Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner

Getting ready for the big day!

Maria and Anna

Rakel, Lotte, Tina, Marike

Me and Jenny

This past week Jenny and I decided to make a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a first for both of us, and if Patricia (Jenny's mom) hadn't come to Denmark to help us it wouldn't have been so good. We started Friday night cutting veggies and preparing, prioritizing, and scheduling the ovens in the house for the next day. We had two 10 lb Turkeys, apparently that is as big as they get around here...and they cost a very pretty penny!

On Saturday we had our normal brunch and an amazing time of worship. Patricia and Anna arrived around noon and we began our cooking. We cut veggies, peeled potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked veggies, baked 2 Turkeys, baked homemade rolls from scratch, and had a great time doing it all! Emily called the owner of the cafe and got permission to eat down there. It was beautiful! We had music and candles and lots of people! Jenny had invited friends from school, so we ended up having five different nationalities at the table from 4 continents. It isn't hard to have several different nationalities around a table in Europe, but I thought it was a bit special for a Thanksgiving meal. Sadly Mr. David "Buck" Hudson was unable to attend, but he did manage to call during the meal, and since I know that you spy on the house through this blog...your presence was missed!

Frank, being the "father" of the house was given the duty of carving the turkeys, and did a great job! The meal was delicious, and we had several compliments! Towards the end of the meal we went around the table everyone said something they were thankful for. Maria made pies for dessert and Emily gave us some yummy muffins and chocolate chip cookies left over from the cafe. After we ate there was coffee, fun, fellowship and hanging out. We kicked off the holidays by turning up the Christmas music and dancing. It was a great day, full of great memories!

Another Friday night in Copenhagen

So first off, big news in the house, Emily, Aaron, and Samuel opened a cafe. Cafe Cadeau, which is located on the main level of our house is now open and has an American twist. They are making a lot of American drinks and foods at a lower price in order to attract university students. Jenny brought some of her class mates to a preview last week and they all loved it saying they would be back. And true to their word, one of her classmates even made it to opening day :)

In other news...I spent 9 hours in an ER on Wednesday night because Emily got hit by a car while riding her bicycle. Luckily she wasn't hit hard and there were no serious injuries, she is just bruised and very sore. I stayed with her in the ER and when she wasn't in a lot of pain, we had some good chats and bonding time. Later in the evening Anders and Samuel joined us and provided some good entertainment during our long wait.

And on Friday night, we gathered in the living room for some music and worship, which lucky for you, I have made some videos. So enjoy another peek into my life...

Thanksgiving in Denmark

This past weekend we, as a house, were invited to Betina's parents for dinner. They wanted to have the House over because Betina's mom had been very sick a while back and almost died...3 times in one weekend. The House prayed day and night in shifts for her recovery and she was healed! As I jumped into the car with three dear friends I felt like it was the holidays and we were going to our grandparents house to celebrate.

They welcomed us into the home giving each one of us a hug as if they had known us forever. They ushered us into the sitting area and gave us drinks til dinner was ready. They must have cooked all day long...literally! As all thirteen of us gathered around the table we sang thanksgiving to God and began a delicious two course meal with turkey, couscous, salmon, spinach and a very yummy dessert to follow. Through the course of the meal we all chatted and they shared with us about everyday life and the faithfulness of God. Then when dessert came they went around the table and asked what each one of us was studying or working and what we do with our lives, all with a genuine interest.

We moved to the living room about 1030 pm, and they showed no signs of tiredness as they made tea and coffee and brought out chocolate candies. Betina's dad told us about the weekend his wife was in the hospital and how God had given him verses in the Bible to read to not give up hope. They shared how God had brought the right doctors at the right time, her father is a doctor and knows that she really is a miracle. He said that from a medical perspective she shouldn't be alive. They shared how their unsaved friends prayed and witnessed the miracle as well. We ended the night with prayers and songs of thanksgiving to God. We really did go home to GRAND parents!

Skype and Grandparents

This week I was able to skype my Nana and my Grandpa. Seeing and talking to them was such a treat. It's amazing how much closer you feel to family when you can see and hear their voice.

The chat with Nana was quite lovely! She is such a strong woman with a young spirit. She's sometimes leary of trying new things but when her grandkids are involved she will do almost anything. For instance, this past week my cousin invited her to join facebook and recommended that the rest of my family on facebook add her as well. While Nana and I were chatting on skype she told me about all of these emails she had gotten from us to join facebook. I asked her if she would like for me to help her and she was a bit hesitant but ended up letting me help her set up an account. I wasn't sure if she would get into it, but I think we will have her hooked in no time. ;)


It was especially nice to chat and see my grandpa. He is very sick with terminal cancer and has just been put on hospice. I have had the privelege of speaking to him on skype a couple of times when my mom was visiting him. I chatted with him one day before surgery and I was able to give him a tour of my house. Mom said that he enjoyed the time we had together and that he was very impressed with skype. A few days later via skype we chatted again, but this time it was shorter and he was more tired. When I looked at him he looked like a fragile old man, not the strong, healthy grandpa I remember. In speaking with my mom and dad, it sounds as if God is doing some good things in my family and especially with my grandpa. The realization that I will not see him again on earth is heart wrenching. I know that he will go to a better place but it is hard to let him go while being so far away.

Culture

Saxopaths

Me and Rakel

Rakel

Today I went with Rakel to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, a museum on H.C. Andersens Blvd, very near the statue of H. C. Andersens. We went to a concert that consisted of four saxophone players, called Saxopaths. I wasn't sure what to expect because I had never been to a concert of just saxophones. I was very impressed and I am adding a video clip for you to listen to with a very popular piece, think Godfather...

Low Riders in CPH

Lizette

Lotte, Lizette, Anton, Frank


Friday evening began as many others have begun, dinner at seven, cleanup, then chatting on the couches with tea and coffee. We had a guest staying with us from Sweden to check out the house, our vision, and to spend time with Frank. As the evening progessed different ideas were given on what we should do..go for a walk, watch a movie... Then someone brought up "low riders". We soon found out that some people in the house that rode their bicycles to dinner last week came up with a new way to ride. Instead of sitting on the seat, they would sit on the thing that rested just above the back tire giving the appearance of "low-riding". Soon a small band of us decided to go out as low riders in Copenhagen. However, we couldn't just ride, we had to add some flair...as you saw in the pictures above. As we were riding through the streets of Copenhagen, which were fairly well populated for 10PM, Frank began pulling stunts on his bike. I made a video, however it is a bit rough because, well, I was low-riding also.


Warning: video may cause motion sickness.

*If you look at the pictures from October I have put names below them.

Fathers teaching in the House

The last three nights have been full! On Sunday night, David "Buck" Hudson was here for dinner and he did a teaching on the Trinity. It was very good and very mind blowing at the same time. Is it possible to understand the Trinity? How Father, Son and Spirt are three persons in one...I really don't have any more to say than that.

On Monday night Tom Bedford came to town and spoke about relationships out of Romans 12 and Revelation 15:4. He said some great things like the essence of the devil is to divide, the essence of God is unity. When we are unified in Christ with righteous acts it disassembles the power of the devil. Humility is the beginning of unity.

On Tuesday night Tom gave a similar message to what he has preached in Kirksville and Pittsburg...Romans 8:1-4 and condemnation. Christianity isn't just studying the laws of God and failing them, it is Jesus living in us and empowering us to live by the laws. Jesus broke the power of sin over our lives, giving us grace-the ability to be like Jesus without making it happen in own human power. There is freedom in Jesus.

Isn't it amazing that there are fathers in the house! God didn't create us and leave us as orphans, he gave us fathers to come along side us to push, pull, encourage, listen, discipline, teach, cover, hold, care and just to be with us. I know this because I have the best one! He can probably run faster and farther than any of your dads :)

Real Life

First of all, Synnove is doing much better. Apparently later that night, after we prayed for her, she felt something change and she started feeling better. Thank you Jesus!

On Saturday we had brunch and worship, both great! We had a time of committing our lives to God and his purpose, especiallly those in the house. Later that night we all went out to dinner together to Rizraz. A vegetarian buffet that you can order meat on the side. It was pretty interesting and actually quite tasty! We completed the night with a classic...Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, it was almost perfect!

On Sunday we had Huset work day! It was great, we started with a Birthday brunch for Betina at 9 and at 10 we got our assignments and went to work. I had the privelege of defrosting two freezers and cleaning out kitchen cabinets, and the highlight of the day....going to the Copenhagen dump! Oh yes, you heard me right, I have now been to the Copenhagen dump, now this is real life! I decided the Copenghagen dump is much better than the Pittsburg dump, but a little more complicated. We actually had to separate the wood, metal, glass, electronics, they all go in in different metal bins. Some of them were mixed, and some were separated in size. It wasn't even that smelly!

Amazingness of a prayer loft

Another week already! I officially missed my return flight on the 29th, I guess I will have to stay for a bit longer ;)

Last week I discovered and experienced the prayer loft, personally and corporately. It was AMAZING! I think I fell in love! I began by lounging on a couch to read my bible and pray, I ended up kneeling on the floor singing. I think I was up there for a little over an hour and had the most wonderful time! The next time I went up and turned on some worship music and layed on the floor pillows praying but more importantly just listening, trying to "be still" and "take my thoughts captive". It proved to be another great experience! Who knew a prayer loft would be so amazing!! (apparently the Danes)

Throughout the day on Friday we kept getting texts about family members ill in the hospital, family members getting injured, or friends having medical issues. My housemates had also informed me about Halloween. Now I know everyone has different views of Halloween and it's a bit touchy with some folks. Some dress up, some don't, I personally like dressing up and love the idea of a fun light hearted party. But this year a seriousness came about, I began to hear stories of past halloweens with people being crucified and human sacrifices. And then all the texts of people being sick and injured. Suddenly it wasn't silliness but quite serious. So I experienced my first corporate prayer loft experience. After dinner several of us went to the prayer loft, turned on some worship music and the prayer warriors started. It was amazing! We spent at least an hour praying and crying out to God/Jesus for the sick and injured.

If you would like to pray, Synnove, one of the members of the house is in Africa with YWAM and she is very sick with malaria and typhoid fever. She visited the U.S. in April, spending time mainly in Omaha and Kirksville.

It's time to cook dinner now...I will write more later! And I will try to come up with some more pictures to post :)