#andwerehoff Egersund-Stavanger-Bømlo-Bildøy

We are getting closer to home, and feel like we were very close to home this week. We called Stavanger "home" for one school year (1999-2000). After leaving the Borgens in Tonsberg, we went around the southern tip of Norway, through the city center of Kristiansand, to Mandal. Our dear friends, Ed and Anna May Kise have a summer home (first house with the red boat house to the left of the walking bridge). The boys found a place to change into swimming suits to jump in the invigorating water. Christian swam back across the channel instead of walking the bridge.

After a drive that gives highway 1 south of Carmel, CA a run for "most beautiful drive" we arrived outside of Egersund at our old friend's Aslaug and Tor Bjorn Hestnes. Aslaug worked at Misjonshogskolen when we attended, and Tor Bjorn has served as the priest at the Stoka Church in Stavanger for over twenty years. Their youngest son, Jorgen, is a month younger than our oldest son, Christian. 16 years ago, they had us for their family Christmas Eve celebration (hospitable!), and now they hosted us again (we owe them double!). We had the most beautiful walks on the wild edge of the sea, the most delicious meals, and lots of laughter and catching up.

Tor Bjorn reminded us of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, and we watched it with them 16 years ago. He is funny, smart, and has a disarming down-to-earth spirituality.

Wind-swept landscape and wind-swept sheep. Baa.

Their property is surrounded by bunkers and remains of Nazi occupation. 

These are called "Hitler Teeth," and are just north of Egersund, before you get to Stavanger. They were put their by Norwegians trying to stop ground attack from Nazi tanks. I love how the green renewing earth is eating up those old teeth.

We made it to Stavanger, the Christian's birthplace. He was born at this hospital, where we found the room he was born in, and were able to send a note to the "Godsend" American midwife, Janet, who helped save his life at birth. She still works there, and we were emotional thinking about how grateful we are for Christian. 

Christian was baptized here at the Hetland Church on top of the hill above Stavanger city center. It used to serve the municipality that surrounded Stavanger. Because they couldn't favor one end of the old municipality, they had to put it nearly equidistant from both sides which was right in the middle of Stavanger, an 5 minute walk from the Cathedral, Petri Church, and Johannes Church. The building became redundant in the 1960's, but the Stavanger International Church met there when we attended in 1999-2000. Here is more information about the old municipality (Kommune). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetland

It was near (or in?) the Hetland Church, Lars Olsen Skrefsrud, had a defining experience which gave way to the founding of the Santal Mission, which is now merged with the Norwegian Inner Mission and is called Normission. Skrefsrud had a clear call to mission work, but was rejected by Misjonshogskolen for study, most likely because of his criminal background. Do yourself a favor and read Chuck Lindquist's article about Skrefsrud from the World Mission Prayer Leauge's website: https://wmpl.org/skrefsrud/

We worshipped at IMI Church in Stavanger like we did many of the Sunday nights we lived here. IMI is short for Innner Mission, and was a growing prayer house that turned into a congregation in the Church of Norway the year we lived here. We were at IMI the first night they shared the Lord's Supper. They have grown and moved locations, but it was great to be back in worship with them.

Their chapel contains the beautiful tapestry that used to be in the front of the old meeting place. 

While in Stavanger, we stayed in the guest rooms, and ate our meals with the Steenslands. Torunn and Gustav spend much of their free time in America, and have stayed with my parents in Salinas. Gustav was the one who arranged the exchange between Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN and Misjonshogskolen in Stavanger that allowed Joy and me to spend that year in Norway. This was the rainbow outside of their flat which overlooks the fjord coming down from Stavanger.

Here is Gustav in the Aula at the Mission School where he serves as the archivist in the well organized and fascinating museum and repository of the Norwegian Mission Society and their School, and now of the other schools that have merged with the Mission School to create VID: http://www.vid.no/en/

This is where Christian, Joy and I lived while studying here.

We walked the wet walk through Old Stavanger, and saw a familiar sight from San Pedro.

Annika found a strong and silent type at her favorite store, H & M.

Outside the Dom (St Swithun's Cathedral) square which is right at the harbor in the city. It is an ancient church (1125), and until the reformation, contained the important relic, St Swithun's arm.

I enjoyed singing in the Dom Choir when I was a student in 1999-2000. They sing Christmas portion of the Messiah and then Bach's Christmas Oratorio every other year. It was Bach the year I was there. Now I listen to that beautiful work during Advent while I am in my study at Trinity.

Bishop of Stavanger's cathedra

The basses stood by the old soapstone font.

The stone crosses at Tjora remain from when the earliest Christians worshipped in this area. This cross used the be the inspiration for the symbol of the Mission School. http://www.regionstavanger.com/en/Attractions/Memorials/?TLp=40115&The-stone-crosses-at-Tjora=

After lots of rain, and wondering if we were going to make it up the long hike to Pulpit Rock or Preikestolen, we set out on our hike on August 10, our 20th Wedding Anniversary! What a majestic way to celebrate a majestic milestone.

Nice place for a chocolate break.

I hiked this twice when we lived here. One blustery day with the Nelsons and one beautiful day with the Hoffs. There were only a few people the day I went with the Nelsons and more on the sunny day with the Hoffs. On this sunny day last week, there were oodles of people. I'm guessing thousands. It was still a blast!

20 Years!

Mom freaked out a few times (allowed).

That night we made it to the Selle family on Bømlo island between Stavanger and Bergen. They spent five years at the Seaman's Church in San Pedro, and became great friends during those years. What a beautiful home and island!

Christian and Magnus were best buddies at Christ Lutheran, and picked up right where they left off.

Peter and Endre were buddies during those days, too.

We went out for day in and around Bømlo for a day of boating, fishing, eating, and general fun.

Jacob has his own boat, as do many young people in Norway. Magnus has his own scooter. Bømlo is an awesome place to be a guy (Probably a gal, too)!

Sammy's first kiss. Mackerel.

Christian caught pollock.

Knut's brother works at Bømlo Hoyskole, and owns this 1946 boat that used to be a postal boat. It had plenty of room for all of us.

He knows the ins and outs of these waters.

Bodil and Joy prepared the fish and vegetables to cook in the fire.

Delicious!

The safe harbor where we rested and ate.

Norway has a unique tradition of Bedehus (prayer house) which were small and simple gathering places for various evangelical ministries. There used to be twice as many Bedehus as parish churches. People could walk to them (accessible), and have a significant role in them (lay ministry), and they could hear about what God was doing around the world, and join God in His mission. Bodil and Knut are a part of the Gilje Bedehus, and I asked if I could visit. Bodil showed me two Bedehus.

We also visited the ancient church in Moster on Bømlo. It was here that St Olav officially "christianized" Norway. Here is more information on this important site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Moster_Church

This was probably the most interesting tour we have taken. The tour guide was informative, funny, engaging, and would break out singing in Gregorian chant, then an ancient Norse folk tune. 

Eyvind Skeie, a well know hymn writer and Christian leader in Norway happened to be speaking here before our tour began. That was a special extra. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyvind_Skeie

Waiting for the ferry.

We made it to Bildøy, an island just outside of Bergen (Norway's second city) tonight. I will report more from this breathtaking city later. If you are interested in learning more about this Bible School, their website has a section in English: http://www.bildoybibelskole.no/