Cowboy, Cowgirl and Froggy

Today the kid's school celebrated Halloween and Michael and Josefina decided to be cowboy and cowgirl. So here they are...



And then we have little froggy as well :).

Published: By: The Almqvists - 4:19 PM

What we Live for

This is what we live for, this is why Mission SOS exist, to help reach these 2 billion people that have never heard the wonderful gospel of Jesus... This is why we have SOS Mission Bible College and MCM Ministry School, to train, equip and send out missionaries to these people groups. That's why we have mission bases, mission offices and the church in Stockholm - so that we can do everything we can to reach and see these precious people saved from an eternal hell... I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful comission - wow, Jesus is soon to return!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:49 PM

My Weird "Passions"

I have two weird, yeah, I guess you can call them passions in life... (I have more, but these are the REALLY weird ones!!!) One is doing laundry - this gives me many mommy pionts - and the other is mowing our lawn... And today was a big day for me, we bought a brand new lawn mower :)!!! So, as Peter was making dinner, I was out enjoying the sound and the works of my new little toy!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 9:28 PM

Awesome People!

This afternoon we had some awesome people over for coffee and "fika" (that's coffee with something, in this case the traditional Swedish "kladdkaka": goey chocolate cake!). Some of the students from last year's class at MCM Ministry School, Colby Harris, Paul Pindroh, Sarah Graefe, Joy Lemmer and Melanie Morrow, it was so good to re-connect, catch up and talk missions and the future. Some of them are getting ready to out as missionaries to Thailand and Ethiopia and some will help us here at the US office. All of them are so dedicated and on fire to serve God, wherever He leads them. Peter and I are so proud of them and just know that they will be greatly used by the Holy Spirit. I am excited to see what the Lord will do through them!!!

Joy helped us all summer by looking after our house and feeding our 6th family member, Buddy. We got her a hammock so she'll get some rest now:).

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 8:30 PM

Happy in Your Calling!

Yesterday as I was driving home from the gym I was thinking a little bit on God's calling on a person's life and what a joy it is to find that you are right in the middle of what He has called you to do. Sometimes we make this such a complicated thing, what has God called me to do? I must say that Peter and I feel that we are right in bulls eye with what God has called us to do - and we couldn't be more content or happy. God has not called us to be any of the ministry gifts, He has called us to be ministers of help, and in our case this is to help and serve our leaders, Johannes and Maria Amritzer. We feel such a joy and completeness (is that even a word???) in serving them, they are our leaders, we are submitted to them and are under their authority and also under their anointing.

Johannes and Maria - we love you!!!

It is such an honor to be under such wonderful leaders, Johannes and Maria have taught me everything I know about living as a disciple to Jesus... I am so thankful for all the early prayer hours in their kitchen, all the times they have counseled me and given me advice on different stuff. All the crazy and good times we have had together and the way that they live close to their coworkers!!!

I couldn't be happier with my life really, I know what I am called to do... Maybe you are not called to be one of the ministry gifts, maybe you are called to be an accountant, a nurse, a carpenter or have your own company, then do that 110%, serve Jesus in that particular place and feel the joy of the Lord come over you in knowing that you are in the right place, doing what God wants you to.

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 2:14 PM

Home Sweet Home...

So, we finally got our visa and could return to the US!!! After 5 months of moving 13 times and living out of our suitcases it was sooooooooooo good to unpack yesterday! Everything happened very fast, we got our passports in the mail on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning we left Stockholm after spending the night (2 hours of sleep :)) at Ylva and Tommy's house since they live so close to the airport. We were picked up at Newark and then drove to Gettysburg and spent the night there before continuing on to Pittsburgh on Thursday. It was almost surreal when we came to our house. It was so long since we were here, but at the same time it felt like we never left...

Nina had decorated our living room so that we would feel very welcome!!!

The past months have been challenging, but oh so good in many ways and it has been so great to have spent so much time with our SOS family. And yes - it really functions as a family - we have never lacked anything. We have always had some place to stay, someones car to drive, car seat for Lucas (thanks Hilda :)) and so many people to hang out with!!! A great big thank you to everyone that we have stayed with and everyone that have lended us stuff that we needed - you are the best family in the world!!!

This morning we realized that our house wasn't that baby proof that we thought - in an instanse Lucas had fallen all the way down the basement stairs and now has a bright blue bruise on his forehead... Tomorrow I'm heading to IKEA to buy baby gates!!!

I met the MCM students for the first time today at prayer school - such great people! I am excited to get to know each and every one and it will be so wonderful to see what the God has in store for them this year! This life we live is tremendous, faboulus and exciting!!! Thank you Jesus!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:35 PM