Christmas break in Østfold

Well, I am now in the middle of enjoying the relaxing christmas break. I eat incredibally good food, and don't have to do anything. Just relax. It is a blessing from God I tell you. I was in Oslo last night with some friends of my friend and that was quite nice as well. The friend is a journalist for TV Norge (TV Norway). On Thursday he arrived back from doing a story in Malawi. He is a Christian who wants to help give more accurate news. Norway is famous for having extremely bias and self-centered news. It is good to know Christians who are trying to make a difference. We need to be thinking in that way and not just sitting and pointing fingers. We need to do something.

On a more personal note, I am doing well and will be soon on my way to the States for three weeks. Two of which will be work, and the last one week for Travis' wedding!! Travis Cibolski is a friend of mine for those of you who don't know him... That will be a very nice time. Anyway, I am going to get back to relaxing here. Hope you are all doing the same! Merry Christmas!!
-Jordan

Christmas time again!!

That's correct! It's Christmas time again!! I love this time of year! Especially in Norway, because it is often white. But anyway, last night the base had a Christmas party that went quite well, and was a good time for people to fellowship with each other in a more relaxed setting. Plus great food! =) Aside from that, I will be starting my Christmas break here on Sunday and will be with a friend of mine for the holi-days. He was a staff on my DTS, but is now a missionary in Ethiopia. He is doing an incredible job with a certain people group down there, and on top of that he is alone! He had a team of 5 with him last year, but not he is the only one... a real man of God. I am really looking forward to relaxing with him, and spending time away from the base for a while.. you just have to get away every now and then.... So yeah, you can keep me in your prayers and be blessed! merry Christmas!
-Jordan

The Tour!

Well, early tomorrow morning I will be heading to Bergen on the west coast. There we will perform a few different shows that have an evangelistic approach. We have dances and special songs and preaching. Our goal is to present the gospel in a way that is received by the youth of today. I am in charge of the sound and I very likely will also perform the song, Salvation is Here by Hillsong United... That will be a bit of a stretch for me... Please pray for me to be able to relax and do it for God. I want to have the right focus while I am singing and mixing. This tour is to reach lost souls, and I want to remember that constantly. God is the focus. Please also pray that it is successful. Pray that we reach people. Last year it was really successful, and we hope for it to be even better this year. We will be in the Bergen area for one week performing at various locations. This is only one of six weeks that we will be sending this tour around northern Europe. We will also be in Finland and Sweden on top of all our performances in Norway. Lots of opportunities to preach the gospel. Please be a part in whatever way you can, whether it be in prayer or finances. I will appreciate it and so will the rest of the team. Join me in my ministry here in Norway!

Fall Break!

We are now finishing out or last days of our fall break. I have been staying with my student, Eirik, for the weekend with his family. It has been an incredibally nice time. They have been very welcoming and relaxing to be around. Eirik and I will head back to Skien tomorrow afternoon so we can get ready for the team week that we have this week. I will be staying in Skien with the team there. Right now, at this very moment, I am sitting upstairs on the couch with my laptop and just existing... it is nice.. if I were at the base now, i would not be relaxing... It is a blessing to be able to go to people's homes and to just get away. I think I should take advantage of it more often. I really don't get away enough, and I really should. It is amazing just how much more relaxing it is to be in an actual home. Anyway, I am doing quite well. I am loving life, and God is faithful... Even if I tend to forget that sometimes... Until next time!
-Jordan K. Ernst

First snow of winter!

yes, it is snowing today... I have a feeling it will be a cold winter....

The first team week!!

Well, the teams are made and the destinations are set. There will be one team going to a place called Nærbø in the west of Norway, and another team that will be going only an hour away to a place called Bø. And then, of course, the team that stays here in Skien. I, however, will not be joining the DTS this week. I am just working with my other duty of being handyman for the entire week. It is a good thing, because I have so many things to do, and such little time to do it in otherwise. This is a good opportunity to catch up a bit. I have already had a successful first day of putting up nice and new shelving in the walk-in cooler. A day well spent is a day to be proud of. It is also nice because I don't have to wake up quite so early.... =)

Aside from that, I am doing much better. God has blessed quite a bit over these last days. He truly has not forgotten me here in Norway... =) Until next time, be blessed!
-Jordan

Another week already!

This previous week's teaching was on creative ministry. During this week, the students learned ways of doing dramas and dances and other techniques that they can use. It went surprisingly well. I didn't expect the students to like it as much as they did, but they seemed to get into it. That was cool. Now, the present teaching is on Team life and also Relationships. The first three days are on Team Life and the last two are on Relationships. Both are very interesting topics. It should prove to be a good week for everyone I think.

As far as I am personally, I am doing.... I have had some stressful days this week, and that makes things hard. I have also had some internal things that have been occupying my time that aren't so fun. I know God is good, and I know He is in control, but sometimes things just seem to be so down.... Next week is the first team week where the students split up into 3 teams, two of them being out for a week, and the other being in Skien. They will work with schools and churches and other various things for one week in a hands on setting. The team weeks are awesome. They add so much to a DTS. They really do. I will not be joining this week, however, because we have more than enough staff for that, so I will be focusing on my other duties. I am the handyman here on the base, and I have plenty of things to work on...

Anyway, I hope all is going well with you guys! Until next time!
-Jordan K. Ernst

Two weeks down; 34 to go... =)

Well, we have now finished the first two weeks of DTS! Without disappointment, everyone has gotten through the beginning and are ready to tackle the next step. This week in front of us is a week of creative teaching. Creative teaching isn't just drama and dance and things like that, but it is actually just more ways of presenting the gospel. It is just a way of making you think outside the box. How can I communicate what I want to say in a better way? That is basically what it is. This week tends not to be the favortie among most, but it is a good week just the same.

On a more personal note, I am doing well. I have my up and down moments, but I guess they come with the territory. On days that I am really down I tend to feel that it is more of an attack of the enemy, rather then just being down for no apparent reason. I have to remind myself that Satan doesn't like what I do here, so it is in fact a good sign when I am under attack! =) So yeah, please keep praying for me, and I will keep you updated as best I can! Until next time!
-Jordan K. Ernst

The DTS is now officially started!

The students have come. We have welcomed them in to the base. We leave in the morning for an overnight cabin trip. We get to know each other a bit better. DTS life is good. I am really really excited about these guys. They really seem awesome. I really mean it. They are all cool people. Really onfire group. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it is official now. Talk to you later!
-Ernst, Jordan Kenneth

Søndag-Sunday

It is Sunday afternoon, and I haven´t really done anything all day.... I am going to church in an hour.... That will be the most excitement I will probably have all day.. We have a student coming today, so that will be cool..... sorry, I am trying to think of things that I can talk about that are interesting to write about often, but I seem to be a very boring person... or I just suck at remembering the things that are interesting to you guys reading this... I am going to be mentoring 3 guys this year, so tomorrow I need to turn in my choices for the guys I want. I am praying that God gives me some guys that I can really work with. I think I know who I want, but I will have to wait and see who I get... I trust that God will give me the guys he wants me to have.... =) Always fun with new challenges! =/ =) So, anyway.... I will get the pictures updated as soon as I finish making the student welcome folder and when I have some time this week... I know I keep promising them, but I will get them up very soon! Thanks for holding in there! Until then! Peace out!
-Ernst, Jordan Kenneth

Lørdag-Saturday

Well, it is another Saturday afternoon, and I am just relaxing a bit to gain some more energy for the coming week. The students are now starting to trickle in one by one... so far it is only one, but there is another one coming tomorrow. By Thursday they will all be here. We are still waiting on the student from India... we don´t know if he even has a plane ticket yet, but we will see I guess... With him it will be 27 students.. if he doesn´t show up, then it is obviously 26... =) still a good number! We are practically ready for the arrival of this DTS. Things are coming together very well practically, and the staff are doing very well emotionally and mentally. I am also very ready for this DTS. It'll be a good one.

It is nice to hear from you all every now and then! Please feel free to e-mail me! jordan.ernst@gmail.com

If you write me, I will write you back... As soon as I can.... I am usually really good at e-mailing...

Also, keep checking the other places on this blog. The pictures, I'm sorry, will be up soon... I haven't had too much time to do that yet... Also, the Prayer Request page is also updated every now and again... I will really try to use it more this year, so please check that one as well. That is a very important part of this page. thanks for reading! Talk to you later!
-Ernst, Jordan Kenneth

Well, I am back from Italia!!

Italy was very very cool. Such an awesome country! I got to see Bergamo and Milano while I was there. I lived in Bergamo, but I took a day trip to Milano, which was very worth it. Milano is an incredible city. I only got to see ONE city block! It was amazing... so much to see, and only one day to see it... At any rate, it was worth it.

Now that I am back in Skien, I will be starting on preparing for the students to come in just over a week.... The school will start on the 21st of this month, so the students should start coming just some days prior to that date. I have received my two positions aside from being DTS staff now. I will continue to be the base handyman and will also now be the guy in charge of worship here on the base. I will pick out the worship teams and make sure all the songs are in a good system and so on.... I´m the boss... =) kind of... It could be a bit of work at first, but I will hopefully make a good system that will work for itself after some time... it should be a good job. I am thankful for it. Oh, and by the way, we now have 27 students coming! That ties the record for YWAM Skien! That is a good number. I am really glad we have so many. They all have really positive applications and I am looking forward to working with them.

Soon I will have new pictures up from Italy and from around the base here, but until then keep checking back and God bless!
-Jordan Ernst

Days of preparation

Well, these past several days have been spent fixing up the base. We have done sooo much now already! It is incredible! I can´t even write down everything we have fixed because it is so much... I now have my own room! Instead of moving out into an apt., I have transformed the old kitchen in to a bedroom! It is awesome! I will try to get a picture up here soon so you can see it. It is a blessing.

I will soon be taking off for Italy! I leave on the 5th and come back on the 8th. I am really looking forward to spending so quality time with my fellow staff. They are a great bunch of people that I am blessed to be working and living with.

As far as I am doing personally, I am in high spirits these days. I am really anticipating this DTS (Discipleship Training School). I know God will do great things. I feel so much more prepared this time. I have learned so much over the past year here, and I know it will pay off. I´ll write again soon when something interesting happens! =)
-Jordan

YWAM Norway Worker's Gathering

Now, for the past days, I have been at a YWAM Norway staff conference at the main base north of Oslo. I will be here until Tuesday and then head back to Skien to begin preparing for the upcoming school. The nice thing about these staff conferences is I get to see friends from all around YWAM Norway... other than that the meetings get kind of boring... =) I was just not built or designed for long meetings... I get too restless. =)

The first days that I have spent in Norway were filled with work on the base cars and getting my visa renewed and so on... The not so fun thing about arriving back to Norway like this is all the things I have to pay for right off the bat... I feel like a bank... Other than all that, I have been greeting people as they arrive back to the base, and reaquainting myself with them. We are all looking forward to the coming year. We have at least 25 students coming, and they look like they will be a great group of people.

The meeting we had last night was powerful. Our speaker, Leif Braathen, had a really good message, and afterwards he had an altercall for those who were feeling like their fire was dwindling. I was one of many that went up, and I had an awesome time with God... I feel I have a renewed flame in my heart now, and I was also convincted of many things that I was able to straighten out. But anyway, I should get going now... I have kitchen duty soon.... =(... not so fun... haha... ok... talk to you all later!

Arrived safe and sound...

Well, after a long time on a plane, I have arrived. I am here, and it feels good. I just found out when i got here, that all the staff here are going to be going on a little staff trip to a vacation-like spot in Europe on the 6th of September... It will cost around $100 pr. person, but I think it is going to be worth it for all the staff. We will only be gone for a couple days, but I think they will be fruitful. I will write more later when I know more of what is going on... Love you all!
-Jordan K. Ernst

Sorry, it's been a little while for these...

Well, I am still alive and well... I am in my last week of my time here in the States. It has been good and replenishing for me. I am really ready and looking forward to getting back to Skien, Norway. It is going to be an awesome year!

Also, go check out my vacation pics! They are from my week on a house boat in Lake Shasta, California with my family and three other families. It is always an awesome time!

Talk to you all again really soon!
-Jordan

Time is really passing....

It still doesn't feel like a month since I have been in the United States of America, but it has been none the less. It hasn't been the most successful as far as making money is concerned, but I have made a little and it has been nice to be with people here. I am hoping to get some sort of work this week, but I am going to have to trust that God will help me find one... I have been trying with no luck... I think should have at least enough money to buy a plane ticket really soon, but I still have to talk to the travel agent... I think I will get that all covered this week. I'm praying I get it all taken care of soon. So yeah, that is a quick update about me... not really a whole lot new here... I will write more when there is something to tell... Until then!
-Jordan

Recent happenings...

well, lately I have been with my family, but have also been able to do a little work with a friend of mine. Today, I have been working with that friend loading up some gear for a festival this weekend. I will be helping him do sound for a festival in Salem this weekend called The World Beat Festival. We are bringing a big setup for the weekend. It isn't necessary to bring as much as we are, but it is more fun with a nice setup... haha... I will be able to make a few bucks this weekend, which will hopefully get me up to enough money to buy a plane ticket back to Norway.. I need to buy that as soon as possible. I am also waiting to hear on a possible job with a concrete company... if I were to get that job, i would be set. But it all depends on whether or not I get it. If I don't get that one, then I might work at Fred Meyer Jewelers again. I would rather work at the concrete place, but I would be thankful for the jewelry job. your prayers for the job that God wants me to have would be much appreciated. Thanks again for all your prayer and support.
-Jordan

Back in Salem

I cannot possibly describe to you how incredible it was to drive home yesterday. Literally on the border of Oregon and Washington there was also the border of an incredible storm in Oregon. It was seriously a line drawn from nice beautiful weather to absolutely not nice weather. It was almost like a storm you get in the mid-west... brown cloud-covered sky with rain lightning and two really cool rainbows... on top of all that we also had driven by Mt. St. Helens which was definitely showing that it was still active. There was a huge cloud of steam and smoke coming out of it. I mean huge. Yeah, it was a fun trip home. Now, it is a beautiful day with sun and warmth... Thank God for that.

I'm in Canada....

Well, I am now on a short trip with my family in Victoria, BC, Canada. Victoria is a really cool city. It is very European in many ways. That is one reason I like it... We are staying the Hotel Grand Pacific. It is a really nice hotel, but everything costs money... Which doesn't make so much sense... You pay more for the room in a nice hotel, but for what? So you can pay even more for everything you do there? I don't understand it, but I guess I just have to accept that they just want to make money in whatever way possible.... Oh well, it is still nice to be here. We go back to Salem, Oregon on Sunday.. tomorrow...

I am hoping to find a job as soon as I get home.... I have some possibilities, but I am hoping for the best one. That can be prayed for if you wouldn't mind.... Well, anyway, I am going to get going now.
-Jordan K. Ernst