God's Adventurer

Proud parents

2012-02-09T09:05:00.001+03:00

What a blast this trip to Ethiopia has been! I have a gagillion photos and wonderful things to share with you!! Sorry I have not been able to update my blog these 2 weeks... Not so good internet :(

The best part of Harar, Ethiopia (and every part of the world for that matter) is always, always the people. Now my heart is so filled up with dear African family and my arms are so sore from holding lots and lots of kids! Harar was completely the same as we left it one year ago and at the same time, completely different. The markets are just as vibrant and adventurous, the injera just as sour and fluffy... But the Harar Church of Joy was even greater and more wonderful than ever! Samuel and I feel like proud parents. I guess you could say that our first born was a pioneer church in Africa and now it has grown and outshined our expectations. We love you so dearly Ashagre, Selam, Mohammed, Zenabwa, disciples, youth group, house churches.... We have bled and sweat and cried and lived and laughed with you and will always continue to life your arms as you chase the unreached on the Horn of Africa!!

Here are a few photo favs from Istanbul to tide you over until we get home in a few hours....

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Location:Istanbul, Turkey

2012-01-26T08:52:00.001+03:00

Leaving for Ethiopia in a few hours. Am I ready??? Not at all. But these pictures give my heart butterflies :) I'm in love!!!

Thanks everyone!

2012-01-23T20:12:00.000+03:00

I'm surrounded by boxes and suitcases... trying to decide which things should end up in India later on in life, which things should stay in Sweden, and which things to bring to Africa this week! And on top of that, Samuel and I are both sick and have fevers :( makes moving (and everything in between) a challenge!

But... we feel so blessed! Thank you everyone at Pingstkyrkan Varberg for donating all the wonderful clothing to Ethiopia! Our pastors families and disciples will be blown away! And thank you Second Chance for letting us raid the "boys" section today... they are going to feel like superheroes with their new clothes!!!

4 days until this guy!! Almost reunited...

Please keep us in your prayers! There are so many exciting things happening ahead of us and in the Kingdom... so there's no time to be exhausted or sick!

Sugar Pie

2012-01-20T20:38:00.001+03:00

Me and little baby Annie Björling. She is such a sweetie pie. You can read the incredible adventure-birth here. If you don't know Swedish... translate it here! She (and her wonderful family) has been the highlight of my crazy week. And... the other highlight is the warm cake my husband just baked for us! Tack älskling!

I will be in Ethiopia in less than one week.... and I have a really BIG "to do" list before then which largely consists of moving in with the in-laws for the rest of our short stay in Sweden! Transition has become such a familiar companion. Longing for new seasons.

"Tional"

2012-01-19T16:19:00.001+03:00

Me: "Do you even know what emotional means?"

Samuel: "Yea, EMO - a paralyzed state of being and TIONAL ("chanel") - like...... a perfume"

This was our conversation over lunch today. My husband makes me laugh :)

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Moving on

2012-01-17T16:22:00.000+03:00

Congratulations to our dear friends the Björlings on the birth of their 3rd daughter this morning! We are sooo deeply happy for you all!

Well the time has come for us to pack up our lives again. Always a bittersweet adventure. We moved into this apartment in Sweden almost one year ago, but because of traveling and such, I've only been living in it for 5 months. It's a sweet and cozy home with big livingroom windows, wooden floors, brick in the kitchen, a little balcony and a real dishwasher and washing machine( Pure culture shock when I moved in from Africa!)!!

We didn't put so much attention or effort into making it "ours" but a few favorite candle holders, vases and utensils will be boxed up and eventually re-opened in our future home in India. Longing for that day :) I'm trying to decide what to carry along in my suitcases that will make me feel at "home" wherever I am... what would that be for you??

Samuel and I enjoying the West coast of Scandinavia!

A long walk by the ocean and fika!

Scenic Sunday

2012-01-15T13:33:00.001+03:00

Precious, curious, beautiful children in a little village in North East India :)

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African soil

2012-01-13T11:57:00.001+03:00

Just 13 days until I'm back on holy soil. African soil. I could explode. We are going to be in THE Harar Church of JOY in Ethiopia :) In so many ways it feels like I'm going home. This was my first home just 2 days after getting married.. The place I sowed so many tears and prayers and laughs and dreams in. Longing with every part of me!!

With Oromo children in the HOT mountains on a 16 hour drive through the desert with a car from the 70's. Not a good idea!

Feeding hyenas with a hyena-man who prayed salvation just minutes before :)

Yes, that is raw meat being dangled by my head.

A few weeks later, I actually got bit on my side... but the ugly sucker didn't break the skin, thank God!

Just after a street-outreach led by our Bibleschool students!

Ethiopia! I am in love with you! And more... God is in love with you!!! Psalm 68:31 says, "Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God." Pray with me for the unreached on the Horn of Africa... that they would simply meet their Creator. Pray that God would heal their land and give them His Holy Spirit.

twentyfour

2012-01-10T16:53:00.001+03:00

Hard to believe I am going to be 24 this month. Didn't I just have my sweet 16??

My list of favorites:
Jesus
Holy Spirit
Husband
Coffee
Leather journal
Camera
Getting mail
Africa
India
China
Middle East
Hawaii
Okay, the whole map
Jesus
Samuel

...and repeat...

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Because we all need a fun song sometimes :)

2012-01-09T16:23:00.000+03:00

Guds äventyrare

2012-01-09T13:22:00.001+03:00

Written in Africa 2011.

The strange yet alluring combination of curry and garbage smoke drifts up to my fourth-story kitchen table view of the glittering stars tonight. What a silly blend of life I find myself tangled up in. Culture is a stunning experience. Religion woven within culture is difficult to understand, impossible to separate. Here I am in the fourth holiest Islamic city in the world and I have Hindu neighbors. The orthodox calls to prayer wake us up each morning. And each day... our clothes, our meals, our itinerary, keeps an unspoken boundary between us all. How could there be so many options to the truth? So many paths to eternity? How can I convince a person who believes in a million gods that there is one God who is seeking them out? Does love really change the world? Does a smile change the atmosphere? I don’t want to live in a world of harmonious religions... I want to win people for Christ! Does the god you serve actually know your name or the number of hairs on your head? Can your god save you of your unrighteousness? The God I serve - the Creator of the world and your life in it - is alive, active, full of love. He cheers you on exactly where you are rather than demanding perfection from you with no reward. He’s faithful, powerful and present. He gave His own son Jesus to die for your sins so that you wouldn't have to. He is standing at the door to your heart... knocking... knocking... waiting to be invited inside. Not as a guest, but as the new owner of the building! Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is a free gift... but after His great mercy and love washes you clean... it will cost you everything. And it's so so worth it. Tell the world.

This necklace was given to me by my bridesmaids (Joelle and Lauren) the night before I got married.

It says God's Adventurer in Swedish! Perfect :)

Samuel gave me the cross for valentine's day 3 years ago :)

Art

2012-01-05T18:20:00.001+03:00

I love art. I love love love it! When I was in highschool I had big plans to become a fashion designer. Thankfully though, I decided to follow God's dreams for me instead of my own mini dreams for myself :) and that's where I am today..... But this afternoon ive been fingerpainting on my ipad. So strange to draw without pencils and erasers... But i think it turned out fun :) Oh this modern day technology... Crazy.

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Best part of me

2012-01-01T03:48:00.001+03:00

Romans 8:37-39 NLT
"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2012 has reached us in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Still coming your way usa! I always feel a bit emotional(dont know if thats the best word to use) over new years... But now Im especially excited for what's to come. Sometimes its overwhelming to think about all that will happen in the next 12 months but I know that I have the Holy Spirit (and my wonderful husband) always with me :) I read this scripture from Romans today and was so filled up with God's great heart over ME. Always. In all seasons. All experiences, all tears, trials, transitions, new territories, laughs, surprises and adventures. I couldnt survive without my God! And Ill never have to. He is the best part of me.

Thank you God for another year together with YOU. I will worship you in the minutes and hours and days and weeks and months to come. I will chase Your heart. I want to be more like YOU!! Thank you for your great love that never ever ever ever leaves me!!!

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Merry little Christmas

2011-12-27T13:51:00.001+03:00

The Samuel's and the food :)

Lotta and the baby and me :)

Santa Samuel :)

They were so excited about their little bracelets and Allibaba pants from India :)

Moments [[again]]

2011-12-25T12:10:00.003+03:00

What to do, what to do!? Samuel is home from work now and sleeping... and it's Christmas morning and I'm all alone in a quiet kitchen :( I started going through videos/photos from the last 4 years of Christmas... all in Africa! That definitely warms my heart.

A little Christmas dance from 2008 in Ethiopia :)

The huge box of [[40]] enormous sugar cookies and gifts mom and dad mailed us!

Me and Naftali sticking snowflakes on our African windows :)

And... our Christmas rat! Caught by Mohammed!

Christmas service for the homeless and crippled in our Harar Church of Joy... including a live donkey and goats in our nativity drama :)

My sister's 4th baby [[Levi Danger]] came as a Christmas gift!

A late-Christmas visit to USA

Family remember:

"the more you drink [[coffee]] the better it gets!" -great grandma

hahahaha

Covies :) Enjoying Starbucks on a cold morning in Pittsburgh :)

Christmas 2010! Just about every one of my favorite photos has to do with this kid!

"It's my color!" -Ashagre

Opening presents with Zenabwa and Naftali! Love Zed!! She cheers non-stop the entire time :)

Samuel and Naftali :)

My favorite :)

The best team!

"God Jul!" (Swedish "Merry Christmas")

Opening another package from mom and dad under our little tree :)

Baking gingerbread elephants and hippos with Sarah!

I never know what is to come but when I look back at the last few years... living on 4 different continents, chasing the unreached people groups, preaching, adventuring, skyping with loved ones, backpacking, being a newly wed... and I look forward at the next year of living out of suitcases and moving to another new country... I know that God carries me every step of the way. Like I said in my post from Thanksgiving... God gives us moments to enjoy in life. Tradition, glitz, stuff... isn't so important. What matters is moments together with the Holy Spirit and the precious people God puts in our lives. This lonely Christmas morning in Sweden is just another moment that I will look back on in the years to come...

This afternoon will be spent with some best friends... longing!!!!!

Hubs

2011-12-25T00:57:00.000+03:00

I have the best hubby in the world. The world. My hero and friend! Thank you for dancing with me to Christmas songs and cuddling up with Disney cartoons and coffee this afternoon :) Now it's late Christmas Eve night and Samuel is away working his second night-shift. No fun to sit here without you love... but when you get home at 6am, make sure to wake me so that we can wish each other a Merry Christmas before you fall asleep :) Bubba!!! Älskar dig så mycket!!!

List

2011-12-24T11:12:00.000+03:00

MerRy cHriSTmaS list...

[x] daddy and mama in Hawaii
[x] family in Ohio
[x] Ethiopian family in Harar
[x] my sister and wes and kiddos in KY
[x] baby braduhhh
[x] my covies.. you know who you are ;)
[x] Swedish family and friends
[x] Indian friends and heroes
[x] Youngstown!
[x] fellow M's all over the world
[x] all my wonderful blog readers!

I wish I could gather you all and put you in my little living room to celebrate Christmas together! My heart is in so many corners of the earth today :)

... and Happy Birthday my Jesus! Love You!

"Christmas Table"

2011-12-23T12:43:00.000+03:00

If anyone's counting... two days until Christmas! Still doesn't feel quite like that for me... half of me is still stuck in India, and the other half is tiptoeing through Swedish Christmas traditions. Everyone is speaking about "Christmas table" of cold ham, caviar, mini 'hot dogs', fermented fish, meatballs, cabbage, raw herring... I just don't think I can fully adapt to that menu! Strange for my American taste buds... If I had my choice, every holiday would resemble Thanksgiving :)

Tomorrow [[Christmas Eve]] is the big day here in Scandinavia. Everyone will be opening up their presents in the evening. I guess Santa visits Europe first and that's why the American's have to wait until the morning of the 25th :) Samuel is working the next 2 nights... so it'll just be me and some cozy Christmas songs... waiting for Jesus' birthday...

Spent some time with my favorite little girlies Elsa and Siri yesterday... In LOVE! Can't wait to spend my 25th with them too!!!

Old School

2011-12-20T13:27:00.001+03:00

Found some old school photos of Samuel this morning...

Looks like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic

Hottie

Bible School

Jonatan and Samuel in Bible School

High School Graduation..........

On a mission trip in Spain 2002

Punk rocker

Samuel Eriksson!

Monday

2011-12-19T22:21:00.000+03:00

Monday, December 19:

Set up the Christmas tree at the in-law's house today! Still waiting for snow. Enjoying the lights of Sweden and dreaming about India. So happy my God is a holy God.

Over and out.

SC

2011-12-19T12:04:00.000+03:00

SC -- no, not santa clause.... Sugar Cookies!!! This recipe was passed down from my Great Grandma.. (who is still making them herself!) They are the most delicious, scrumptious, delicate, gooey, not too sweet, little wonders of my childhood! We always ate them for breakfast on Christmas day :) Two years ago in Ethiopia... mom and dad actually mailed them to us! 40 of them! And my mom's are literally enormous. It took about 10 days for us to get them and they were packed so well that we were all able to eat them in the African heat through the holidays.

This is the first time I've been able to whip up these little treats as a married woman. I was nervous... but I think they turned out swell...

Do not ask for the recipe... In the words of my dad, you have to be married-in or born-in to get it! But if you are living in Sweden, you are more than welcome to stop by for a smaka :)

Merry Christmas week!

Eyes of the nations

2011-12-16T10:18:00.000+03:00

Our 6 week adventure across Northern India ended with a 60 hour non-stop journey home to Sweden by trains, taxis planes, auto rickshaws... we were beat! Oh but our hearts are so full! I can't describe how madly in love we are with the unreached people and how big our dreams are growing. There is a LOT of work ahead of us, but there is nothing else in the world we would rather be doing. India is stunning. It's insanely polluted, dirty, full of the richest spices, scary traffic, mustaches, glittering fabrics, powerful mountains, monkeys, elephants, and people people people. Millions and millions and millions of people.

I took 2000 photos in just 6 weeks. Gah! Expect to see lots of beautiful Indian faces on your computer screen for the next few months. This blog is going to be bubbling over (as if it hasn't already been) with the call to GO! One of my many life-goals is to inspire people to GO through photography... A photo holds the power to change a life. The eyes of the nations are piercing and alluring and calling...

Happy Friday to you wherever you are in the world :)

Varanasi

2011-12-08T11:38:00.001+03:00

Varanasi, India. A place of raw life and death. Overwhelming colors, smells, culture, religion. Chaos. Beauty. And everywhere... Everywhere... A cry for life, truth, love, God.

Pray for India.

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Go Go Go

2011-12-06T17:42:00.001+03:00

We are in Varanasi.. at the Ganges river. We arrived after a night-train yesterday morning. The moment these famed hindu waters came into sight, I started to weep. I've been longing to be here for a long, long time. This morning we were up at 5am to catch an early boat trip before daylight... we drifted for two hours... watching people come out and worship the rising sun, bathe in the "holy" water, wash clothes, meditate, dip and splash, feed the fish for good carma. They believe the waters absorb everything unclean. The river is especially famous for receiving the dead and sending them to heaven's eternity... or so they think. Only by dying here can you finally end the reincarnation process.. so the old come from all over India and beyond to die in Varanasi. I saw two cremation areas today. They are totally open, visible to all... with burning fires 24 hours a day. A corpse was set aflame just 3 feet infront of me. Can you understand?? People are seeking and performing and seeking and performing... just to fight their way into another hopefully better life, or to get out of this world to the divine.........but they don't know Jesus! HE is the only way to Father God, to life, to eternity, to hope, to love, to freedom. There are 5 kinds of people that can't be cremated including pregnant women, children, holy men, some diseased... they have rocks tied to them and are tossed directly in the water when they die.

Can you hear the cries of the lost? Can you see in your heart the spiritual darkness the unreached live in day after day???

GO GO GO give them the truth of Jesus Christ!! No works, no religion... just love, freedom, life!

Beach saree

2011-12-03T11:12:00.001+03:00

Isn't this a stunning photo?! Taken on a beach in Goa.

Now we are in New Delhi again... Meeting friends and heroes. Tomorrow we will take another night train to Varanassi... LONGING.

Isaiah 57 -- read this passage this morning in the Message Bible! Powerful words!

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Moments

2011-11-29T09:00:00.001+03:00

We have made a pit-stop here in Goa at the ocean. After one month of non-stop travel by planes, trains, buses, taxis, rickshaws, and foot.... Covering 8 cities each holding [[millions]] of people... We were beat! Feels good to take a breather and process a bit before diving into another new state.

But we havn't exactly been relaxing here either... Kayaking, body surfing, motorcycling, exploring, scorpions, monkeys, bulls with big horns stampeeding down the beach full of sunbathers(THAT is very entertaining!) And all in over 100 degree weather!

Motorcycling through the jungle... Yes, Im driving. No, they did not give us helmets... But we didnt go too fast..

I was sick our first two days here but we did manage to share an enchalada together for Thanksgiving.. Sitting on our bed under a mosquito net. I've been away from the states and my family for a lot of years now during the holidays. Even when traditions cant be practiced and youre in another brand new place, I'm learning more and more to cherish moments. Moments hold more value than glitz does.... Moments with God, with friends, with strangers, in villages, in alleys, on beaches, in crowds, totally alone, under mosquito nets. Thanks God for the moments of life.

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In Love.

2011-11-27T07:12:00.001+03:00

I am madly in love with these faces!!! All photos were taken at a remote village two days ago. In love. In love. In love.

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Cheering them on..

2011-11-24T11:14:00.001+03:00

A.m.a.z.i.n.g week. Amazing. Pastor's conferences, festival meetings, thousands of souls brought to the kingdom of God, new friends, preaching, praying and little sleep!

Samuel preaching...

Me sharing about the bride of Christ....

The most beautiful people!!! Ahh!!!

I am blown away at the honor that the Indian people live by. Ive never experienced anything like it. I cant even remember how many flower necklaces Ive received... Crowns... Badges... Kind words... Hugs and kisses. (ive even given out autographs but i cant quite figure out why...) Yesterday we arrived at a remote village and were welcomed with dances and singing... And more glittery necklaces and badges :)

This photo was taken at the end of our featival night... Lines of people kept coming with flowers galore! I felt like a queen!

I cant help but think about how India is preparing the bride for Christs' coming too. This country holds millions upon millons of unreached... But it also holds several warrior/heros in the kingdom and Im so happy to be cheering them on!!

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Adulturous Woman

2011-11-19T09:29:00.001+03:00

Last night I got to play the 'adulturous woman' from John 8.. In a festival meeting. I've been doing dramas my whole life, but last night I sat weeping on the stage as the story was being displayed..... JESUS said "he who is without sin, cast the first stone".... One by one, her accusers walked away... JESUS was the only one with the right to punish her, yet He told her to "go, and sin no more".

Powerful. I love to preach Jesus to the uneached!!!

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The Least

2011-11-19T07:35:00.001+03:00

It has become harder and harder to find time (and wifi) to blog! We are just loving India too much!! We spent the beginning of this week in the jungle-Himalayas... Staying with friends and hero India-pioneers. Then we spent a day flying from Derha Dun to New Delhi to Kolkata. We only had one day to spend in Kolkata but we LOVED it! Visited a big hindu temple that brought me to tears.. They were sacrificing animals, burning incense and laying flowers before their idols.. Just outside it's gates sat the poor, crippled, diseased who came out from Mother Theresa's home for the dying. Those are my most favorite places to be in the world... With the least of the world.

Then we took the 12 hour night train East for a Jesus Festival and Pastor's Seminar.. We met up with more hero-friends/evangelists. Amazing things are happening. Pastors from 22 of the 28 districts in this state came for the meetings... Now they're filled up and ready to continue running the final lap of this race. We love Jesus and watching His kingdom come!!!

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Photo album

2011-11-10T19:00:00.001+03:00

India, India. We left Kashmir on Tuesday for New Delhi (thankfully via air) where we have planned to spend 3 days before moving on to Dehra Dun, Mussoorie, Calcutta, Ranchi and then all over the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Here are some photos from Srinigar, Kashmir...

The sheep and goats(the size of horses) were painted in preparation to be slaughtered and sacrificed for the Islamic holiday which celebrates Abraham's ram that God provided for sacrifice in place of his son Isaac..

From our house-boat roof at sunset :)

Delhi has been great. Yesterday we saw India Gate and then went to see Lotus Temple... The temple was open for people of all religions and cultures, many sat meditating in complete silence... Samuel and I just prayed in the Holy Spirit, asking God to show Himself through visions to the people who were genuinely seeking Him. Can you imagine meditating in the name of an idol and then suddenly you see Jesus standing before you?! This happened to one of our former-muslim friends.... He just kept having dreams of himself fishing and pulling up men.... Then one day he really met Jesus and now he is a pastor!!! It's so exciting to do God's business.. I'm always being blown away.

New friends at the temple...

After the temple I stumbled upon a small boy painting the most extravagant henna on a woman's hands. I was amazed and understandably sat down for my own turn. Now my left hand is decorated in gorgeous Indian fashion (will last for 3 weeks). I also got a desperately needed haircut. Feel like a new woman! In the evening we walked (or actually we pushed/shoved/squeezed/stumbled) through an insanely busy market of clothing, spices, shoes, nuts, candles.. Everything! We were sweaty and screaming to eachother over the chaos of constant car-horn-blowing (it's sincerely non-stop) and finally my sandle broke when I tripped over a hole in the road, so we made our way 'home'. Exhausted, but with really full hearts.

Today was spent shopping for new sandals and exploring the diverse sides of India. On one side of the street you have a shopping mall, on the other side a slum and just around the corner a mosque and temple.... Everywhere inbetween you find cripples crawling through traffic, entire families squeezed onto a motorbike, Boys playing cricket, old men sipping masala chai and the most stunning women I've ever seen! Every woman looks like a queen here with all their glittery sarees, gold nose rings and earrings and bangels and forehead jewels. One woman was walking down the street with a sheet of wood on her head and she was wrapped up in a bright red saree... So elegant. Only in India!

Tomorrow night we will sleep on a train and go North again to the cold mountains :) God is truly good.

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All is well

2011-11-10T07:51:00.001+03:00

Hey everybody! I plan to write a longer post soon... But for now just know that Samuel and I are well and loving India! We are heading out again to the streets of Delhi in a few minutes..

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Kashmir

2011-11-06T10:23:00.001+03:00

We left New Delhi 2 days ago... for a "24"... ended up being over 27 hour bus ride North to Srinigar, Kashmir! That is the Northern tip of India, surrounded by China, Tibet and Pakistan. We were so tired and stiff after the trip, my ankles were swollen like and elephants' and our skin was smeared with pollution, but we were happy! We are staying in a houseboat on a lake under the Himalaya mountains. Spending time here with the Muslims... praying, dreaming and freezing!

I have stunning photos to share with you later :)

Pray for Kashmirian missionaries to be raised up and sent to their own war-weary land. Pray for the Holy Spirit to visit people in their dreams, their homes, their daily encounters... drawing their hearts closer to an encounter with the living God.

India

2011-11-03T13:10:00.001+03:00

India is incredible. The people are stunning. The smells and noises are overwhelming. The food is spicy and delicious. The traffic is scarry. There is chaos all around. Somehow we feel like we have come home.

We were bumped up to first class on our flight from Istanbul to Mumbai... It was amazing. We sat praying and prophecying over India when it's lights finally began to shine below. I cried a lot. Typical :)

When we arrived in the airport we found out that our bags had not... And then before we made it to our hotel we fell into a scam... But it all worked out and we were sooo happy just to be in this place that we've been longing for for so many years!

We spent our first day meeting new Indian friends, walking the streets, handwashing our one pair of clothes and taking on the wild traffic of the big city... That alone was an adventure!

On Wednesday we planned to take a train North to Ajmer but there were no tickets... So instead we flew to New Delhi. The hardest part of traveling like this is finding places to stay. Everyone was out of rooms except for one "guest house" in a dark alley way. We went up it's 3 flights of skinny cement stairs and found a reception desk sparkeling with christmas lights and idols... They showed us to our room($12/night). It was a rough place.. We took baby wipe showers and slept on top of my scarf.. Using my skirts as blankets. In the middle of the night we heard someone trying to come through our door... Poor Samuel lost his voice on our first day so when he tried to shout out... Nothing really came... But the stranger soon left. We were half asleep/half awake for the rest of the night.

It is easy to go anywhere in the world when you know that you have heard the whispers of God calling you to the people He is burning for. Do I long for a warm shower, or even just a shower.. Or a clean bed at times? Of course! But if it doesn't come, I'm still happy. We are on this crazy wonderful journey of first class and last class... And the sacrifices are always worth it. I have no idea what lies ahead but I do know that there are millions of lost all around me... They wear turbans and sarees and try to sell me their idols... They ask me for money, ask me for food, they look at me with the most piercing of eyes...
I just want to give them Jesus. The only living God!

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Location:New Delhi

Ready, Set....

2011-10-30T08:20:00.002+03:00

Friday was my 5-hour Swedish test. Saturday was marathon clean/prepare/pack day. Now it's 5am Sunday and I can't sleep because of all the butterflies in my tummy! Tomorrow we're leaving for India!

Friday: The test was good, just long, but not so difficult... as usual I was far too anxious for the weeks leading up to it. Last night I had a brief conversation with my neighbor in the hallway and he said "Wow, your Swedish has improved, I can understand everything you say now!" haha. That's a good sign :)

This little smiley-face-guy waited for me outside my car door on my way to the Test.. and I made Samuel wait on me so I could get a pic for the blog :) Love little happy surprises!

Saturday: Laundry. Laundry. Scrubbed bathroom. Mopped floors. Cleaned and prepared camera stuff (My photography things are all ready for India... my backpack on the other hand, empty. Shows where my priorities are I suppose :)) Shopped, or tried to shop, it's so difficult to find things in this country.. there is nothing like Walmart or Target or a drugstore... what I really need is a travel-aisle. (Someone please, where can I find contact solution in Sweden??) Somehow in the midst of all this I managed to bake a chicken and mash some potatoes too :) I felt a bit like a super-mom, minus the children. In the evening Samuel and I sat over a map of India and discussed our plan-A vs. plan-B method. Pray that God shows us whether to start from the East or the West!

There it is.. my life in a red bag for 6 weeks. Although it's empty in the photo :)

Sunday: In a few hours we're having lunch together with Samuel's parents, sister, her-hub and kids... love the Strandbergs. Church starts at 4pm (Pingstkrykan Varberg.. come!) and I'll be leading worship with my hero friends Samuel(his blog is in Swedish) and Lotta and some other wonderful people! I love worshiping!! At some point I really do need to pack that back-pack and Skype with mama and daddy in Hawaii too :)

Monday: Drive to Gothenburg 10 am
Fly to Istanbul 1 pm (we like Istanbul's airport - been there so many times. It was always our first taste of the West when we came out of Africa and Samuel would leave me with all the luggage and run to Burger King for french fries. The way to Samuel's heart?? Fast food.)
Arrive in India 4:15 am Tuesday
... then we have a countless number of train-trips(most of them around the 20-hours), rickshaws, boats, a plane or two... pray for strength, health, rest, favor and wisdom in all of our travels!!!

'To an Unknown God'

2011-10-27T11:57:00.001+03:00

India is full of worshipers. Faithful worshipers. They have given their lives to all kinds of gods and spirituality. I weep as I watch this video of the Hindu people bathing, praying and burning their dead at the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh.

When the Indians meet the Creator and Savior of the world, the one and only God who is alive and active, listening, breathing, moving, loving... they will be the greatest worshipers the world has known. Pray for a shift to happen in the atmosphere of India. Pray for God to sweep through the nation in raw and powerful ways. Pray for the Indians in all of their different religions to come to the truth of the cross.

Paul preached so incredibly when he was in Greece, speaking with people who believed in countless gods.... (Acts 17)

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring. And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers.

Pioneer

2011-10-26T13:22:00.000+03:00

Today I've started preparing our bags for India. Last night Samuel and I skyped with one of our heroes who has been working in India for years.... and I can't even put words to how much my heart is longing to get there!!! I'm also listening to the "Pioneer Conference" with Dutch Sheets that my aunt Illa sent us in the mail this week. Wow wow wow. You can listen to one of Dutch's messages here.

Here is the song Pioneer sung by Rick Pino. It was written by Nancy Honeytree in the 70's during the Jesus People Movement in America. I pray that your spirit would be stirred... to pioneer the lands God is calling you to.

Marathon

2011-10-26T01:18:00.001+03:00

Okay people... the marathon season is in full swing! Today we booked our tickets to Ethiopia(Jan/Feb)... and on Monday we're leaving for India(Nov/Dec). Then it's off to the states In March... but more on that later :) And soon after, India again!

God is so incredible. He is the reason for every little thing that I do. My Creator, Savior, Healer, Dad and Friend. I'm so full of love for Him! Nothing in life is sacred to me except God... nothing else matters. Lately when people ask me what I do and I start to share... they say, "ooo, so you're religious." And my answer is always no. Religion is what man creates so that they feel they have a formula to follow... a list of to-do's or not-to-do's that will assure them a good place in life and whatever comes after life. There are lots of religions to choose from if you just want to become a better person and have a new hobby. But if you want life, freedom, truth... you will find that through a relationship with God, His Son Jesus and His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. That's my only formula. That is the only way. Lots of paths come with flashy advertisements for pleasure, success... but there is only ONE way to God and that is through His Son Jesus... believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and asking Him to forgive you and fill up your life. Not all paths lead to God... but He will walk any path to meet you where you are and show you the way to go.

My life-goal, the thing that makes me come alive, is to follow God and tell people about Him along the way. I left everything just to chase God. And this is the best life I could have ever found :)

Pray for the persecuted Church

2011-10-24T19:44:00.002+03:00

I got this email today from Christian Solidarity Worldwide...

Join a worldwide day of prayer for persecuted Christians
More than 25 pastors are killed in Colombia every year, simply because they lead churches. Right now there are over 2,000 Christians in prison in Eritrea, just because they're Christians. In Iran, Pastor Nadarkhani is facing execution for apostasy (abandoning Islam). And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

On 6 November 2011, there'll be an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). It's a special opportunity for the global Church to unite in prayer, raising up situations just like the ones above.

Joelle

2011-10-23T13:24:00.000+03:00

This is the picture on my desktop right now. Me and Joelle!

Joelle is studying at Heidi Baker's Bibleschool in Mozambique! We don't get to talk much these months because we're always on different continents.. but I do believe she just finished up a ministering in the bush somewhere in Africa.... and she will be taking a trip to Nepal after she finishes her term in Mozambique. We just might see each other in Nepal!

These pictures were taken in Ethiopia... when Joelle stayed with me for one month there!

If you're a prayer person, please don't forget to pray for the people who are working out on the fields!

Voiceless

2011-10-21T11:42:00.000+03:00

I've been meditating on the prophetic chapters at the end of Isaiah all week. Crying for the lost. Proclaiming these promises over the lands that I love... over the people God has burdened me with. Especially over the voiceless: people plagued with diseases, the starving, child prostitutes, victims of violence, those trapped in trafficking, the aborted and their mothers, victims of "honor killings", the horrendous dark sex-world of prostitution and rape...

^{Isaiah 60}

¹⁷ I will exchange your bronze for gold,
      your iron for silver,
   your wood for bronze,
      and your stones for iron.
   I will make peace your leader
      and righteousness your ruler.
¹⁸ Violence will disappear from your land;
      the desolation and destruction of war will end.
   Salvation will surround you like city walls,
      and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.

¹⁹ “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
      nor the moon to give its light by night,
   for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
      and your God will be your glory.
²⁰ Your sun will never set;
      your moon will not go down.
   For the Lord will be your everlasting light.
      Your days of mourning will come to an end.
²¹ All your people will be righteous.
      They will possess their land forever,
   for I will plant them there with my own hands
      in order to bring myself glory.
²² The smallest family will become a thousand people,
      and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.
      At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

Legwarmers

2011-10-19T10:47:00.000+03:00

It was pouring down rain yesterday on my walk to school... so I brought my waterproof camera out :)

Tis the season of legwarmers, scarves, hooded-jackets! For the next week and half that is... then it's on to HOT India for us!

The view from my classroom :) Not bad.

national test

2011-10-14T23:38:00.004+03:00

I've been waiting all week to find out if I was qualified to take a national Swedish-language test on October 28th. Found out today that I am. :)

Now that I know this sweet fact that I was longing so badly for, I'm realizing the insane amount of hours I have yet to cram in to these next 2 weeks! Many of my classmates that will also take the test have been in school for a year or more... and I've only been there for a month and a half. The test is only 2 days before we're leaving for India as well! Lots lots lots to do.

But, tomorrow... Samuel and I will take the train to Gothenburg for a much needed day of strolling hand-in-hand through the autumn-crisp cobble stoned allies of Scandinavia. Studying can wait for one day. I need a few hours of snapping photos and cuddling with my man!

Missionary

2011-10-13T09:19:00.001+03:00

A missionary isn’t a missionary because they have the ability to sacrifice more than the other Christians. Missionaries that become missionaries for the glam and the save the world ministries they think up on paper will quickly fade. Glam looks more like dust on the mission field. Agendas melt and mix with those preconceived notions into mud at your feet. A missionary is simply a missionary because they love Jesus. Maybe that’s cliché. I like cliché. Maybe it’s not complex enough for fundraisers and conferences. But it is what it is. Love. Pure, undefiled, radical love for Jesus that absolutely must touch someone else. A missionary has the ability to take their intimacy with God to the streets with power. They have the ability to be transformed in their minds to mold into any culture at anytime, no matter the speech, the food, the living conditions, the dress, the danger or the hard soil in which they have been called to sow.

From my Diary a little over one year ago....

Today in Ethiopia, I was in search of fresh "bortocan" or oranges if you don’t speak Amerinja. While thinking how strange it was that I had been searching for this typically common fruit for two days, I remembered that the city had also been out of gas for several weeks and back at home we had no electricity or water. When you’re a missionary, your entire life changes. The topics of a typical day in the western hemisphere become culture shock when you live in Africa. Despite my scattered thoughts though, I was walking next to Holy Spirit so I wasn’t surprised when my spirit-woman fluttered inside me. Before I knew it, I found myself sitting in the sand.

“Selamnacho..” I began with my typical Ethiopian cheeriness. To any other group of women, my cheeks would have been dripping with kisses and my lips stiff from smiling with such extroverted joy… but these women were different. They were the hardest women I’ve seen on this continent, sitting on the dirty ground beneath the fruit stands and the big walls leading to the old city. They were completely inebriated from the drug kat, which proved its power over them by the bright green stains still clinging to their teeth. Brutal scars outlined their faces like a map displaying the course of their lives. Most of the marks were still fresh. Their legs were fully exposed in the late afternoon glow of sunshine, a sight you never see when you live in the fourth holiest Islamic city in the world. A tabletop of torn cardboard centered itself between them as they played some unrecognizable card game and passed a cigarette between themselves. Only one woman responded to my greeting, the rest never even lifted their eyes.

I felt like I belonged. I longed so badly to pick up some spades and hearts and nestle my way between them. I didn’t need to say so many words, I just wanted to be close. They were the most beautiful women with all their flaws, bloodshot eyes and missing teeth. They must have been teenagers somewhere inside their aged exteriors. They had been through too much to merely be a group of young women. As I did my best to squeeze into their lives for just a moment, a small street boy took the mobile from my hand. He apparently belonged to this group of girls. Another woman with the biggest open wound of them all, just on the corner of her eye, explained emotionlessly that she also had a baby. I wondered where that sweet homeless infant must have been. She didn’t look so concerned though.

For a moment I fought back tears as I imagined where they would be in less than an hour when the sun disappeared. I wondered if their hearts filled with dread the way mine did or was it just “clock-in” for them. I felt like I was under water as I searched for words in their language but none of them held enough love in their definitions to speak out clearly. None of them gave me the ability to open my mouth. I wondered if they had ever heard the name of Jesus. Jesus the Son of God. The sinless Man. The One who would only love them, never take advantage of their souls and bodies. The One full of healing and restoration. The true Creator and Lover of the dreadful lives they sat in.

As I walked away, I let the tears flow freely. Many religious Muslim and Orthodox women stared at me, shocked that I had lowered myself to the “bad girls” level. I only continued with pride. I was overflowing with love and desperation all at once… like Romeo and Juliet must have felt, or a best friend who loses their only confinement. It was the love, desperation and heart of the Father for the unreached. For the ones who don’t care enough to even hide who they are or what they do… the ones who reek of sin, rage and pain.

Evangelism is not a complex to-do list. It doesn’t take 2 years of studying a language followed by 10 years of learning a culture before you are ready to reach someone. It’s very simple. Incorporate the Gospel into your everyday life. When you play a game with, give a gift to, study with a classmate or buy someone coffee, you squeeze yourself into other’s hearts. When this happens, it’s only a matter of time before Jesus squeezes His way in there too.

I've heard it only takes 30 days to make something a habit in your life. Imagine if you share Jesus someway, somehow, with someone everyday. In just one month, you'll be an addict! It will flow naturally.

“Today it is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not fashionable to talk with them.” -Mother Teresa

God adventurers aren’t afraid to get dirty. They have no problem sitting with smelly sinners or holding the unclean. They have calloused knees from hours in prayer, dirt under their nails, dust in their hair. They're raw and real. They mirror Jesus.

Ironman in my island hometown!

2011-10-09T11:21:00.000+03:00

The Ironman triathlon took place yesterday on my very street in Kailua Kona Hawaii! Mom said the island is packed with people from all over the world. Tens of thousands of athletes applied to be a part of the race, but only 1800 were selected. This video shows the top athletes and a glimpse of the course(watch that at around 8:20 in the clip)... amazing!

2.4 miles swim

112 miles on the bike

26.2 mile run

Happy saturday

2011-10-08T16:17:00.000+03:00

I'm not a huge fan of baking. I think it has to do with the fact that I've had so many traumatic experiences. Cooking, I love. Especially ethnic things with lots and lots of spice. When I was in Hawaii cooking for mom and dad, I fixed a lot of Ethiopian and Indian dishes... finally mom said, "You're not cooking anymore. Too many beans.."

My little chocolate rings and pretzels [notice the leopard apron - favorite:) ]

Well, Samuel's working an enormous amount of hours this weekend, so I've forced myself to s-t-o-p studying for a while and do some house-wifey things. First I baked a loaf of homemade, really dark and grainy bread... braided. But it didn't rise. Even though I added two packages of yeast and let it sit for 1.5hr! Something always goes wrong when I touch an oven :( Secondly, I made some chocolate pretzels. They're okay. I'll make up for the not-so-incredible baked goods with a big pot of spicy mexican soup(with beans of course). Happy Saturday.

ps- A cool thing that happened this week: I was talking to a guy in my class on Thursday. He's from Palestine and has a wife and 5 children there that have not gotten their immigration papers approved so they too can move to Sweden. He was so sad and helpless. He's a Muslim and he knows that I'm a Christian... I said that I would pray to my God for him and his family to be reunited soon. I did. And the next day in class... he ran up to me with all the papers... they all got their permanent residency to be here in Sweden and will be on their way shortly.. after one year of separation! I told him it's because I prayed for him! So fun to work as an ambassador for Christ.. just daily sowing seeds and cracking open old creaky doors so the love and light of God can sneak in take over :)

Stomp

2011-10-05T22:31:00.000+03:00

S.t.u.d.y.i.n.g. today. A lot. I have a big test coming up in Swedish. But then Stomp started playing through my itunes! I don't think the brief dancing/distraction hurt my efforts too much :) Fling back to some old school Gospel goodness :)

And another good one just for fun :)

Wild Appetite

2011-10-05T20:05:00.000+03:00

"A worker's appetite worksfor him, for his hunger urges him on."

-Proverbs 16:26

Hunger in its entirety is truly unbearable. It's an invisible force that eats awayat a person so deeply that they find themselves unable to function. It's urgent, wild, hopeless, aching,and deadly if not filled.

You may think you understand hunger but ourtemporary roller coaster rides of growling tummies and quick-fixes havewatered down the true and perfect desperation we need to find when it comes tothe things of God. Pudding andpretzels will never translate our spirit’s appetite. The rumbling of a spirit is a quake that cannot be ignored. It can never be quenched with snackydevotionals, sing-a-longs or pictures of someone else’s smorgasbord… thoseexcuses of sustenance still leave you malnourished. The Bible is described in Matthew 4:4 as bread for our spirits. We can’t find that in the fast foodlane as we run out the door to begin our busy days. Jesus Himself was wildly hungry saying “my food is to do the will of my Father who sent Me”!

Sometimes you don't know how hungry you are forthe supernatural and adventurous kingdom of God until you take your first bite. Reading about the wonders in Acts andthe pursuit of the apostles is astounding, but when you begin writing your ownpages based upon the events of your day, you obtain an appetite that exceedsany amount of desire you've ever felt. This appetite, in turn, makes you an addict of seeing people pray the prayer of salvation, being delivered from demons, beginning to walk in new lives and receive Holy Spirit.

A wild appetitesettled securely in the hand of God has no limits.

Howdo you know when your life and your spirit are yearning for more? How can you tell when your insides aretrying to run out of your skin for an adventure? Hunger is a natural andinvisible anticipation that pulsates so vividly within your veins, making ithard to think. When you can’t givejustice to the screaming adjectives that are blurrily muttered in tangled chaos while you sit alone prayingin your room, you’re hungry. Whenyou feel fidgety even in the midst of success and opportunity, you’re reallyjust hungry. God has created youwith this burning desire for thrill and the adventurous journey that comesalong. Will you let that desire besatisfied?

My hungry hero friend Sarah!

Hungryappetites usher in the kind of anticipation that steals away one’s oxygen justbefore Jack pops out of his box, the anticipation of an expected phone calljust before your adrenalin launches you into the air at the sound of ringing. It’s like the burst of a balloon or theterrible sensation of slamming on brakes. It’s overwhelming and all consuming.

Hungercan strike at any age, any location. It strikes within transition periods between one season and the next,when you least expect it and when you’ve been waiting for it with opened arms. It calls to you with screaming whisperssaying, “Is this all there is to life? God, there has to be more!” Short bites of God’s presence will begin tomake you sick, squirmy, unhappy and uncomfortable because your spirit man iscrying out for intimacy, your heart is longing for the deep-end of His Kingdom.

Ibelieve this hunger hits all of us at one point in our lives, whether we learnto recognize and respond to it or not. God is a God of greatness and adventure and we are made in His image.

Whenit does hit you, you will automatically begin a search for fulfillment. God brings true satisfaction but bewareof the fast-pass billboards along the way.

Thesum of life is meant to go beyond the status quo of white picket fences anddegrees. America especially has atrend of making everything about self-promotion and self-reliance. Nonetheless, true beauty andfulfillment comes not when you are looking into the eyes of your mirror butwhen you are looking into the eyes of the nations, the faces of the world.

It’swonderful to pursue dreams and diverse successes but there is something reallyspecial about the pursuit of giving yourself away, pouring the substance ofyour existence into others. It’ssimple. After all, this was the very core of Jesus’ life onearth. Spreading His gospel to theunreached world will fill even the deepest and most agonizing cravings you mayencounter. Eating is simple yetprofound.

Hungerbrings expectancy for greatness, urgency for excellence. It screams for salvation, signs,wonders, miracles and revival. Hunger is lustful, raw, unthinkable. It is the Kingdom of Heaven bottled up inside of you, shakenand near the point of explosion!

Be Happy

2011-10-04T19:30:00.000+03:00

Hello October

2011-10-02T17:11:00.002+03:00

This morning, Samuel and I drove out to the Swedish countryside with a breakfast picnic and big thermos of coffee. We found this quiet little lake on the backside of a big, old church and cemetery... and listened to the leaves falling all around us. My lonely camera hasn't been out in a while because I've been too busy with school... it enjoyed the fresh air too :)

Baptize!!

2011-10-02T00:11:00.000+03:00

“Gotherefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in them in thename of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit…”

- Matthew28:19

Being a God adventurer means that you sign up forthe scavenger hunt of a lifetime, the treasure hunt of existence. It means that you live to search outthe beauty of souls coming back to their creator for freedom, restoration andlife.

“Thereforeif anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away;behold, new things have come.”

- 2Corinthians 5:17

“For all ofyou who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

- Galatians3:27

When a newly saved disciple decides to symbolicallylay their former life down in water and rise up as this new creature, theybecome the object of a treasure hunt. I have found some of the world’s most radiant, priceless andbreathtaking diamonds and pearls in shallow kiddy pools. They are immediately transformed intopriceless gems, sons and daughters of the King, glimmering radiantly in theirnew royal apparel!

This video is from 2008, during the week of Christmas in Ethiopia,five young men met Jesus in our Saturday night Church meeting. That next brilliantly sunny afternoon,after Samuel had spent time discipling them about baptism in water, they were ready to symbolically lay their livesdown and begin walking the rest of their existence and eternity thereafter withJesus. However, our base waswithout water... some missionaries, translators and other disciples set out on aquest to obtain jugs which would eventually fill the homemade baptismal we hadconstructed from 4 benches, a tarp and a few bricks. The compound erupted in “Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!” when these newlybaptized young people rose from the water! (We even reused that water for washing dishes and clothes sometimes!)

(It was really cold water.. but worth it!)

My hub wrote a great [blog] about baptism in the Holy Spirit and water ... actually the majority of his blogs has something to do with baptism! So check it out!

My first time baptizing in Bulgaria!
At the hot springs - organically brewed, spa-treatment, baptismal tank!

A group of new-saved disciples from a nearby village... getting ready to be baptized together with the pastors of Harar Church of Joy! Pastor Ashagre in white and Pastor Mohammed in plaid!

Me baptizing in Ethiopia!

Mohammed and a newly clothed-in-Christ Jesus lover!

Here, Ashagre is baptizing an incredible man - Dawit!

Photo

2011-09-27T12:45:00.002+03:00

I have the deepest aching in my gut today. It's my burden for the lost. Especially those in the unreached areas of the world. I can hardly imagine how I'm supposed to wait another month before I'm on my way to India! If you've stumbled upon my blog sometime in the past you know I'm weak for photos... I have a billion from Asia and Africa and my Indian album is ringing with anticipation... I use photos to try to inspire and recruit more labors to the mission field. I'm a firm believer that as much as a preaching or a prophetic word or a news-clip can alter a future... a powerful photo can also reach into the heart of a person enough to change the direction of their lives. Maybe God's asking you to live for the sake of the people below?? Here are a few thousand-word shots from around the web... they seek truth... they seek love... will you give it?

Foamy latte

2011-09-24T18:02:00.000+03:00

I just created the best foam.. for my latte. Ever have a moment like that? Where something just happened perfectly? Now I'm enjoying it in my comfy Ikea chair.. nestled in a bright sunbeam that's flooding through the window in the front of the apartment. And may I also say that the windows are actually opened?! Thank you late Scandinavian September for giving me this last glimpse of summertime...

Happy Saturday afternoon friends, wherever you may be :)

Photo Friday

2011-09-23T12:17:00.003+03:00

I have Tanzania on my mind today. Took these photos there last May...

People

2011-09-21T10:04:00.004+03:00

This morning I'm thinking about people. No one in particular, just people. Different kinds, different styles, different cultures, different statures, different beliefs. It's incredible. I had a moment at a swimming pool last year in Ethiopia... I was sitting on one side just watching and on the other side, several guys were standing in a line getting ready to dive... there were a few Chinese, a Swedish guy(Samuel), Somali men, and a guy from Sudan. I was shocked at the physical differences between each one! Of course it's obvious that some cultures are a little taller, a little darker, and little more slanty-eyed... but how many times in your life do you get to watch the peculiar line-up that I had before me that day?? It was beautiful. And strange.

I'm going to a school for immigrants now and in my class we have people representing around 20 different cultures. Wow! Iraqi, Pakistani, Thai, Albanian, Polish, Iranian, Japanese, American(me!), Kenyan, Argentinean, Turkish, Bulgarian, Scandinavian... gah... what an incredible place I get to go to each day! We are all drastically different. The majority religion is Islam and then a few Buddhists. We are all slumped into one category here - immigrants - but that's just about the only thing that we have in common. Yesterday the Argentinean girl sneezed and we went around the room saying each language/culture form of the American "God bless you!" Yes I'm stating the obvious here.... but can you picture how drastically different that one phrase was from one person to the next?? A simple and silly thing like a sneeze made me step back for a moment and see the world in all of it's colorful masses of people. Don't even get me started on the food that comes out during our break! I don't even bring anything for myself because everyone else is offering me a buffet of different menus.... sticky rice, spicy crunchy things, prunes covered in some kind of doughy ball... where's the pudding snacks and pretzel sticks??? Oh I love these cultures!

So how in the world do you reach them???? How do you tell people about God? About Jesus? Life? The cross and salvation? What's the universal key to open up hearts and share the truth?

Fervent prayer covered over with the act of compassion. I think it was around 3 years ago when a guy named Sam Johnson (from Priority One Missions) came to speak at my church... I'll never forget his message. It stuck to me in such a simple way. Compassion is the heart of God, where it makes contact with human need. Compassion is practical, compassion is universal, compassion is costly and compassion does something. He used the story of the man in the Bible who was beat up and robbed and left laying in a ditch. The religious passed him by, the wealthy passed him by.... then compassion stopped to bandage the wounds and feed the tummy. It sounds so simple. So obvious. When was the last time you did it though? When did you stop and show a little compassion? It's practical, universal and costly. But it is indeed the key to people.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can change a people or a nation. It's the only thing that lasts. In terms of foreign fields, bowls of rice or pills with medication with only effect a person for a certain period of time - but Jesus is everlasting. The Gospel must be preached. However, compassion in many cases is the key to opening up the door to the Gospel. In the West compassion may take on a new face. Maybe it's words of life (those are hard to come by for most), maybe it's a latte just because, maybe it's this or that or the other thing... you must find out for yourself. It will be costly though. It will cost you a reputation, time, even your life. I'm no professor in the field of compassion and evangelism but I have given my life to it. It's the thing I chase after.

The world offers just about everything except compassion. In the world you will find pleasure, success, achievements, conditional love, neglect, selfishness... compassion is rare. It has the power to stop a person in their tracks and strip them to the core. Compassion = action. It's a verb, not a noun. Compassion speaks English, Spanish, Hindi, Afrikaans. Compassion is the key to hearts. Hearts that can then be filled with Jesus.

Frederikshavn, Denmark

2011-09-19T09:47:00.010+03:00

Samuel and I boarded this huge Curious George ship headed from Gothenburg, Sweden to Frederikshavn, Denmark on Saturday morning. It was a celebration of 2 years of marriage :)

Frederikshavn was beautiful but Saturdays and Sundays in Scandinavia are not good times to head out on the town! Everything closed shortly after our boat cruised up, and we didn't have anything to do! Literally. The streets were barren and wet and super quiet. But we went out exploring anyway... and I longingly window-shopped at it's truest form...

Ukulele's for sale! In Denmark!? Mine is currently broken, so I longed to stop in and have a look, but I will soon get another one from Hawaii... the birthplace of the Ukulele :)

Samuel and I were craving Mexican. It's a rare-find in these parts but we asked around and heard that there was one nearby.... well we just couldn't find it, or maybe we were too hungry to endure the hunt... and settled on Thai instead. Several hours later we stumbled upon this Los Hombros but weren't hungry enough to eat again! We decided to share a nacho appetizer anyway, and did so under a huge Elvis statue :)

As soon as we sat down , we realized that at that exact moment 2 years earlier, we were probably having our first wedded-kiss. So we reminisced on love, life and our adventurous romantic story :)

The hotel offered an elaborate Sunday morning breakfast and was American-themed :)

It's so funny to me that 'America' is such a popular design for house decor and even clothing here in Europe. It just makes me feel at home :)

We thought we should eat a real Danish with coffee while in Denmark... but I settled on a chocolate cupcake instead :)

Mobile Album

2011-09-15T23:09:00.010+03:00

I put my phone through the washer this week. It was a sad day. No, not an iphone... just an oolldd school basic mobile! No apps, no camera and no voicemail. I put it in rice through the night and have tried just about every other thing I can come up with (besides a blow-dryer, I don't have a blow-dryer)... and the screen is still all foggy. So now I'm using Samuel's oolldd phone from Ethiopia. There isn't a camera on it now but there used to be and all of these photos I found in the mobile album today! Brought me back to some of my favorite moments and places and people on earth! I think they were all taken at the beginning of this year....

Samuel driving around Ethiopia with one of our best friends and heroes in life, Mohammed! He drives an oolldd Peugeot from the 70's. Ethiopian-car-fashion means to have lots of flashy lights on your dashboard and roof, big stickers with random sayings stuck all over the outside and toys hanging from the mirror :) Poor Naftali had to hide all of his toys from his dad!

Me and SARAH hanging out with Mohammed's wife, Zenabwa(she was to my left)... talking about life, love, family, God... the good stuff... (and I love Sarah!)

Just walked away from hugging on my most favorite street kids :) In Harar, Ethiopia...

On our way to preach in a village... New Year's day. Can you see all the stuff strapped to that donkey? It's amazing.

Selam, Mohammed and I... on our way to the village. It was so hot. They were in a drama together... Mohammed played Jesus :) One man was saved :)

Samuel and I looked for this restaurant for HOURS... it was hidden in the heart of Addis Ababa(the capital of Ethiopia) with no sign... on a street with no name. But we found it and it was a gem! A middle-eastern place. So romantic. Samuel had lamb and I had salmon :) They even wheeled out a cart of desserts after the meal - never had that done before!

We left Ethiopia for Sweden in February. But first a much-needed 3 day trip to Istanbul! Samuel surprised me with this stop for my birthday :) And I visited my first Ikea! Whaa?? Yes, in Istanbul. Even though I'm married to a Swede. So funny.

My first morning in Sweden... it's waay below zero in this photo! I'm with Samuel and his mama... on our way to grocery shop! Grocery shopping was a huge deal for us after leaving Ethiopia. We could basically have anything we wanted... except for Ethiopian food! And all we wanted was Ethiopian food!

The day we were leaving Ethiopia, we got a phone call that we got an apartment in Sweden! God really provided for us! But all we had to fill it with was our 3 stuffed suitcases... we really started from scratch. Here I am with my cart full after visiting the famous Swedish Gekås. Trash can, lamp shades, clock, toilet cleaner, shower curtain rod, mop...

A cold late-winter stroll through the center of our West coast city called Varberg. Enjoying being able to wear pants here... I wore only skirts in Africa :)

We just got to Sweden and found out that because I'm an American citizen... I need to fly back to my home country to fix immigration papers. We had no idea how long that could take. So Samuel and I had to get quick tickets to mom and dad in Hawaii. Samuel came for 3 1/2 weeks and I ended up staying there for 4 months.

The trip was over 30 hours... this is my tired, hungry, (they don't feed you on domestic USA flights!) I'm almost in Hawaii face :)

Back in Sweden - Samuel and his dad Ove!

Me together with my true love :)

I'm such a picture gal and my heart is so warm tonight, thinking about how good God is... how He carries me through the years. Especially this year. What else can I do but smile? I look back and see His hand of protection, healing, joy and grace upon me and I look forward to an adventure and new door of destiny. But right now... I just sit here. In this moment. God is my God yesterday, TODAY and forever...

Favorites

2011-09-14T19:28:00.010+03:00

Boots - soho NYC

Skirt - Hawaii

T-Shirt - Istanbul

Jacket - Sweden

Bag - Ethiopia

I've realized this week that when I put together my random pieces of clothing and jewelry from here 'n there... I look like some traveling fashionista, but really... it's just a few favorites that I've picked up over the years. My most treasured scarves came from a 2nd hand market in Ethiopia (they cost all of 50cents)which burned down in January, gosh I loved that place and the people I found there. My favooorite boots were given to me from a missionary in Bulgaria and are all full of holes but I'll never ever get rid of those! My dad helped me pick out my winter coat a few years ago when we were traveling in South China... every time I wear it, someone stops to ask where I got it :) I have beautiful gifts of earrings and bracelets from India and the only pair of high heels I own were picked up in Hawaii. It's impossible to have a big wardrobe when you travel as much as Samuel and I do, but that just means that I always get to have my favorites with me :)

Next month we will each have our own backpack for traveling around India for 6 weeks. My plan?? Bring the one "missionary" skirt I saved from Ethiopia, headscarves, my leather converse, a few T's, camera.... I'm all set :)

Samuel and I walked through Varberg's market this morning(before we went our separate ways - me to school and he to work)... the deeper into the year we get, the scarcer the crowds in our city center. There was one lone trumpet serenading the few who did venture out into the gusty wind...

Denmark

2011-09-13T22:56:00.010+03:00

Samuel's taking me to Denmark on Saturday! To celebrate our 2nd anniversary :) I've never been to Denmark but I'm so excited to add it to my list! We're taking the ferry! And staying overnight! I can't stop writing without exclamation marks!!

Family Strandberg.

I started a higher Swedish (for Immigrants) class yesterday. It's challenging. (I found out on Friday that after only one week in school, they were moving me up... eekk!) My teacher talks for over 3 solid hours in pure/fast/deep Swedish. At about 2 and a half hours into the session I realized that I understood the gist of it all... so even though my brain aches... I get it. I'm listening to solid Swedish for 20 hours every week -- plus all the other Swedish conversations I have with family and friends and all the daily stuff that happens while running errands. That 'ought to make me fluent fast. I hope. After Swedish, it's on to Hindi!

2 year Engagement Anniversary

2011-09-12T20:12:00.008+03:00

Photos taken during my first trip to Ethiopia...

My most-viewed blog of all time is the one I wrote exactly one year ago on the anniversary of the day that Samuel proposed to me. You can read it here. I love my Samuel and I love our fairy-tale story. I want to tell it again....

Samuel and I first learned of each other at a Mission SOS Jesus-festival that took place in Thailand in November of 2007. We didn't talk to each other then though. No, he just opened a door for me. Or actually he opened it for someone else and just held it for me to pass through... that was it.

In Thailand. Samuel praying for the sick to be healed in Jesus' name...

One morning while we were at this festival in Thailand, Samuel got up to lead prayer. Umm. Wow. It was a powerful time. Something jumped in my spirit. While I watched (and prayed of course) this man pour out his fiery heart to God... a standard rose up in my life. Do you get it? That man made a standard in my life that only he could fill. (Umm.. hello all you single Christian ladies?!! Stop settling on all those nice fellows... there is a wild, dangerous, fiery lover of God out there waiting to sweep you off your little feet!) I just didn't know that yet.

A year later, at the end of 2008 I started a 4 month journey by myself around the world where I would write a book for Mission SOS and live on each of their mission bases. I would be living in Ethiopia for December and part of January. Samuel was the base-leader in Ethiopia. We had sent each other a few [business] emails leading up to that time... but I must admit, I was already sold. Some of my old Bibleschool friends will laugh at this part... because the months leading up to my departure, I was already talking about marrying the man in Africa :) They even wrote me a song about it (and sang it at my wedding - haha Asia!)

So I arrived on the Horn of Africa. Alone. In a strange and big capitol called Addis Ababa. In the middle of the night. Alone. My heart was overflowing. I was created to venture into new lands and bring the gift of Jesus to the lost and the hurting. I discovered that as a little girl. Now finally, I felt that a door to destiny had swung open in my life. I fell asleep in a terribly over-priced and fancy hotel that night and set 3 alarms so that I could catch a plane to the base in Harar at 6 in the morning. In the back of my mind (though I wouldn't admit it at the time) I knew I would be seeing Samuel the next day and I was terribly excited!

Okay yes, I was excited. But you must understand that I was madly in love with the Jesus-honeymoon I was having. So on the second day of my living on the base in Ethiopia, when I had a moment alone and heard myself say the words "I'm going to marry that man!" (Yes I said it out loud and I can still remember the exact spot) I freaked myself out! I was so happy being alone with Jesus that I didn't want someone else to come along and take up some of my heart. But then this incredible peace flooded over me. I was wrapped up in a romance with God and at the same time becoming a great friend with this wonderful man and there was no butterfly-nonsense to distract me at all. I just knew. And then I continued on with my job. Does that make sense? Yes of course my heart jumped a bit when he walked into the room and of course I sometimes stumbled over words... but deep in my gut, I wasn't stressing it. I simply knew.

Samuel and I love coffee. Black, strong coffee. Maybe that was the reason we stayed up late a few nights. Or maybe it was just our excuse :) We sat in the team-house talking about bands, about sports, about cultures, about Jesus, about life. And then we said goodnight and went away to our own rooms. And so it went. My heart was falling in love.

My hero...

Samuel would take his first trip to America in February of 2009 and I promised him coffee when he came..

I cried when it was time to leave Africa. God planted a burning desire inside my soul for that land, those people. But He also planted a grace inside of me that would carry me through the seasons and continents to come... and so I left Africa for Asia(which was incredible and God continued to romance me into a new woman). And after another month passed, I left Asia for America.

I started getting emails during those weeks when I left Ethiopia. "Hey Gab!..." That surely made my heart flutter! Finally February came. I got a phone call on my way home from Church one night. "Hey 'ol buddy 'ol pal..." (Yea, I don't know why that started..) and after a few nervous lines Samuel said, "Gabrielle, I have feelings for you. And I'd like to call your dad and ask him if it's alright to take you out." ...."I have feelings for you too" I replied in a far too squeaky voice. By the time my car pulled up my drive, the call had been made and my dad's blessing had been given. You see, my dad had also been on that Jesus-festival in Thailand and the same standard that had been placed in my life, was also set in my dad's life :)

So we went out for coffee. We were so nervous! You know when you're meeting someone special and somehow you slurp too loud, or you get salad stuck on your front tooth, or your throat makes a weird noise??? Yea we were both afraid of all of those things, but thankfully, nothing embarrassing happened! The next day we planned a day together in downtown Pittsburgh and we got lost (like just about everyone does in downtown Pittsburgh) for two hours, but we didn't even notice. We were having a blast together. That was the day Samuel knew he would marry me. We talked for over 12 hours straight - without stopping. We were turning into best friends. It was on that day that Samuel told me, "Gabrielle, I can't offer you everything. But what I can give you is an adventurous life in the nations with a sleeping bag." That was all I've ever wanted.

So Samuel left for Ethiopia again and we made a promise to pray and fast while we were apart. We were seeking God for our future together. Samuel came to the States again in April and after the few first nervous days... we had "the talk" by the river in Mill Creek Park. We would get married one day. God knew it, we knew it, our families knew it, our mentors and pastors knew it. There was such an incredible favor upon our relationship. Samuel invited me to spend two weeks at his home town with him in Sweden that June, and then he left for Ethiopia again. And we wrote a LOT of emails.

I'll share my umbrella with you...

In Sweden with my boyfriend :)

It was that summer in Sweden when Samuel told me that he loved me for the first time... by the ocean. It was that summer in Sweden when I fell in love with his family. It was that summer when Samuel said "You'll be the queen of Ethiopia".. and danced with me to no music in the late afternoon. Does a chick-flick get any better than that?? The time came for us to say goodbye again. We literally boarded planes at gates opposite each other... going in opposite directions...

me to America. Samuel to Africa. And we started writing emails again.

Samuel booked a flight to come see me in September. We thought maybe we would have to wait until 2010 to get married because we lived in different continents and we had no idea how everything would be worked out. But along the way I got a crackly phone call. "Gabrielle, I want to marry you." We decided we would just make his visit to me in September - the time for our wedding!

Samuel's plane landed on September 12th. I swear he let everyone on the plane leave before he did because I stood at the bottom of that escalator not breathing for far too long before he finally appeared before me! He said "Hey love!", wrapped me up in his arms and took my car keys. Then, late in the night(that's when his flight landed) he drove me up to the top of Mount Washington and got down on one knee! He asked me to marry him just four days before our wedding! My engagement ring is the most beautiful gold band from Ethiopia that he engraved Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 into. And I said Yes!

Happy 2 year engagement anniversary love of my life! I'm so glad you asked :)

(And by the way... one of our wedding presents was a sleeping bag - for two!)

2004

2011-09-12T10:34:00.004+03:00

It's now 2004 in Ethiopia!

Happy New Year to my friends and family in Africa! Especially to Harar Church of JOY!

Remembering

2011-09-11T11:03:00.006+03:00

Ten years ago I was sitting in my 7th grade math class at Youngstown Christian School when our teacher came in and told us that an attack was happening against our country. This morning I watched that (old)live coverage of what unfolded on September 11th. Tears stream down my cheeks as I think about the lives that were stolen and their grieving families. The people on planes, the ones in the two towers in New York City, those in the Pentagon and on the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania.

You can also watch the events of 9-11 unfold at this link to CNN...
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/?/collection/SEPTEMBER_112001CNN_COVERAGE&hpt=hp_c2

The United States was founded as a nation under God... He is our foundation. Today I pray that America will continue to look to Him and nothing else.

Faith

2011-09-09T21:52:00.001+03:00

Faith is such a simple thing. It's not religious. Not complicated. It doesn't require a 10-step plan. Jesus compares faith to small children. I love that. We use faith every day for all kinds of things without even thinking about it. Driving. Breathing. Walking. Life. We don't wonder what will happen when we roll over in bed and put out feet on the floor in the morning... We just know that our legs will carry us. No question. Faith in God works quite the same way. We just know. The Bible says that God has placed eternity in all our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:3 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end")

.... when your faith links up with that incomparable longing, you will find yourself in the deepest relationship with the Creator of the world...

Romans 4 -

So we are made right with God through faith and not be obeying the law...

...well then, if we emphasize faith does that mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law...

...Abraham believed God and God counted Him as righteous because of his faith...

...Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing!

Wow --- a God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing!! I'm in love :)

Balmy

2011-09-06T22:10:00.005+03:00

It's pouring outside. And w.i.n.d.y. I think there will be [more] flooding in Varberg tonight. But here in my livingroom, it's quite balmy actually. There is Hawaiian music jammin(I really miss Hawaii lately!), sweet-cakey-candles burning all over the place and I'm sipping Bangalore tea. I'm all about ambiance and atmosphere... and this feels quite nice despite the fact that my brain is rolling around in Swedish verbs. Yes. Rolling.

My school bag?? Why yes, this is from Ethiopia! Harar to be exact! I got it for my birthday this year from Samuel. The front engraving is of one of the famous gates that leads in to the old "walled city" called Jugol. It's camel leather. Let's just say, I've been to the camel market in the heart of Jugol [[adventure]] and even though they are truly the coolest animals ever... they are eaten frequently on the Horn of Africa(especially Somalia)... and the people always find ways to use every part of their resources. At least no part of this animal went to waste :/ And I LOVE that it was hand-made by an Ethiopian. My most favorite people :)

Birthday boy

2011-09-06T12:47:00.002+03:00

Happy Birthday little brother!!!

Jeffrey's 20 today!

Jeffrey with his baby girl Izabella.. aka - Izzy

Love you and am so proud of you. Enjoy your trip to Hawaii :)

Mighty Man

2011-09-05T12:05:00.000+03:00

Jag ber till Gud varje kväll

2011-09-02T18:00:00.006+03:00

I've been the new kid in class a few times in my life. But never have I enjoyed it as much as I did yesterday. I finally started "Swedish for Immigrants" (SFI). It's a course to teach you the language but also prepares you to be a citizen of a new country and one day maybe join the work force.

During my interview a few weeks ago I was asked, "so what do you want to do in Sweden??"

I replied (in Swenglish of course), "I really just want to learn the language fluently so that my family can be bilingual at home, but we won't be here forever. We're missionaries."

"Okaaay, but now you're young and it's good to do that travel-stuff but ONE day you'll want to finally settle down..."

"No, we'll always do the traveling-stuff."

"Yea but eventually..."

"No, no, we're missionaries for life..."

... and so it went for a few minutes until finally we both agreed that I should just lean Swedish!

So I got to class and was surrounded by more immigrants! Not a single American besides myself though :) SFI is [mostly] for refugees from Middle Eastern/North African/South European countries. I sat between two girls from Iraq and Iran and spent most of my time talking to a girl from Kosovo (who didn't know any English or Swedish, so we mostly just did sign language). When I took my seat I was asked to share some things about myself..."Jag heter Gabrielle.... jag kommer från USA... Jag är en missionär...."

"Ahaaa" the teacher said, "Can you explain what a 'missionär' is for the class??" (Yay for new nouns)

"Yes, I go around to different countries and tell people about Jesus"

"Okaaay, so you are religious..."

Then she turns to the girl from Iran... " You are a missionary for Mohammed!".... turns to a girl from Thailand... "You are a missionary for Buddha!"

...and on and on the class went.

Later we came to the verb "be" which means to ask/pray and the teacher got all excited again pointing to me.... "You ber to Jesus every night!"... "You ber to Mohammed every night!"... "You ber to Buddha every night!".... just to make sure everyone felt included! I realized it wasn't the time for me to say, "No I pray all day long , the Holy Spirit lives in me!"..... maybe next week :) (Just kidding..) But seriously, maybe.

So I sat there mostly indulging in the presence of the nations. Eh, the Swedish will come eventually!

My goal for the weekend: memorizing the verb forms for present-past-simple irregular verbs. Fun.

Shopping verdict

2011-08-31T13:12:00.004+03:00

Yesterday my man and I took a spontaneous afternoon trip to a city called Kungsbacka. Why Kungsbacka you ask?? They have a mall :) By the time Samuel got off work and we took the hour drive... there as only one hour left to shop, but I didn't mind :) My American readers are going to think I'm insane for saying this... but I'm getting so bored with H&M! H&M in Sweden is like McD's in America.... it's on every corner - sometimes 2 or 3 in ONE mall! So I was ecstatic to see something new.... like Zara (a great store from Turkey) and Indiska ([my favorite] Indian store). Wasn't really planning on buying so much but then.... yes, I hit the jackpot! I got 2 skirts, 3 dresses and a sweater all for 260 ($41) Krona - and it should have cost almost 1500 ($240) Krona! Hallelujah for sales :) Samuel told the cashier when we were checking out, "I have a happy wife tonight!"...

...That's amazing for Scandinavia I must say. The cost of living and especially clothing is so much higher here.

For example ... Converse. You can buy a pair for $39.99 in the States and here in Sweden they cost at least $110! Same for jeans, coats, boots... so the verdict is... fly to America for your clothes!!! I miss good 'ol Gabriel Brothers. I love the hunt!

Amy

2011-08-30T10:30:00.005+03:00

This post is dedicated to a true hero. A beautiful woman. An inspiration. An adventurer of life.

Amy

Amy's Blog

Amy and I come from the same church back in Youngstown Ohio. A few years ago I began to notice her at the front of the alter during worship. She was always the one closest to the stage. A true lover of Jesus. That was obvious to everyone.

Amy was diagnosed with cancer in June, 2007.

Many people followed her up-and-down battle with her terrible disease... but aside from her bald head, you may never have learned that something was wrong. She was so full of joy and life!

In the summer of 2009 Amy and her best friend Sherri backpacked through Europe! I wrote about that here. Their trip took place just before a massive stem-cell transplant was scheduled... when she got home though, the transplant was cancelled because she was doing so well! But a few months down the road, it was rescheduled...

She was pronounced cancer-free in October 2010! Since then, her body has struggled to produce new donor cells quickly enough to keep her healthy. She passed away yesterday surrounded by her family and loved ones.

I don't understand why diseases sometimes take away the people we love. I don't know why some have to fight so hard for the lives they've been given. I don't know why our prayers aren't always answered the way we think they should be. But... what I do know is that despite our inability to wrap our minds around the things of this world, God is always good. God's love carried Amy. Her faith in Him was strong through it all - even in times of frustration and pain, she leaned on God. She strived every day to be like Him. Read her blog. You will be encouraged and challenged in incredible ways.

Amy, thank you for showing me what an adventure life in Jesus looks like. I'll see you again someday :)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ...And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

mm mmm good

2011-08-28T22:45:00.002+03:00

Over the river and through the woods.... or should I say over the highway and through the cemetery (literally)to grandmother’s the GROCERY store I go. It's such an journey to hike to the grocery store. But... I'll never need to exercise again at this rate... carrying those bags on my shoulders!

I wanted the house to be smelling good when Samuel got home from his road trip today... you know that overwhelming flood of some incredible mama-meal-on-a-Sunday-afternoon kind of feeling! I fixed stuffed peppers with tortellini and afterwards toasted marshmallows by candlelight :) I'm not going for a bettycrocker blog here... but food does just make the nicest photos...

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

2011-08-27T21:38:00.005+03:00

My burden is telling lost souls about the Great, Savior, Warrior, King, God of the universe. I'm so in love with Him...

Storms and Post-it's

2011-08-27T10:40:00.006+03:00

Our bedroom window (which had been closed!) was caught in the wind (it was so very windy!), swung open and slammed against the house yesterday afternoon.... shattering the glass. Both the livingroom and kitchen windows were opened at the time, so I think it created a wind tunnel. Thank goodness no one was standing below when it happened!

This morning Samuel and I were drinking coffee before he left for Stockholm when suddenly the sky turned black and a huge thunderstorm rolled through Varberg. I do love storms. Just not broken windows.

I've sticky-noted the whole house with Swedish words. Got to make sure I take them all down before guests arrive...

Samuel and I were making a quick grocery-store run yesterday when we ran into and Ethiopian couple!!!! It was so refreshing to be with them! We stood in the ice cream aisle, speaking such a messy blend of 3 languages (amharic, swedish and english) and plan on getting together soon for bona ceremony and injera :) Hallelujah :)

Can you tell my mind is jumping from one random thought to another?? Need. More. Coffee.

Up to

2011-08-25T16:56:00.004+03:00

"So Gab, what are you up to these days???"

Learning Swedish.

Wedding Season

2011-08-23T16:11:00.003+03:00

Exactly 2 years ago I was preparing to get married! Stumbled upon this old blog and realized that the things God was speaking to me then.... are the things He is speaking to me now ... and then some :) (but I'll save the rest for future blogs)

http://gabriellerae.blogspot.com/2009/08/wedding-season.html#links

Mural Monday

2011-08-22T11:40:00.002+03:00

I'm currently listening to a worship playlist in my itunes and waiting for a citrus sugar cake to finish baking in the oven.... while googling images of India. This one was my favorite today :) Photos hold more than one thousand words if you ask me...

Chai Please

2011-08-20T18:11:00.003+03:00

Lovely lovely day. Samuel and I walked around one million miles this morning. All over town. I enjoy not owning a car these days -- or for the last 2 years I should say :) I will regret saying that in a few months when I have to tromp through snow blizzards just for a few groceries, but ehhh what's wrong with a little adventure?! In Ethiopia we got around in "bajaj" the East African word for an Indian rickshaw. You'd be amazed how many people can squeeze into those things!! They're designed with 4 seats... Samuel once rode in one with 14 passengers!! No joke! We even have a picture of it somewhere. Another time I squeezed in the back of a bajaj full of goats! Ahhh.. good times. Speaking of livestock, I saw a man in northern Ethiopia driving a motorcycle with a sheep straddling him from behind --- yes, sitting upright with it's front legs over the man's shoulders! I need to start carrying my camera with me alllll the time :)

Anyway - back to Sweden - the city center was bustling with kids on scooters, old ladies with their market-finds and accordions on a few street corners. Such ambiance. Now I'm home alone for a cozy and quiet afternoon to myself. Samuel just left with his dad to go see Johannes Amritzer preach in a city South of us. My new 2nd-hand tea pot sits next to me full of Vanilla chai and I'm listening to a song about telling the broken there is healing. My heart is a land far far away tonight....

My handsome man on his way out the door. He's growing his beard out full so that he'll blend in with the people groups we're visiting in a few months... love it!

My new mix-matched finds :)

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring..

2011-08-19T11:06:00.009+03:00

This has been the week of packages. I got one from mom and dad (it was pretty much my own things that were too heavy to stuff in my luggage when I left the islands) with a pair of cute black-leather-boots Sam and I bought for mom in NYC... which she will probably never have to use again... I on the other hand will surely wear them out by the time spring rolls around next year. Thanks mom! The other package was one that I sent to Ethiopia in April... they just got it 3 1/2 months later! Frustrating considering that it was stuffed with new-born clothes for baby Zebulon who is not so new-born anymore. But, my faith in the world postal service has been bandaged up a bit. Aren't packages fun??

Samuel was free from work yesterday. I love to have entire days together with him. We spent time with our dear friends Samuel and Lotta and their sweet girls Elsa and Siri (another little one is on the way in January!)... and then ran errands in the city because (da-da-duunnn) I got my Swedish version of a "social security" number. Bit by bit my immigration continues to fall into place.

Samuel and Lotta

Elsa

It is so dark outside and the rain is looks like it'll never stop. I don't mind though. Feels a bit Christmas-y... Christmas in August?! Eh, why not?

So long sweet summer

2011-08-17T06:43:00.007+03:00

My day started 4am(after a spectacular dream). I love early mornings before the sun. I think it's the most peaceful time. Samuel was off to work and and I was off to laundry - well not yet, or I would be the most unpopular girl in the building.

Yesterday morning I got to skype with mom and dad in Hawaii. A normal topic of any of our conversations has to do with sailing. It's funny the way my heart jumps when I see a sailboat just because I know dad has an obsession for it! It really is a remarkable thing to do. The last time we were all out together was for a 3-day trip just a few weeks before I got married. So I decided to venture down [camera in hand] to Varberg's center and the marina...

My hair-do for the day. Fabulous.

I'm preparing myself to say so-long sweet summer. Atleast here in Scandinavia that is. The sun has a tricky way of luring me out and then not warming me up the way it's supposed to. The trees are still green but constantly flailing about in cold and gusty wind. Not sure if I'm ready for this. I'm African on the inside and my skin is still hanging on to the slightest tint of a Hawaiian tan. Maybe I can get a tanning-bed-package. If not only for some warmth...

+side

2011-08-14T22:33:00.007+03:00

Interesting weekend. Who ever wants to have a cold!?? But on the +side it made for some sniffly, cozy, good conversation, movie, cuddle days at home with the hub. Now, he's a bit less sniffly and I'm a bit more... maybe we really shouldn't have been cuddling. Oh well. Yesterday we took the train South to spend some time with the hero Amritzer family. Always a blessing to glean from them. Love you guys!

On the train along the ocean...

Morning Love

2011-08-12T10:23:00.006+03:00

What I love this morning:

*Holy Spirit LOVE

*FINALLY some sunshine! We thought we had seen the last of summertime after the past week... but no, there's still hope!

*2 espresso's instead of 1

*My new spectacular espresso machine

*The apple and pear trees just outside my windows

*Samuel's sticky-note fetish. They're everywhere. All the time. And usually I find some love notes for me too :)

*Good news from good friends :)

Wuz up doc

2011-08-11T18:40:00.002+03:00

The sky's gloomy today and so is my husband :( He has a terrible cold and fever... moping around singing some kind of rap song that's so mumbled I can't quite make it out in between all the sniffles. Poor guy. I'm playing doctor and chef for the day. We watched Blindside this afternoon... great film.

I've been thinking about ROMANS 3! Read this!! SO simple and SO powerful...

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood... God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

What an incredible God I serve :)

[Modern] Bona Ceremony

2011-08-08T19:45:00.007+03:00

I found an espresso machine at a 2nd-hand shop last week. But [like popping a child's balloon] when I got it home we realized there was a part missing. So it sat for a few days on our counter... unused, unloved and neglected. We hoped to find it's missing puzzle piece at another 2nd-hand shop and asked our friend Samuel to keep an eye out for us. Well, he found a new puzzle :) A bigger, better, steamy, sleek new little member of the family. Thanks Samuel and Lotta!

And to top it all off... our new espresso-blend is Ethiopian Harar. We've been living in Harar, Ethiopia and it's famous for it's rich and super strong coffee beans! Now we get to have our own [modern] bona ceremonies :) I'm a happy girl.

This picture is from a traditional bona ceremony (bona means "coffee" in Amerinja) with one of my disciples Adrianna :) It's a tedious process that begins with roasting your beans, grinding them by hand, boiling them in these clay pots and then letting the super-duper strong brew drip from high above sugar-filled tea cups. If you make your way to Ethiopia any time soon... make sure you have the opportunity to settle in on someone's floor for this experience - even if you don't drink coffee! Otherwise, I can fix it for you here in Scandinavia! I'm Ethiopian on the inside :)

IdaLotta

2011-08-07T20:02:00.008+03:00

We celebrated the 1st birthday of my niece Ida-Lotta today. She's so precious. She was wearing a traditional Ethiopian dress - gift from Samuel when his sister Rebekha was prego with her first child(Aron)... turned out it wasn't a girl then :) But a few years later, looks perfect!

The birthday gal

Big Brother Aron

With papa Andreas

Samuel's oldest sister Pernilla is visiting from Thailand now. This is her son Prince Kayan Michael and his robot which he likes to chew on while he sleeps...

He speaks a wonderfully messy blend of English/Swedish/Thai... my kind of kid!!

Beach Mountain

2011-08-04T10:08:00.007+03:00

Did you know if you translate my last name Strandberg... it means beach-mountain?? Love it.

God has really over-blessed me this year with His nature. I began 2011 looking over the Eastern Ethiopian mountains as they stretched on their way to Somalia. I watched the sunrise every morning and it just about took my breath away each time. I love the desert. I love the ear-piercing calls from the mosques, reminding people that it's time to pray... because it reminded me that it was where I was made to be. Reaching the unreached. I'm in love the nations.

The view from our balcony in Harar. Unreal.

It was this year when God also called us back to the West for a season of refreshment and preparation for a future among new people groups. I must admit, I did NOT want to be refreshed if that meant leaving Africa. I knew it was time to leave... our Ethiopian pastors and disciples had been brought up in the Holy Spirit to take our place... the land had been pioneered, churches and Bible schools planted, lives transformed to Jesus... our calling to the East-Africans now rested in the hands of our Spiritual children. But I didn't want to leave! Yes, there are unreached people in every country on the planet - East or West, but I am called specifically to the untouched people groups... the places where the Word of God just hasn't gotten to. My heart burns for the poorest, the most broken, the beggars, the prostitutes, the possessed, the starving, the destitute.

So, where did God bring me next? Hawaii. Maybe I was the only person in the world who just didn't want to go to Hawaii. Yes I knew it would be a paradise, but please let me go to Rwanda or Mongolia or Tajikistan! But, Hawaii it was. The Big Island was a stunning place, full of adventure, but (ask my mother!) I was fidgety and restless and spoke of nothing else but the field. When I left Hawaii however, I suddenly understood that I was indeed revived . My body and emotions and spirit were rested. The beaches and pools and mountains and waves and sunsets -- were God's exact prescription! He is so faithful that He not only calls us to be His laborers and warriors in the field, but He also refreshes us when we need that too! He used immigration-messiness to get me to lie on a beach!

Psalm 23 -

The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows, he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

Now we're in Sweden. On more beaches! I went from desert Africa to the Pacific islands, to Atlantic Scandinavia! And now I feel such confidence in the season I am in. I know it's a season. The rest of my life will be full of spiritual pioneering and warring over souls. And sometimes God will bring me to more beaches and bbq's and remind me to just enjoy the simplicities of life. Our suitcases are collecting a little dust, our bathing suits are a bit salty, and our conversations are filled with dreams for the nations in South Asia and the Middle East. We see the horizon. We hear the cries of the lost. Our lives revolve around chasing nothing else but God's Kingdom. We work and save and pray and study and plan. And He is renewing our strength for the journey.

Sitting at the bay on the West coast of Sweden, watching the sailboats drift away...

The ferry on it's way to Denmark

Details

2011-08-03T09:37:00.005+03:00

Mostly, these kinds of posts are for my mama on the other side of the world. She always wants to know what everything looks like. + I'm trying to add lots and lots of reasons for them to come visit us in Sweden more quickly!

Before...

After...

Pretty Kitchen... where I realized that I DO have a view of the sunset!

(If I stand in the corner on my toes :) )

My POOR sick Ukulele :(

See Mom - You have to come bring me a new one!

Dream a Little Dream

2011-08-01T13:57:00.002+03:00

We shared an amazing weekend with great friends! Ice cream with Mathias & Maren Folke and Johan & Marielle Andersen... then a bbq picnic with Andreas & Maria Evermin and Oscar Svensson... my first [freezing] ocean dip... more grilling... fika with Samuel, Charlotta, Elsa and Siri Eriksson... what hero friends we have!

Andreas & Maria!

Lotta and baby Siri :)

Elsa :)

Siri :)

The beach with our city - Varberg - in the background

... and then the guys took the waterproof camera out for an adventure. I had so much fun going through the stuff on my memory card! They crack me up.

Grill Dog

2011-07-29T23:18:00.004+03:00

Rarely do I crave food (although I am quite partial to lentils - I think it's my missionary blood)... but all week, all I've wanted was a hotdog on the grill! Kind of sad, I know. I think I was craving it mostly because of the summer ambiance it carries.

This afternoon while walking though the city on my way home...... the ship was in the harbor picking up it's passengers on their way to Denmark... families were riding bikes through the streets... every yard and balcony smelled of some wonderful smokey marinade... each lawn chair and picnic bench was filled with party guests, all of them relaxing in the early hours of a new weekend ... and the hint of freshly cut grass was still hanging in the air from it's latest trim...

When I reached my own balcony, I found Samuel mastering his new grill(which he built today!) and cooking up - yes - hot dogs :) I'm a happy wife.

American readers: we need some beef franks around here...

(I'm not really sure what was in these ones) :)

Tack Älskling!

Center

2011-07-28T21:50:00.000+03:00

It Is Finished

2011-07-28T15:41:00.004+03:00

Here it is folks. This little piece of plastic is one of the most valuable things I have! It arrived in the mail today :)

Permanent Resident of SWEDEN!

Home

2011-07-27T16:00:00.006+03:00

I've been visiting Sweden for the last 3 summers and a few times in-between... but for the first time ever... I don't have a plane ticket telling me when I must leave again. I love the life of a God adventurer to the unreached people groups. That's all I know to do with myself. For me it's a wild, sometimes lonesome, stretching, messy, wonderful, Holy-Spirit-filled adventure. Being a God-adventurer many times also means being a nomad - and I love that! So even though Varberg has become my home town -- my blood is dancing around inside about the things that are to come! Here and beyond!

One thing that's very important to me, no matter where I'm staying, is to make it HOME. Since I was married in 2009 I've had 6 different homes in 3 different countries and a lot of hotels and guest bedrooms in between! In each place, we shoved the suitcases under the bed, cracked open a can of paint(or hung cloth on the wall if we weren't allowed to paint), taped a few photos on the walls, lit some candles... Wha-lah! Home. I guess it's all about the ambiance for me. But here we are making our home again... for now...

Our apartment is on the second floor. Behind that tree :)

Our first couch! From Second Chance(second-hand)!

Breakfast on the balcony this morning :) Sweet sunbeams.

City Market in the Center on Wednesdays and Saturdays...

Two cuties down the street who were selling hairclips and crafts...

Somalia

2011-07-26T07:07:00.000+03:00

Waterproof

2011-07-25T12:22:00.004+03:00

I had a wonderful weekend home in Sweden! Samuel was free from work for a few days so we spent a lot of time taking walks, doing a little shopping, visiting the ocean, playing and singing worship on my guitar I brought all the way from Youngstown(!) and fikas with friends and family! Samuel preached about Holy Spirit fire on Sunday at church as well. My favorite preacher.

My Swedish has become a bit rusty over the last 4 months spent in the States, but I feel my mind is slowly making a shift again. It's always a good sign when you start to think in another language. At times, in my search for words, I blurt out Amerinja (the official language of Ethiopia) and other times I feel like speaking in tongues would just be easier. But here I am, an immigrant to Scandinavia... so Swedish is my only focus now!

The sky looks like it's about to downpour at any moment.... and we do everything on foot here. When I was leaving the states, everyone was asking, "Isn't it always cold in Sweden?" and my answer was, "Not now! It's sunny and hot and the sun stays up extra late!" but.... that hasn't been true! Since I arrived last Thursday, we've had grey skies, wind, rain, gloom. I should really go shopping for a jacket and umbrella. Good thing I got that waterproof camera in Hawaii!

Samuel and I are leaving for the Embassy soon. I've received my resident permit but still don't have any proof of it, so they're fixing my card today! Wohoo! I'll be officially finished with this whole thing in just a few hours :)

Pacific to Atlantic

2011-07-23T09:25:00.004+03:00

I'm home. Samuel met me in the airport with a bouquet of roses on Thursday. I felt like a little kid with butterflies in the pit of my stomach during all of my flights! Took a walk down to the ocean with a thermos of coffee last night. There really aren't any waves here. I had to keep reminding myself that it's the sea. Not like Hawaii :)

Praying for our neighbors in Norway today. What a terrible tragedy they are facing. Tomorrow Samuel will be preaching in Pingstkrykan! Come if you're in Varberg!!

Busy Bee

2011-07-19T04:58:00.003+03:00

Busy in Youngstown. One week in Ohio makes for little sleep, lots of coffee, and hours of talking and catching up with the people I love. Friday in Pittsburgh. Saturday Alumni party with YMC and family dinner afterward. Sunday at my home church - Victory Christian Center - and a date-day with Sarah Graefe... one of our former team members from our base in Ethiopia! O and of course, lots of Izzy time!

Sarah and I at Mill Creek in Youngstown!

Lauren, Joelle and I

One and a half days left.. then I'm finally going home to my Samuel in Sweden!!! I'm so anxious and excited and happy and longing and...

Izabella Mae

2011-07-16T06:58:00.004+03:00

Had the honor of hosting Izzy's first photo shoot this weekend! She's a pro...

Youngstown

2011-07-14T17:08:00.003+03:00

I stepped on my plane in Kona, Hawaii... out of the thick flower-scented-humidity and then, two planes later, stepped out into the breezy midwest of USA! Ohio to be specific. The Y-town! City of my roots. Feels good and strangely surreal to be here.

May I introduce you to Izabella Mae?! My 2 month old niece :)

With her great-great-grandma Juanita!

With her daddy - my little brother, Jeffrey!

Love the opportunity I get to be here spending time with my incredible family. Love love love them.

Hapuna Beach

2011-07-10T20:53:00.006+03:00

Well, here it is... my last weekend in Hawaii. Although I'm desperate and ecstatic to see my Samuel, it's always sad leaving mama and dad. We've been doing this for years yet that never changes! The next time I see them, hope they're finally coming to my side of the globe.

Tomorrow (mama's birthday!) night I'll fly from the islands and make my way to the mid-west where my little brother (!!!) will pick me up at the airport in Cleveland. Jeffrey's a new dad and I can't wait to see his little 2 month old baby Izabella Mae! I'm going to smother her with my auntie kisses!!! So happy to be able to spend one week in my home town - Youngstown - before flying back to Sweden. My plans are to drink lots of coffee with family at my grandma and great grandma's kitchen table, chat it up with my covies(best friends Joelle and Lauren) late into the nights, visit the greatest church and people in America at Victory Christian Center, eat at my favorite little middle-eastern restaurant called "Aladdin's", see my missionary-hero Sarah Graefe, and soak-up-my-incredible-family! Then on the 20th I'll jump the Atlantic and f i n a l l y run into the arms of my husband!

Hapuna Beach... July 9...

The cave - where we camped out for the day...

-over and out

After...

2011-07-05T19:33:00.006+03:00

After...

More than 100 days. 16 weeks. 4 months. 1/3 of the year of 2011.

Relocating my life from Africa to Europe and then being told I must return to my home country of USA in the state in Hawaii.

Hours and days and weeks of paper work.

Interviews and applications.

Countless phone calls with embassies, airlines and consulates.

3 months apart from my hub.

A decision has been made...........

I am a "permanent resident of Sweden"!

Happy 235th America!

2011-07-05T09:30:00.006+03:00

Some photos from our 4th celebrations with friends on the beach...

Waterproof fun

2011-07-04T04:24:00.004+03:00

Yes! A waterproof-digital camera!! It's revolutionary!! This was our practice round in the pool..... just wait for more snorkeling and cliff jumping! It has panorama and video settings.... gah!

God's Adventurer

Proud parents

Thanks everyone!

Sugar Pie

"Tional"

Moving on

Scenic Sunday

African soil

twentyfour

Because we all need a fun song sometimes :)

Guds äventyrare

Art

Best part of me

Merry little Christmas

Moments [[again]]

Hubs

List

"Christmas Table"

Old School

Monday

SC

Eyes of the nations

Varanasi

Go Go Go

Beach saree

Moments

In Love.

Cheering them on..

Adulturous Woman

The Least

Photo album

All is well

Kashmir

India

Ready, Set....

'To an Unknown God'

Pioneer

Marathon

Pray for the persecuted Church

Joelle

Voiceless

Legwarmers

national test

Missionary

Ironman in my island hometown!

Happy saturday

Stomp

Wild Appetite

Be Happy

Hello October

Baptize!!

Photo

Foamy latte

Photo Friday

People

Frederikshavn, Denmark

Mobile Album

Favorites

Denmark

2 year Engagement Anniversary

2004

Remembering

You can also watch the events of 9-11 unfold at this link to CNN...

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/?/collection/SEPTEMBER_11__2001__CNN_COVERAGE&hpt=hp_c2

The United States was founded as a nation under God... He is our foundation. Today I pray that America will continue to look to Him and nothing else.

Faith

Balmy

Birthday boy

Mighty Man

Jag ber till Gud varje kväll

Shopping verdict

Amy

mm mmm good

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Storms and Post-it's

Up to

Wedding Season

Mural Monday

Chai Please

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring..

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/?/collection/SEPTEMBER_112001CNN_COVERAGE&hpt=hp_c2