blessed to be a blessing.

This is a phrase we've been hearing over and over in our teaching the past few weeks. Sunday was my birthday, and it seems my friends have really taken an effort to live this theory out. I have never been so spoiled: parties. cakes. cards.  presents galore.  Just remember that these are DTS students that don't have any money.  Yet they still went to great lengths to make my birthday so special. It all started on Friday. Sadie and I had a little combined party with some of the staff girls.  We ate junk food for hours and they all gave me the sweetest cards and a couple gifts.  On Saturday Silvia took some of us to the art studio and then up to the lookout at night over the city of Aalesund.  It was beautiful and the moon was huge! These pictures hardly do it justice. After that we all turned into werewolves.

On Sunday I was woken up by Caroline with breakfast in bed! After that I went over to Gabby's house where I got another amazing breakfast of banana pancakes, eggs, coffee, and oranges and then I got to relax  and use her awesome bathtub. At supper I got a cake  and a card signed by everyone at the base.


Usually your roommates plan your birthday here, but mine were gone since it was winter break.  This means I got 2 birthdays! On Monday when I woke up at 7 to do my morning chore my roommate Anne Marthe told me that someone else was going to do it for me! Then she made me a french press with Starbucks coffee (The coffee we usually have tastes like dirt) For lunch they got me McDonald's. After dinner they did my dinner dishes for me (the worst chore ever, that  I get to have this week) Then they surprised me with a brownie cake! Just when I thought the spoiling was over they gave me an envelope with the exact amount of money that I needed to finish paying for my DTS! I was so excited I actually made myself dizzy and had to sit down. God is good.


My point in all of this is not to brag about what an awesome birthday I had, but to show how simple blessings can make someone feel so special.  These friends didn't have to do anything for my birthday, but so many people went above and beyond to make me feel special. They have truly learned how to be generous. They have inspired me to be more generous.  They have learned what it is to be a blessing.  And of course I'm not forgetting about my friends and family at home who also sent me love on my birthday! I am a very blessed girl...now I hope I can pass it one to someone else!