I believe God has called me to be an ambassador for Christ in Denmark and spread the Good News there. He had been working through my Danish grandmother for many years, gradually bringing me into a deeper fellowship.
Also, I am to go on mission to Serbia, as a result of my undergraduate studies and signs God has shown me in relation to the Former Yugoslavia.
But what do I feel, as a man in his late-forties about being part-Danish? What if my English grandfather had settled in Denmark after the Second World War? Then, I would be writing on this forum about being part-English.
When I was a teenager, I used to think about Denmark a lot and what it would be like to be wholly Danish, living in Denmark. Then, for many years since, I have hardly thought about it. My half-Danish mother rarely spoke about her Danish relatives. I have never been to Denmark and I never learnt Danish.
In the last few months, I have been thinking about my Danish heritage more and more. Have I missed out in any way. Am I less of a person today because I missed out on those connections with my mother's and grandmother's Danish family? My mother had Danish aunts, uncles, and probably her Danish cousins continue to live in Denmark.
How much is necessary to explore? An individual establishes their identity in their adolescent years. But who am I really? I never developed my Danish identity and I don't know what sort of identity I should have developed as someone of dual heritage. I am not totally English so I should never have developed a totally English identity.
I guess I'm suffering from an identity crisis. I feel a little lost. My grandmother died 20 years ago, so I cannot turn to her for advice. She never taught me any Danish - not wanting to 'interfere'. I did learn a lot about her life in Denmark, growing up in the 1930s and 1940s. I am glad I spent many hours in my teen years chatting with her over coffee.
If I am to be an ambassador for Christ in Denmark, then I must draw up a plan beyond watching Danish TV and learning basic Danish.
What emotions should I explore and what is life really like for Danes and immigrants living in Denmark? How will this draw me in deeper fellowship with Jesus?
Also, I am to go on mission to Serbia, as a result of my undergraduate studies and signs God has shown me in relation to the Former Yugoslavia.
But what do I feel, as a man in his late-forties about being part-Danish? What if my English grandfather had settled in Denmark after the Second World War? Then, I would be writing on this forum about being part-English.
When I was a teenager, I used to think about Denmark a lot and what it would be like to be wholly Danish, living in Denmark. Then, for many years since, I have hardly thought about it. My half-Danish mother rarely spoke about her Danish relatives. I have never been to Denmark and I never learnt Danish.
In the last few months, I have been thinking about my Danish heritage more and more. Have I missed out in any way. Am I less of a person today because I missed out on those connections with my mother's and grandmother's Danish family? My mother had Danish aunts, uncles, and probably her Danish cousins continue to live in Denmark.
How much is necessary to explore? An individual establishes their identity in their adolescent years. But who am I really? I never developed my Danish identity and I don't know what sort of identity I should have developed as someone of dual heritage. I am not totally English so I should never have developed a totally English identity.
I guess I'm suffering from an identity crisis. I feel a little lost. My grandmother died 20 years ago, so I cannot turn to her for advice. She never taught me any Danish - not wanting to 'interfere'. I did learn a lot about her life in Denmark, growing up in the 1930s and 1940s. I am glad I spent many hours in my teen years chatting with her over coffee.
If I am to be an ambassador for Christ in Denmark, then I must draw up a plan beyond watching Danish TV and learning basic Danish.
What emotions should I explore and what is life really like for Danes and immigrants living in Denmark? How will this draw me in deeper fellowship with Jesus?