Heading North

Karl Sigve is the closest thing I have to a brother. Actually my second cousin once removed, his mom being first cousins with my grandmother, a spiritual bond exists between us unlike any other I have experienced. We first met during my travels in 2001, and though we then spent just a few days together, we kept in touch via email and have shared in each others’ joys and sorrows over the past six years. I had the opportunity to join his parents during their trip to the Midwest last Fall, and as I began to plan my current adventure, Karl Sigve and I looked forward to the prospect of finally seeing each other face to face once again.

That meeting was the highlight of this past week. Karl Sigve lives in Kristiansand on the southern tip of Norway, and occasionally his work takes him on the road. Providentially, business brought him north on Wednesday, so I didn’t hesitate to make the hour long walk into Fåvang that morning to catch a bus into Lillehammer and another to Gjøvik, where I awaited Karl Sigve’s arrival. We found each other in the city, then connected with his colleague and close friend, Henning. The three of us went out for a steak dinner, enjoyed a great conversation, and finished the night around the hotel fireplace praying for one another.

The next day, I had the privilege of accompanying Karl Sigve in a series of meetings he had in the area before driving to my apartment to spend more time catching up and praying together. We said good-bye that evening as he headed back to Lillehammer to meet up with Henning, and I attended the Kvitfjell employee Christmas party. The story of Karl Sigve’s life and work in the church has been a blessing to read about over the years, and the prayer we both share is that I will have a chance to become a part of what the Lord is doing in Kristiansand before my time here is over. For the time being, I can say that my immediate prayer for fellowship here was answered, if only briefly, through my time with Karl Sigve, an old friend and a true brother.

Other highlights of the week were shopping for new work clothes with Maria, playing Trivial Pursuit in Swedish with my neighbors, shopping around for a new car with the help of Lars and Niklas, and enjoying a smörgåsbord of classic Norwegian food at the employee dinner. The search for a car, by the way, is still in progress. I am scheduled to test drive a 1990 Mazda 626 2.2i on Sunday, hoping that it doesn’t sell before then, so if anybody can recommend for or against this model, please let me know.