pandemic. (June 30th)
In a recent epiphany, it dawned on me that there are two kinds of people who previously claimed to be christians but left the church anyway.
First, those who were overcome by worldly desires (Mark 4:19) and instead of being humble acknowledging sin against God, it is easier to just go with the flow and not being embarrassed at all about sin thinking that God is so gracious and it is OK to rely on self, justifying choices and fashioning a convenient God into their life. A God that can bless them with all the material things and relationships they desire. Forgetting that God is just and righteous.
Second are those that declare they are no longer christians after falling into sin or having a lifestyle that is not Christlike by perhaps their own standards and they cannot forgive themselves -based on their own standards. Satan has taken away the word that was sown in them (Mark 4:15)
I think in my 18 years, many times I have seen friends that have been swayed by either of these two. I felt really sad , I even got sick at some point and really angry. However, at times I am tempted to be or the other too. There were times that I feel like a failure in my Christian life I just want to give up and don't care. It is more convenient to just go to a convenient church with no accountability and just be self-righteous.(2 Timothy 3:5)
I am able to keep moving forward with the help of faithful Christians and by the grace of God alone. I remind myself to forgive myself, ask help so I can find God's will for me and be confronted with my mistakes , my flaws and what I need to grow in.
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I am where I am now because God sees the bigger picture. He has a perfect plan and I am glad I am saved by grace.
We had another trip to Oyungsdammen to swim in the cold lake - cold for me coming from a tropical country. It was about 15°C based on the mini thermometer Malou got.
Took TBane 4 Vestli via Majorstruen and went down in Nydalen. In the Nydalen there is a mall across where we can use the toilet before boarding bus # to Skar. As usual we just headed there without checking the timing so we had to wait about maybe over an hour for the bus.
our visitor is a mallard duck
You also have to check the departure which is I think about every 45 minutes , we missed the 4:15PM trip back to Nydalen so we picked some blue berries and took our time walking back to the bus stop while eating berries on the way.
