Lifes journey

Life is a journey. full of surprises, good and bad. full of possibilities to both good and evil. I am a creation. among many others. created with the opportunity to have a close relationship with my creator. which created me unique and totally different from all others.
life is a journey between heaven and earth. some times more heaven. some times more earth. some times up high. some times down low. some days light. other days darkness. a journey full of contradictions. freezing coldness and intense heat. mighty mountains and fearful valleys. lifeless desert and enormous waterfalls in evergreen rainforests. The diversity of the nature draws a picture of the diversity of life, and the many different seasons that appears. some more challenging and intense than others. but all important to live through, to be able to travel further on life's journey.

The Amazon.. what can I say? WOW. being on a boat for 5days down the amazon river. sleeping in a hammock. watching a red sun going down over the wild jungle while dolphins jumps around the boat. being invited home to a family, staying there without knowing a word in Portuguese, and they not a word in English. eating whatever I get no matter colour or shape. travelling around in Brazil. what a huge country. so diverse. ending up at the coast. big cities. favellas. long beaches. enormous waves.
The more I travel, the more I realize that the most beautiful created is love. and the most important thing in life is to have good and loving relationships with God and each other. I came to point in my travel where I had to choose to either learn the language completely, try to understand every aspect of the culture, and make a difference by creating close relationship with suffering people around me, or I had to go home, to be close to family and friends that loves me. I chose to go home, and being the christmas gift for my mother! so here I am.. cold, snowy, beautiful Norway. so different. another world?!
The journey didn't finished, it just chose another direction. thank you all for praying for me. and I hope you will continue to pray. God has done great things in me, for me and through me, and He'll continue to do no matter where I am.

So many things have I seen, and yet so little. so many things have I experienced, but yet so few. so many people have I met, so many stories have I heard, and I realize how little I know about life. I have never been so hungry that I went through the garbage bags in the street to look for something to eat. but I know quite a few that does it every day. it is not numbers. it is people with names. I want to wish you, and all the children, the old and the cripples in the streets of Brazil a Merry Christmas. I love you all. God loves you more, He sent Jesus. Thank You Father

words...

I love words. there is such a power in words. and if you use them in love, they are able to bring freedom, hope, peace, joy, life.. that´s fantastic! but words are not enough to express my heart right now. I don´t know what to say but God is awesome. creation reveals His majesty. every day a new opportunity to see more of Him. learn more truths. create new friendships. live. love. Give and you will receive...

Praise Him

"I want to worship You
Jesus, I want to worship You
I don't know what to say,
and I don't know what to do
but I want to worship You!"

I don't like to say good bye
I praise God for each moment of this journey so far
I praise Him for every person I've got to share a bit of live with
I praise Him for the all the beauty He has created, people and nature
I praise Him for cherry juice, routie and mango smoothie
I praise Him for sunshine, and for rain
I praise Him for the newborns I've held in my arms
I praise Him for friendships that has been made
I praise Him for the late evenings in a rotten house, watching the stars through the big holes in the roof
I praise Him for the smile of each child I've hugged
I praise God for my father and mother, which I love so very high, who's always there for me, who never hits me with a bat for no reason, but do everything they possibly can to show me how much they love me
I praise Him for lizards that eats some of the millions of mosquitoes
I praise Him for the awesome worship times in small, dilapidated houses
I praise Him for the opportunity to be a difference in someone's life
I praise Him for the journey ahead, into the Amazone
I praise Him because He is worthy to be praised!!!

What if I stumble?

"what if I stumble? what if I fall?...
will the love continue when my walk has become a crawl?
what if I stumble, and what if I fall?"

I am just a girl who desires to live her life for Jesus. that doesn't make me perfect. I stumble and fall, make mistakes over and over again. Staying in Guyana has been really hard in many ways. and the last week have been more tears and pain than joy. but God can use every circumstances to teach us something, and draw us closer to Him. I learned a great lesson last week. we've been praying for rain for weeks now, and people really suffer when the rain don't fall. as I was cleaning the fence, from the inside out, God spoke to me about cleaning my own heart. He told me I had let pride snik in, pride that hindered Him to rain down His blessings over me. as I asked for forgiveness, the heaven opened and the rain fell like crazy. and since that day it has rained. over the land, and in my heart. new peace, new joy.

But the main reason why I went on this trip, was to travel, explore, see more of God through His creation, new cultures, new people, worship Him with my guitar and new songs everywhere. and that is not a part of my day anymore, so I've decided to leave Guyana. It has been six intense weeks. I've been extremely happy, and extremely sad, discurraged and lonely. It is hard to travel alone, learning to know a new culture alone, with nobody there who understands, no one to share with, we need people around us. and the more I am away from my friends and family, the more I realize how improtant they are to me, how deep I love them all. But travelling alone also teaches you thing you couldn't learn together with someone, and I've never experienced God's faithfulness in a greater way. He has brought me through this time, and made me stronger in Him.

continue to pray for me in Brazil...
love

perspective

Guyana is different, and it's alike any other nation. a lot of things are not as they should be. electrical companies comes regularly to cut off the electricity from our poor neighbors. the news are full of suicide, demon possession, murders. everyone knows somebody who is being sexual abused, or mistreated. children and adults. I know a few already... just across the street...

The last days has taken forever. the medicine which I got for the nail boor knocked me out- and at the same time enabled me to sleep.. that has lead to hours - days on my back, too worn out to do anything but thinking, missing my family, missing my friends.. feeling lonely, though I know I'm not. I want to go home, or travel further, but I know God wants me to be right here for this special time, the days are just so s l o w... But the man stopped complaining about not having shoes when he met a man without a leg..Yesterday I went to the hospital. I met Nyelini, who had been sitting next to her son's bed the last three weeks. her eyes were drowsy, because of lack of sleep, she had a fever, and she carried the pain of her little one. two months old, and the tiniest baby I'd ever seen. His lounges didn't work properly, and he was only getting worse.. the child next to his bed was already dead. I realized my days are wonderful... and if nothing else, I can spend my time praying for those who really suffer!

Please pray with me for this little boy, that God will do a miracle!
Pray for rain. a lot of people don't have water.

(God has humor: I felt so lonely the other day, and prayed that God would send someone to me from my nation, to talk to, who would understand, the next day the head line in the news paper said that Erik Solheim had come to Guyana....)

embrace life in every way...always

God creates beauty out of brokenness. the seed needs to break before the plant can come up from the ground. the egg needs to break before the chicken can come out and start to grow. Brokenness is not about the sircumstances, but about our reply om what happens. the same sun that melts the butter, hardens the clay. when challenges appears, we can either choose to run away from them or we can embrace them, knowing that God's truth and faithfulness will carry us through. how will we ever grow if we are not willing to face - and overcome the challenges...

Life is a journey, it takes you to the high mountains, and it brings you down in the deep valleys. I've experienced this in an intense way the last week. spiritually, menthally, and physically. one day on a mountain top - the next in the deep valley. it teaches me so much, sometimes too much, more than I can bear. it fills me to the fullest - and it totally wears me out. Both brings me om my knees. one in greatest awe of God, the other in greatest dependancy of Him.

Right now I'm having a hard time accepting some of the things in this culture. I'm forced to use my money to buy new clothes - because what i have is not good enough for this culture. it makes me angry and frustrated. why should I spend money buying clothes I don't need, when i know so many who really need the money - for food...
Everytime someone yells I feel it like a slap in my face - and that's the way people communicate with each other...
Everytime I hear the neighbors hitting their children, I cry - and that happens pretty often.

This weekend i've been working with some of the guys, breaking down a building, so we can build a basketball court on the land instead. by the end of the last day I managed to step on a piece of wood, and two long rusty nails went through my shoe and into my foot. A guy named James had to come and drag the nails out of my foot. unfortunately my tetanus shot had expired, and the hospital were closed. but they cleaned my foot, and burned inside the wounds - like they do in Guyana. (yes, it was pretty painful). today I went to the hospital to see a doctor. I got the injection and some antibiotics..

But even if some days are a bit challenging, God keeps filling me with His love, and I enjoy to build and grow in my relationship with my Father. I talked to a woman in the hospital with incredibly pains. I prayed with her, and I asked her "do you know that Jesus loves you? do you know that you are His precious daugther?" she looked at me, her sad face was now shining, and she said; "yes, I know! - because I can see it in your eyes. God's love shines through you. thank you!" Those moments is what keeps me here, and makes me believe it's worth it...

Please pray for protection from any illness. every day I am surrounded by sick people.
Pray for strength and a owerflow of joy!
yours in Christ - jannemor

Parika

I keep praying for God to break my heart for this nation, for these people. and suddenly when this heavy, heavy burden appears on my shoulders, I don't understand it. I get totally worn out, and all I want is to lay flat on the floor and weep. but then this beautiful little African girl comes to me. she is poor. her clothes are torn. her face is dirty. but her eyes shines, though they've seen a lot of pain. she sits down on my lap, looks into my eyes and place her head at my chest, seeking love in my arms. and suddenly I realize... tears starts rolling down my face. Thank You, Father for sharing a piece of Your heart with me..

Another week of this adventure is over. This is really a time where God is equipping me for what He has for me in the future. a time of drawing closer to Him, letting Him build a stronger foundation in me. It's exciting. I'm enjoying every day!
Yesterday we went back to the hospital to visit the patients. I sat on a man's bed for to hours, talking to him, reading from the Bible, praying for him, and just speaking faith and hope into his heart. He didn't have anything, so we gave him a sheet for the bed, toilet paper, washing cloth, soap, tooth brush, food, I've never seen anyone so happy to get a box of juice. The guy next to him suffered from TB, and he didn't have much time left. I witnessed him receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. awesome...

The rainy season has really come. I thought as a "bergenser" that I knew what heavy rain was, but I realize I had no idea. I wake up every night, actually believing we are going to die, because of the heavy rain, thunder and lightning. then my thoughts goes down the road to some of our very poor neighbors that doesn't even have a house to stay in.. oh God..
Yesterday we gathered everyone in the whole village to watch the movie "facing the giants". we baked hundreds of coconut buns and threw up a big screen in the backyard. a lot of people gathered, even the monkeys came to watch from the mango trees. it was great!!

Thanks for praying for my brothers in Tanzania. They are completely healed. Praise God.

"..but greatest of all is love"

I thank God for each new day here in Guyana. He is so close, and He reveals Himselves for me in a new way every day, through all I see, hear, feel etc.. Sometimes I wonder if I have come to the garden og ede.. Canooing down one of the many rivers, surrounded by jungle, flocs of birds dressed in beautiful colors guiding the way. Knowing that poisonous snakes and crocodiles are hiding in the brown water. Singing to Jesus. Being amazed by the creator of all this beauty. But then I look behind all this, and I see the poverty, I see the men sitting all day long smoking marihuana, I see the old woman in the street with her life in a plastic bag, I see the orphans, I see the two small boys which was "left in the grass" by their mother. My heart breaks, and I realize that this is not garden of ede, this is a place with a lot of suffering...

...But it is also a place where there's big possibilities to make a difference. There's such a need for love, God's kind of love. And I find that's one of the main reasons why I am here. Every day I get the chance to give some love to people around me. Hug a child, listen to someone's story, go to the hospital, visit the sick, comfort a crying child, minister to a mother that has been sitting on a chair next to her sick child's bed - without sleeping or eating for a week, praying together with them, praying for God's healing and strength. I find that nothing gives me so much that being able to share God's love with someone.

Guyana is such a uniqe country, a mix of everything I've seen before. Villages like Thailand, rainforest, african markets, dalladalla, cows in the streets, african people, asian people, some few europeans, spicy food, sweet and juicy fruits, working horses, friendly people, rasta men who wants to marry me..
I'm starting to get used to the wild life inside the house which I'm living in. Frogs jumping out from the shower, coming up from the sink, sitting on the toilet seat, jumping over the table. Big beautiful butterflies flying around, fireflies lightening up the night, and so many different creatures I'd never seen before crawling all over; floor, roof, walls, bed.. After a week I look like a walking mosquito bite, but I'm still happy to be here, and really excited that I have so much time left!

Today I made had some interesting experiences. I went to a Guyanese church, which was quite a wonderful experience, so much passion for Jesus, and a big hunger for more of Him! In the afternoon we went on to a Hindu wedding just across the street. We got a lot of good and spicy food served in a huge leaf, crazy loud music, old women dancing, tradissions. Nice experiance, very different..

Thank God for who He is, and pray for my brothers in Tanzania that suffers from malaria.
Love

God is faithful

Friday night.. still no ticket from Mexico city to Georgetown, Guyana. Not even someone to drive me to the airport.. but once more I got to experience God's faithfulness, and help from people that loves me. I am so blessed. A few hours later I packed my stuff and left from Grimerud.. As I sat at Gardermoen, waiting, I suddenly realized that I had really no idea of what I'm heading on to. Maybe I am a bit crazy, after all, but my heart is filled with this amazing peace that surpasses all knowledge.

Paris.. too late for the next flight, too many people, running fast, but not fast enough. Praying that God will delay the flight. He did. I entered the plane in the very last minute. I got a seat next to this very nice Mecixan man, who were very willing to let me tell Him all about Jesus, hour after hour.. Joy.

Mexico city.. my connecting flight to Miami didn't leave until next morning, so I'd got to stay at the airport. God showed me this place away from the crowds of people, so I rolled out my sleeping bag and laid down on top of my giutar and my backpack..

Flying from Mexico city into this beautiful, beautiful sunrise. Flying in cercles over Miami.. Sleeping im Miami one night. Get to talk to a lot of nice people. Coffee at starbucks. Playing my guitar, and praising Jesus. Monday afternoon.. take off to Trinidad and Tobago. Flying over the Caribbean while the sunset is painting the heaven dark red. What a wonderful maker, what a mighty god, which is living inside of me.. Wow..

some more hours in Port of Spain before finally landing in Guyana late monday night. Kim(the leader of the YWAM base) warmly welcomed me at the airport, and we went on for one and a half hour drive to Parika, which is a small village outside of Georgetown.

This is my first day in Guyana. It's a BEAUTIFUL country, wilderness and rivers everywhere. The people that I stay with are just amazing. They all have powerful testemonies about God's faithfulness in their lives. I don't know why God brought me here, but I have big expectations for what He wants to teach me, show me, reveal for me, do through me while I'm here. I'm just so filled with joy and peace.

Thanks for praying for me. I can feel in my heart that you guys are really praying. Pray that I'll be a blessing and a smile to the people here. God is good, and He is always faithful.

GUYANA...

when I stop doing thins in my own strenght, when I choose to sit down at Jesus feet, just to be with HIM... when I seek Him more than seeking His gifts and blessings, seek His face instead of seeking His hands... when I realize that my main calling is not to do, to go, but to be... together with my Father... than suddenly doors just open...

Guyana, I'd never heard about the country before.. but it's there, south america, and God just opened a door for me there. so hopefully, in few days I'll be landing in Georgetown. I am going to stay at a ywam base there, and be a part of their work among the poor in the country. they have a lot of different minestry such as bush evangelism, children minestry, mercy minestry (visiting HIV/AIDS victims at the hospital), construction minestry, worship etc... I'll be able to give, recieve, learn, grow... while I'm surrounded by the beautiful amazone.. 

If you want to pray for me feel free to do it. Pray that I'll manage to go from Mexico to Guyana (so far I only have a ticket to mexico city), pray that God will send someone who wants to travel with me down in Brazil in January. And pray that God will send people in my way that I can share His love with!

May God our Father fill us with peace and joy as we sit down at His feet just to be in His presence.. Amen

All I need

How high are Your thoughts?
How deep is Your love?
How far are You able to reach?
How mighty are You?
How great is Your name?
How big are Your dreams for me?

How bright is Your light?
How real is Your touch?
How patient are You?
How long last your mercy?
How close can You get?
How meek is your heart?
How sweet is Your kiss?
How faithful are You above all?

You are higher
You are greater
You are better
You are brighter
You are sweeter
You are deeper
You are closer
You are more
You are

Let me long
Let me see
Let me hear
Let me feel
Let me understand
Let me touch
Let me breath
Let me know You, God
Let me know You, God
That’s all I need

surrender

I've never been so secure in Gods love than I am now. I've never known so much about Him, or experienced more of His goodness. I've never known so many truths about Christ and who I am in Him. His word has never been more alive for me than it is right now. I've never had more revelations about the Father, or heard His voice clearer. I've never trusted Him so fully or loved Him so deeply. Still I sometimes find myself thinking thoughts like; is God real? who am I? who is God? what happens if I just end my life today?
I know where theese thoughts come from. And as long as I want to follow Jesus with all I am, I will face resistance. If you're not bumping your head into the evil one, means you are running the same direction.. Jesus ask us to SURRENDER ALL TO HIM. So simple. So huge. So difficult. That is the biggest thing in life. and the thing the enemy are most afraid of. Because that will glorify God on earth. that will make a difference that will last forever.

I am greatest when I am on my knees, and have totally surrendered all to You my King.

Mae Ra Moe

It's raining like crazy. In front of us only deep clay. Surrounded by jungle. Oh, it's the road. The driver is optimistic. Faith can move mountains. Faith can digg a way with it's own hands into the refugee camp. Faith never gives up. We are wet into the bones. The ass hurts. But who cares, we are there. A lot of people. Happy people. I wonder what stories that are hiding behind the smiling eyes. We cross the river. Finally we can sit down on the bamboo floor. The smoke is intens, but it keeps away the huge crowds of mosquito. It's dark in the house made of bamboo, but we have some candles. The rain still falls on the roof made of leaves. He tells me his name. He is the same age as me. He used to live with his family in Karen state in Burma. He worked on the ricefields. But the Burmeese came. They burned down their village. They raped the girls. They killed his friends while he was watching. He speaks slowly. He and his family ran out in the jungle. They stayed there, hiding, for one year. They got sick. His sister died. They did'n have much food. They lived in fear. His smiling eyes covers the pain. It's ten years ago now. The rafugee camp has become his home. I can never understand. I can't even try to imagine the depth of the suffering that sorrounds me. But I can listen to this boy in front of me. I can cry some of his tears, and I can pray God to heal his broken heart.

the joy of the Lord is our strength

You don't know what real joy is before you walk the streets of Africa. Before you go to the orphanage, and find the children that has lost everything in this world. They are so small, and still they know how it is to be hungry, and don't have anything to eat. They know how painful it is to loose those you love the most. But in those little children you find faith. joy. dance. smiles. laughter. thanksgiving to God because He has given them life, and He has promised to go with them every day. You don't know what joy is before you see the smiling face of the young boy who couldn't walk because his feet was burnt, now playing football together with the other children. Hope. You don't know what joy is before you enter the church Sunday morning and find a nation that is singing and dancing for the Lord who is everything they need. A people that has understood a fundational truth, that THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH... May the Lord give our nation freedom to rejoice in Him! Amen

Today I just want to go to heaven. I don't want to live one more day in this crappy world. Full of shit. Filled with evil. Suffering. Hatred. Egoism. Bitterness. Pain. War. Poverty. Indifference. Pride...

I just want to run away from everything. Run away from all the stupid rutines, traditions, strive for no reason. All the things that keep us from living our lives in fellowship with God and each other. I want to run away from all the unwritten rules about who I should be, and who I should not be. Tired of being placed in a box. Tired of allowing people to place me in that box...

I want to run away from this world's mindset. Why are people so surprised when you give away a little love?

God didn't intend the world to be like it is. It is not God's will that children are starving, that small girls are being raped, and that the rest of the world close their eyes and pretend that they don't see... But He sends me and you, so that we can be in this world and show His love..

The LIGHT that is in us, is GREATER than the darkness of this world...

Intimacy...

Who do I serve?
Who do I try to please?
When will I realise that to serve myself does not make me happy.. When will understand that I can never meet the deepest need in other peoples heart, only God's love can do that.. When will I know that intimacy with the heart of my Father is the key to live a life in victory..
To be intimate.
To hear His voice.
To touch His heart.
To feel His love. For me. For others.
To share everything with Him.
To cry with Him. Laugh and dance with Him. Sing to Him. And listen when He sings to me.
To let Him hold me in His arms, and give me all that He is...
Is it posible? To be intimate with the Almighty God?
Is't up to you..
I love Him because He loved me first.

Know your identity.

Who are you? Who am I? Who I am, or who I believe I am, is what I build my life upon. Do I put my identity in myself? someone else? or do I put my identity in Jesus Christ? What is the fundation in my life? What was Jesus' fundation? The first thing Jesus was told by His Father before He started His minestry was "This is my SON, in whom I am well pleased" or in other words; this is my son, whom I LOVE. That was Jesus' fundation. He needed to know who He was, and that He was loved. So do I. So do we. The most important thing I can ever get a hold of, is that I am God's daugther, and He loves me. Not because I am lovable, but because God is love. As long as I put my identity in myself, I will never succed. I need a revelation of who I am in Jesus.. Do you?

Do you know that God loves you?

My dad asked me the other day; what is the most important question you can ask? My answer was; "do you know that God loves you?" if you do, what consequenses does it have for your life? Remember that it's a big difference to know something with your mind, and to know it with your heart. I believe that the longest journey we take in life is the journey from the head to the heart... But the only ticket you need is willingness.

It's weird how nine weeks can go so fast, and yet you feel like you've lived a whole life within those few weeks.. you have seen so much, heard so many stories you will never forget, you've got so many new revelations, about God, about other people, about yourself, God has done so much in your heart, taken you deeper than you thought were possible, and suddenly you like coffee... Sørås and Drange, do we have a date?

Run for Relief

For many villagers in Burma, running is not a choise..
..if they want to live.
Millions have ran from their homes, some have managed to cross the river over to the refugeese caps on the border to Thailand. And many of them are hiding in the mountains, in the deep jungle.
On saturday we were over 800 people together running to honour our brave brothers and sisters. The 200bath we paid to join the race went to support the wonderful work that is being done by missioners living in the refugeese camps. I'm so filled with respect to the people who risks everything to cross the border with food, medecines and hope to the people hiding in the jungle. That must be what Jesus meant by "loving our neighbors as ourselves". What if it was me there on the other side.. would you have come? and if it was you.. would I have come if only to give you a hug? I can feel it challenges me.
Is there any borders in my life that holds me back doing what Jesus commanded me to do? Yes, too many..
But God can use a willing heart!

Break me!?

"He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the multitudes"
Oh yes, we want Jesus to take us, we want Him to bless us. And we pray it over and over again. Do I dear to complete the prayer? God, take me, bless me, BREAK me, mold me, and give me to the multitudes. Did you know that the word "brokenness" means to destroy, to crush, but also; give birth to... A ship that only goes through smooth water doesn't learn how to navigate. Sometimes God delivers us FROM the fire, sometimes He deliver us THROUGH the fire, and sometimes even BY the fire. But only He knows what is best for us, what will bring us closer to our Fathers heart.
Break me, Lord, if that brings me closer to You!

Is this the world we live in?

She is running for her life, she doesn't want to die. He's running after, not quite sure why. She is running faster, his gun is too heavy. Two hearts pumping, fear in four eyes, can't stop, can't rest, can't shout, can't cry...

Is this the world we live in? Is this reality? she is nine, he's eleven, they are people like you and me.

Just a little longer, soon she will be home. What if she knew that her house was burning and she was left alone. What is she knew what her eyes would see, what if she knew. What the soldiers had done to her family, oh little girl, don't see.

Is this the world we live in? is this reality? blood everywhere. they where people like you and me.

She is hiding in the jungle, she's not the only one. a bleeding man, a mother with her newborn son. When will they find her, when will she die? can someone tell her why? Running in the darkness night after night. In the daytime she's silent, nobody hears her cry. Where is the river, will she survive? or is there any point of staying alive?
She's walking down the street, she is free. but who will buy her tonight, is it you and me?

Is it anyone who sees? Is there anyone who cares? what does it mean to love my neighbor as I love myself? to cry out to God when i close my eyes and walk away? tomorrow i will act, but not today..

So many stories, so many lives, so many hearts that God has created and that He longs to fill with His love. In Him it's healing for yesterday, grace for today and hope for tomorrow. Only in Him there is freedom and true love. But how will they know if nobody shows them?

I'd never thought I would ever pet a living tiger...

God's thoughts are obviously higher than mine...

Thank You

Oh God, help me not to take for granted all the blessings You poor out to me every day. I have so much to be thankful for; The fifty smiling faces that meets me every morning, waiting to give me a big hug, and take some of my love. All the wonderful food, that will make me roll back to Norway. The beauty of digging and repairing toilets. Children shouting “thank you teacher” “yellow”. Catching fish by hand. Oranges, oranges and more oranges. Snakes. Clean drinking water. Cold showers to wake me up in the mornings. Good health. The ability to sing and play guitar. New friends. Many people receiving Jesus every day. Knew knowledge about food and practical work. Warm clothes. Norwegian melkesjokolade. Walking bare foot.

Thank you my Jesus

FISHING

Today (21.jan.09)I had one of the best days in my life. Pi Tom came to pick me up on his motorbike. We went to pi Pi’s house to eat lunch before meeting the rest of the boys at pi Gjå’s house. From there we went past villages, rice fields, palms, bamboo cabins, rivers, on a small road filled with red African soil, over bamboo bridges, past all kinds of animals, surrounded by beautiful nature, I felt like coming home. We stopped by the riverside and jumped into the water. We went down the stream, and tried to catch fishes with our hands. For maybe two hours I didn’t catch a single fish. But the boys were so excited that I wanted to join that it didn’t matter. They made me stick my arm into deep holes, and told me afterwards that there was either fish, snakes or crabs in the holes… They also picked all kinds of different things from the trees along the riverside, and gave me to eat. I told them to pray for me, that I would catch a fish, and suddenly I started to catch fishes every time I put my hands down in the brown water. I even managed to catch the long fish that was the hardest to catch. We were in the river all day long. I am just getting more and more amazed about God’s wonderful creation. What a creator! In the evening we went back to pi Gjå’s house to make dinner together. I had my first hot shower since I came to Thailand. We cocked, laughed, ate, sang together and told stories to each other. What a wonderful day. I have really got some good friends here in Fang, and it’s so sad we’re leaving to Chiang Mai on Saturday.

You have a Father that loves you

You’re smiling, playing around with the others

And I wonder, have you always been happy?

You see me, you run into my arms

And I wonder, have you ever felt love before?

Your face shines, but pain is in your eyes

And I wonder, what is your story?

You take my hand, and lead me to your mother

And I wonder, are you my brother?

What is your story, what is your name?

Show me your scars, your wounds, your pain

What have I done?

What didn’t I do?

Beautiful little one, you have a Father that loves you

You’re laughing, dancing in the sun

And I wonder, if your heart is cloudy

You’re scared, hiding your face in my lap

And I wonder, where does this fear come from?

You lift your head, you’re watching my face

And you wonder, does she really love me?

I’ m crying, you’re wiping my tears with your hand

And I wonder, will I ever understand?

What is your story, what is your name?

Show me your scars, your wounds, your pain

What have I done?

What didn’t I do?

Beautiful little one, you have a Father that loves you

Weeks have past. New adventures have taken place. Dogs have been eaten. Elephants have been rode. River boats have been taken. Wells have been digged. More chili have been swallowed. New life stories have been shared. New people have received Jesus. New revelations have been given. New steps have been taken. More love has been poured out in my heart.

I had to go to Thailand to understand that God is my everything. I need nothing or no one but Him, who is the only one who can please my deepest longings and inner needs. Thank You Father. I love You!

Fang!

Fang is a very small town with a lot of wonderful people. We are staying outside the town in a beautiful village with a big, green garden, and too many animals that are singing all night long. We have been here for almost two weeks now, and I thank God every day for sending me here. Every day we are at a Shan school where we are having devotion for the children and English teaching for the children and the staff at the school. We are also helping making food for the children, and of course playing with them, and just loving them. Most of the children are refugees from Burma, they all have a life story we can’t even imagine. All of them are poor. Some of the children don’t have parents, they were killed on their way to Thailand. Others have parents that drinks and beats their children. They are so filled with fear, and all they want is just someone that loves them.

As time goes by the more I realize how blessed I am in everything. I have so much to give, because I have received so much from God. And He is still taking me new steps every day, deeper in His love, making me understand more of who He is, and He is building trust in my heart. Almost every day I have to face situations that force me to either give up, or admit that I am weak, and put my trust in God. And God is really faithful.

In the evenings we are going to house meetings on orange farms or rice fields. There we meet people that loves God and people that doesn’t know Him. We share testimonies of what God has done in our lives, we read from the Bible, give word of encouragements, we worship and pray together and we lift His name on high in that place. Every time we see people receiving Jesus. It is powerful.

Thank you so much for prayers. That really makes a difference. I am now totally healthy (in spite of all bugs, crocodiles and frogs I have eaten), and God uses me so much, even when I am not aware of it. But there is always a battle going on, either, physical, mental or spiritual, there is always a fence to climb. But God gives me the strength I need to take one step at a time. He is everything, I am nothing, He knows me more than I even know myself, and still He loves me more than I can ever imagine, and He, the almighty God, He wants to live in my heart and let His kingdom come down on earth through me... That is the greatest of all things.

Today, I've seen...

...many tuck tucks
...a wonderful Philippino man who had teaching with us about Shan culture
...too many white men with Thai women
...a buddhist tample
...many buddhist munks
...an Englishman who stood outside our window all night long, singing "Iwill not go away"
...street dogs and cats
...a little boy looking like Christ Mena
...a PIANO (flygel..) and I played it... Happiness

Chiang Mai

After a 38hours long journey with fever and less of sleep, we finally reached Chiang Mai, where we are going to stay the first couple of days. But even though I was sick during the journey, it was a very nice journey. God gave me strenght, and Ive already experienced so much of Gods faithfulness! He promised to go with me, and He does!
Thailand is a beautiful country with new smells, new sounds, nice people, and yes, Pen Say the most wonderful food!! Wish you where here brother.
The first thing Kim did when we reached Bankok airport was to get on a thick layar of sun lotion, just in case, even though we where to spend the whole day inside the airport... It is actually not so hot here, I am freezing all the time (maybe that says more about me, and the fact that I am still sick, than about Thailand..)
On Friday we are going to Fang where we will stay the next six weeks. Im looking very much forward to that.
Please continue to pray for us as a team, and pray for me that God will heal me completely, so that I can be a part of all the exciting things He has prepared for me here in Thailand.
I just have to say Marte, it was amazing to talk to you when I was in Amsterdam, that was so good for both heart, soul and body! Thank you.
Love you mum and dad, and all you others that are reading this!
Blessings

THAILAND

Only two days left till I'm leaving this cold, cold country..
Yes, I am excited
yes, I am still sick (as I always am when I am to travel somwhere far)
yes mum, I am eating
and yes, God is still good and here right beside me.

Fortvil ikkje

Fortvil ikkje, vesle menneske
Du kan ikkje enda all urett,
men kanskje har du vorte eit førebilete for andre

Sørg ikkje, vesle menneske
Du kan ikkje henta attende dei døde,
men kanskje har du gjort kvardagen betre for dei levande

Gråt ikkje, vesle menneske
Du kan ikkje redde heile verda,
men ser du deg attende
vil du sjå alle andleta som lyste opp i glede
fordi nærværet ditt gjorde ein skilnad