Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Iceland Life

Hello!
Things in Iceland are going really well. There was another all-day protest yesterday, in front of the bank this time, but it was not as big as the others.
I have finaly had time to relax and take in the beauty of being in Iceland. I had been so busy that I had not really seen much of Reykjavik yet. I took a long walk into some of the oldest parts of Reykjavik and past the huge lutheran church. Michelle was gracious enough to let me borrow her camera, and I have the photos posted on facebook. (the album name is "island fegurð")
The weather here is getting colder and more windy. It has gotten down to 29 and 30 Farenheit the past three days, and yesterday it snowed for the first time. Of course it immediately melted, except for on the mountains. Also, days are getting noticably darker and shorter. But I am truly loving this weather. I think I was made for Iceland.
I think everyone in the DTS is starting to feel really at home in Reykjavik. The Father has formed us into a family very quickly. For me, Home is where I am, and everywhere that the Forever Family of the Church is.

This weekend was the last days of Air Waves, which is the biggest music festival in Iceland. For one week every coffee shop, bar, clothing store, art gallery, food store,and museum are turned into music venues. I saw a lot of really good off-venue bands like Amiina (the string players for Sigur Ros), and Moddi, and Mukkalo, which is my friends' band.

The speaker this week is Ron Botha and he is speaking on the Holy Spirit. He is the first person I have heard give a lecture on the Holy Sprit and actually sound like he knows what he's talking about. He is sticking strictly to what the bible says about Him, and emphasizes how the Holy Spirit is a person. He is not just a feeling, and He is not something that is obtained. It seems that lately alot of people who talk about the Holy Spirit, treat Him as if He were a some kind of drug. Like He is some ethereal presence. But He is a person, and He is the same character as Christ and the Father.

Anyway, thank you again for your prayers, for myself and Cafe Rot. I Love you all. Bless.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Biðjið Fyrir Ísland

Hello again!

My first week in Iceland has been really good. On Saturday we gave away coffee and hot coco on the street corner. Giving away anything for free is really strange here, so when people asked why we were doing this, we told them it was just because we love them and want to give them coffee, and that Jesus loves them. This struck quite a few interesting conversations. A lot of people tried to argue with us, but we were not interested in arguing, just talking to people and loving on them.
Most of the people I talked to have been wounded by the ¨church"in some way, and so now when they hear the name Jesus, they only think of the judgmental, hypocritical, hateful, and religion infested system which calls itself the church. How could they love a Jesus who they believe hates homosexuals or Muslims? Or who simply judges them? I certainly could not love a man like this. And so, since we cannot convince them of the true, non-judgmental Love of Jesus, we try to show them.
Imagine if the Church, as Jesus taught us, considered everyone else´s sin to be a speck compared to the plank in our own eye. Followers of Jesus would be known for their humility and unconditional love.

Classes have been fantastic. Haldor Lárusson has been teaching all week on redemption and the cross. He really focuses on the importance of knowing in your spirit that Jesus became sin, and He died. Therefore sin is dead,and we died with Him. And because death could not hold Him, He now can offer us new life and a new spirit, which is actually His Spirit.

For those of you who asked, at first I thought Rót meant ¨red¨ as it does in German, but actually it means ¨roots¨. They named it for the verse in Ephesians which talks about being rooted and grounded in Love.
I also found out that Café Rót actually used to be a strip club, before a Christian guy bought it and turned into a café, and then gave it away to YWAM.  In fact what is now the prayer room, in the basement, used to be the changing room for the strippers. I thought that was pretty awesome. Jesus has redeemed this Café much the same way He will restore Iceland.

Thank you for your prayers and keep Iceland and Café Rót in your prayers as well.
I love and miss you all!  Bless



Friday, October 8, 2010

First days.

Hi everyone!
I arrived in Reykjavik early yesterday morning. Michelle Mcever's friend Chris picked us up and drove us to the Guest House at the Salvation Army, where I am staying. We took a couple of detours to see a beautiful view of the city, and to watch the sunrise over the Sea.

There are seven people in my DTS. Michelle, Josh, Felecia, Ariel, Kathrin, and Ðorgils, and myself. We already feel pretty close, even though its only the first days.

We happened to arrive during one of Iceland's biggest social unrests. The mortage companies suddenly raised the prices enormously, and are throwing people out of there homes at the beginning of winter. The government here is extremely corrupt and refuse to take any action to help the people. Over 8,000 Icelanders rallied outside parliament, burning the community benches in the yard, banging on oil drums, blowing horns, setting off fireworks. Whenever they see government officials, people throw eggs and glass bottles at them.
It is good we've arrived at this time though. Iceland desires change. Their government and economy have failed them, but we are bringing a new revolution, through Christ.


Besides the protests, Iceland is very peaceful. You can feel the presence of God as soon as you come into Cafe R'ot. Even the kids that come in say that they can´t explain why, but that they feel so loved in Cafe R'ot.

I have gotten to talk to people from all over the world at the Guest House we are staying in. Icelandic, Dutch, Norwegian, German, Greek, French, English. All of us are travellers, with travellers hearts, and all of us living as a community.

Sorry this post is so sparatic, but my mind is all over the place!
I love you all!
Bless.