Language School and Friends

Last week began our new adventure of language class. Although many people have tried to prepare us for this formal training, you really have to experience it personally to fully appreciate it. It is much like having a baby, the experience is necessary to identify with others who have had the same. Some describe language learning as going back to kindergarten. To me, it felt more like the first day of high school when as an incoming freshman you feel intimidated, overwhelmed and cannot wait till the day is over. 

Since our first week of class has ended and we are already into the second, I honestly look forward to going to class. I realize most of my classmates are just as confused as I am and are learning about as fast, or slow. There are some exceptions: the Dane who has lived in Iceland for three years, and the Pole who has been here for four. They both already know a lot of conversational Icelandic. There is one very studious learner, my wife I am proud to say, whose study habits are to be envied and whose pronunciation is amazing. 

We had a delightful visit from our friend and cluster supervisor this past week. Mikko and his five year old son, Timothy, live in Finland and came to Reykjavik for a couple of days. We enjoyed some good times together that included a run and trip to a city pool. I later heard that the trip to the pool was one of the highlights for Timothy. 

Earlier today I welcomed in two new friends who had a layover in Iceland on their way to England for an Acts 29 Conference (www.acts29network.org), Tim Abbott and Chris Attwell. Tim owns one of the Chick-Fil-A restaurants in Stafford, Virginia, and brought us a suitcase full of goodies from the States. Can anyone say Chick-Fil-A sauce? Prior to Tim’s ownership of Chick-fil-a, he served in various churches as a student pastor and associate pastor. 

Tim’s pastor is Dee Whitten. Dee was the lead pastor at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Stafford for almost 15 years. He was the first pastor to welcome me to Stafford in 2000. I have always appreciated Dee and his leadership. Today he serves as lead pastor of Fairview at River Club (www.fairviewatriverclub.org).

Chris Attwell serves as lead pastor for PORTICO Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is the Mid Atlantic leader for Acts 29. I had not met Chris until today, but I have been praying for PORTICO Church since its beginning in 2004 (www.porticocville.org). In November 2011, I attended a service at PORTICO but had to leave soon after the service ended, so it delighted me to have a chance to officially meet a brother who I have prayed for for so long.

A big thank you to all our prayer partners and supporters. We serve together to reach the northernmost capital in the world with the grace and power of Jesus Christ.