Following and Fishing

Yesterday started with rain with a hint of ice, then the sun came up to remind us that it was in fact still spring.  But because we live in Sweden, the evening came with a quick snow shower!  My favorite part of this season is the sun is now raising around 4:45 am and not setting until 8:45 pm!

Team Development. Last weekend we had the opportunity as a team to be out of Stockholm together.  The families I work with are part of a mission organization called OM Sweden.  OM hosted, covering all costs, so that these new church planting teams could have a common training.  We are one of five teams stepping out to see new churches start and mature among the least reached people groups.  It was a wonderful weekend to strengthen our communication, create space to process and think through where we are and what steps we need.

Muslims.  This next week starts Ramadan.  The 30 day fasting season for Muslims.  Pray for us as we look to connect with others.  Next weekend, I will have the chance to break fast with a couple N & H.  There is a team here for a few days praying and willing to engage.  Pray for favor.  Pray for dreams.  Pray for divine appointments with prepared hearts.  With lots of sunshine, this is the season for sowing seeds of truth broadly.

Current relationships.  Pray for A who is waiting for the decision if she will be allowed to stay in Sweden.  Pray for M, A, E and S to open their hearts to Jesus.  Pray for N who is seeking to take the step of faith.  Pray for El who is looking for love in all the wrong places.

Small beginnings.  Sundays we have church in my living room creating space for people locally to encounter Jesus.  We are doing everything in Swedish and invite others to join us.  Yes the hope is to start groups, but we are just starting 🙂

Teaching job.  It has been a great gift to have a job that I enjoy that has helped with the finances as well as many other details as this chapter began.  Starting in August, I will get to go down to 50% so that I can give more attention to the work as it increases.  Please pray for a few more monthly gifts to keep the finances stable 🙂

Appreciating you continuing to journey with me.  Please reply and let me know how I can be praying for you! Blessings!

March’s weather is very unpredictable.  You have these moments where the sun is shining, if feels that it will get above 50 degrees and there is even the signs of flowers trying to break through the recently thawed soil.  The very next day there is three inches of snow on the ground with no signs of spring on the horizon.  This tension or battle for winter to come to an end is how ministry can feel.

We met Aya, a student in the local high school, in December.  She seemed hungry to know Jesus and filled with questions.  Yet after two months, it was as though she had decided to move further away and we might not see her again.  Surprisingly she send a message that she wanted to go to church. The battle to believe something she knows would cause tension with relatives and friends.  Last week she had so much anxiety and trouble breathing she went to the hospital.  Caroline (my roommate) prayed for her.  Aya continued to pray to Jesus that week.  Then one night, Jesus came to her in a dream.  She said she felt so loved.  Then Jesus put his hand out and touched her forehead.  She was healed.  She woke up healed and even days later she was rejoicing.  Aya will move in with us this week to take some pressure off so that she can have space to get her questions answered and finish school.  Please pray for Aya.

In September, we were eager to start an investigative bible study with Marsi and Asiyeh.  After a few videos looking at the Old Testament pointing to the Messiah, it seemed the interest had died out and the pressure of studies took over.  Struggling with how to continue to the conversation, we decided to wait and just be with our friends.  Last Sunday, Marsi out of the blue asked if there were any more videos for us to watch.  “Yes, the next one is about Mary and Jesus’ birth.” we responded.  The ladies asked if we could continue the series.  Please pray for these two women to meet Jesus these coming weeks.

We never know when Spring will come, but we are promised it will come.  I have been learning how to remain in joy during winter knowing that I have a Living Hope that does not disappoint.  The battle for fruit to come is real.  Please pray for the season to change in our neighborhood (Tensta/Rinkeby) and that many more would seek and find Jesus.