My time here in Tromsø is almost over. I thank God for the opportunity to be here, to experience life in a city that is far north, cold and snowy. Looking at a world map, it is almost incredible how far away I'm from Malawi, my home country. God has been faithful while I have been studying at University of Tromsø. The challenges I met were so numerous and on my own I wouldn't have made it to the end. I think this was the most challenging place for me to live in of all the three universities I have been to under the Human Rights Masters degree course. Thanks be to God, He saw me through. It wasn't all stress and worry. I enjoyed walking through the forest and I will miss the beauty, fresh air and security of Tromsø. I will miss the friends I made at Jesus Kirka..Sofie, Norvald, Solveig, Benedicte, Pastor Samuel, Guri, Rex and Elisabeth. Maybe we will meet again. Next destination: Gøteborg, Sweden. But I must travel abit before that. Pray for me as I pray for you.
There is a song I'm liking to sing these days and it is an old German Christmas carol called 'O Tannebaum'. It speaks good of the fir tree which retains its leaves and green colour even in winter, while its counterparts are bare and bereft of colour.
As you may know fir is used as a Christmas tree. Part of the song translated into English says: O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, With faithful leaves unchanging. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, With faithful leaves unchanging, Not only green in summer's heat, But also winter's snow and sleet; O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, With faithful leaves unchanging.
I can't help reflecting on God as I listen to this song. How amazing it is that Jehovah's love and faithfulness never change. Great is the Lord's faithfulness, new mercies we see everyday. How deep, how wide...is the Lord's love for us. While people may let us down, or do terrible stuff unto us, God remains true and steadfast in his care of us. God's love and faithfulness are much greater than the loyalty of the fir tree.
It has been nice to compare the changes in the forest, I like so much to walk through almost every day! The three pictures denote the variation in foliage and colour of the 'main gate' to the woodland, from end of summer when there was green everywhere:
the leaf loss and yellowing of autumn
right to whiteness of winter.
I will surely miss the daily jaunts in the forest, looking at the small lake, the birds, planes taking off and landing at the nearby Tromsø airport, skiers, walkers and other things that catch my fancy!
I can't exactly remember when I first heard the song 'El Shaddai'..but I recall that it hit me right into my spirit.
What a song and how awesome are the lyrics.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Elyon no Adonai (God almighty, God almighty, God in the highest, oh LORD) Age to Age your still the same By the power of the Name El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na adonai (God Almighty, God Almighty, I will love you, oh LORD) We will Praise and Lift you high El Shaddai
Through Your Love and through the ram You saved the son of Abraham And by the power of your hand Turned the sea into dry land To the outcast on her knees You were the God that really sees And by your might you set your children free
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El Elyon na Adonai Age to Age your still the same By power of the name El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai We will praise and lift you high El Shaddai
Through the years you made it clear That the time of Christ was near Through the people failed to see What messiah ought to be Though your word contained the plan They just could not understand Your most awesome work was done Through the fraility of your son
Walking around Tromsø in the past two days or so, has been a very risky business. It has been snowing since last week... and raining too whenever the temperatures rise to about 6 degrees celsius. The two elements have therefore created swathes of ice especially on the road through the forest which I use to get to campus. It was particularly treacherous yesterday and I got quite scared and nearly started crawling around for safe navigation!! Then I remembered the slush that I despised so much a few weeks ago. I didn't like the muddy patches at that time because it was so squelchy and wet.
Yesterday, as my feet trembled on the slippery ice, I wished I had that loathed mud instead. This reminded me of the fact that in life when things are not so good and looking 'muddy' we often think it is only us 'suffering' and others are having it all good. We fail to notice the positive things and the greenery, only seeing the sludge and muck. But then there are always other folks in worse situations than us. Trust me.
Count your blessings, one by one. Don't wait until it's all icy and precarious to remember that you had a situation that looked 'muddy' and unappealing, yet in the slush was something more solid to cling on than hazardous frozen snow.
