August 29, 2021
Today is Sunday and I look forward to going to the 11 a.m. service in the small, sod-roof church down by the Funningur harbor. Last night I was with Alis at a Christian Bible Conference, hosted at the denominational headquarters. The speaker talked about how God leads us–Hvussu lei∂ur Gud? Although I understood only 5% (maybe!), it was good to be with brothers & sisters in Christ. The most amazing thing to me is that God understands Faroese–a challenging language with roots in old Norse, what the Vikings spoke! I bought a children’s Bible storybook, hoping it will help me learn a little bit more of the language, especially when I have Alis record each of the stories and I can practice the pronunciation. At least, that’s the plan.
Mary went home on Friday and I miss her company. But being alone gives me such a neat feeling of “total immersion” in this culture and certainly doesn’t stop me from exploring a bit. My first little hike was near Elduvík, across the fjord from Funningur. In fact, I could see my house from the trailhead, just outside of the village.
The trail began at a gate, through sheep pastures and then to the edge of the cliff. That’s where I stopped, because with my bifocals, I’m not too sure of my footing and the rocks below looked hard! Three young Danish girls came up the trail and we chatted for a bit. Their English was perfect. They have been studying sailing aboard a school ship (The Danmark) for the past year and, believe it of not, English is the official language spoken on the ship. Wow! I was impressed, especially when they told me they can go on to be ship captains someday with the degree and training they are getting–at such a young age! These were beautiful young ladies who were very comfortable hiking the edge of the cliff!
After the hike, I returned to Funningur for supper and time with my friend, Alis. Then back to a quiet house just down the street–wondering what was in store the next day. The light dinner in the evening or late afternoon is call “bread.” It often consists of a delicious and heavy bread, fish sausage, sliced lamb, dried fish (like jerky), smoked salmon, cooked vegetables/potatoes and butter.
I found one thing to be so strange in the Faroes. Salmon farming is one of the major industries here, but to find fresh salmon to bake is not easy at all. That was my mission, so I headed to Leirvik, home of the NordFra fishing industry. Of course, they were closed on the weekend, but I manage to find two small packages of “bakkafrost” in the freezer at the Effo station. I had found my salmon and they were almost $10 each! But I snatched them up and will have that for dinner tonight. Sasi and Alis and family turn their noses up at anything but the traditional thin-sliced, smoked salmon (lox). I’m hoping they will taste mine and like it, but I’m not holding my breath. More for me, if they don’t like it. And, by the way, it’s the best salmon I have ever tasted–fresh from the fjordal fish farms you see everywhere in this country. Lip-smacking and finger-licking good!
Heart to Heart 