My dear friends and bloggreaders.

I wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

I just came back from church and the food is soon on the table. I can't wait to taste! It is so good to be with the family again. Christmas is a wonderful time. What a day we celebrate, that Jesus Christ came from heaven, born here on earth. God became a man, fully God and fully man. What a miracle it was, and still is!

Enjoy the Christmas-time.

Hei! Here you see the whole group of people that attends the pastorscourse! It is such a blessing to be a part of all of this. Every day I can feel the presence of God that fills this place. It is amazig to listen to the teaching I recieve here, it brightens my view in many ways. This week we had about doctrines and ethics, and it has been some of the best days so far. To morrow will the pastor of Word of Life in Sweden, Robert Ekh, come. He will teach about the Christian family, which I heard is very good. It's is all so good, so it is hard to categories the different modules.

But even though I'm enjoying the time here, I am looking forward to Christmas like never before. I haven't seen my family for 4 months, so it will be good to give them all a hug. The 22nd of desember I land in Norway.

Adeos!

Hei!

The last days have been very hectical so I haven't been able to write on my blogg. Right now I am in Slovkia. I arrived last night, and it felt good to be back again. It is really God's grace that I have the chance to be here. I was reminded to day that this is really a time that I'll never receive again, a time to let God speak to me through His word, a time to fellowship with him and get to know Him more intimate. Very often God gives you great gifts in life. He can put you in a position where you have the change to grow and be stronger. But then it is up to you how we use the posibilites God is giving us. Those situation can either give you nothing, or it can change your life forever! It is all up to you;)

I have mention that the previous sunday we had a concert in the prison! It was better than I taught it should be. We had all the prisoners (85 guys) in the sporthall and a team from the church sung and played for them. Then one evangelist called Villy Vork was invited to preach the Gosple that night. And it was so good! Many prisoners took a real descision to follow Jesus! Many bow the head, closed their eyes and prayed the salvation prayer! A great sight. Then we served everyone "gløgg" (christmasdrink) and cake, which they really appreciated. Later, Villy, dressed as the St. Claus and he gave every one a christmasgift. They were for sure shocked when the saw St.Claus in the prison..hehe..
In the evening we showed a Christian movie on a big screen in the sport hall. A touching movie about the reality of heaven and hell. That the life can suddenly be over and then..what then?

It was a great time there. I talked with several prisoners and I could see that they had receive something strong from God. The power of the Gospel is what people longs for!

(We were not allowed to take any picture inside the prison this time, so I am not able to give you any pictures.)

You here from me sooner or later, be blessed!

Hei!

The last days have been very hectical so I haven't been able to write on my blogg. Right now I am in Slovkia. I arrived last night, and it felt good to be back again. It is really God's grace that I have the chance to be here. I was reminded to day that this is really a time that I'll never receive again, a time to let God speak to me through His word, a time to fellowship with him and get to know Him more intimate. Very often God gives you great gifts in life. He can put you in a position where you have the change to grow and be stronger. But then it is up to you how we use the posibilites God is giving us. Those situation can either give you nothing, or it can change your life forever! It is all up to you;)

I have mention that the previous sunday we had a concert in the prison! It was better than I taught it should be. We had all the prisoners (85 guys) in the sporthall and a team from the church sung and played for them. Then one evangelist called Villy Vork was invited to preach the Gosple that night. And it was so good! Many prisoners took a real descision to follow Jesus! Many bow the head, closed their eyes and prayed the salvation prayer! A great sight. Then we served everyone "gløgg" (christmasdrink) and cake, which they really appreciated. Later, Villy, dressed as the St. Claus and he gave every one a christmasgift. They were for sure shocked when the saw St.Claus in the prison..hehe..
In the evening we showed a Christian movie on a big screen in the sport hall. A touching movie about the reality of heaven and hell. That the life can suddenly be over and then..what then?

It was a great time there. I talked with several prisoners and I could see that they had receive something strong from God. The power of the Gospel is what people longs for!

(We were not allowed to take any picture inside the prison this time, so I am not able to give you any pictures.)

You here from me sooner or later, be blessed!

This day was an intersting day. I was invited by the coverment to visit an old prison in Tallinn. The reason I was invited was because I work as a volantaire in a prison, so I was together with several other prisonworkers also. But that prison is one of the most terrible places I've ever seen. It was built in the 18th century and was closed in 2002. I went into rooms where prisoners have been killed, and it was still marks of blood on the floor! They didn't know how many who have been killed there. During the communist time, thousands were arrested, and the prisons were overbooked. One room, for instance, was made for 16 people, but they had sometimes 50 prisoners inside of that room. They had to sleep in a certain position in order for everyone to fit in. And during the night the guard woke up everyone and told them to change position of sleeping. Grazy..! I also have to add that they slept on the floor without any bed, and druing the winter it could be freezing cold, because the heatingsystem seldom worked...


After visiting that prison, many of us went to a covermentbuilding to eate and talked togehter about the situation in different prisoners. It was good, and I had the chance to share from my own experiences. The main leader for all of the prisoners is a Christian, which make it easy for us to do spread the word of God in prisons.

Believe me, after visiting that prison in Tallinn, you would be more than thankful that you are a free person! Let us use our freedom and our lives to glorify God!

Amen.

On this picture you see some of the guys from the prison. This week I've been there Tuesday and Thursday, and it is a blessing to be there. There is not much happening in the prison, so the prisoners are coming where things are happening -in the prisonchapel. Many of the prisoners are coming from difficult circumstances, and some are in there for many years. But through that time they hear the Gospel preached and they get the word of God on the inside of them.

Personally I can see big changes in peoples life. Some of them can be difficult to get along with in the beginning, but as the time goes by they are getting more and more soft. You can see that the word of God and His love changes them! The word of God never returns back empty!

On the left side of the picture you see the prisonpriest. He is doing an amazing job. He is like a father to all those guy there, and he has such a respect among the prisoners. It is a privildge to work with him.

Next Sunday we will go with a big group of youth from my church and have a Christmas-concert there. We did that last year also and it was a big success!

A powerful norwegian psalm

Sometimes I read in a psalmbook that my grandpartens gave me some years ago. Most of the melodies of those psalms don't fit my ear. But the lyricks is so powerful! So now and then I read from this psalmbook. And I did that to night. I just want to share a psalm that was written in 1680, by Joachim Neander:

Jesus, du har brakt Guds rike Nær i ord og
sakrament! For dets makt må Satan vike, Troens
djerve ild er tent. Nakent kors og åpen grav Er de seiertegn du gav.

Mild og sterk på nådens trone Triumferer du, Guds
Lam! Som et tre med mektig krone Skal ditt rike vokse
fram. Over hav og kontinent Skal din seier gjøres kjent.

Jesus, kom og vær til stede, Døp ditt folk med Ånd og
ild! Fyll vårt liv med ekte glede Så vi lever slik du vil.
Rust oss ut til ærlig strid, Til å gå mens det er tid.

(I am sorry for you english-speaking people...you better get hold of a norwegian to help you translate..)

Back from some fantastic days in Slovakia.

Yesterday night I came back to Estonia! It has been some amazing days in Slovakia. It's getting better and better. The pastorscourse gives me more than I could imagine. This week I listened to teaching about the Church history. It was really interesting and it made me understand that God has been moving all through the centuries. Mighty things have happended. One example is a church father called, Ireneus (130-202), who was casting out demons, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Even dead persons were raised up! The Church was moving strong!!

But later the Church splitted up, and miracles ceased. But still God used different people in mighty ways! It is intersting to see how God has restored things back to his original plan. And that we live in a time where God gives us insight about his will, so will can start to live like the early Church. A Church that manifested the Glory of God.

Yesterday I had also the chance to see Prague for the first time. I had to wait on the airport for many hours, so I descided to see Prague. God blessed me! On the airplane from Slovakia I sat next to a missionary from Spain. (You see her on my left side. The picture above is also from Prague) She was together with some school teachers from Spain and helped them interpreting. They invited me to join them in the city. They had to wait for a plane too. So they guided me around to famous places. We had such a good time together. And I want to learn Spanish as never before!!

It's good to be back in Estonia. And I will run fast now, the time before Christmas!

Be blessed;)

22 years old to day

Yes, so to day I am finally 22 years of age...I guess it's a good age, or? Let's say so. At least I am happy to be here attending this pastorscourse. This morning at the breakfast, they sung the birthdaysong first in english, then in russian, greek, spanish and swedish...Never experience that before;) I feel so blessed to be here. Sometimes I feel that God is too good to me! And he is..that's why I want to serve Him with all of my heart!

This day have been just great. Most of the pastors went to the church, and I just love this church! Then we went some people to downtown, where we relaxed and eate some ice-cream on Mc Donald's.

Yesterday we move to an other place for the lessons. The building (where the picture is taken from, to the left) was actually a former cummunism school! But thank God for the fall of the communist regime, and to day the building is used to teach pastors!! Hallelujah, that's what I call victory!

The next coming week we will have teaching in church history. I have heard that this course is very special and a great blessing. So I am looking forward to it!

Ok, that was a shorte update! Be blessed!

Tuesday I landed in Slovakia and when I came out of the airplane, I was surprised of the warm temperature. No sign of the winter yet... Very good to be back and to meet the others again. This week we're learing about "Modern Humanism". It might sound boring, but it is intersting to learn about how people have been thinking and acting through history. You see how it has influenced the church and their way of thinking. Even to day we are influenced by what happend in the 18th century. So this subjcet covers the time from the 17th-20th century. It is amazing to see how God has been moving, and how he has restored things back step by step. After listening to this teaching, I realize that we live in really special times, where God has settled things in order for Jesus' return. Still there is a job to be done before that happen, but we live in interesting times, that's for sure! And soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!! That is a reality.

Yesterday the soccer team from my city, Fredrikstad, won the cup in Norway!! They beat the other team, Sandefjord, 3-0!! And guess what?! Two of those goals were made of an ESTONIAN player named, Raio Piiroja! So even here in Estonia people are celebration Raio and FFK for their victory!

Hei! Now I just came back from the church in Polva. Because to day I had the priviledge to preach there. It was a blessing to be there and share the word. I shared about the Living water that flows on the inside of us. From reading in John 4:10,14, you see Jesus talking with the samaritan woman. So I used this story to learn from what Jesus did. Jesus new He was a gift from God, He knew he possessed Living water, and He knew that he could give it away! If you want to know more, get the tape hehe..God is so good! I love that church and the people there were so hungry for God, you could just sence it. Next to me is my dear friend, Tom, who was helping me interpreting. He did a great job!

Yesterday I invited my friends to celebrate by my 22nd birthday. My real birthday is on the 19th, but then I am in Slovakia for the pastorscourse. That was actually the second time I had my birthday in Estonia. Maybe more in the future, who knows? It was a blessing for me to have them over! I am getting older guys...but I'm getting closer and closer to heaven.

Earlier the same day, many of the youths from Polva went down to the marketplace in the city. It was a great time for all of us. For some of the youths it was the first time reaching out to other people. So we had baked a lof of cakes and served tea and coffee. A good opportunity to talk to people and sow into their lives. It is important for us Christians to be visible to people. This way was a good start for the Polva youths, and it's something that we'II continue with!

Tuesday I will go to Slovakia and I'm looking forward to it. It was such a blessing for me last time. I am thankful to God for his provision and that I am able to go there. What an a wonderful God we serve!! You hear from me later;)

Yes, yes, I know there has been a while since I updated my blogg, but be mercyful to me, dear friends. After being here in Estonia for about 9 months, I have discovered my great mission. When you look at that picture you might think that I've move into a new apartment, but you're wrong. It is inside the church. The winter has arrived and it's getting colder and colder (last winter it was -30 and windy..ohhohææ) So the bulding needs to be heated up. And it is not done through electricity or gass, but through wood. It is done in the hard way, the old Russian way. So this week I've offered to help out, and so far have I been there for 20 hours. Missionwork is not just from the pulpit preaching, but ALL what is necesarry for the church to function. The Bible say that if you are faithful in the small Jesus sets you over more. So when I am making fire to heat up the church, I am getting ready to spread the Holy Ghost fire all over the world..hehe..I like to do this thing, because I am there on my own, it is quiet and great time for prayer. Sometimes I think I have the same feeling as king David on the sheperdfield. During those silent hours on his own, he discovered God in a mighty way. Most of his written psalms came from those times. Ps. 86:10-12 is one great example:

"For you are great and work wonders! You alone are God.
Teach me Your way, O Lord, I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your Name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and I will glorify you name forevermore."

Let the fire of God burn on the inside of you! People are freezing to death because of lack of fire. Must you be the one that enlights the fire of Jesus Christ on the inside of peoples lives!

Be blessed!

Right now I am in Slovakia and attending a pastorcourse! I have been here for about a week and on Friday I'II return back to Estonia. It has been such a blessing to be here. There are about 85 pastors and leaders here, representing 20 different nations. So I have got to know many wonderful people. I am the only one from Norway and the youngest one too, but that is great:) The first day of the week, Ulf Ekman was teaching and it was outstanding as usual. Teachers from Word of life University like; Svante Rumar, Paul Burge and Birgitta Andersson have been here too. And every day has given me so much revelation in the word. It has been amazingly good! On the picture on the top you see the word of life church in Bratislava (the city where I am in). The worship was heavnly and fresh, a church full of life! The other picture is of all of the pastors in the classroom...

Cellgroup:

I just wanted to show you the guys in my cellgroup. Yesterday we had the gathering in my place and we had a great time together. The theme was "worship". Both Andrus (the one in red shirt) and I shared from our heart. We had a blessed time together!

Yesterday I went to the youthprison in Viljandi for the first time after arriving here in Estonia. It was so good to see those guys again. There were many familiar faces, but also some new. It is special to see those prisoners who are born again, because they are really like brothers to me. Because we have all Jesus as our Lord. We had a great time together and I guess there were over 10 guys gathered in the churchroom. Both the prisonpriest and I shared the word! I will go there every Tuesday, but I will try to go more often also if I'm able to. I am a bit depended on having a interpreter with me (which I will on tuesdays). Some of the prisoners and the priest speaks ok english, but it is a little hard for them to interpret! But it was wonderful to be back again!

You can see the University building pictured. The reason is that I will try to start a evangelistic work among the students this year. So to day I put up posters on the different faculties which invited the christian students for a meeting. I want to see how many Christians there are among the 20 000 students! Imagine just to lead 1% of the students to Jesus? That equals 200 souls!! I will at least start now and then I have to trust God for His guidance and favour! This year, the Name of Jesus will be lifted up and known among the students in Tartu! Amen.

Visitation from Norway!

This weekend Tom and Sara came to Tartu. We had such a good time together. They came on Friday and Tom preached at the youthmeeting, and on Saturday he had a seminar called "pastoral care". Sunday he also had the morning service in church. Tom has a very important role in the Word of Life church, and he means a lot for the pastor and the congregation! This was his 41th time in Estonia and he will travel to Estonia on a regular basis in the coming future. He will actually come back in three weeks and also in November and in Januray. Unfortunately I won't see him so much, because I'II be on the pastor course when he is here. That's life my friends. Sometimes you can't make everything. Ok, that was just a short update on what was happeing this weekend!

Remember, Jesus is Lord!!

Dear friend!

Just want to say hello and tell you that this sunday Anette and I went to Riga in Latvia. Ulf Ekman was preaching in one of the churches there (a huge and good looking church) It was so inspireing to listen to Ulf preaching about the spirit of faith! Right now I am reading his book "Faith that overcomes the world", a powerful book that all christians should read! Yeah, so we came to Latvia just before the service 11am and then we spent the rest of the day in Riga. What a nice city it is?! I will actually travel to this city every month this year. As you know I will take the pastorcourse in Slovakia, and I realized that the cheapest way to get there, is to travel from Riga Airport. You see, to take the buss from Tartu to Riga (back and forth) will only cost me 70NOR!!! A ride for free allmost...Jupp, that was all I had to say for this time, but you hear from me soon;)

Yesterday I came back from an awsome trip! I feel so blessed after being travelling with Carl Gustav. We spent first two days in Bulgaria, where it was a confernece. And it was just great! It was such a breakthrough and the messages that where preached went straight into the peoples heart. A strong faith atmosphere filled everyone! EARLY Saturday morning we went to Albania (we didn't get much sleep during those days hehe..), where he had two services! It was four intensive days where I experienced a lot. I met so many wonderful people. I believe it is impossible to not start to love them!! They are filled with life and joy. The best experience was to get to know Carl Gustav through hours on the airplane and different places. Sunday night we played bowling with an other pastor couple, and on the picutre you see him making a strike. He is such a man to honour and a person I respect more and more. A great example to follow. It is amazing to see how many people that get blessed through a man who has given his life to God! Let us all give our lives 100% to God, let us give ALL we have, and let us bless others with our lives.

I have also descided to attend the pastor course Livets Ord is arranging in Slovenia in the city called Brattislava. It is a intensive course for pastors and leaders, with subjects like Church history, Couseling, Mission strategies and much more. It will be one week every month from october until mai. I am looking so forward to it and I believe it will develop me a lot. After being in Estonia I understand more and more that I need more knowledge and traning. Training time is neve wasted time! But I believe it will be a perfect combination to get practical training here in Estonia and receive strong academical traning on this pastor course!

God is good! This afternoon I also arrived in Taru, and it feels much better than I thought to come back to Estonia! I am so excited for the coming months that awaits me! You'II here from me soon;)

Hei!

Just want to send a brief update to what I have done lately. This past week, one of my best friends (from England) visited me and spent one week in Norway. He is one of the guys I lived together with during the Bibleschoolyear in USA. So I desided to let him discover some of the beautiful parts of Norway. So we drove the car first to my family in Sogn og Fjordane, then to Bergen and visited my onkle and aunt, then to Haugesund to see some of our friends from Bibleschool and finally in Stavanger where we also stayed with a young couple we both knew from the Bibleschool year. One the picture you see us on the famous place called "Prekestolen". What a place? Oh God, what a creator He is!! On the way over the mountain of Hemsedal we suddenly saw a couch that somebody had forgot (they must have been in a big hurry..)But we thought if was funny, so we took a rest there..

To morrow I am going to Uppsala in Sweden, because on Thurday I will travel with Carl Gustav to Albania and Bulgaria. I am so excited for what God has in store! So next week on the 12th of September I am returning back to Estonia! It is an honour to serve my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and be use by Him.

Be blessed my friends, and check out the blog now and then in the future to come;)