A Word From Helen

Hello!
    I guess it is time I start to learn how to use this blog! I want to give you an idea of where I am and what I am doing at the moment. Currently I am in Norway teaching at the Matteson Institute of World Mission. You can visit the school's page here:  http://www.matteson.no/    I teach Organic Gardening (really playing in dirt), and am in charge of the practical work training (teaching people practical skills and then enjoying their help).

     Right now we are nearing the end of the school year. Graduation is June 19, and the students will then be going on a three week long mission trip to north Norway. It is a great way to end the school year. I will be staying to take care of the greenhouse and gardens.
      So what exactly does teaching gardening entail? Well, here at the Matteson School we do not just view the garden as a place to grow food, although having our own organic food is definitely a blessing, but it is a classroom where we meet with, and learn about, God. Honestly I don't know all that much, but I know that God does, and it is my job to put the

students where they can hear and see Him.  God works miracles every year, above and beyond just making things grow, and reveals some of His character and care. 

     Take for example last week. We have had problems with beetles eating the cabbage and turnip family. I thought that it was mostly the little plants they liked the most, the two first leaves that come up, so we started the turnips inside the greenhouse to protect them through the first part of their life. Kevin and Hugo transplanted them really nicely, and watered them well. All looked good. A few days later a student came and told me that there had been a war in the turnip row. The leaves were full of holes, as if a machine gun had blasted them. The beetles had attacked and were trying to make up for lost time. The plants looked bad. We started to pray, and I tried putting coffee grounds around them to scare away the beetles by the smell. It helped, but it wasn't going to be enough. It was up to God. Within a day it started to rain, and it was cool and wet for several days. The beetles don't like such conditions and went into hiding. The plants didn't mind the rain and began to look better and have started to grow again. It has been raining off and on ever since, just enough to keep the beetles in hiding. 

    Another example also happened last week. Friday there was a heavy rain storm. There was so much rain that many parts of Norway flooded. The water drains/ditches along the property and forest filled up, and instead of draining into the forest, the forest was draining into the area where the garden was. Lars saw it first and took a picture of it to show me what was happening. I went out with him and Kevin to see what we could do, and already the water had risen quite a bit. It was now entering into the walk ways between the rows of vegetables. There was not a whole lot we could do besides pray and build a dam of sod around the edge of the garden. Sabbath was coming, and so we quickly built the dam and left it to God. Soon the rain slowed and the water began to go down. Within hours the garden was out of danger and we lost nothing. Many people in Norway lost parts of their crops due to the water, but God preserved ours. It really gave us something more to be thankful for.

     Our garden gives us a classroom where we can learn about care, consistency, order, creativity, and awe. Each type of plant needs a different kind of care, and they can't ever be forgotten without consequences. Caring for the plants is very similar to caring for people. No two plants are the same, neither are two people the same. Careful, consistent care is needed in order for them to thrive. Their environment must be monitored and their surroundings cared for. Weeds must be removed, distractions avoided, and pruning done so that the plant or person will have clear direction, vision and purpose for their life. 

     I will add more pictures in a bit... I need to go and practice what I preach!      Helen