I was called to Bible Translation on October 17^th, 1998.

That is a scary statement, but I really believe it is true. Here’s how it happened:

I had been working for a Norwegian mission agency for a couple of years after High School, as a children and youth worker. During those years I had developed a sense of calling for mission, but I had no idea what it would look like. I went to University, knowing only that I wanted to study English (I always liked languages, and English in particular). The first semester I had to do intro courses, one of which was Intro to Phonetics and Linguistics. I really enjoyed the course, and I did well, too. One night I was thinking about linguistics, and how that could be something I would want to do full time. I got really excited, but still didn’t know what that would look like. I remember laying in bed, thinking, linguistics and mission, how can that go together? Can I work with linguistics as a missionary? The next morning the answer was before me, crystal clear: Bible Translation. Of course! It was like all the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fell in place. I had been reading the magazines my mom got from Wycliffe, and I was very fascinated by their work. I always tried to solve their language puzzles! And from that day on, I knew what God has put on my heart, and how He would use the gifts he had given me to serve Him in the best way I could think of.

I contacted Wycliffe Norway, and the next summer I went to England for a ten day intro course to Wycliffe. It was confirmed that I had the skills needed and I was encouraged to keep pursuing a career as a Bible Translator. I finished my BA in Norway (I majored in English), with a short interlude traveling the world with YWAM for a year. Coming to Canada to do my Master degree was planned three years ahead of the fact, so when I came here summer 2003 it was a big step for me, and a milestone on my path. Now I am approaching another milestone, as my time in Canada is drawing to an end. It feels good to accomplish something I have been dreaming of for many years, but even more exciting is what still lies ahead.

I am going home to Norway now, and I am planning on getting a job subbing as a teacher, hopefully teaching Norwegian to foreigners. I will be finishing up my application for Wycliffe, and after I am accepted (God willing) I will start doing fund raising, something which I am actually looking forward to. I hope to be able to go (to East Africa) within a couple of years, but as always, it is in God’s hands, and anything can happen. I just know that He has brought me this far, and that He is faithful and able to finish what He has started.

 December 2005