London

During the England study trip I was able to go into London with 3 other people from our team and work in a coffee shop for the homeless. It was such an awesome experience. I served coffee and tea. They had birthday cake for everyone who had a birthday that week and it made me cry thinking about the homeless that might not have had someone tell them happy birthday or make them a cake. One time I went to a friends house and his dad offered to make us grilled cheese sandwiches and it was kinda crazy because the cheese sandwich tasted like it had been made with love. So when I made the coffee and handed it to them I prayed that they could feel that they were loved by God and me because they are. Also, it was just really cool to see how people come together and do things like make a coffee shop once a week for the homeless. I love how God uses people. When we left the coffee shop we got to ride a double decker bus and it just so happened that our stop was the last one. So I got to ride on the top of the double decker bus in the front seat with the whole window looking out on the London night. It was amazing but unfortunately I left my phone in my room so I didn't get any pictures. God is so good though:) Because what are the odds that I would get to go to London at night and get such a grew seat. It was like a free tour. Also, we got to ride the train there and back which was just like the Hogwarts Express and we went through Kings Cross station where I dragged my group of 3 guys all the way to find platform 9 3/4 and took a picture with the cart and then I got to go to the Harry Potter store!! I bought the bertys botts beans and a chocolate frog and two pins and it was lovely. Then on the way home we stopped and got fish and chips which was really good.

On another day we got to go into London to shop and sight see. I bought a pair of converse because a.) they're 3 times more expensive in Norway than in London b.) I didn't pack any type of sneakers or shoes like that and c.) why buy a cheap souvenir when you can buy a pair of shoes and say you bought them in London? I also bought a pink scarf which I wore in the finnmark ( the north part of Norway) and I looove it. I also got a pair of sweatpants because I didn't pack those either. They're okay but I ripped a hole in them when I attempted to jump a fence and also they turn my legs black haha. Then after shopping we met up after going on the tube system (the subway system that is insanely confusing and busy) and went and ate chinese food in chinatown. It was really good. Then I went with a few people to go see Big Ben and the London Eye. It was raining a ton and it was dark but I loved it!!! The rain was fun and Big Ben was attached to a building.. I always had thought it was by itself but regardless I thought it was gorgeous. I'd love to go back someday. 

England/Harpenden

3 weeks ago my school got to go to England for a study trip. We stayed in Herpenden and attended lectures with the regular school there. The lectures were over the character and nature of God. They were really incredible. The teacher was very good at telling stories and taking the parables and explaining the little details that I've never thought about. He taught over how God has characteristics and attributes and how they are two different things. His characters are things that he does like God is creative,forgiving, gracious, faithful, and merciful. But his attributes are things that He just is. For example God is omnipresent,unchanging, creator, father, love, light, and eternal. Some of them are in both lists and the teacher did a much better job of explaining it than I can but his basic point was that as christians we should be able to in some way describe God to unbelievers and what it's like to live in His kingdom. He also taught about how when Jesus was born, it's hard to understand how He could be completely God and completely man. He described it like Jesus was born human but with the characteristics of God. So Jesus had to leave Gods attributes but took on Gods characteristics and then was able to work miracles because the holy spirit was with Him. I also started reading the book "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanuaken. It's an amazing book. But in it at one point his wife describes the trinity and here's the excerpt. 

That night, as usual a couple of friends came by. One was Julian and the other was a non-Christian friend from Corpus Christi College named Richard, and it was Richard who wanted to talk about Christianity. After considerable talk, he said: 'The thing that stumps me is the Trinity. The Trinity and, above all, the Incarnation. You all seem to believe that Jesus was at the same time, completely a man - and completely God. In the name of common sense, how could it be? You Christians always take refuge in mysteries.'

'Not at all,' I said. 'We aren't hiding behind a mystery in this, at least.'

'Well,' said Richard. 'Explain it in some way that makes sense.'

Julian began to say something about the Person of God, and I could see that Richard wasn't finding it very helpful. Then I thought of the novel that Davy and I had been talking about and murmured to Davy, 'I've got it!'

'It's still no good,' said Richard when Julian had done.'

'Look, Richard,' I said. 'This afternoon Davy and I were talking about writing a novel of Oxford with the Studio in it, and us, and everybody. Now, assuming we could do it-"

'Assuming you could do it,' said Richard, 'I'd buy a copy. Not more than five shillings though.'

'Listen,' I said. 'We're talking about the Incarnation. Okay, suppose I write it - it's too complicated with two authors - and I put myself in it. There I am, walking down the High, wearing a Jesus tie - in the book. And let's say I make up a lot of characters, not using real people for fear of hurting their feelings. But I am in it, and I, the character, say whatever I would say in the various situations that occur in m plot'

'What about the Incarnation?' said Richard.

'That's what I am telling you, stupid fellow,' I said with a grin. 'Don't you see? I am incarnate in my book. I am out here writing it, so I'm like God the Father. But it's really me in the book, too, isn't it? So that's Jesus, the Son, right? The me in the book speaks my words - and yet they are speeches that I've probably never made in real life, not being in those situations. And yet can't you see that it's really me?'

'Um,' said Richard. 'Yes, right. I see. Go on.'

'Well,' I said. 'All right. I'm out here, being "the Author of all things" and I'm in the book, taking part in scenes of "drammer" Incarnate in my book. Now, the me in the book: he's all me, isn't he? And he's all character, too, isn't he? Like the doctrine: All and All man. It makes sense, doesn't it? And one more thing: suppose the characters run away with the story - authors are always saying that happens. It might be necessary, whatever I had originally intended, for me to get killed - um, crucified...Anyhow - you see?' 

'You win,' said Richard. 'It does make sense that way. I'll have to think about it.'

His wife goes on to say that because Van is the writer that the characters have something of Van in them, which represents the Holy Spirit. I thought it was a really interesting way of thinking about it. Here are pictures of the base and flying into England and a chocolate orange I bought. xxx- matisse

Here's a picture of me with a siberian island camel on an Island. xxx love - matisse

Trip video

my phone app made it a tiny screen but here's the flight over here.

Mostly food

Hello Friends and Family!!!
or halloo from Norway!

Just a quick update of whatever comes to mind at the moment about my experiences so far in Norway.

1. I really love it here. I tried to come with no expectations so I wasn't sure what it would be like.. If I'd absolutely hate it/Love it/be somewhere in the middle. But I've been so blessed to have amazing people around me and such a great atmosphere. It's beginning to feel like a second home.

Here's some of the new food I've tried

*side note- In my experience in Norway there are 4 meals a day. Breakfast at 7am, Lunch around 11am something.. I don't remember, Dinner at 4:30pm or 16:30, and then supper at 8:30pm (I think...It could be around 8). It's so awesome and I mostly feel like I'm living in middle earth in the Shire.

Bread is eaten at every meal except for dinner.. but sometimes I eat bread at supper anyways.

Breakfast looks like : bread with brown cheese or prim or nugatti or yellow cheese and a slice of salami or crunchy bread with cream cheese.

Lunch: depending on the day. If it's sunday,monday,wednesday,thursday,saturday it's packed lunch which is basically breakfast packed into parchment paper and folded like a birthday present with your name sharpied onto it.
Other days it's warm lunch.

Dinner: warm food.. soups and meat and salad stuff

Supper: basically breakfast

P.S. sandwiches are always one piece of bread with the spreading or cheese on top mostly. It's not common to put two slices of bread together. Which I think is brilliant because two slices of bread is a bit much because the bread is so thick so now anytime I see the "normal" two slices sandwich I kind of get grossed out.

Brown Cheese- You slice it with this cheese slicer and put it on buttered bread or a long cracker thingy and also you can put jelly on it. My favorite is raspberry jelly.

This --->

is prim which is whipped brown cheese. It's heavenly and I would probably eat it everyday but apparently it's not that healthy...

This thing down below this typing is called Pølse and lumpe. I had it once at a campout trip thing and I think I can survive without ever trying it again. The hotdog was fine but the potato flat bread is not my cup of tea. Also I ate it with brown mustard and dried onion chip things. So meh, it's not my favorite thing.

This ---->

is pancake with jelly and sour cream. I've never had it with pancakes but I've eaten waffles. Which basically look and taste like American waffles just smaller and thinner. It's amazing. I love to eat brown cheese with my waffles and jelly. The brown cheese melts and you fold it and it's glorious. 

These ---> 

are fish cakes.... or fish pudding..... I ate it once... so yes. It's an acquired taste.

Also, we have a coffee/tea break in the morning with cookies/biscuits.

I mostly drink tea without anything in it and then have a cookie or two. They have normal cookies like chocolate chip or wafer cookies but I've also tried 

these are good to dip in tea because the hot water makes the chocolate melt and it's great unless it falls into your tea cup and you have a disintegrated pile of dust for your last sip. 

Norwegians are very proud of their chocolate and I have to agree that it's probably the best I've had. My favorite is either the milk chocolate or the ones with toffee in it the "daim".

These are the cookies/biscuits that substitute for graham crackers in smores. 

love you all tons!!!! I'll write more later. 

love love love,

Matisse