Hi mom! Thank you for the notes. I miss you too! I have had a pretty interesting time in Ilulissat. Are you ready to hear about all the danger I have gone through? Prepare yourself… :)
 
So we arrived last Thursday. The airplane ride kind of made me sick to mystomach. Blaa. Really it felt like a roller coaster ride and the plane was probably one of the smallest I have been on. The ride only took us 15 to 20 minutes, but when I got to the church I went straight to sleep.

The team started the next day as usual: oatmeal, personal devos, team time, and bible
reading. After lunch it was decided that we would go explore the city. Someone stated that it was not that cold out but I could see from the window large light weight objects being thrown about in the wind. Hmm…this should be interesting.  When we walked down the steps to our building the wind hit you. It was such fun to lean back on the wind and not fall over!

We started our walk going about the outskirts of town. The wind seemed to be getting faster and faster. I actually lost one of my wool mittens I just got for Christmas!! Aaaah. I was sad, but the one glove will make a good reminder of what happened that day. :)
 
As we walked the wind could actually push you with it sliding us along on the ice covered road. We made our way into the touristy part of the city. Kids were playing in the roads and getting blown about, some people were hanging on to light poles as if they were
going to get blown away.

We stopped into some stores to take a break from wind and one lady at the said that this was the WORST WIND STORM since 71!!!!! HA! Danger…Bumbumbumbum.

We soon were tired from walking around and started our  way back...but prepare yourself now it gets dangerous! We were trying not to get pushed by the wind into traffic. We were almost back when we were passing the Library. The wind was at its worst.  I
decided that I would try to out run the wind. :)  So I ran across the road yelling, "I'm running with the wind!!!"(Hehehe… I know that is from a movie.) I was running
along with the wind and ws thinking that I needed to know where I was going to stop without running into a hard object. I spied a pile of snow that I could run up so I turned that way. As soon as I came to a stop, it felt like someone threw a  huge ice chunk at my back. I am like "um, oww that hurt," and the next second I saw a square piece of wood fly over me.
 
I looked around and everyone who was looking at me and Anne-lene from next to a building close by seemed very panicked. I walked over, trying to balance from the wind, and found out that the roof of the library was being blown off! Wow. Thank you, Lord, for the  protection! I think Anne Lene took some pictures of the damage so I am
sure you will see it as soon as I get back to Nordtun. :)

As you can imagine some of the guys got very protective and hurried us on our way back to the church and there we were back safe and sound....except for my glove. The piece of fake wood that hit my back didn’t even leave a bruise!!! LAME, but good, I guess.  I think the wind was 24Km. That is the conclusion to that day.  :)

The following week has been filled. On Sunday we had a Sunday service-we just
attended, Tuesday an adult/college age bible study, Wednesday a prayer meeting,
and Friday a youth club where I talked about being a soldier of Christ. The kids very much enjoyed it as I transformed myself into a brigadier general. ATTENTION! I would shout throughout the devotion time and the kids would jump up out of their seats to attention.  So cute.

The next Sunday our team took the Sunday service. We all spoke about being Disciples of Christ in different aspects. Each of us had eight minutes to speak. We also sang some worship songs, I being on the piano, and Kristina and I sang a special called Surrender. (I think I will sing that one when I get back it is very lovely).  :) 
                       
We have had a bunch of dinner guest through the week a couple being people that found the church and wanted to talk with someone. A couple of guys in there late twenties who spoke English pretty well came through out the week in the evenings. We found they were spiritists. (Very dangerous but actually easy to talk with about God.) I got to talk with one called Jins. I  asked him a bunch of questions about how he knew what he believed in was accurate and solid truth or not.

He said that it seemed like I wanted to tell him something so he stopped talking and listened while I presented the Good News to him. He didn’t become a Christian after that, but he seemed interested in what we believed. That night Jins stayed up talking with the team until three in the morning asking questions about the Gospel, how we
are all sinners, and God being Supreme, the Trinity, and  many other questions. We pray that he will come back more, but it is comforting that he has heard the Gospel message.

Well today is our day off and Kristina and I are going over to the Baptist Church
to hang out with the American missionaries! They are from the east coast. I think the church is out of North Carolina. I called them up excitedly like I practically jumped through the phone saying," Hello. Is this the Shull family?" The guy answered yes. I then proceeded to tell them that my name is Shalisha Brace and I am from the United Stated of America and I am in Greenland!! He was like oh wow! We then made an appointment to meet each other today.

I would have liked to see them more, but his wife is being flown to Nuuk to have her baby tomorrow. Please pray for them for they are all by themselves over here. The Shull family has been in Greenland since 2007 spreading the Gospel and planting a church.

I think we are all caught up now. I have been having a great time in Ilulissat.
I know God will take care and provide for me.

How has everything been in Ky? I got your newsletter by email by the way. :)
Love you mom! Tell Dad I say hello and I love him to. :)
Happy early Birthday!!

Shalisha!

January 31, 2011 at 4:38pm

 Today is another day off! Yea! We slept in until 10:00.  Some people went hiking with an English teacher we met, and the rest of us are playing chess and doing personality tests while waiting for pizza! We are hungry!

I hear from Facebook that it is getting a little bit warmer around there. I am jealous. I love those days in winter when is definitely feels like spring. Ah, wonderful! I hope you enjoy them! We are enjoying more of the sun now. It has made it to our windows for about an hour a day.

Saturday was a busy day for me. There were two wonderful boys that came to the mission house to play around. They stayed all afternoon! They are very adorable. They are a little on the worldly side, but what boys are not? After Anne lene and I had a meal with them, we took them sledding! We had to work off some energy. They liked to play king of the mountain. They proclaimed themselves king when they could get past us. Then we would push them back down again. 
Once the boys went home I sat on the coach and I realized how exhausted I was.  I fell asleep.  We had a dinner party at 6.00 with Dan and Gudrune, the missionaries. It was a pleasant evening.

After THAT we had a Pride and PREJUDICE MARATHON!!!! UNTil 2 in the morning!!! YEA! It was great! The next day was church and I gave my testimony. I was a little tired but it was a good weekend.

I love to hear how the horses are doing. It makes me happy inside.
LOVeLOVE
Shalisha

February 1, 2011 at 3:54pm

The address to where we will be staying next in Ilulissat is:
Qupaloraarsuk 22A
Box 336 3952 Ilulisaat
Greenland

I think that is it.


February 3, 2011 at 10:31pm
I am extremely exhausted today, but I can check off that Anne Lene and I made 11 pizzas! I only burned myself twice! Yea! Anne lene only burned herself once and ended up cutting herself only once as well.  Four injuries and 11 pizzas.   Not bad. (lol)

The kids club went well today. They seem to be calming down more and more each week. The only bad thing about this week is that...like every week...they never want to leave! We have to wrestle them out the door. It is terrible! I had to yell at a few kids today. I wasn’t angry, but I made myself look it. After they knew I was serious they started to leave. It usually takes about a half an hour to get everyone out.  (lol) Blessings in Jesus name.
 
Rolinka came for a visit from Norway today and she will stay for about 10 days. She brought with her some M&Ms which I am enjoying with Anne Lene as I type this. Yum.

Anne Lenes has pictures on her blog that you might like to see of us here in Greenland.    
http://www.annelenes.blogspot.com
I put it on my profile to so which ever you choose to see. I think there are better pictures of me on there any way. Really how can you take good pictures of yourself from your own camera? Impossible!

Love ya. Talk to you later.
Mwaaaa shalisha!!!!!!


February 9, 2011 at 7:54pm

Hey mom! It sounds like you are having a lovely week. I am glad there are puppies there to keep you company. :) So this next week we are flying up to Ilullisat! We are having a good week of bringing the team closer together. I am very much enjoying it. We have to start packing today and cleaning, but I am glad for the work gives me something to do. Sorry for not being on very much this week. I counted up what I owed for using the Internet and it was around 60 USD! I am like wooooah. Okay slow down on the internet usage. 

I wanted to make sure I got on and sent you a letter before I left because I am not sure if we will have internet for a couple weeks. Two weeks to be exact-just wanted to let you know. I am praying for you guys! I got an analogy of myself as a brown bear…loving and kind to its children, but fierce against the enemy. lol

I hope you have a good week. Love you and talk to you soon!

Snowy, snowy here! Almost like a blizzard. Hopefully it will stop by tomorrow so we can catch our flight. FunFun!


Shalishaaaaa!

We received a letter from Shalisha.  It takes two weeks to get mail!  The letter was dated Jan. 8th and we got the letter on the 25th.  I'm glad she is using facebook and used it to let us know she was ok.  I can't imagine the days when there wasn't facebook.  There were many missionary's  loved ones waiting for that long traveling letter.  This mom is very thankful.

Here's some of Shalisha's letter:

I have made it to Greenland safe and sound.  I have now been in four counties belonging to Europe - Norway, Sweden, Denmard, and Greenland.  Greenland being a part of Denmark doesn't count.  :)

So Greenland for the the first couple of days perspective is very much like North American countries.  People are wam and friendly in some situations , other times they just walk right past you.

There is not very much wild life to be seen in Aasiaat.  Indeed the only animals I have seen so far are sled dogs and crows.   Oh, should I count the seal meat and fish the fishers sell down by the docks?

After our morning of devotion time and worship, the eight of us took to the streets and explored the city for the afternoon.  We kept warm by walking, but that didn't stop us from going to the cafe and getting some hot chocolate.  Yum! Yum!

The sky is very beautful.  The sun does not come up for another couple days.  I think the 12th is the first day we can see the sun from the top of the hill.  It is a special day for the people in Aasiaat.  I also saw an iceburg today!  I am not sure if it is the first time I have seen one in real life, but the first time I can remember, so yea!

I had the opportunity and privilege to give my testimony in front of 300 to 400 people.  Anna took pictures.  Maybe sometime I can put it on facebook.

So thankful for the warm boots!

Tell everyone I say hello and miss them.
All my love,
Shalisha
Revelation 4:11

_________
Shalisha's address in Greenland is:
Mission Husset (WO)
Box 136 3950 Aasiaat
Greenland

She will be at this church mission for another week or so and then will go to another two cities in Greenland.  They will be in Greenland until the end March.

If you want to write to Shalisha, it might be better to send her a message on facebook. If you want to send her a gift to help with expenses send it to my address made out to Shalisha.  10946 Ky Hwy 476, Hazard, Ky 41701.   I will put it in her account here in Hazard.  She has a debit card.  (The bank in Hazard knows she's there, and she has used it a few times.)

January 12 at 11:52am. How is everything? I am feeling stressed. I tried to get on the internet on the library but apparently everyone loves the internet here in Greenland. :) Tomorrow I shall be able to write a longer letter!  Yeah, but I only get it for a half an hour.

I reserved a time to get on the internet today at 1.3o at the library. So as I was waiting after lunch I decided to play some with Kristina. I played the piano and she playing the guitar! I was having so much fun that I lost track of time and when I looked at the clock it was 1.40!
 
I am like Ah! so I jumped off the stage at the church and threw on my jacket and boots and ran out the door. I decided that I would take a short cut up the snow bank...ha, that turned into a long cut.  Every steep I took I sank half a foot, but I made it up and across the bridge.  The look I had on my face when I came in made the librarian laugh. I was laughing as well.
I think that she might see that alot, but all that to say that I am learning to play chords on the piano and I think I might be able to play with the worship team this summer if needed! practice practice practice!

I am so happy to hear all that is happening at home. I can imagine it all playing out in my head. I miss being home but I Greenland is definitely turning out to be interesting. The side walk are all wooden bridges coverd in ice! Yesterday, the group and I went to the top of the hill and watched the sun come up for the first time this year. To bad it was cloudy! :) But today the clouds brought snow and it has been snowing all day!
 
I am closer in time to you now. Only two hours away instead of six. Last night there was a youth club and about 20 kids under 12 showed up. Most of them were completly wired. There was one girl that spoke a little bit of English. M y favorite part was when it was time for them to leave they all started hiding! It was like we were shoving them out the door. Then when we got them all out they pounded on the doors and found windows and were all staring at us trying to get our attention. It was so cute! Oh and these kids are way more aggresive than in the states. I was able to pick them up and tackel them and they just came back for more.l I cant wait for next thursday!
 
I will talk to you soon! Love you.
Shalisha

The days are getting longer!!!!! There is still a little bit of light in the sky at half past three! This is one conversation we at the base have quite often as we look forward to longer days. :)

The past two weeks have been spent hanging out with the few people that are left at the base, celebrating Christmas, sleeping in, and packing for Greenland! I have also been getting over a cold so if you would pray that I will feel one hundred percent soon.
 
I am in the calm before the storm, so to speak, for my schedule will be pretty much non-stop for the next couple months. First stop will be Grimerud, a YWAM base in the south near Oslo, where a workers gathering will be held and we will be celebrating New Years Eve. I am excited for I am able to reacquaint myself with friends I made in the beginning of the year at Restenas,Sweden. Such fun!

I will be at Grimerud for a week then the Greenland team and I will be flying out of Olso to Denmark, staying the night in Denmark, then flying out early to Greenland.
 
In Greenland the team and I will be starting relationships with the natives and from there making some youth clubs and house churches. That will be one thing to pray for since nothing is really set in stone. Pray that the people hearts will be open to hear the Gospel and make friends with some outsiders. Oh yes, pray as well for the team since we will be living in some more uncomfortable places for awhile. Wooo-hooo...mission trip!

All for Christ,

Shalisha

Good evening! We just got back from Sweden. It was such fun! Brian-from Canada- gave out snowboard instruction to me and another guy. The first day I fell so many times! I was aching by lunch break...ugggg The rest of the day was followed by more falling on my face and backside, adding yet more bruises to the collection.
 
I have particular trouble getting up the lift since they do not have chair lifts - you actually have to hang onto the rope and pull yourself all the way up the mountain!!! ugg I tried the first time and fell.  I was not even half way up. So I went back to the bunny hill.
 
After a bit of practicing, Brian came back and asked if I wanted to try the bigger hill. I was like....uh...sure. He said he would help me up the hill. Once to the top I fell...:) I got up and looked at everything....it was so high. I gulped. okay Brian, now what? Do I fall all the way down? He told me it was okay to snowplow all the way if I was not comfortable. And that was what I did most of the way. Until I was almost down. He suggested I try to go diagonal. So I did, picking up speed, I came to my first turn and  failed giving myself a whiplash on the snow. I hit my head and I laid there for a while.

DONT WORRY I RENTED A HELMET! Brain came up infront of me and asked if I was all right. I said I would be in a sec. I stood back up and eventually went made it down. Brian then asked if I wanted to go one more time before they closed. uh....okay. I was really exhausted! It took me about 15 min. to get down the first time. I went back up and this time Brian told me to do a trick where you spin yourself and the board! I looked at him like he was crazy! But I did it and I did pretty well until I fell and hit my shoulder doing a couple flips. I laid there for yet another while. (lol) Oh, that one hurt really bad.
 
Brian again came up and asked if I was okay. I replied, "Ow, and that hurt." but then got back up. (lol) Brain didnt only show me how to do crazy stuff, but he also tried to teach me to have correct form too. :) That trip took longer than the first. I took breaks from snowplowing all the way down because my legs hurt so bad! The lift was closed by the time I was down and everyone was ready to leave, as was I. I got back around four and so exhuasted. I fell asleep almost immediately. My head really felt weird. I might have had a slight concussion, or just exhaustion?

The next day I was very tired as well. I tried to snowboard in the morning and I got so frustrated I just sat there. I didn't want to fall anymore!!!! So I stopped and went to the cafe and read my Bible. It was quite relaxing. I had some hot chocolate and for lunch I bought some pancakes. After lunch I let Michel borrow my snowboard (Who was about as bad as I). About two hours later she gave it back. SO, since I was then tired of sitting around, I went out to the bunny hill. I fell about two times - then something clicked!!
 
I was like yea! SO I went to find Brian who told me to find him when I was ready to go up. I waited for him by the lift till he came down and he was excited to teach me again. This time I had so much fun! I fell about three times all together that half of the day!! I cant wait to go again. I went off the hill about five or six times that night! Carving the hill, back and forth picking up speed feeling like if I do something wrong I and going to break something or die! But nope, it felt like flying down such a freaky steep mountain. I really can't wait to go again! (My family...lets go next winter!! YEA YEA YEA!)
 
okay I have to go have a DIVE preparation. Talk to you soon!

I CAN NOW SAY THAT I LEARNED SNOWBOARDING IN SWEDEN! :D
LOVE YOU!
SHalisha

 Happy Holidays!

This past month has flown by. The Students and staff are thinking christmas thoughts and looking forward to Christmas break. Oh christmas tree how lovely are your branches!! A few of the students and staff will be going out and cutting down a christmas tree. Since most of the people staying at the base are North Americans we are demanding more decor to celebrate this Christmas season than in previous years.
 
Officially the last day of planned events is the 18th. There will be a splendid party with Glugg (spice drink), ice cream, peppercaker, and other delightful Norwegian Christmas food!  There will be celebrating and one last night of farewells, for some of the students we will not see until the end of march.  Greenland Prepare yourself. (This is where I will be going)   Hehehe.

To catch up, I have a most exciting week on Mini-outreach to share with you! :)
My team of three left from Nordtun to start on a two hour drive and ferry south to a village called Nesna. When we arrived-in the dark of course for Norway only got like a half an hour of sunlight during that week...yea(sarcasm).

Our contact person met us at the FriKirken-Free Church- and let us in to our home for the week. It was comfortable, with a kitchen, living room area, and the sanctuary. Home sweet Home!
The rest of the week was filled with school visits, speaking English,  giving devotions to the college age students and having a youth meeting with the christians to encourage them that they are loved and not alone in this world.  (That was the best part of the week I think.)  I was even more encouraged than them, I think.
 
For a couple days we went and ministered in a Homeless shelter caffe/second hand store....:)

A Christian teacher from the school invited us to eat with her family on Saturday. Pizza and Norwegian Christmas desert!! Sooo good.

If you were to pray for one thing about this mini-outreach it would be for the Free Church. Sunday morning there was a crowd of about ten people. We asked if we could say anything about what we were doing in Nesna that week and he replied if they had time. Thank goodness they did for at the end of the service one of my team mates and I stepped up to speak. I gave a short devotion-translated of course- of Nesna being like a white field ready to Harvest-reading out of Matthew 9. I enjoyed talking and I could see that they were encouraged as well. Pray that the church will grow in number as well as togther spiritually.
 
We left the same day and took the ferry and car on a beautiful ride back to Nordtun. If I were to learn something about my mini-outreach is that God is an amazing provider.

Through the week our team had a fixed amount of money that we had to budget for food, ministry and travel. I saw first hand how I rely on God to provide the food my team ate everyday, and the friendships we made.  God worked through it all and showed us His Love.
 
I got to go to a barn this past Saturday with five horses and Ellen invited us over for dinner both these things my team prayed about and we saw this amazing answer.

We will be going back to Nesna in the spring, after main out-reach (Greenland), so we will be able to pick up and plan more on to what we left off.  In the mean time be praying for this village who needs the hope that Christ puts into the lives of those who trust in Him.

As of now I am planning with four other students a breakaway overnight at the base. The theme is going to be Dive-Diving deeper into God's living water. Pray that the scheduling will go smoothly and that this will be a great expirience that I will be able to use in the future.

Thank you for all your love and support while I am away. God has taught me so many different aspects of Himself while I have been in this beautiful place.
 
Oh yes, ... it also snowed another foot today. Merry Christmas! :)

I Love each and evey single one of you! Keep in God's presence. He Loves you and wants you. He is all I am.
Phil. 1.20
Shalisha

I am having such fun!!! The end of this week everyone went to Bodø to do street evangelism. Everyone slept in the sanctuary of the mission church just down the rode from the Glass House which is the mall in Bodø. It was such fun talking to different people.  A person was saved this week so it makes it all worth it.  We all prayed for the people we met. I enjoyed it so very much.
 
It is amazing how God provided the food for us. There is a lady who goes around and collects food from the bakerys that they would normally have to throw out, but they give it to her.  YUM YUM! we ate really expensive sandwiches and pastries. lol
 
Today I went horseback riding! I talked with a girl from 7-elevan and she invited me to go riding.  Now my clothes smell delightfully of horse. Hmmm, wonderful.  I thank God that He takes care of me. glory and honor and praise be to Him! I am to go ride again next saturday. I am very excited. I think this will be a good ministry opportunity as well.

This next week we have a mini-outreach to Nesna and will not be back until next Sunday. It is going to be such fun! It's just me and two other students. Dont worry.  There is a guy there to protect me. He is a part of the Norwegian army if that makes you feel any better- pluss he is a really nice guy.  I will be there spreading the Love of Jesus to students and adults a like. :)

It has been snowing here all day long!

I have been having a great week! God has been teaching me to be content and happy with my situation where as before I was bitter and unmoving to the people around me. I find I am having better relationships with my fellow students and my roommates. God has been calming something in me and I feel wonderful and content. :) Thank you for all the prayers. I know it has been a blessing. All my love.

Okay I am going to try to write again what I had on the blog before I lost it. lol

So this last weekend after the caving trip I had local ministry weekend. My group has a youth club called 7-eleven. There is literally like thirty teens. It was a crazy night. We had a toilet paper fashion show. The contestants would shed paper every step they took.:) By the end of the show we had a mound of toilet paper that the kids were rolling, crawling, and sliding through.

After this was Fika - what the swedes call coffee break- and devotions. I was particularly excited tonight for I was to give the devotions. I found a verse in psalms 33:15 which fit perfectly with our fashion show. It states that He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. I told them that God created them with their individual interests, talents and quirks ( but my translator did not understand the word quirks so I had to think of something else:).
 
I told the teens that God loves you, his creation, even though we rebelled against Him, and that He sent His son to die for Me and you! I could see the interest in their eyes. There are so many these teens that are looking for something real for which to live their lives.

After the devotions we played more games and just spent time with them. I mingled among them trying to start meaningful conversations and conquer the language barrier. The night ended at eleven but the last youth actually left closer to midnight. After that I night I felt wonderfully exhausted and said good night to my group and headed to bed.

This week has been amazing! The topic of this weeks teaching is God's Word. The teacher is a fellow American from Colorado named Mary Jeane and has actually been to the Appalachia's. We started a conversation over lunch and come to find out she has actually been to Hazard! Miss Mary Jeane takes mission trips to the Appalachian Mountains whenever she can. I was so excited when I found this out! She even talked about Wal-mart being the social meeting place. When she said that it was a conformation that we were talking of the same place. :D
 
The teaching has been wonderful. The students are finding out that God Speaks through the Bible and that makes it powerful. Like a fire in our hearts as Jeremiah writes. They are starting to see this and it makes everyone overcome with awe and excitement.
 
I have finally learned where I am to go on outreach after the new year. I am to go to Greenland! Please pray that God will show and prepare my group of eight where we are going to be working.
 
Thank you for all your prayers and encouragements through emails and letters. I miss you and am praying for opportunities you will have to share the Good News with those around you.
Isaiah 9:2
"The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light ;
Those who dwelt in the land of the
shadow of death,
Upon them light has shined."
As we who have once walked in the darkness how much eager should we be to point those who are walking in darkness to the light. To be a light we must be consumed by it. Those who have ears let them hear.
Phil. 1:20
Shalisha Brace