Ruth Kristin

Moving into my new apartment

Seven weeks ago, on Friday the 13th of August, I successfully moved into my new apartment, that I'm renting in Tromsø. I managed to move all my things from the island Vannøya and to the city of Tromsø, because I received very good help from some kind helpers from the church. They came - a whole gang of six men - and helped me to get all my removal load out of the flat on Vannøya and into cars. One of the cars were a proper furniture van, and we managed to find a place for everything.

Together we had a nice travel from the island and to the city. We arrived at my new place a bit late in the evening, and I then discovered I had exchanged my keys by a mistake, and the key to my new apartment were lying far away in "my old flat" on Vannøya. It was a tragicomic happening. I prayed to God for help and called my landlady and told about the situation. She and her husband was gone for the weekend, but after some minutes they had found a solution and called me back. In some minutes a relative of the landlady came, locked him self into the house and got hold of an extra key for me. That was really good, and I thanked God for his help in the critical situation. I really needed to get my things out of the big van before the morning, because the car was only rented for 24 hours, so it was good I got to move into my apartment the same evening. If not I would have needed to store my things somewhere, and everything would've become more complicated.

When my door was open my helpers helped me carry all my things and put them inside. The next day I was worn out because of all the stress and hard work connected to the moving, but I was also very excited and happy about having moved into my new place that God has blessed me with and were looking forward to living in Tromsø...


New jobs, new contacts and new experiences

When I came to Tromsø I had no job, but really needed one or two part time jobs. Three days after moving I went to a nursing home in the area and asked for a job. Within a couple of minutes I was given a job there - it was fantastic! I was very happy and blessed, because I needed a job, and the nurse that gave me the job was also very happy and blessed, because they were in need of workers at that time, so I was just like a gift coming right into their hands. I soon started working there and have been working there quite a lot, mostly in the weekends, and I like it and find it a nice place to work.

The day after I got the job at the nursing home I went to a school nearby my house and introduced my self and said I was available to work for them if they needed me. The week after the inspector called me and asked me to come and work one day. Since then I've had the joy of working there some days as a supply for both assistants and teachers.

My third week in Tromsø I started my study of dance and met most of the students in my class. My sixth week I met the rest of my fellow students. We have study gatherings for three days now and then, and so far we've focused on modern dance and jazz ballett. The gatherings have been very fun and interesting. On my first gathering I experienced something very good. We were all going to wear something personal and tell about it. Then I wore a t-shirt with a cross and the message "I AM A WITNESS". When it was my turn to tell about my self and my t-shirt, I boldly told the whole class that I am a christian and that Jesus means very much to me. It was a very good experience, and after that I got some good talks with some people in my class.

In my forth week in Tromsø I worked a lot in the school nearby, and the week after I was blessed with yet another job. I started working as a supply at another school, on something we call "sfo" - that's where the pupils come when they're finished at school. And since then I've worked a lot there, and I really enjoy working there. I've manily been with the six-year-olds, and they are so cute and very nice to be with. I really like being with them, and I also like my colleagues there. It has been fun to work there, meet many new people, learn new things and use my self in the contact with the children. During my time there I've become good at painting the children in their faces - that was someting I can't remember I've done before, and I've really liked it. Last week I was also a supply teacher one day at the school and know that they will continue to use me as a supply teacher if they need me. In the coming weeks I'll continue working on the "sfo", but mainly with older pupils, and hopefully I'll get some more lessons to teach as a supply teacher.

Recently, some time after a job interview, I got the message that I got the job I applied for, so now I've been blessed with a new part time job. God is so good and has now blessed me with many jobs, and in other ways he has also blessed me and taken care of me and helped me these last weeks.

After I moved to Tromsø I've made many new contacts, have made new friends and have been used by God to bless other people. God has taken care of me and helped me and blessed me in many ways, as I've given examples of, and I've all in all had a very good time here in Tromsø. I've really enjoyed all my new and exciting experiences, all my new jobs and contacts. It's been an exciting time for me. No day and no week has been the same. And I really like to live in Tromsø and experience all these good things that God let me experience. All honour and thanks to my good God for for all his blessings and goodness towards me!

God bless you all!

Greetings from Ruth Kristin in Tromsø