Light and Darkness

The last time the sun was directly visible was last Monday. It barely peeked out from behind two mountains. Before I came I somehow thought that the dark time would be dark. If the sun doesn't rise it must be dark right? There is lots of light before and after the sun is in the sky. And that light is really wonderful. That great pink-red-orange light you get at sunrise and sunset even before it rises or sets. That is the light we get. It starts to get light about 8:40AM and is dark at about 3:30PM. It is like sunrise and sunset in one event that lasts much longer with lot of really beautiful light. The day is shorter and you won't get a tan but it is really something to behold.

Today was really good. It is Saint Lucia's day. This means that at 6:30AM each of us were awakened to angels singing and offering us fresh baked Lucia buns. Eight Scandinavian women and girls wearing white and holding candles comprised the angelic procession. A complete surprise and a nice way to wake up. One of the girls represented Lucia with a crown of candles on her head and a tray filled with buns in her hands. After singing the traditional song they quietly filed out leaving a lit candle. On the old calender system December 13th is the shortest day of the year and Saint Lucia visits to bring light to the darkness. Today was also nice because some friends sent a package with all sorts of great stuff in it. So nice to have people thinking of me out here.

Teaching has been amazing this week. It is building on top of last week's teacher which is great. Much of the previous teaching has been theoretical but this week is very practical. It has really gotten everyone thinking. It is basically how to discover how we can be effective for God and this world and mapping out a plan for after DTS. Very practical for all of us (and anyone that wants to impact this world). This weekend we pack up our rooms and leave for Christmas break and then outreach. It will be strange to be away from the base for 3 months but it will be good and I am excited about it. I will miss the Tibet team but the reunion will be amazing and the stories will flow. I am anxious to see what God has to show us in Greenland and for the 3 months of teaching after.