I'm fine and doing great by the Grace of God.I have been silent for these many days coz I have been going through big grief as I lost someone very Important in my family just after two days of my arrival, my Granny... So I was almost like lost to myself and lots of shocks and unfamiliar impressions occupied my mind in such a way that I still feel lost and strange in my own homeland. The homecoming was great though and meeting family and friends after such a long time was very rewarding... Still I kinda feel very strange and unusual.

In the meantime I had been to my hometown and met my parents and church fellows there.. and just after two days of my arrival I lost my ......So it was a mixture of feelings and emotions, the homecoming..Talking about my work and information project, I have not done much. Although I have been in touch with the staff of NBCBS( Laget, Nepal), I have not yet been recruited for the staff yet. Lot's of discussions and talks have been going on whether I should be considered to be the next staff or not.Since I'm not familiar with many of the members of the executive committee, so they are in a way questioning about my capabilities and so on.. So, I have not been doing anything than more than waiting and watching patiently. Although there is a need but there are so many things to be considered.

NepalChurch.Com - अनुभूति (The Feelings)

NepalChurch.Com - अनुभूति (The Feelings)

Tuesday, 21st October, 2008

After the regular attendance at the office, we joined the speaking session of the Language classes at KIA. It was fun to talk about different aspects of Norwegian life in this class under the strict condition of using norsk words and phrases for the conversation. Tuesdays, the norsk classes are meant to be a speaking practice day. Immeadiately after, we were invited to join the regular Laget meeting with the guys from Agder University. We were informed that this meetings were held every fortnight. This was an evening of Praise and Worship and some speech. Well, the main speaker of the day was Mike,an American guy who had also been to Nepal some time ago. He was a awesome speaker not only in the sense that he was very good with his presentation and language but there was also a great depth in the message he delievered. I saw a big spark in his speech. He also took some time to share his feeling and realities about his trip to Nepal , particularly his observation about the negative influence of the western eduction system was very realistic and I could easily relate to it because I have been involved with the education system in Nepal as an English teacher for myself. On one hand it is good that you have been educated in the western education system as you possess the knowledge by the means of which you are exposed to Global issues and in a state of communicating in the most commonly communicated medium of language in the world. But on the other hand English education has turned out to be a necessary evil without which it has been a real chalenge to find a good job for an average nepali guy. I am myself an evidence to this case. Besides, the western education system has robbed new generation from thier actual ways of following thier cultute and tradition and injected this fancy rock, pop and hip-hop culture that looks very alien to the neplese culture. After the touching speech of Mike,it was me who was supposed to speak. Although it was not easy to speak after such a marvelous speaker like Mike, I had to make my best efforts to draw the attention of the audience who were the students and members of the student Laget at the University. It was equally challenging to maintain time for my speech as I had to consider to be short enough so as to provide enough time for the next speech to be delievered by Bishnu.

Despite of the considerations I had to go through, I managed to be good enough sharing my testimony to this realy interested audience. After the speeches of three speakers in the same meeting, it was like more than boring to the participants, it was quite inevitable to have some games after the speeches. Purposedly , these games were included in the program for a cause. This was something that was a new experience for me and Bishnu as the representives of NBCBS from Nepal cause we never had this kind of activities. We were playing some games in the middle of the meeting and even more shocking thing was that we had to pay some nominal charges to be a part of the game. Undoubtedly, the games were very exciting and unique and the attraction of the day was the lottery that was to be reaveled at the end of the day. We did'nt understand why these people were extracting so much money from the participants who were more than happy to offer as much more money as possible. Then all of a sudden we had a speech from the manager of this event about the purpose of having this kind of meeting. Actually it was a kind of fund raising meeting to collect fund to support a missionary worker in the muslim world. Then we felt very inspired to have been a part of such an event. And all the questions and curiosities about the program was quite to me. It was really commendable to do such a thing for a good cause.

Monday, 20th October, 2008

A Day of many Activities.

Started the day with regular Bible study and Prayer at the office and continued on planning about the week program.Then followed the norsk classes.Its getting exciting because we are learning new words and expressions every week.Besides, this time has been an oppertunity to meet new people coming from many other nations wishing to learn norsk. We get to have new faces almost every week. The feeling of knowing more norwegian than the new comers make me feel better and encourages to learn more and more.......

ACTIVITIES UPDATE!!!!!!!!

19th October, 2008(Sunday)
singing with the KIA CHOIR
It was Sunday,day of Shabath for all the christians in Norway. But I did not go to the state church at Lund like usual. We had a speacial appointment with KIA choir team. This was the day when we were supposed to perform at one of the churches in Kristiansand with all the songs that we had been practising on monday evenings! It was a pleasure to sing along with the team. Not only that, I also played drums(bongo) in some of the songs which was really a lovely experience. There was a good variety in the songs we performed. Our songs included some english songs,

an African song( in swahili), and Norwegian songs. It was like dreams come true for me to sing the praises of God in such a variety of languages. I strongly remembered the verses from Psalms that says, 'All ye people of the world sing praises to the Lord!"

Immediately after the church service, we walked back to Deth's apratment as he invited us to have dinner with him. He made great efforts to prepare some Loa food coz he knew the we nepali guys liked spicy food so much. Needless to mention that almost all
the Asian foods are spicy. We were four guys, Bishnu, me, Deth and a Bolivian friend named Torribio. We devoured the food as we were both hungry and the food was so good to resist any longer. After that we agreed to watch some movies in the home theater which was quite amazing. we watched nearly 3 movies at which one of the norwegian roommate of Deth was quite surprised.
17th October, 2008(Friday)
FEAST AT KIA

This was a night of mixing up ,eating, chatting and socialization. Kia had invited many international students who had been associated with KIA in one way or the other. It was a night of good meal which was chicken curry and rice, one of my favourites costing only 30 Kroners per person. Although the food was worth much more but it was charged less so as to include many people from different cultures and having them interact with each other was the main purpose of the occasion. Atleast, I exploited this oppertunity by talking to many people varying from Americans to Arabs, Asians to Latin Americans etc. we had a great evening.

After the food and socializing it was the time for some fellowship with God. Yes, we had decided to attend a Youth Service at one of largest Free chuch of Kristiansand, Filadelphia. In fact, I was longing for a fellowship which had to be pentecostal and free to worship in the way we worship. And this was the right place for me. Everthing was as good as we had expected. The Youths were humble and very down to earth in the ways of worship and fellowship. I truely had a Blessingful night there.!!!

16 th October, 2008(Thursday)

A meeting with Songdalen Ungdomsskole Group.

Here we met a bunch of Middle school students who were engaged with the Laget activities in thier school. It was again the lunch break that was utilized to meet as a group and carry on with the Laget work at school. This teenagers were quite shy to have us in their group. As usual I and Bishnu were there to speak about ourselves and christianity in our country. It was interesting to be with them as I felt like I was with my own High school students back home. Our Boss Bendict was good enough to facilitate and introduce us to the group.

15 th October,2008 (Wednesday)
Cheers!!!!! It's Nepali Food Day!!!!!! Yes we came up with the idea of having Nepali food with the staff at Laget and thus started our adventure of serving nepali cuisine to the norwegians. Bishnu and me, were more than excited to get a chance of showing our skills of preparing spicy chicken curry and rice. The aroma of spices had filled the office in such a way that anyone who entered the office could smell it and ask what's cooking??? Thank God the food is not too hot!!!!!!!

October 14th, (Tuesday)
A visit to the Katta University Laget student Group
I, along with Bishnu were invited to speak to the Student Group at Katta. Helena, the staff from Laget office escorted us till the place where we were given almost 10 mins each to share our testimonies to some 30-40 students from senior high school who were meeting once in a month in such gatherings for Laget activities during their lunch break. I was quite impressed to find these young people using even their lunch break to promote Laget and spread the beautiful message to the unreached.

Then in the evening we were at Kristian's place to participate the fortinightly bible study with the group that we first met in kristian. Yes this is a senior University Laget Group which is quite devoted about exploring bible for the hidden truth of salvation and joy. Now that its been the second week its feeling very familiar to me. So, I could easily find myself mingling with the group without any hesitation and starting to share about my views about the alloted biblical text. We have been well accepted in the group. I have nothing but deep respect and best wishes to this group.

OCTOBER 13TH (MONDAY)
The first working day of the week, the day for planning about what we are going to do during the whole week at Laget. Also a day alloted for bible studyand group prayer as agreed by all the staff at the office. Indeed, we are having a great time with the bible study part as we are focusing on the chapter of Acts from the new testament and applying Inductive Bible study method which is quite exciting!! Besides that we sit together in prayer with many topics in lists to pray for. I am loving my work at Laget.

Then we have Norwegian Language classes starting at 3:30 till 7:00 in the evening. Then follows the KIA Choir. Yes, I am very proud to be associated with KIA, an intercultural organization that ephasizes on intercultural understanding through different programs, The choir team being one of them. This KIA has been so inclusive that people from many countries have joined and love to hang around in the language classes and choir practice together. Infact, this is the place where I feel very cozy coz I can see many other people different nations coming to Norway like us and trying to get along in the new place and culture.

Getting along with people

This is the family that has been real kind and generous to us. Yes, Pastor Hans Jorund and his wife Ellen Magrethe from Lund church have left no stones upturned to make sure that we feel welcome and homely at Lund church.Unlike some other members who don't even tend to notice that there are some new faces in the church, this family has been very hospitable to us opening their doors and having us in their Koslig house to have some meals with them. This family is the true example of model christians and family for sure! Thank God that atleast there are some people in Norway who take great interest in turning back to people(strangers) and sparing their time in exploring the possibility of having some kind of exchange!!! GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY!!!!!!!!

$###~GETTING ALONG IN KRISTIANSAND!!!!!!!!

A shot at one of the two bridges that connects kristiansand to Lund. The glimpse of Lund in the backdrop.

Posing for a shot nearby the apartment I live in.

Our first meeting with the Local Laget students from the Kristiansand University. These guys are awesome! Very committed towards their work and group. The first impression of a bible study with norwegian students was a wonderful experience. Looking forward to have more quality time with them!!!!

Walking around the Kristiansand University, one of the largest in kristiansand with Helena, the staff of Laget.

Observing the artworks created by some of the students of fine arts faculty.
The frontal view of the Universtiy.

Bye Mandal,,,, Hai Kristiansand!!!!!!!

It's been long that I have not blogged for some time. But now I am fully loaded to expose my expressions and the thoughts are about to explode. If I don't express myself than the burden of so many impressions would drive me crazy. My first day of arrival at kristiansand was pretty impressive. The traffic and crowd near the bus station due the vehicles and people boarding down the big ship at the port nearby reminded me of the traffic and crowded kathmandu(capital of Nepal) and the memories ok homeland creeped into the mind. I was quite delighted to see the similarity and felt like I was back home. Benedict, our contact person here at Kristiansand was readily available at the bus station to recieve us without any inconvenience. In no time we were at Benedict's house to have dinner as a welcome treat which was appreciable.Immeadiately after, we visited a youth choir nearby Benedict's father's place which was our first attendance in youth activities at Kristiansand.Soon we collected some basic stuffs and food needed to start our lives at the new place.Then, we were at our apartments unloading our luggage from Benedict's car and finding our own place to live. Thus follows our life at Kristiansand, our stuggle to come along with the new impressions,to get along with people and places......!

Hey Guys Shyam cooking in the kitchen!!!! can you believe????

Yep! after all ,you get to live on your own and who would miss a chance to cook your own indegenous food and taste some Nepali dishes.

A trek to a nearby mountain in Kristiansand with our first Student friends from the Kristiansand University.

A big opening on the rock atop the mountain that looked like a well. The interesting thing about this well was that it was believed to be a big vessal for cooking used by the so called mythical giants who were supposed to exist in the past according to the folk tales in kristiansand.