Saturday, January 17, 2009
Postscript
If you have read my blog, please comment if you have a comment, or at least click "Follow this blog" over to the left of the page so I can have an idea of how many people are reading. Thanks!
TV, Newspapers, and a Taste of Iceland
Yesterday we had our appointment with the Omega Channel about the TFTW TV program. They broadcast locally, and are also on the Sky Network in the UK and another cable network in Europe. The sales guy sounded enthusiastic, but also said we'd have to wait until Monday for the program director to get back in from wherever she is, to see if they have a time slot for the program, and also to discuss pricing. Brother Marias will meet with her and then put her in touch with TFTW for whatever is finally agreed upon. We got a GREAT deal on the newspaper ad for the Bible Correspondence Course! For about $100, we can run the ad for 10 Saturdays (biggest circulation day). They have two sections of ads, and the section our ad is in is also displayed on their website. We were too late yesterday, so the ad will start running next Saturday. If you can read Icelandic, check www.mbl.is on Saturday to see it!
Last night, we decided we were going to have whale. We walked the main shopping street in Reykjavik (correct pronunciation is RAKE-ya-WEEK, by the way), and decided on a place. It was something of a splurge, but we both got the "Icelandic Feast." Appetizer was little samplings of lobster soup (oh my); smoked salmon (the really good stuff, not the kind you can smell across the room); a salad of greens, fruit, and smoked puffin (tastes a little like duck, but fishy too); and last and weirdest, sheep's head jam (kind of like head cheese or "souse meat," didn't taste particularly bad, but not good either, and the appearance and texture are just plain disgusting). Main course was minke whale steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was outstanding. Looks like beef, with similar texture. Tastes a little like beef and tuna steak mixed. Dessert was skyr (like yogurt but MUCH better) with blueberry sorbet and fruit. I wanted to sign the restaurant's guestbook "had a whale of a time," but as William said in his best Icelandic accent, "ha ha ha you are only sixth person to write that today." oh well.
Please keep us and our families in your prayers. Please pray for Marias and Gyða as well. They have their own house, but they also had an apartment that used to be their daughter's. The apartment building burned Thursday night. No one was hurt, but a total of 19 people from that building and others next to it either lost their apartments or had to be temporarily relocated. Our brother and sister are not out as much as these others who were actually living there at the time, but it's still a big hassle for them, just one more thorn to try and choke them out.
Thanks for reading. Please share this blog with anyone you think may benefit from it. As the Icelanders say, Bless!
Last night, we decided we were going to have whale. We walked the main shopping street in Reykjavik (correct pronunciation is RAKE-ya-WEEK, by the way), and decided on a place. It was something of a splurge, but we both got the "Icelandic Feast." Appetizer was little samplings of lobster soup (oh my); smoked salmon (the really good stuff, not the kind you can smell across the room); a salad of greens, fruit, and smoked puffin (tastes a little like duck, but fishy too); and last and weirdest, sheep's head jam (kind of like head cheese or "souse meat," didn't taste particularly bad, but not good either, and the appearance and texture are just plain disgusting). Main course was minke whale steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was outstanding. Looks like beef, with similar texture. Tastes a little like beef and tuna steak mixed. Dessert was skyr (like yogurt but MUCH better) with blueberry sorbet and fruit. I wanted to sign the restaurant's guestbook "had a whale of a time," but as William said in his best Icelandic accent, "ha ha ha you are only sixth person to write that today." oh well.
Please keep us and our families in your prayers. Please pray for Marias and Gyða as well. They have their own house, but they also had an apartment that used to be their daughter's. The apartment building burned Thursday night. No one was hurt, but a total of 19 people from that building and others next to it either lost their apartments or had to be temporarily relocated. Our brother and sister are not out as much as these others who were actually living there at the time, but it's still a big hassle for them, just one more thorn to try and choke them out.
Thanks for reading. Please share this blog with anyone you think may benefit from it. As the Icelanders say, Bless!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Þingvillir
I've been waiting for a chance to use that character. It's called a thorn and sounds like th in "thing". Th as in "this" is Ð or ð and is called an eð, which is hardly fair since the name of the letter contains the letter.
Anyway, Þingvillir was the site of the oldest parliament in the world, dating back to the 900's, when everyone in the country would gather there for two weeks in the summer. We imagine there was much trading of horses, daughters, etc., as well as just a big social event in general. The place is absolutely beautiful, including a spectacular waterfall.
We visited with our brethren Marias and his wife Gyða and daughter Berglind again today. Marias helped us by contacting newspapers to get prices for an ad for the Truth for the World correspondence course, and he is also now working on translating the ad into Icelandic for us. He also gave us some valuable insight into how to word the ad and what days of the week would be best for placing the ad. Tomorrow we will meet with Erik from the TV station and also place the newspaper ad.
Sorry for not posting last night, but we got back later than usual.
We spend the afternoon with Marias and his family yesterday as well, and had dinner. Gyða is a gracious hostess and an outstanding cook. They have tea at 2 p.m., which includes WAY more than tea. Yesterday they served us the Icelandic version of crepes, about 4 kinds of bread and pastry, tuna salad and shrimp salad with crackers, dried haddock (a local fish. they say their kids would eat it like candy. dried, it's like fish jerky), and all the tea or coffee we could drink. For dinner she cooked fresh haddock and various bread and vegetables (hungry yet?). For tea today there were more crepes and other new local foods for us to sample and sample and sample and......
Please continue to pray for us in what we're trying to accomplish here. The brethren we have met are generous, sincere, and gracious, but in their Christian walk they are babies. They need a more solid biblical foundation, wise guidance, and plenty of encouragement. I will say no more about this now, but suffice it to say that some of their problems are rooted deeply in the culture. Hopefully with the BCC and other tools, we can help them grow. Please pray for our families as well. We miss you very much. We love you all.
Anyway, Þingvillir was the site of the oldest parliament in the world, dating back to the 900's, when everyone in the country would gather there for two weeks in the summer. We imagine there was much trading of horses, daughters, etc., as well as just a big social event in general. The place is absolutely beautiful, including a spectacular waterfall.
We visited with our brethren Marias and his wife Gyða and daughter Berglind again today. Marias helped us by contacting newspapers to get prices for an ad for the Truth for the World correspondence course, and he is also now working on translating the ad into Icelandic for us. He also gave us some valuable insight into how to word the ad and what days of the week would be best for placing the ad. Tomorrow we will meet with Erik from the TV station and also place the newspaper ad.
Sorry for not posting last night, but we got back later than usual.
We spend the afternoon with Marias and his family yesterday as well, and had dinner. Gyða is a gracious hostess and an outstanding cook. They have tea at 2 p.m., which includes WAY more than tea. Yesterday they served us the Icelandic version of crepes, about 4 kinds of bread and pastry, tuna salad and shrimp salad with crackers, dried haddock (a local fish. they say their kids would eat it like candy. dried, it's like fish jerky), and all the tea or coffee we could drink. For dinner she cooked fresh haddock and various bread and vegetables (hungry yet?). For tea today there were more crepes and other new local foods for us to sample and sample and sample and......
Please continue to pray for us in what we're trying to accomplish here. The brethren we have met are generous, sincere, and gracious, but in their Christian walk they are babies. They need a more solid biblical foundation, wise guidance, and plenty of encouragement. I will say no more about this now, but suffice it to say that some of their problems are rooted deeply in the culture. Hopefully with the BCC and other tools, we can help them grow. Please pray for our families as well. We miss you very much. We love you all.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Another Planet
That's what the south coast of Iceland looks like, at least the part we saw today.
The guy at the TV station is at their other studio somewhere out of town, and won't be back until Friday. Marias, the brother in Christ we met yesterday, met this man when he and some other American missionaries put In Search of the Lord's Way on that station a few years ago. He knows where the other studio is and is trying to arrange to take us there to meet him. That will be good in several ways: going ahead and getting the ball rolling on the TV program; spending time with a relatively new brother in Christ, encouraging him and learning from him about the people here; and being shown around by a local.
We took advantage of our sudden change (lack) of plans by driving southeast from Keflavik. We first went past more of the former NATO base than we had seen, and then almost immediately entered countryside which, aside from the ocean, looked like it belonged on the Moon or Mars. We didn't know the exact term, but we found "volcanic desert" to be at least descriptive as well as a tiny bit technical. Everywhere you look is either a mountain or a field of volcanic rock. The rocks seemed to get more and more jagged as we went, until the driving snow covered up the ones we could still see... We marveled both at the stark beauty of the environment and the sheer determination and toughness of human beings (and the few other living things as well) who have managed to make a life for themselves up here at the end of the world. We stopped at a little church building standing right by the ocean and took several pictures. William offered me the $10 bill in his pocket to go out and wade in the water. As tempted as I was with his offer of 1,290 kr., I declined, and made the counter-offer that if he would wade in the water, he could have that same $10 bill.
A few have asked for pictures. I will post these as soon as I am able. I'm at the guesthouse's computer now and have no internet access otherwise. If I can get online with my own computer somewhere I will post pictures. Otherwise, we'll all just have to wait for The Week in Pictures at the end. Thanks for reading and commenting. Keep us and our families in your prayers.
The guy at the TV station is at their other studio somewhere out of town, and won't be back until Friday. Marias, the brother in Christ we met yesterday, met this man when he and some other American missionaries put In Search of the Lord's Way on that station a few years ago. He knows where the other studio is and is trying to arrange to take us there to meet him. That will be good in several ways: going ahead and getting the ball rolling on the TV program; spending time with a relatively new brother in Christ, encouraging him and learning from him about the people here; and being shown around by a local.
We took advantage of our sudden change (lack) of plans by driving southeast from Keflavik. We first went past more of the former NATO base than we had seen, and then almost immediately entered countryside which, aside from the ocean, looked like it belonged on the Moon or Mars. We didn't know the exact term, but we found "volcanic desert" to be at least descriptive as well as a tiny bit technical. Everywhere you look is either a mountain or a field of volcanic rock. The rocks seemed to get more and more jagged as we went, until the driving snow covered up the ones we could still see... We marveled both at the stark beauty of the environment and the sheer determination and toughness of human beings (and the few other living things as well) who have managed to make a life for themselves up here at the end of the world. We stopped at a little church building standing right by the ocean and took several pictures. William offered me the $10 bill in his pocket to go out and wade in the water. As tempted as I was with his offer of 1,290 kr., I declined, and made the counter-offer that if he would wade in the water, he could have that same $10 bill.
A few have asked for pictures. I will post these as soon as I am able. I'm at the guesthouse's computer now and have no internet access otherwise. If I can get online with my own computer somewhere I will post pictures. Otherwise, we'll all just have to wait for The Week in Pictures at the end. Thanks for reading and commenting. Keep us and our families in your prayers.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday/Monday
Today was most fruitful. We visited with one of the directors of a religious radio station in Reykjavik. She and her husband, the other director are American, which made communication easier, though most people we have encountered here speak very good English. They are not sure if they can use TFTW's material, not for doctrinal reasons, but rather because of legal limitations on the amount of non-translated foreign-language material they can transmit. The same is true of all stations, religious or secular. We also met the members of the church with whom we have only previously had contact via e-mail. They are very friendly and hospitable, and interested in our work. They are going to help us get an appointment with an Icelandic religious TV network that also transmits into Europe, meaning they have no limitations on foreign-language material.
Yesterday we drove around quite a bit, going under a fjord through the longest tunnel I believe I've been through, almost 6 km, and so deep your ears pop well before you get to the bottom. Too bad we didn't understand the signs that said it was a toll road... Imagine our surprise when we saw the toll booth at the end. We saw some of the most beautiful mountains you can imagine, and though we didn't realize it at the time, we were quite close to the volcano through which Jules Verne's adventurers set forth in Journey to the Center of the Earth. We have had different weather each day, from rainy to snowy to crystal clear. The sun rises around 10 a.m., only rising high enough to shine directly in your eyes when traveling east. It just kind of rides the horizon around to the west to set around 5 or 5:30.
Well, I guess I'll stop for now before this Icelandic keyboard drives me crazy. They have three or four letters that we don't so the keyboard is configured slightly differently. As always, thanks for reading, and please continue to pray for us and our families.
Yesterday we drove around quite a bit, going under a fjord through the longest tunnel I believe I've been through, almost 6 km, and so deep your ears pop well before you get to the bottom. Too bad we didn't understand the signs that said it was a toll road... Imagine our surprise when we saw the toll booth at the end. We saw some of the most beautiful mountains you can imagine, and though we didn't realize it at the time, we were quite close to the volcano through which Jules Verne's adventurers set forth in Journey to the Center of the Earth. We have had different weather each day, from rainy to snowy to crystal clear. The sun rises around 10 a.m., only rising high enough to shine directly in your eyes when traveling east. It just kind of rides the horizon around to the west to set around 5 or 5:30.
Well, I guess I'll stop for now before this Icelandic keyboard drives me crazy. They have three or four letters that we don't so the keyboard is configured slightly differently. As always, thanks for reading, and please continue to pray for us and our families.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Day 1
We're here!
We landed at Keflavik International Airport about 6:40 a.m., where we were met by the proprietor of the guesthouse where we're staying. After a few hours of sleep, we were up and exploring. The people are friendly and speak great English, the food is good, and the weather is cold and windy.
We were mostly able to pick up Truth for the World's shortwave radio broadcast from wherever in Europe it is being transmitted, though one could wish for better reception. Looks like we'll be worshiping by ourselves tomorrow, as our one contact with the church in Rvk. is out of town this weekend and we have no contact information for anyone else. Our plan for Monday is to find the TV station where In Search of the Lord's Way is broadcast and see what it will take to get TFTW's TV program on there as well.
It has been a long day, and the long flight and 5-hour time change are catching up with me. Thanks for keeping up with us. Please continue to pray for us and our families.
We landed at Keflavik International Airport about 6:40 a.m., where we were met by the proprietor of the guesthouse where we're staying. After a few hours of sleep, we were up and exploring. The people are friendly and speak great English, the food is good, and the weather is cold and windy.
We were mostly able to pick up Truth for the World's shortwave radio broadcast from wherever in Europe it is being transmitted, though one could wish for better reception. Looks like we'll be worshiping by ourselves tomorrow, as our one contact with the church in Rvk. is out of town this weekend and we have no contact information for anyone else. Our plan for Monday is to find the TV station where In Search of the Lord's Way is broadcast and see what it will take to get TFTW's TV program on there as well.
It has been a long day, and the long flight and 5-hour time change are catching up with me. Thanks for keeping up with us. Please continue to pray for us and our families.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Hello!
This is a collection of firsts and near-firsts for me. My first foreign mission trip, my first attempt at a regularly updated blog, only my second time out of the US, and my first time off the continent of North America.
Brother William Howard of Truth for the World (tftw.org) and I will leave tomorrow, the Lord willing, to do mission work in Iceland for ten days. Our goals are to strengthen the members of the Lord's church already there and to spread the gospel by whatever means available, including putting TFTW's program on TV there, which will reach not only the population of Iceland, but possibly into mainland Europe as well.
Please keep us in your prayers, and I'll keep you posted here.
Brother William Howard of Truth for the World (tftw.org) and I will leave tomorrow, the Lord willing, to do mission work in Iceland for ten days. Our goals are to strengthen the members of the Lord's church already there and to spread the gospel by whatever means available, including putting TFTW's program on TV there, which will reach not only the population of Iceland, but possibly into mainland Europe as well.
Please keep us in your prayers, and I'll keep you posted here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)