Clothes Rope

So from the emails and comments I've gotten I'm gonna take a minute or two and explain it. A lot of people have asked if I as a dean am asked to participate, and what the full-time staff think of it.  I'll start by saying that it is rare for students to wind up completely naked.  Only occasionally will one boy be brave, duck behind a tree and relinquish his skivvies to win the game.  As a dean I'm allowed to play this game if I want to.  Though I don't think whats left of my shattered cultural views will allow me to become that brave soul behind a tree, I think playing their games will only increase my reputation and hopefully come across as wanting to be on their level, which is part of my job.

Hope that clears a few things up :)

1 Week Down... Many to Go!

Well, As I was typing just a few minutes ago, the web filtering went online and I lost everything, so here we go again....

I don't want the title to sound like I'm not looking forward to the next ten months. I'm very excited for the year ahead of me.  This first week has been mostly orientation. We have been in meetings learning about how the school runs, what to expect, how to react, etc.  The teachers here are really fun, they seem to have a real sense of what students at the school need.  Let me explain to you a little about what I've been told the last few days.  

I'll start with how different an Adventist school is in Denmark compared to the US. Completely different.  Keep in mind this is a school with boarders from 8th-13th grade, yes 13th.  Students are allowed to visit each other during certain visiting hours.  Guys and girls are allowed to go into each others rooms and shut the door behind them.  As long as its not locked, they are playing by the rules.  There is a game here which translated into English is "Clothes Rope."  I'll let you just imagine how this game is played……………ok now I'll explain it. Students are in two teams and the team that can make the longest rope out of their clothes wins.  Average for an Adventist campus right?  Occasionally if the competition is at a high, students will take it all off to win, and this is completely acceptable. As are more tame activities such as skinny dipping in the fjord.  Scandinavia just slapped my culture in the face.

However, none of these things trouble me.  I can't come here as a missionary and impose my culture's idea of modesty on them, I'm here to witness and show the students that God is not some lame, ancient excuse for not having fun.  I believe my mission here is to the younger boarders, also called Efterskole.  The majority of the 8th grade students here at Vejlefjord are from extremely broken homes.  In fact, it is  very rare to have 8th grade boarders in Denmark.  It has been described to us as their last chance.  They have been given numerous opportunities in other schools, and have failed.  Vejlefjordskolen is their last hope.  If they can't make it here, they won't make it. 

So the next 10 months will certainly have it challenges, but I'm ready.

Here we go…

I Would Just Like to Say...

When it rains in Denmark, it really RAINS in Denmark.

The End

First Three Days

Well I don't have too much time this morning, so this will be short.  So far I have been in Denmark for three days.  And what I can say is, I love it!  Everyone is so friendly and hospitable.  On Sabbath we went to a pathfinder camp out so that we could meet some of the students and teachers.  This week is orientation.  We have a bunch of meetings and practical stuff to get out of the way.  And some of the older students are coming to help clean up the school before everyone arrives on Sunday.

A quick explanation of school systems in Denmark.  K-8 is the same, but for high school there is G1, G2, and G3.  G1 is like 9th grade, G2 is like tenth grade and G3 is like 11th grade.  11th Grade is their last year of high school.  G2 is optional, if they want to quit school after G1 and peruse a trade they can, if they aren't sure what they want to do there is G2-A and G2-G (i think) the G section is for those who aren't sure what they want to do, so basically just like taking generals in college.

Happy Monday!

Come Fly With Me...

It's hard to believe how fast the last couple of weeks have passed. Especially since I did very little that was beneficial or productive.  But I'm glad I had the time off to see friends and family before heading to the land of Denmark for the next 10 months. I have never had the check-in agent weigh my carry-on bag. "Sir, your carry on baggage is limited to 6 Kg." She said as I stared at the scale that said 13Kg. So I proceeded to unload pretty much my entire camera arsenal around my neck. Because its ok to have it around my neck, but not in its soft bag.  But everything went fine at security and now I'm sitting ate Gate S16 waiting for my gate. I think its time for Starbucks...

See you in Denmark :)

My Last Week in the States

Summer seems to have just started, and here I am at what seems like the end.  As most of you know I embarked on a three-week journey of the Middle East with Walla Walla University to tour and study the area where Jesus and Paul lived much of their lives.  Since I've been back I have been seeing as many people as I can before I leave again for 10 months in Denmark.  I am so excited and blessed to have this opportunity, I am excited to meet all of the kids there and become a mentor and friend to them.  Since I will have many opportunities to travel while in Europe I will be using this blog primarily to post pictures of my travels.  Facebook will have some pictures, but the majority will be here.

Indtil næste gang!
(Until next time)