Hei Hei!! Går det bra?!!!!!!!!
The last week we were in one camp with confirmant and it was realy interesting to see how they react.We were 6 youngers leadrers and i think that for us tree internatinal it was quiet difficult cause they were just speaking in norwegian and also great cause we learned alot about teenager in norway.
We learn them how to play drums and danse like in Afrika (Cameoon),that was great cause they are realy shy but when you show them that they can be free and that they can trust in in you it becom more easy.
My first impression when i saw their reaction was that they are impolites and that they don't realy respect elders.But after worst my answer was that they grow up with that kind of habits and its become like a culture for them to always be equal in every situation.But for me it is not like i gorw up with that idea that ¨WHITE IS NOT BLACK and THE FATHER CAN NEVER BE THE SON OF HIS SON¨ .They always said to us that it is the culture but don't think so.
Now about what we have done there i can say nothing cause we didn't realy know what they were talking about sometimes ,they speak so fast and it is not realy easy for us to understand and sometimes we were a litle bit angry.Of course we need to speak norwegian but sometimes we want to relax a litle bit and tried to use the language that every one can understand clarly.
One thing i have also remarqued is that people in norway don't want the teenager to be confronted to the rude situation who is that it is a choice when its become to be confirmant and when you are confirmate you have already given your life to GOD and you need to folow his rules. They just take a confirmation like all the oders even in the life of someone.We were a litle bit frustrated cause when its come to speak about GOD they don't want us to say all things who are in our hearts they just want us to talk a litle bit cause they don't want the children to be frustreted. Because of that maybe they have in their mind that ¨ faith is just for old people ,they are very young and they don't need to trust now ,they can trust later¨.
So whtat is the goal of been confirmant?...
To be continued...snakkes
GUD VELSINGNE DEG
Very interesting to read, Sophie! I think much of what you have written is right. All people in Norway are very used to that everybody are equal. Therefore there are not so much respect for those who are older of for those who are leaders.
SvarSlettWhen it comes to confronting youths about their faith, I think that people are afraid of making the youths have to be responsible for their actions. If they give the youths to many rules, maybe the youths will not want to be a Christian anymore. And I think the leaders in the church really want to keep the youths in the church. Many youths who have confirmation in the church are even not Christians, that can also be a reason.
I wish you all good luck further on! God is with you :)I'm sure you are doing a good job!!!
C'est très intéressant de lire ton blog, Sophie. Je suis d'accord avec Sara-Jeanette, tu as beaucoup de raison dans tes réflexions sur les confirmants. Je crois, à moi, qu'on devrait confronter les jeunes un peu plus que ce dont on est confortable avec en Norvège. Si les chrétiens n'ont rien de different d'offrir que le reste du monde, pourqui choisir suivre Jésus Christ? Ce n'est peut-être pas l'option le plus "koselig", mais nous possédons une verité plus importante pour la garder entre nous. Du courage dans ton travail, essaie de les challenger même si les leaders ont peur ;-)
SvarSlettSois bénise!
I think that is a very interesting way to look at it Sophie. Having lived in both Cameroon and the United States I would agree that we raise our children differently. Many times I thought my students in Cameroon were being really rude, but had to remember that it was their culture, and I know that it is the same here with Cameroonians. I would like to encourage you to question why you believe what you believe. We learn a lot from our cultures and families and schools and sometimes they are not universal. The idea that "WHITE IS NOT BLACK" is an idea carried over from colonial times that I would hope you can move on from as it leads to an idea that we are all different in a biological way when really we have cultural and ideology differences that are not connected to our "race."
SvarSlettI tried, in cameroon, to always remember that I was raised with different ideas than you my lovely students but that didn't make us better or worse just different. I look forward to reading more about your time in Norway. I hope it gives you a world view that is impossible to have without traveling. I am so very proud of you (and glad you are seeing how hard it is to have people speaking a language around you VERY FAST and not being able to fully understand--that will serve you well later). Remember all that you are learning and seeing is happening for a reason and use it well in the future.
miss