Dear Central Family,
Below is an update from Thor and Kate Odland, who are part of our World Impact Team in Stavanger, Norway where they serve with Young Life.
Thor gives an account of how the recent tragedy in the country has affected them.
If the e-mail is not displaying correctly, you can view it here:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ab0909e2588cc559e7fe56a98&id=c28fd8e4e8&e=7694b3bd99
Please continue to pray for the Odlands and for the people of Norway.
Pastor Gay
From: Young Life Norway [mailto:thor=younglife.no@mail26.us1.mcsv.net] On Behalf Of Young Life Norway
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:37 AM
To: Richard Gay
Subject: YL Norway Update
| Dear Friends,
First the good news. Our son "Jack" John Magnus Odland came into the world on Sunday afternoon! He is perfectly healthy and everything went will with the delivery. Kate is still recovering a bit but is in great health. We are both so grateful and thrilled to be parents of this little guy!
As most of you have heard by now, Norway experienced a major attack last week. Apx 70 people were killed, most of them teenagers. Many of you have asked how this has affected us and how we are doing. Needless to say, the birth of John Magnus has provided a very possitive destraction to what would otherwise have been such a tragic time.
Well, for us the tragedy has been close to home. Three kids who were at the Labor Party camp where the shooting occured, were from this part of the city of Stavanger, Hundvaag, where we have our primary YL club. We knew all three students and they have all attended a YL camp in the last 2 years, and been a regular part of our club ministry here these last years. One of the two girls is best friends with one of our jr leaders. She was running from the gun man hand in hand with another friend as her friend was shot. She is still in shock. A young man I have been close with for several years, not the type to cry, was weeping on the phone as he called to tell his parents he was okay and that there were bodies everywhere as he ran for his life.
Lastly, the youngest girl who was apart of our YL confirmation club last year, attend regular club and our fall weekend, is still missing and no-one has heard from her since the incident.
Our hearts break for these kids and their families and the pain they are experiencing. What makes this tragedy especially painful is the fact that it wasn't an Islamic terrorist but one of Norway's own. This type of thing doesn't happen here, especially in one of the worlds most peaceful countries (Norway awards the nobel peace prize each year) and violation we all feel from this sensless violence directed towards kids no less.
This past Monday was a national day of mourning. There were solidarity parades in every city through out the country. Almost every person in the country participated.
This past monday in downtown Stavanger.
The air is still thick today as many are still trying to deal with the fallout.
I recieved this note from a Norwegian friend some days ago:
"We just came home from our local church. Packed with young people crying, lighting candles, praying. I think that is also the best you can do. Pray for these young people returning home. And for the nation to turn to God at this time of crises."
Please pray for us and for Norway. Pray that Norway as a country will turn back to God and that some good can come from this soul seaching tragedy. Pray for the kids (600 kids were on the island at the time of the attack, 70 were killed, many others wounded). Lastly, please pray for us affected by the tragedy on Hundvaag and in Young Life here in Norway. We're so grateful for you all.
In His Grip,
Thor
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