Don't Loose Jesus...

I love this time of year - love ALL of it!!! Love to bake all the traditional Christmas cookies, cook all the food that we "just have to have" on our Christmas dinner table, love to go to shopping for the perfect gifts, decorating the house, sending Christmas cards, you know, all that good stuff!!! Sometimes it's easy to get so wrapped up in all the preparations for this great holiday that we forget what it's really about.

Just imagine that we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Just imagine that the King of Kings was born in a filthy stable... There were no cozy blankets, no diapers, no wet wipes or onezies... There was no warm water for Maria to wash up in after giving birth... Our Lord, that means everything to us came to this world as a vulnerable little baby. He is not a baby anymore though - He is the Almighty, the King och Kings and Lord of Lords - and He is the One that we celebrate this season!

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty

will accomplish this.

Is 9:6-7

So, for every cookie you bake, every gift you wrap and every meal you make - remember that it's to make the birthday of our Jesus as perfect as can be!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 6:53 PM

A Master Piece

Early Thursday morning at 1:50 a little master piece entered this world, her name is Emilia, Mathilda, Helen Almqvist. She was 11.9 lbs and 21.7 inches (5,260 kg and 55 cm) and has more hair than any other baby I've ever seen :). She is just so adorable and the best thing of all; she's ours!!! Her journey these few days have been tough though, she was born with a broken clavicle and 5 broken ribs - you feel the ribs moving and cracking when you hold her... She has been in so much pain, and has spent the last two days in the NICU at the hospital. We are praying and hoping that we can bring her home tomorrow.

Today as I was sitting with her, just cuddling and talking to her this verse came to mind;

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Is 58:8

The peace and presence of the Lord filled the little room at the NICU at MaGee Womens Hospital and I just knew that she will heal quickly. God truly is our fortress, our strong tower, our peace, our healer, our provider, our joy and comforter!

As I sang this song for her she opened her eyes and looked at me as to say; mom, I'll be ok. (Sorry all my English speaking friends that it's in Swedish, but the lyrics are written below in the clip).

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 7:45 PM

Thankful for...

It's Thanksgiving day tomorrow and I'm sitting here reflecting on what I am thankful for... God has given me such a rich life and there's so much to thank Him for.

I am thankful for;

• My relationship with Jesus - He saved me 19 years ago and life with Him gets better every day!
• Peter - he lights up my day and gives his life for me and the kids every day of the year!
• Michael - his sensitive spirit and personality drives me to become a better mom and person!
• Josefina - her smile and constant new creative ideas makes me see life from a different angle and teaches me the diversity of life!
• Lucas - my joy and baby that will become a big brother in just a few days!
• Our little one yet to see the world - eager to meet him/her soon!
• My mom and dad, sister Helén and brother Marcus!
• My mom and dad-in-law and Peter's siblings!
• My SOS family - Johannes and Maria for sharing life with us, being our family and opening the door to Holy Spirit adventures among the unreached peoples!
• My APC family - Jeff and Melodie for welcoming us into APC and making us feel so at home here!

Oh, there is so much more to thank Him for, all the little miracles of everyday, (I got a parking spot just right by the entrance to my Dr Office today) the smile on your kid's face when you are having "fika" on ginger bread muffins when they get home from school...

THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS YEAR!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 1:41 PM

Friends and a New Admin!

This last week has been amazing in many ways. We have had some of our best friends from Sweden here to visit and the due date of Almqvist baby #4 is getting closer! Julia and Samuel Willkander, Linnea Hagenfors and Nina Anderson have stayed at our house (we have a big house!!!) and we have had many good laughs, deep talks and fun times together. They are amazing people in many ways... We have also had the priviledge to have Johannes Amritzer here for 2 weeks! He has been teaching at our ministry school and preaching at APC as well. It's been so great to spend time, talk and pray together. He's the best boss, friend and pastor!

Nina!!!

This past week I've handed my job over to Nina as well. She'll be filling in for me when I'm on maternity leave for a couple of months. Nina is such a sweet spirited woman, she does everything with a smile on her face, works very hard and meticulously and I know she'll do a great job. Feels a little awkward not to work for awhile - after all I LOVE what I do... But I am longing to have more time with my kids as well, so this is for the best.

One of my new favorite TV shows is Undercovers... I admit - I love action series... Anyway I think these two couples are a little bit of a look-alike.

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 10:53 PM

Brand New episode of God's Adventures

Check out the new episode of God's Adventurers

Published: By: The Almqvists - 7:14 PM

The aftermath of a festival

A month ago I was in Haiti for a Signs & Wonders Festival with Mission SOS. And the event was a success for the Kingdom of God. Looking back now, we can see how God’s favor was all over the event. We had clear skies the week before the festival and only a couple of short rains the week of the event. Since we left, Haiti has been hammered with rain; downpour after downpour.



You have probable also read the news about the Cholera outbreak all over the nation. And as if an earthquake and a Cholera epidemic is not enough, Haiti was hit by hurricane Tomas a few days ago. Honestly, I have no clue how the Haitian people survive. It must be that built in survival mentality that God has deposited within us in creation. Mankind has always, in all times been fighters and we survive disasters, wars and almost everything that life throws at us.



Monday afternoon, the day after the festival was over, Pastor Elius Michel came to the festival ground and was given permission to use two Unicef tents as a make shift church building. He had around 50 people show up. They became his new church. Today, a month later, Pastor Elius meets around 200 people daily in his church. These people had no hope a month ago. Then Jesus came to their camp and gave them hope. The gospel is such a beauty. To see how lives are transformed by the power that it contains. There is nothing else that carries the power to change a prostitute and make her a fine lady or make a street boy a gentleman. They also handed out school benches from the newly started church... Benches that were donated in Norway to the people of Haiti. A big thank you from the people of Haiti to the people of Norway.



God’s love is poured out to people all over the globe and he wants and needs us to be his vessels and channels. Are you ready to be a channel for God’s love and compassion?

Published: By: The Almqvists - 3:14 PM

From Prayer to Dr Appt to Baptism

Started this day by leading prayer at the MCM Ministry School, awesome prayer with awesome students! At the end of the prayer one of the students came to me and said she wasn't baptized in water yet and she so wanted to be baptized right away! Wonderful!

So, after my Dr appointment were I found out that our next little one is doing just great Sharayah, I and some of her friends from the class went down to the little creek that runs through Hampton Township, and there she buried her old life and a new Sharayah resurrected with Jesus!

Great day!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 3:41 PM

Miracles and Chocolate Ice Cream

This past week have been so full of prayer-slots for the Haiti festival, prayer school were we prayed for Haiti, reporting about Haiti etc etc that nothing else has been on my mind really. The outcome of the festival is amazing; 3,200 precious Haitians that have now started their life with Jesus, 1,000 clothed with power when they were baptized in Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues and all the miracles. Just imagine how different life is for the three blind that now wake up in the morning, being able to see the faces of their children and see what color the sky is, imagine when the person that was deaf hear the voice of his or her loved ones for the first time. Wow, that is what our God does, He gives LIFE back to people, He restores what was once broken and makes something beautiful of it!

So, today when I sat down by my computer to catch up on some work I got so into it that I didn't hear what Lucas did. While I was busy reading e-mails and searching for information on the web he snuck into the freezer and showed his little head into the chocolate ice cream :). He was so happy and content that I had to take his picture before I put him in the bathtub. I love it!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 10:02 PM

Photos - Haiti Signs & Wonders Festival!

This lady's deaf ear was opened last night!

Salvation invitation!

Published: By: The Almqvists - 11:01 AM

Unloading equipment in the dark

So after a long day on Saturday, the first truck with the sound system cleared customs and arrived to Port-au-Prince and the festival site. We had to wait until nightfall before the inspector came to inspect the goods. That was a fast process it turned out and we could proceed to offload from one container and move the sound equipment to a tractor trailer for storage until the main containers arrive.

Learning the world of shipping involves a lot of patience, especially in this part of the world. We are learning fast that it is all but simple. And then trying to bring equipment in to a country where the entire system is corrupt just adds to the frustration. In the end though, we grow in patience - it is after all a fruit of the Spirit..

Enjoy some pictures from when we offloaded the container in the dark...

Published: By: The Almqvists - 1:29 PM

Live! On Air - Radio Shalom

Today I was scheduled to be interviewed on the most popular radio channel in the Port-au-Prince area of Haiti. They were doing a call in show with some prize and while they people were gearing up to call in we were live on air...


Radio Shalom is a Christian radio station that at the moment has the most listeners. They are very popular in Port-au-Prince. And given the low literacy rate that we were acutely made aware of yesterday, using the radio is the best tool in creating awareness for this event.

Otherwise, Pastor Hudson and myself have been working with customs today and tomorrow we will head to the DR/Haiti border to clear container no 1. PRAY for God's favor!



In the mean time my pre team of two, Marcus Urso and Gunnar-André Lund have been reading up on sound manuals in preparation for the arrival of the gear. We have been going through different scenarios and started up the different softwares that will monitor and run the system... Learning by trying is the fastest school.


Port-au-Prince is a bustling city with lots of activity around the clock it seems like. Driving around the city today we saw piles of rubble where there used to be houses. In some places whole city blocks lay in ruins... In other places UN personnel were clearing sites and loading smashed concrete unto waiting trucks... The rebuilding of Port-au-Prince starts with removing all the rubble and tearing down the partly destroyed houses and structures that still partly stand. Once everything is gone, then the actual rebuilding can commence...


Also, as we were driving around town today, in every place that used to be an open area we now saw tent camps set up - be it a park, or just an open field, or even along side main roads - tents, tents and more tents. At the airport we saw big trucks clearing customs loaded with new tents that will be distributed to people that lost everything.


Every family in the Port-au-Prince region was affected by this disaster - officially 250,000 people died during the quake - but many more died in the hospitals or due to lack of care... No one knows the actual number. Over 2 million people lived in the main area where the quake hit. Many of these people are now displaced around the whole country with nothing left.

It is time for Haiti to receive the Gospel of Hope! Jesus Christ is their hope in glory! Believe with me for a great breakthrough among these people!

Until next time... Published: By: The Almqvists - 8:07 PM

On the Ground in Haiti

When we arrived yesterday, our bags did not. Travel these days... There is not much that you can do about it...

First day in Haiti has been a good one. We drove to the festival ground to begin planning the layout of things. The site is part of a camp for displaced people, people who lost everything in the earthquake. They are from almost all tiers of life and different backgrounds - some are well educated and others have never been to school. Yet now they share this - that they lost everything and are now living in a tent camp. The authorities have begun to erect small houses that they can move into but it is going very slow.


This process has brought some challenges for us. The main area where the festival was to be held is now a construction zone - they are building houses. Now you cannot be mad and angry at them for building theses houses ... they are desperately needed for the people. But we on the other hand need a large open area. So we walked around the camp today without finding anything. Just before leaving we talked to one of the officials and he got in our car and took us deeper into the camp where there was an open area that can hold 40,000 - 50,000 people. PERFECT.


In this camp there are 7,000 families living and when I asked the normal size of a Haitian family the answer was 5-6 children. Doing the math, we see that we now have a base of around 50,000 people to draw from. These people do nothing. They just roam around. It is time for them to hear the good news of a risen savior - Jesus loves them so.


As we were walking around the camp we saw 5 guys in our around their twenties looking at one of our posters. They were talking to each other. Pastor Hudson walked up to them and asked them what they were talking about. Their reply was simple: we cannot vote for this man because we do not know him. They were referring to the man on the poster, Johannes Amritzer, and the upcoming presidential election at the end of November. What was this about? None of the five could read what the poster said. They had never been to school. So Pastor Hudson talked to them asking if they had heard the speaker cars announce the upcoming festival and they all said yes of course and now understood who the man on the poster was.


I do not think that we have been in a place this urban before where the literacy rate is so extremely low... No wonder that the country is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere... They need education. They need hope. They need a Savior. Let's give them Jesus!

Continue to pray for me as we prepare the ground. Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:50 PM

Festival next to Refugee Camp

Yesterday Gunnar Andre Lund from Norway came to visit. He is on his way to Haiti together with Peter and Marcus Urso tomorrow morning. I am so excited about this festival, even though the airlines will not allow me to fly now, so I can't go, I am very excited and have high expectations on what the Lord will do...

The team of about 60 people are very prepared, prayed through and I know they will do so great. The team exists of people from SOS Church Stockholm Sweden, Norway, Allison Park Church, Pittsburgh PA, Calvary Temple Worship Center, Modesto CA and Morningstar Fellowship, Bechellsville PA.

The festival will take place right next to this refugee camp, where about 7000 families live.

Our goal for this festival is to serve the people of Port Au Prince, wash their feet, present the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our prayer is to see thousands run into the arms of Jesus and be saved. We are praying for miracles to take place, strong healings, deliverances from Voodoo and evil sprits, baptisms in the Holy Spirit and for the Joy of the Lord to be spread and cover this city that is hurting so bad. Will you pray with us? Will you stand in faith together with us for this to happen? Jesus loves the people of Haiti and He is ready!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 7:50 PM

From Ghana to Haiti

This morning I lead prayer school at the MCM Ministry School, we prayed for the festival that will take place in Haiti just a couple of months from now. Great prayer and wonderful students!

The stage and rigg

As we were praying it kinda dawned on me how faithful God is! When He speaks about something and gives a vision of something He really comes through all the way to the end. I am thinking of SOS Portable Festival Equipment right now... In 2005 the Holy Spirit spoke to a Norwegian engineer in a little town in northern Ghana called Bolgatanga. He gave him a vision of this particular project that we have chosen to call the Portable Festival Equipment. The engineer, Kennet Thorsland saw the entire thing before his eyes and together with a team of engineers and workers they have built and worked and worked - for more than 5 years!!! There were times that we doubted if this would ever happen, due to many different reasons, but this was and is, a God thing! So, now as I am writing, the containers with stage, sound, lighting and everything neccessary to reach a large crowd are on its way across the Atlantic to Haiti.

Kennet together with his family

God knew this would take place, He never gave up on this, because it was ordained by Him! Kennet and his crew never gave up either, they used their God-given skills to put this together and now it will be used to reach thousands of people in the city Port Au Prince!

Pray for this festival with us! We need your support in prayer!

/Martina

Published: By: The Almqvists - 9:22 PM

Fourth morning in Pakistan

Yes it felt like coming home when I landed at Lahore International Airport early on Wednesday morning. Pakistan still has a big place in my heart. This is my country too.

At the airport I was met by a Major in the Pakistani army and he has hosted me since. What a great and humble man Major Ashar is.

I like the way the man thinks. The first place he took me to was a field that easily can hold 100,000+ people in the crowd. That was his first suggestion when it came to venues. It is still the best option. Wow! I sense God's hand over this trip in a special way.

Pakistan is at a crucial place in many ways. There us a dire need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached to the people. At the same time the people at large are tired of the constant war that is being waged against the tribal fundamentals and the war on terror. But they see no way out of the tunnel that they are in. God is their only hope.



It is time to bring the good news of a risen savior to them. I believe that we can be an instrument in giving them hope in the midst of their despair.

People that are hit by tragedy in any form are more open to listen. When all their hope is washed away in a second and they find no answers to their why? What a great opportunity to preached hope and salvation to them.

Continue to pray for me as I continue on my scouting trip in Pakistan...

They even gave me a personal bodyguard... How about that!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:13 AM