Faroese Friends

DOUBLE QUARTET
We knew the 3 hr. drive to Whitby would be worth it - 8 men from the Faroe Islands were singing in a double quartet in the annual Gospel Music Festival and we were blessed to be 2 of the listeners (and a little surprised when we were asked to stand to be introduced.) Their talent is phenomenal - not only perfect harmony, but that afternoon their voices blended in Icelandic, Faroese, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Greenlandic. English was saved for the evening meeting. In-between the meetings we enjoyed time catching up with them, walking along the coastline together and then joining them for a traditional British ‘Fish and Chips’ dinner.
They were even asked to sing a song in the Restaurant. Soon after they finished their part in the evening service, we hopped back in the car for the drive home. The trip was invaluable - they are a great bunch of men and we so enjoyed our time with them hearing how they and their families are doing.

We had no idea what beautiful scenery we would enjoy along the way - lots of rolling hills as we drove through North York Moors National Park and the town of Whitby right on the coast with many gorgeous cliffs.
On the way there we also had a few minute stop at the Hole of Horcum - difficult to get the beauty in a photo. It was our first time to that ‘neck of the woods’ but hopefully not our last.
VOLUNTEER GIRLS
Being willing to stretch their taste buds a wee bit, the Volunteer Girls joined us for Faroese Fish and Potatoes one night before our weekly Bible Study. I’ll never claim to be able to fry fish like a genuine Faroese cook, but cod from the North Atlantic will still taste good even if a Canadian gives it a try.
Here are the ladies from Germany, Norway and the Netherlands trying a typical Faroese meal - boiled potatoes (served with the skin still on) fish fried in butter (after being dipped in egg and bread crumbs) and plenty of fried onions. They were venturesome or polite and soon the plates were empty. Coffee followed with cookies - an easy meal for the cook. HANSENS
When we first received an email from Jakub and Solva Hansen telling us they would be in England this week - driving from London to Scotland and could stop by for a few days, it seemed like a dream - and a long time away.
Soon it was a reality though and we have really enjoyed the last few days with them. Being from our hometown in the Faroes, we have been in their home several times - now it was our turn to have them in ours. Those few fun days together flew by quickly as they joined in on some classes, went to Mission Simulation with Ragnar in the mornings and helped him with his Faroese classes (he is teaching Faroese to 4 German students for the next 5 weeks) took a strole down to the beach and made a couple quick trips into nearby towns.
One evening we all were invited over to our Faroese neighbours and coworkers. While chatting away and enjoying her yummy truffle the clock was forgotten and soon it was after midnight. The next evening followed suit as we had another Faroese family join us, who are on a short Home Assignment from PNG. Their inspiring stories of what is happening in their tribal area, were well worth burning the midnight oil for though.
Lots of fun, laughter, and Faroese phonetics floating around our home this past week. Why am I not fluent in Faroese by now?

Note to all our friends on those majestic islands between Norway and Iceland - keep coming this way. We love having you. Our next visitors from there are booked for August.