Norway 2020:Our Life Begins

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

. 

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.

Oslo, Norway -Botanical Garden 18th Anniversary with God

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.

Mauban:House Visit September 2019

Ate Vilma and Kuya Lando are the disciples from Mauban that we visit about once in three months on a Saturday, and share the Bible with after lunch with their children and grandchildren.

House visits have been both challenging and faith building for me because there is really a need to encourage one another so that we will not forget about what God had done in our lives. I have seen many times in house visits, how easy it can be to forget about God especially when we are far away from the body and we cannot take Communion-a very important part of worship where we get to be reminded of Jesus' sacrifice, his body and blood poured out for us.

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Daet, Cam Norte:ICOC-Daet 3rd Anniv + Calaguas trip

I almost though that I had to pass up on going to the beach this year but it turned out that it is time to go to Calaguas! But the best part is the third anniversary of the ICOC -Cam Norte. We were also at their inauguration 3 years ago. That time, we went to Bagasbas beach. The church have grown and they have many teens now and the children of the disciples are now entering their teens and campus phases.

Day 1 May 18, Sat

04:00 AM ETD from Lucena
07:00 AM ETA Jollibee Gumaca
11:30 AM ETA Calaguas Hotel for those who will check in early
12:00 NN Lunch at ICOC-Cam Norte church
01:00 PM Building Healthy Relationships (Excerpt from APLA held in Dagupan this year)
06:00 PM end of BHR session
07:00 PM Dinner at Alvino's with the Elnar's
08:00 PM ETA Elnar residence/ Jesse is at the basketball game with the brothers
09:00 PM Sleep

Day 2 May 19, Sun

05:30 AM Morning Rituals
07:00 AM Breakfast
07:45 AM ETD for Calaguas Hotel 3rd Anniv. venue
08:00 AM going around town
09:30 AM Sunday Worship
11:30 AM group checks- out from hotel
12:00 NN group shops at SM Hypermarket and buys check-out lunch at McDo
01:30 PM ETA in Calaguas Island drop off point at Vinzon's Port (cars are left at a private paid parking lot for 200/day Php)
06:00 PM ETA Calaguas Island
06:30 PM settling in tents and swimming
07:30 PM Dinner - buttered shrimp, adobo, afritada, sinantolan, hotdogs, fish
08:30 PM washing up /sleep - others played bingo

Because there were lots of boats coming back from Calaguas, the port got crowded and we were left stranded for more or less than an hour in the boat because we had to wait for the other passengers to get off their boats and the boatmen had to navigate the narrow channel. I think we saw about ten of them full of people who had to walk a few meters from the boarding/waiting area.

Ushering Ministry

South Luzon Leaders

Calaguas Hotel

Calaguas Island 

Arrival of the group

tent pitch

Day 3 May 20, Mon

05:30 AM morning rituals
07:00 AM breakfast - bulad, hotdogs, sunny side -ups, fried rice
08:00 AM socials /island hopping
09:00 AM trekking
10:00 AM snorkeling
11:00 AM back to main /swimming
12:00 NN lunch sinigang na hipon, laing, sinantulan, fish
01:00 Pm wash up/socials, coffee
02:00 Pm ETD from the powdery sand beach
04:00 Pm back to the port
06:30 Pm Elnar residence socials with Daet group Married’s Ministry;wash up;game monopoly
07:30 Pm dinner
08:00 Pm ETD for Lucena
01:30AM ETA Lucena/Tayabas

morning view from the tent

breakfast of eggs, bulad, hotdogs and fried rice

registration for trekking 40 Php

starting point of the trek

view from the peak

kubo for those who don't want to climb entrance fee 25 Php

snorkeling

11 AM

far right side of the island

monopoly game in Daet

ICOC-Lucena 7th Anniversary at HOPE Center Laguna

This year's anniversary was celebrated at the HOPE Center in Laguna. Many of the new converts in Lucena have never been to this site, a place whose walls were built with the help of volunteers from the Metro Manila area and from all over the Philippines. HOPE is also the benevolent arm of the church, to help Christians live out the ministry of Jesus in helping the needy.

The delegates were composed of disciples from ICOC-Lucena and ICOC-Daet. The first party arrived on Saturday afternoon followed by the second party that arrived Sunday morning at 7am.

DAY 1 August 25th
9:30AM ETD Arias Bust Terminal
3:00PM  ETA Center of HOPE
7:00PM  Dinner at the Accomodation
8:30PM  Cooking of Adobo and Giniling
10:00PM Socials
11:00PM Lights out

Day 2 August 26th
4:30AM Rise and shine from the blasting speaker of K. Rolly
6:30AM ET  Assemble time to meet the second party
7:30AM ET Orientation
8:30AM ET Communion with HOPE Community,Lucena,Daet and Laguna disciples
9:30AM ET HOPE background with JV
10:00AM ET Orientation/House Rules with Bryan
10:30AM ET Q & A
11:00AM Opening Remarks /Game proper
12:00NN Lunch Time
1:00PM Games
2:00PM Afternoon Snacks
3:00PM Loot Bags and Closing remarks
4:00PM ETD

Sermon:The Facts of Light
John 9:1-34 Jesus heals a man born blind
-we all have darkness in our lives
-we tend to question God
-bakit may mahirap, nagkakasakit...
-ano ba ang ginagawa mo?
-Jesus focuses on meeting needs not asking questions or putting blame on someone
"John 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."
Benevolence by Jesse
Deuteronomy 15:10-11 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
HOPE ORIENTATION
Isaiah 58:6-10
Matthew 9:35
Mt 25:35-40
Mindset:developmental not just one-time activity

Center of HOPE Laguna

Orientation with ICOC-Daet Delegates and ICOC-Lucena Delegates

pre-worship 

Kuya Bryan S.

Kuya J.V.

kadang-kadang game

lunch time

intermission number from kids at Center of HOPE

intermission number from ICOC-Lucena

the Hoola Hoop Game

the 4 corners game

afternoon snacks preparation

Quezon Delicacies

hab-hab eating contest

loot bags for Center of HOPE Kids

community visit