Greetings from Vera

by Vera Karlsen

Being the youngest daughter of Lise and Ludvig Karlsen, I am familiar with their joint efforts of helping suffering persons.

Frequently, my parents went about visiting people in their homes - on other occasions we received visitors in our home.

Many a time I felt like crying out: «Please; let my parents alone, they are my parents not just your consolers and friends!» During that difficult period in my life it was, however, a great relief to have a brother like Kai. He was ever so thoughtful and considerate taking me out many a time. Being a young lad of 16, he had just bought himself a moped. What an hilarious experience when I was sitting behind him on the moped tearing along on the roads...But one day we were caught by the police telling us that we were prohibited to do so by the law. That was really a turning point! From now on I had to stay at home when Kai was driving along with his pals.

One thing I can tell your for sure: It wasn`t exactly a bed of roses to be the child of Lise and Ludvig Karlsen. All the time, they were constantly called upon by various persons; the telephone as well as the door-bell rang without break. Everybody wanted to speak with Lise or Ludvig Karlsen, or sometimes - with both of them. And many a time, I just felt like slamming the front-door in their face, while crying out: «No, they are not available at all!» But naturally, as a true born child of my good and self-sacrificing parents, I couldn`t behave like that.

My memories also go back to the year of 1982, when I had the pleasure of being informed of my parents new invocation. I can still remember the very evening when they brought me and my brother Kai into the living-room to tell me about their new plans. My father told me that the Lord had spoken to him, urging him strongly to move away together with his family - in order to build a home for downs-and-outs and alcohol misusers. Today, I can`t remember my exact reaction as to his words, but as the Lord had spoken rather clearly to my Daddy it was not at all a topic to discuss. So was also the situation when we moved from the town of Tønsberg - the first time!

Shortly afterwards, we were driving along on our way to the town of Hamar. Being just a little girl of 9 years - at that time - I had to follow my inner intuition which was basically founded on my great devotion and my obedience towards my parents. Strangely enough, I had already been baptized by the holy Spirit and had received the precious gift of tongues. And now, I simply longed to recieve the baptism by water. Undoubtedly, then, my brother Kai and I both felt the same way about these central, Pentecostal issues of faith and we agreed to that we had to follow God`s call!

The family on their way to Filadelfia, Hamar in 1979. From left: Ludvig, Monika, Lise, Vera and Kai.
Anyway, this marked the beginning of a new and most exciting period in our lives. We were constantly driving to and from the new Gospel Center at Roa - a trip of about 80 km. in each direction...

Still, I had to reflect on my own, individual life-situation and the first thing to consider was my primary education. I had to change to another, local school and the changes were rather big. Here, in my new village I had the feeling that everyone knew each other, and thus it seemed quite impossible to conceal even the slightest and most unimportant thing from the public. And to me, I sometimes felt it as a burden to be «the excellent daughter of those very `proper` persons Lise and Ludvig Karlsen». In our little, rural community at Roa, they were both considered as good, moral benefactors - a fact that wasn`t entirely appreciated by some country people. This was brought to my mind somewhat later, by some of the pupils in my class.

Things started to change, however, as the efforts of restoring those three, old buildings were in progress. One of the buildings had previously functioned as the local police sergeant`s office, the other had served as an administration center of the local authorities. It also goes with the story that the third building, which formerly had been housing a tannery`s factory, now had become a military storehouse for emergency supplies.

The latter one of these buildings was restored by the assistance of lots of voluntary communal workers from the surrounding congregations, not to mention from the congregation of Saron - the local Pentecostal congregation.

Moreover, that church arranged its gatherings in a room of one of the three, above-mentioned buildings.

The official seremony of inauguration which took place on the 2nd. of July, 1983, included the visits of people from all over the country in addition to the Swedish pastor Erik Edin.

The latter was known as a leader of a similar aid-project in his homeland. Among other «prominent» guests was the Pentecostal principal of Filadelfia, Hamar - Surland Hansen - and pastor Magne Tangen, who was a principal in the congregation of Filadelfia, Oslo. The chairman of the county council, adding to the local director of social services, the police sergeant and lots of other, important persons could also be observed among the invited guests.

I liked being among the guests, as there were a lot of children with whom I could speak. For the rest, Kai and I were fully occupied with the distribution of various information brochures. Additionally, with the distribution of Daddy`s book: «The new life» which contained the spiritual idea behind the newly, constructed Roa Gospel Center. And everybody had to lend a helping hand during all those preparations; before long Roa Gospel Center would start receiving its first share of alcoholized, disillusioned persons. Many of them had no close familiy ties and life in itself could seem like a living nightmare. At Roa Gospel Center they would be given food and housing, and a chance of becoming acquainted with their true and only Saviour - the Lord Jesus Christ. Once being saved in His name, they would receive a new and different life to the benefit of themselves, as well as to the benefit of their families.

What a «glorious» and instructive period for my brother and me. Kai - in particular - would never stop praising the Lord for his goodwill and mercy towards us. But in reality - as things started to develop - it turned out that both my father and my mother became even more occupied. Things only seemed to worsen, as my parents from now on were really difficult of access. Whatever or whoever was the reason for their disturbances - a person in crisis, a member of the local congregation or some sort of visit from the local authorities - the situation for Kai and me grew considerably worse.

However, I soon invented my own little trick during that period, just to attract the attention of my dear parents.

I could phone them from an outside address making my voice rather unclear and to me «undistinguishable», telling them that I was a young girl with serious alcoholic problems. And alas!, immediately I got the voice of my Daddy and Mummy on the phone. But I had hardly spoken many words, before I was disclosed! Anyway, I achieved results - I made contact with my parents. But still, I was rather annoyed at the great, many alcoholized boys who caught the fully attention of my Dad and Mum every day...

I had now reached the age of 11, and my brother Kai had grown to become a young man of 17. Gradually, as time passed by, I became more and more affected by the attitude of my parents:

They say that a child`s mind is open to everything, and the basic impressions of my childhood-period are no exceptions to this rule! The impressions from that epoch are stamped in my mind for ever! I can still smell the scent of some of our guests, still see the expression on their faces and still distinguish their dirty clothes and general uncleanliness! Some of them came in a rather miserable state almost dressed in rags, not to mention those who wore very few clothes on their bodies. My general impression, too, was that many of them hadn`t washed themselves for months - according to their filthy appearance and smell! Among them were many hairy guys and likewise, young lads with beards.

How they toiled when some of them were attempting not to spoil coffee on the tablecloth - due to their special symptoms of abstinence - they had to grip the cup with both hands in their shaky and very disturbed condition. Still, we had to change our tableclothes several times a day.

With reference to these memories, there is, particularly, one special incident which is stamped in my mind for ever. One of our visitors was so sick that he simply had to be fed by spoon - like a little baby! I, as well as my brother Kai, felt rather disgusted at the very sight of this boy until my father told us that he would be changed in a few days!

His very same words had stated previously that Jesus could change a person entirely, both his internal and external condition! And wonder of all wonders! After a couple of days this exhausted and starving person could be observed in our new home at Roa Gospel Center - dressed in new and clean clothes, with his hair nicely cut and newly shaved! His eyes - which formerly had been so red and dull - had suddenly become bright and shiny. Yes, Jesus can really make miracles!

Even if this young man had been given a chance of sleeping late in the mornings, and likewise, received a thorough bath and a shower while waiting for his clothes to be washed, it was an indisputable fact that Jesus himself had lit up his eyes. His boundless love to every man and woman is the immediate reason why everyone of us changes in his presence; by only the slightest touch of His blessed Spirit!

During all that period, my brother Kai was attending the technical college at Gran - an institution where he made a lot of friends. Kai was quite a big boy for his age, and being a rather handsome, good-looking boy with bright, curly hair he soon became the centre of the girls` undivided attention. In general, Kai was a very nice and friendly person and many times I was called upon by his female admirers wishing to greet him so much. There were times when I felt rather sorry for his popularity among the girls; they would not let him alone - not for a minute. And as far as I was concerned, I hardly saw my brother at all.

During that period, I often became so cross with those girls who seemed to drain the very life-energy out of my dear brother. As if I had not enough problems with my fully-occupied parents; now followed also the case of «a problematic brother!» «The entire house is filled with young girls, asking for Kai any minute of the day», I cried out in my desperate despair. But, as always I was answered by my «stoic» father: «Oh, just take it easy Vera, perhaps a mighty revival will be the result!» However it was, though, it was a fact that meetings for young people were being arranged by my father and Kai, and many were those who knelt down for prayers.

My family and I were rather pleased to witness the big expansion which happened to take place within in that Pentecostal congregation of Saron, Roa. Starting with a membership of 19, we gradually - after 3 months of work - reached a total cardex of 90. And that number included youngsters, as well as grown-ups and elder persons.

About 3 months afterwards, occured the darkest and most depressing event of my entire life: The death of my beloved brother Kai. Unfortunately, he happened to collide with a car just outside the Gospel Center at Roa and having fractured his skull he was brought immediately to the Hospital of Gjøvik in an ambulance. His life, however, could not be saved and he passed away 3 days afterwards.

There was a big, empty space in my chest. Crying out my pain, I felt as if the world was going to collapse. And so did my mummy and daddy who went away on one week`s vacation. Although they carried the responsability for all the boys at the Center, they were not able to carry on with their regular, daily duties. All the time they were thinking and speaking about Kai.

Fortunately, I enjoyed the consoling support of the boys at the Center who had learned to love Kai as their own. Today I find it rather impossible to describe the atmosphere of that prevailing, evil period, but still the most important fact was that we were protected by our heavenly Father. And in the course of time, we managed to come through the crisis.

Some time afterwards mummy and daddy bought themselves a new house, this time at Eidsvoll. And once again, I had to move - from the town of Tønsberg to the little village of Eidsvoll. Once again, I was getting nervous. Would I meet other Christian youngsters at school? Would I be exposed to mobbing? Being the daughter of the well-known preacher-couple Lise and Ludvig Karlsen, there was hardly any possibility of hiding my true self - my deep, Christian conviction. My parents could be watched on the television screen, as well as in various newspapers and magazines all over the country. Besides, they were running their own, Christian activities - in the church or in various meeting houses.

Mostly, I found myself accepted. But what had originally seemed to be to my advantage, now suddenly seemed like a millstone around my neck - by many Christians I was required to possess the same, unique gifts as my beloved parents. And that was rather unfair! Timid and shy as I was, I could see no way at all of imitating the plain talk of my parents.

Another serious problem, with which I had to deal was the inevita ble question of my origin. As it was of everyone`s knowledge that I was the daughter of a genuine gipsy, I was met by bad words wherever I came (You will record that the village of Eidsvoll was the home district of my father and his gipsy-family, and so everyone knew of my origin). Sometimes, it was almost too much for me....

Before long, I became acquainted with the gipsy relatives of my father at Eidsvoll and I often went to see them. What was worse, however, I started to go dancing and celebrating with various girl friends of mine - very soon, I met with temptations! Literally, I was drawn between these two forces - my Christian family and friends and my new, wordly circle of acquaintances - with the result that I could not commit myself to either of them!

Finally, I decided to take a Sabbath-year at the Christian folk-high school of Hedmarktoppen - to think things over for myself. But again, I experienced a rather hard time. Being met with huge expectations as the child of Lise and Ludvig Karlsen, it ended up with my rebellion against all those things or persons who threatened to force me into an already fixed pattern of life. I became a real rebel, sneaking away from the school late in the evening, dating and flirting with various boys! Truly, I was not a Saint at that school! Yet, all I wanted was to be myself - Vera - not only the very «proper» daughter of Lise and Ludvig Karlsen!

Many years have passed since my stay at Hedmarktoppen. Today, I am a grown woman of 22 and as a Christian I have found my own, true identity as a full-time worker in the main office of the Norwegian Gospel Center. Furthermore, I have been working in two of the nursery schools being run by the Gospel Center, and besides, I am engaged to be married. At last, I have managed to pass through the difficult problem of being the child of busy parents.

Conclusively, I will state today that even though I experienced the joyful and blissful delight of receiving God`s call, I have also gone through its painful aspects. Everyone should be aware of the two co-ordinated faces of God`s divine call: The utmost joy and the utmost pain. Yet, out of this struggle comes victory. Considering today what has become of my beloved parents and what sort of impact the Gospel Center has had on our country, I would never stop praising the Lord for the very fact of keeping my Daddy and Mummy firmly in his call. Thanks to his strength, they have managed to stand firmly up - against all temptations! I might also add - in all my modesty - that I, too, have paid some of the price for it! Yet, most of all I am rather proud of the joint efforts of my parents as regards their rehabilitating work-program towards previous alcoholic misusers and dope-addicts and - simultaneously, what they have done for Jesus so far! How can they really endure it? «Because of God`s boundless love», must be the answer to that question.

We - the children - love them dearly and pray for their continual work and guidance; for the very sake of their own divine protection in the middle of their great and difficult calling.