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
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