Before and after Christmas.

29.11.2013 20:32
Tonight it was like it finally dawned on my Greek teacher that there are three women in the class that have been in Greece less than three months - compared to the rest who has been here είκοσι δύο, δεκατέσσερα η πέντε (22, 14 or 5) years. I guess because now we know enough to answer the question "how long have you been here" - which might be the most useful phrase ever, especially when working with refugees and studying Greek with immigrants.
Last week we learnt the abbreviations μ.Χ and π.Χ. This was one time that my sweet Greek teacher took to English and she explained how the first one is after Christmas and the other one before Christmas. Yup, in Greece Christmas is that important, clearly.
But she also explained that we use little m and p and big X, because Χριστός - Christ - was "the God". And so I wanted to go "preach it, sister!" Some people still have revelation.
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An angel.

22.10.2013 19:57
- "Imagine. All through the pregnancy my wife hated that child," he said as we were watching beautiful Mobina playing with her 4-month-old daughter. "And do you know she was born three weeks late? Even the doctors were amazed and asked me how it is possible. Why should they ask me that when they are the professionals!"
- "But she waited until the day after we got our red cards! Without the red cards we would have had to pay over a thousand euros. She was born the day after we got our red cards."
I was invited for a traditional meal. Sitting on the floor, eating fruits and later delicious rice with chicken. My host was telling me miracle upon miracle. Friends say they have never seen him worry.
- "Last winter we stayed in Alexandria park, but for the last six months we have had this apartment." I'm looking around the small room where I am obviously sitting on the bed that the whole family share together - the floor. Two boys, seven and four years old, tease each other terribly. There is a tiny kitchen and a pink bathroom. The neighborhood is nice, though.
- "One day I met a Greek lady. She asked me where I was staying. She was shocked to learn that I stayed in the park. She asked me if I was alone and was even more shocked when she heard that I have a family and a pregnant wife. She wanted my contact details and a week later she called me and said she found this apartment for us and she paid for the first four months. She was an angel."
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Mark 14.

16.10.2013 16:15
It is like I don't dare believing it. How good and prepared it is, I mean. While still in South Africa a few people had "words" for me how Jesus would do everything for me in Greece. Darling Suné talked about Mark 14 and how Jesus had prepared everything for his disciples. Everything was as he has said.
And now... I can hardly discribe it. An apartment was waiting for me. People were waiting for me. Without an effort I have made friends. Jesus is so faithful.
And last Sunday my co-worker was preaching over - Mark 14! What an amazing confirmation. This Jesus who already did everything for us, continues to work out our lives. Because he delights in us. (Ps. 18.)
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Obdience rather than sacrifice.

23.8.2013 13:14
This week I went with my mother to a prayer meeting in an old fisherman's cottage in our region. (Check out the interior design. Big time Finland nostalgia.) Ahhhh, how I love to pray - and especially with humble prayer warrior women such as these. Powerful stuff. I could feel things being accomplished! And I was so happy to be home amongst people fervent in prayer and so sincere in faith and living!
There was one woman that I didn't recognize from my childhood, going to church in this particular village. For some strange reason another lady started talking about the power in music to bring a message across, and then the lady that I didn't know started sharing her story of how she came to faith. And that story involved me - completely unknowingly! When I still went to school and high school, I was sometimes called to come sing at a hospice for old people that had took part in The War. I can't say I enjoyed it, as I seldom did or do when I perform. The endless struggle to find suitable music. The stress of a very full yearly schedule. The uncertainty of not knowing if anybody liked it. But being raised with a strong sense of duty I still sang whenever people asked me to. Thinking that I had to use the talent God had given me. This lady told us how she had worked at that hospice and how she had sat in a corner listening to me singing. How something had reached deep inside of her, too strong for words and how she had sat there in the corner crying, realizing her desire and hunger for Jesus. And that's where her journey started, almost 20 years ago. Quite incredible what happens when we make ourselves available. Even in our grumpy moments. As long as we go.
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Where you go and where you stay.

6.5.2012 15:27
One of these days I was trying to ask Jesus about my future, in particular next year.
- "Where should I go? India? Brazil? Europe? Stay in South Africa?" And he answered,
- "Where you go, I go and where you stay, I stay."
Ahhh. He can be so frustrating sometimes.
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It's happening!

24.4.2012 12:41

Oh, culture.

6.4.2012 11:30
Can I just share something from my culture? So, today my sister posted an article from the regional newspaper where I am from on my Facebook page. In one of the villages in our municipality a woman had been shot dead by someone who had also killed himself - which first of all is unheard of. That does not happen in safe little Finland. But what appears kind of funny in this very tragic situation (and I am not trying to be disrespectful, just observing) is that the 40-year-old-something woman was working on her forest. And let me explain - in my country we have deep, full-on, magical, real forests that require hard labor. (Most people own forests - though most of them are state owned). So, this woman was working in her forest - and she had apparently been shot as she was filling up her chain saw by her car.
Only in the Nordic countries. Only in Scandinavia. Where women are as tough as men and where women can do anything that men can do. Where man and woman walk up the aisle side by side to get married, because the woman is not "under" her father and she is not "under" her husband - she is equal to him. Bone of his bone. Created to be an equal helper.
Oh, culture. (And oh, how culture still impacts our perceptions. Even when reading the Bible.)
And then on the other hand, I do enjoy the courtesy of men holding up the door for me, offering to help me carry my bags and look out for me. But when I really think about it, in my world, it's not about a man doing it, it's about people showing consideration and helpfulness. And I have had to learn that I am not being a burden, but to actually receive help. I think the breakthrough came when my Brazilian friend said as we were standing on the bus, "Nanna, it makes me feel good to help you carry you bag. Please, let me do it." From that moment I stopped feeling guilty about packing too much stuff into my bag.
Oh, how we can learn from each other.
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Boys and girls.

11.5.2010 23:25

Some weeks ago I felt like I had the revelation of a lifetime, concerning this thing about boys’ and girls’ respective responsibility in a relationship.

As is wellknown, we are different. Sometime more different than we come to think of. Especially when it comes to the physical side. My, and many other girls’ experience is that it is most often the boy who takes initiative in the pfysical arena. Girls often feel that they have to take responsibility totally on their own, and saying ‘no’ is not always easy.

But when I heard of a couple at Bethel School of Ministry (for those of you who are familiar with this Bible school in the US) my mind was really enlightened concerning one specific detail. This couple had done their first year out of three at the Bible school  and started dating. During the summer it so happened that they started sleeping together and ended up pregnant. When the new semester started, they were convinced they were going to be kicked out of the school. As they approached their leader he asked,

- ”So, what’s the problem?” The couple looked confused at each other.

- ”Did you not tell him...?”

- ”What do you mean ‘what’s the problem’? We are pregnant...” Teh leader answered:

- ”Yes, that’s the consequence, but what is the PROBLEM?”

As the continued talking, they boy started revealing how he often had an urge to go home in the evenings after spending the day together with his girlfriend. But since the girl felt so rejected, he would stay a little longer and then one thing would lead to the next.

And it hit me like a lightning bolt that this is what so often happens! Girls have a big wound on the inside in general which expresses itself in a huge fear of being rejected and left alone. That is our sin as girls, that we do not put our hope in Jesus as our faithful lover. Boys alo have a responsibility not to fall for this, but it really helped me to see that girls also play an important part in why it so often goes wrong, and boys play another part that looks completely different.

I feel the constant need of repenting from my fear, to seek healing from my inner wounds and trust that God is my protection and my fighter.

(Concerning the couple at Bethel School of Ministries, they got married and already before the baby was born there were many prophetic words spoekn over her. That is the power of grace.)

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Blessed.

11.5.2010 23:09

My ex roommate Unity from Zimbabwe always answers the question about how she is doing with,

-”Me? Oh me, I’m blessed!”

This morning at base worship, Stefaan (who is still our base director until September) spoke about how blessed we are on this base and how he sometimes walks around among the cars and sees the BMWs, Audis and so on. For his part, his new car arrived this morning and now the family is waiting on God to show them who they are supposed to give their old car to. They have given away six cars. As for me, I have strongly felt during the last few weeks that I need to give away my camera that I bought last year. The thought makes me SO HAPPY, and now I’m waiting for the right moment.

And remember nobody receives a salary here, but everybody is living out of the YWAM principle of ”relationship based support”. So this morning, Stefaan called all those trusting God for a car to the front, and those who have a car prayed for them. Then he called all those who are trusting God to buy a house in Worcester to the front. After that people started telling sotories of how God has provided for them in big and small things.

Stefaan also spoke about how poverty and wealth are spiritual things and how are thoughts must be renewed according to the principles of the Kingdom of God. A while ago Jesus spoke to me from Ps. 37 and the life of Jacob in the Old Testament. According to the word of God the righteous man is the one who GIVES - and ever generously. The position of the righteous is a position of giving. The righteous man is also smart about his wealth. This is a promise from God and it is also an ATTITUDE that we as the righteous ones must develop.

So, how am I doing today? Me? I’m blessed!

..look at the lilies of the field...
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Impact World Tour.

10.5.2010 23:02

The last few weeks have been very busy here in Worcester. Busy but good. And our base director, Stefaan, has announced he is leaving - of good cause. He says everything God called him to do in Worcester has been fulfilled and it is time to move on. The last thing to take place is REVIVAL. A revival in the style of Andrew Murray's, whose revival actually broke out here in Worcester, for those who are interested in church history.

During almost two years, preparations for something very special has been made: Impact World Tour (IWT). The IWT is a YWAM ministry using extreme sports, dance, music and professional stage production to reach out in a relavant way to this generation with the gospel. What impresses is the preparations and follow-up. An international coordinator has been here on-off for almost two years to work with the local churches: make them work together and train them to receive new people.

Already during the three first evenings 700 people received Jesus and had their names written down in order for individual contact persons to get in touch with them afterwards and see to it that they find a local church and are discipled. The DTS has been proud to be a little part of it, praying with people at the altar call and filling in forms with people's contacts.

The week before Easter the campaign still needed 300.000 rand (30.000 euros). IWT is a big campaign, but it also gave fruit. At least Stefaan is convinced that Revival has come to Breede Valley, where we live!

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FöregåendeNästa

Dr. Nanna Rosengård

. stolt finlandssvensk . missionär tidigare stationerad i Sydafrika, nu i Aten . älskar att möta människor hjärta-mot-hjärta . fascinerad av språk, kultur och identitet . intresserad av en hälsosam livsstil . gräver gärna i rabatter om tillfälle ges . extrem-exalterad över att Jesus har befriat oss för att leva i frihet (t.ex. från fördömelse, förväntningar och synd) . ogillar att stå inför stora grupper men sjunger ändå emellanåt (mindre nu än förr) . doktor i teologi/judaistik . känner skaparglädje tillsammans med min Canon 7D .

Jag lever för att andra ska få känna mer liv. Jag önskar vara mer medveten om Jesus närvaro överallt och i alla och hjälpa andra att erfara Hans befriande närvaro och nåd.

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