sonblind

have you ever felt so familiar with a place completely foreign to you?

about a month ago now i got the privilege of going to the south of Norway to a little city called Arendal, you may have heard of it from the movie “frozen”. its a quaint place filled with white, nicely-built wooden houses sprawling across hills engulfing it’s long bay, stemming into the North Sea. it’s difficult to describe the whimsical awe and wonder we all felt once the bus dropped us off and we got to see the city from higher ground. it was dazzling and uplifting arriving to a place that felt like one of its sole purposes was to wisp us away and make us fall in love with it in typical Norwegian fashion.

our goal in being here was to share the love of Jesus by serving a local church, and spreading the gospel. it was a beautiful time racking up experience evangelizing in a cold culture. just walking up to people and starting conversation, and almost immediately directing it towards Jesus and asking if they believed in God. this sparked a lot of interesting conversations with strangers, people who were young disciples of Christ, Muslims, and people who didn’t know God at all.

one of my favorite interactions was with a young man named Joshuah. i was walking down by the harbor and saw him on his funky little sailboat working on something with the sails. i asked him what he’s doing and he just said “living my life man!”, so i started asking him more questions. i came to learn he was headed for Denmark through the North Sea and his sail ripped! i shared some sympathy and asked if he ever thought about God while out at sea. he said earlier he was spiritual but then once i asked about Jesus he told me “i’ve been out at sea a lot and in my experience, there’s no God out there.. it’s just you versus the world and you gotta give it the middle finger and fight.” i was a little disheartened but i knew God would reveal Himself to Joshuah eventually. i told him that i’d be praying God would meet him out there and that i’d see him again. the next day i was out for a walk with some of my team and i noticed Joshuah was still there in the harbor on his boat! i said what’s up and he shot up with energy and said “Jonah! i was hoping i’d see you again! i’ve been thinking about what you said! i spend a lot of time at sea, and i think i will meet God out there soon. i think He’s more real than i think. i think i’ll read the bible!” he asked us aboard and after talking for a while he asked us if we’d like to come motor out to the lighthouse with him, we agreed of course because who wouldn’t pass up the chance to sail on the North Sea! soon enough we were far enough from Arendal to make it appear as a fuzzy, white-speckled harbor and hillside and we were at sea! we turned around at the lighthouse and the wind picked up enough to start sailing. Joshuah gave me the wheel, hoisted up the sloop and suddenly we were in silence, smoothly gliding across the water powered on nothing other than the wind of God.. it was a beautiful feeling sorta like riding a bike for the first time and we were filled with joy and delight. what a treat. as we sailed back i shared what God had done in my life and Joshuah told us he’d been an alcoholic for over a year now. i told him God can fix that and he should pray and ask Him to reveal Himself to him. he nodded and said it sounds too good to be true. i said i know it does but it’s God so he’s beyond good. Joshuah was intrigued and was glad we shared our time and faith with him. he seemed to know that he would come to faith eventually, and he knew his heart was longing for Jesus, but there was something he was still holding onto. when we got back to the harbor we were all freezing, we prayed for him and told him to come to church in the morning. he said he would probably be too hung over, but nonetheless he said we were destined to meet so he could hear about Jesus and spark and interest in gaining relationship with God. although it was sad to hear about Joshuah’s addiction, and he wasn’t in a place to receive Jesus at that moment, we trusted God with the seeds that were planted and committed him into the father’s hands, knowing it was God who brought us to Joshuah in the first place. although i never saw him again after that, i trust that God will touch his life when the time is right. i will keep praying for him and thank God for bringing him into our path!

our short trip to Arendal was sweet and filled with opportunities to share gospel seeds and share God’s heart with people. two girls even ended up giving their lives to Jesus while we were there and one came to church with us! it was such a privilege to partner with God and what He’s doing in Norway, and it was clear to see that the youth of Norway is very hungry for something deeper than what they have. even on the streets late at night, talking to drunk kids, it was clear to see that they’re hungry, or at least curious. we had lots of impactful conversations whether it was just them getting to meet a loving Christian, or to have their hearts stirred hearing a testimony of God meeting a young man in his room when he prayed..

its been some time since this trip, and it’s been a high honor and privilege to be in Norway, for ministry and training, to get closer to God and the man He’s made me to be, enjoy His creation and fellowship with the bride. so much has happened in the two months i’ve been here, i’ve had big identity breakthrough, i’ve dwelt in the presence of the Lord, i’ve gone to amsterdam to share the Gospel, and i’ve built strong friendships with the brothers i’m running with in this season. it’s been a massive blessing and i’m so eager to see what the Lord has in store next. i’ve officially been invited to staff in Kona with fire and fragrance, and i’ll find out where i’m leading and who i’m leading with next week. i’m incredibly expectant for what the Lord will do in this next season, and so honored to partner with YWAM and FF for this final school in Hawaii. i’ll be home mid December and i’m so excited to see all of you.

may the warmth and love of God the father shine upon you and make your face light up with the golden rays He’s woven into your being. may you know deeper the great love He has for you.

“May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬