A quick review of Monday breakfast and church

I decided I had to eat only typical Norwegian breakfast food this morning.  Too bad I didn't take a picture of my plate!   Pickled Herring, pickled beets, salami, liver pate, a soft boiled egg.  I ate the salami and liver on a roll, then the egg, and for dessert had the herring and beets.  Then several cups of coffee.

We had our final worship after breakfast.  As the days have gone by, we've had less need for a lot of words.  Worship was emotional and during the singing of the Taize hymn, Ubi caritas et amor. Deus ibi est....(Where charity and love are, there is God.)  These few words are all.   It is a sweet melody and is sung over and over again meditatively.  There were more than a few tears as we sang it together for the last time.

The goodbyes were difficult as people went in so many directions.  Gard, Roman, Leah and I drove together to Oslo.  We checked into the Hotel P which will be my home for two nights.  Leah and Roman and the other Eastern Europeans will fly home tomorrow and I will go sight-seeing with Gunnar.   Maybe I'll see Gard after his work tomorrow, maybe not.  Right now he and the Eastern Europeans are meeting with a Parliament minister to give him their perspectives.  I declined to go and to take a little time in my room.

When they come back, Gard will go home to his husband and several of us will gather at the home of one of the priests who lives in Oslo for an evening of relaxing and sharing together.  I might write more later this evening.