My Mom's House

Fotö IS beautiful!!!

Yesterday Josefina, Lucas and I took the train to my mom's house on the little island Fotö... Figured that since our visa papers are on their way now we will be leaving Sweden pretty soon and won't see my family for another year. On our way to the subway yesterday morning, Josefina and I were taking our sweet little time just to realize (when we were almost to pass the gates down to the tube) that I forgot our backpack in the apartment!!! (How absentminded can you become uh? Ha ha...) So we had to RUN back with stroller, baby Lucas, car seat and everything to get the bag, but we made it! Now we're here and Josefina is enjoying playing with all my little stuffed dogs that I had when I was little :).



We moved into Anna and Jonatan's new apartment last week, they just got the keys and were ready to move in after 9 months in suitcases, but let us stay there instead. What generous people! Anna and Jonatan; you guys are amazing in so many ways, we love you so much! BTW, their apartment is just a two minute walk from Stockholm's largest mall!!!



Oh oh. Lucas just woke up, have to go now!



/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 4:42 AM

Visa Papers Approved!!!

Today we got the fabulous news!!! Our visa papers are approved and we can return home in a couple of weeks!!! Thank you Jesus! It's been an interesting and really good summer for us here in Sweden. Helping out building SOS Church, getting to know alot of "new" SOS people (that have been in the organization for awhile, but that we didn't know), spending time with family and friends, being here for the church launch and much more. But, these last couple of weeks we've been homesick, I guess that's what you should feel when God has called you to be someplace else, so it's good. I have learned alot during this time (it's late so I'll post that some other time :)). But over all: God is faithful, He never gives up, He's the conqueror and ruler, He's the Great One, the One above all!!! Thank you God, and also...

Thank you Bruce Edwards at APC for working so hard helping us in this process. You're great and we love you!

So... America - here we come - again!!!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:50 PM

Michael in Swedish School

So, today was the big day for Michael to start second grade in Sweden! He will be in the same class as Adam (Johannes and Maria's son) and he was so EXCITED this morning!!! Peter or I have to be there with though since he doesn't have insurance to be in a Swedish school, but they get off at 1 or 1.30 PM every day so it will work. It will be good for him to be in a regular school setting again, he needs that ;)!!! Here's a picture of his "new" school, hopefully we'll be back to his old school soon.


/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 4:59 AM

Homeschooling...

I never thought that I would be happy to look at homeschooling stuff online, but hey - you never know what happens in life! This said, as you know school started over a week ago in Pittsburgh and we are still here in Sweden, so I was beginning to start worrying about their learing and don't want them to fall way behind. So Shelley, (a great friend!!!) found this website www.edhelper.com and it was great! This afternoon Michael has been doing Math and reading (not done yet... but still...) and Josefina's been writing numbers. Thanks Shell - you're the best!!! We will be doing more stuff and Michael might be able to jump into Adam's class while we're here, but this is a start. I am gonna welcome that yellow school bus with a great big smile though when we get home :).

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

Wha wha what a Weekend!!!

Today my thoughts have been mostly on what really took place this past weekend! It has been a historical weekend for Mission SOS in many ways. Saturday was THE DAY that we all had been working, sweating, crying, laughing and praying for, for so long. It was the day of the official Launch of SOS Church in Stockholm! The inauguration ceremony was wonderful, so many greetings from all over the world, Julia and her team sang, Linnea had written a new song specially for this special day, all the pastors held great speeches, everything covered in a thick anointing from the Holy Spirit. To be part of planting a new church is really something very huge, a new part of the body of Christ here on earth... I feel so blessed that we could be here in Stockholm and be part of this - it is huge - imagine that we are actually impacting the very capital city in our nation!!!

The release concert for Mission SOS festival CD yesterday was incredible!!! I cried through 95% of the songs, so many memories came up from where these songs were sung for the first time among unreached people groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Julia and Linnea and the rest of the musicians were excellent and the Holy Spirit spoke through each song. The joy almost lifted the roof off of "Nalen" where we were at! Wow I feel so proud to be a SOS soldier for Jesus - this is my family - this is my people - I love you to death!

So... We have been in Sweden all summer, we were able to help out build the church and be part of both the launch and the concert - one thing remains now - our VISAS back to the US!!! We believe that it is prime time for us to return to the States now - help us pray this visa in this week now. You can be sure to know when the answer of prayer comes - it will be posted very quickly right here!!! It's late and we have an early morning, so I'll see ya later.

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:55 PM

A Good Laugh goes a long way...

One of the biggest "gains" for me this summer is that I have gotten to know an amazing woman, we've been friends for a long time, but haven't really known each other that well, really... This summer we have stayed in their home three weeks, prayed, laughed, cried, painted the church, put in floors at the church and much more together!!!

She is amazing in many ways. She's one of the most generous people I know, she's always close to laughter, has the most open home I know and the biggest heart for people. She prays with people to salvation, healing, deliverance and baptism in the Holy Spirit in her house, and she has about 200 different coats :). I love her so much and I learn so much from her. Her name is Ylva Hamrén, and I am honored to know her!

Yesterday Ylva and I were making our way back to the church after running some errends... We were so tired and giggely (like only girls that are exhausted can be...) that we didn't really pay attention to where we were going. (Or I wasn't, since I was driving, ha ha) so... I just followed the car in front of me and after a couple of minutes we were in a little ally with only Police officers and Military people... It was such a little ally that it was hard to turn around quickly and the soldiers started looking at us strangely :). We laughed so hard, we were so misplaced, two moms in a purple minivan surrounded by soldiers and Police officers... A good laugh goes a long way!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:48 AM

His Name is Jesus!!!

We came home late last night from the church and glory - the entire floor is done! Just a few small pieces at the end remains... As we were laying down the last pieces I was thinking of all the precious people that will walk on that floor, people that don't know Jesus, lonely, hurt people, people that have been trampled on that need to hear the Gospel about a loving and forgiving God. It's all about Jesus, it's all about giving what you once received. It's all about Jesus! He is the King of Glory, He deserves that we give our all, He gave His all, He deserves to be worshipped, honored and loved, He loved us when we were not lovable, He saved us, lifted us and gave us everything we need and more...



Jesus, You are the King of Glory and I love you!!!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 2:29 AM