Life is beautiful!

Love this!

2010-05-02T02:00:00.005Z

I just discovered this song while I was studying a couple of days ago... The lyrics really say it all, so please listen and enjoy!

Ethiopian Snap Shots

2010-04-02T21:34:00.007Z

A few more snap shots from our time in Ethiopia...

In Arba Minch there was no running water so this is how we washed our hair :) Below there is a picture from the market place in Arba Minch.

While we were in Jinka we went to a church about 1 hour away, very lively and fun.

One of the elders in the church reading his Bible.

The kids sat at the front.

Below are a few pictures from Mursi, a tribe in South Omo, a couple of hours drive from Jinka. Some SIM missionaries are working there.

Mother and child

Drinking from her "cup"

One of the young girls we met

Below are a few pictures from Jinka town and surroundings.

This little girl was relaxing by the road when we passed.

Some of the many kids who wanted to hold our hands when we went for walks in the town.

Above and below: Heading home after a long day of work.

A busy morning at the market place

By the river

Helping dad bring home some water

Carrying a heavy load

Which path to choose?

A beautiful sunset in Jinka!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, they only show a little bit of what we experienced and how colorful life is in Ethiopia! We absolutely love that country and it's people!

Ethiopian moments...

2010-03-17T06:42:00.003Z

A blog we wrote on 7/2/2010 but were unable to post while we were in Jinka... ENJOY!

5 weeks have passed since we arrived in Ethiopia. It’s amazing how fast time has passed! Now our time at MCM is over and we are on our way to Jinka hospital. At the moment we are in Arba Minch where we lived the last 5 years before we left Ethiopia almost 12 years ago. So many things have changed here, but it is nice to be back and see our old house and the surrounding area. The biggest change in Arba minch is the roads, the many new tall buildings and hotels/lodges. The town has grown substantially since last we were here.

Looking back on the last few weeks there are many things that come to mind so we thought we’d give you some short glimpses of what we’ve experienced...

Complete chaos
The traffic in Addis Abeba is anything but organized... We would describe it as complete chaos. There are police officers on every street corner, sometimes two at the same cross-road directing the traffic each in their direction but NOT synchronised so everything ends up in a knot! Driving in lanes is just not done... what is a lane anyway??? The main thing is to watch the front of your car and use the horn constantly.

It’s quite an experience to travel with public transportation, especially the Heiger busses. We were going with one of Ethiopian friends to visit across town so we took 2 mini-bus taxis and then a Higer bus. The higer bus was already packed with people when we got on so we had to stand in the isle with a bunch of other people. We were literally like sardines in a box, that’s how packed the bus was. We thought the bus could impossibly take any more passengers because the ticket man could barely close the bus door. But boy were we wrong! At the next stop not only one but FIVE more people got on, and by now the ticket man was hanging out the window of the bus door. I (Katrin) made a remark in Amharic saying they’d probably let people on until the bus exploded... Everyone around us started laughing. What an experience. In Ethiopia there is ALWAYS room for one more.

Hospitality
Ethiopians are very warm and hospitable people. Greetings are a very important, so whenever we arrived at the hospital all the staff we passed would greet us and shake our hands or even give us a warm hug. What a nice way to start the work-day.

Making history
During our short stay at the hospital several ground breaking steps were taken at MCM. Some complex surgeries were done for the first time in Ethiopia and I (Katrin) got to assist in one of them. It was a vascular surgery where we removed a huge aortal thrombosis and large atherosclerotic plaques in a patient who would otherwise have lost his right leg.

During our last week at MCM they also installed a CT machine. This is going to make a huge difference for all the trauma patients that come to the hospital. Until now they’ve had to send them to radiologic centers in town for CT-scans. The number of trauma patients, mostly after motor vehicle crashes, is very high. There would be 1-3 patients coming in almost every day with severe fractures and some with head injuries.

Vast differences
Each day at MCM we saw cases of diseases that we had only read about. Another interesting aspect of medicine here is that people often come to the hospital very late, so we see a very different side of the same diseases/conditions that we have at home. Children with hydrocephalus come in with very enlarged heads and problems with their sight and motor control, whereas in Iceland that is diagnosed and treated with a shunt very early on through routine check-ups. People with meningiomas come in with loss of sight and other severe symptoms because of the size of the tumor. Such tumors are hard to opreate on because they tend to bleed a lot during operation. Diabetes is also a problem here in Ethiopia but it is very poorly controlled. Many patients have had diabetic foot ulcers for weeks or even months but don’t come to the hospital before they are severely infected or the foot is turning black from lack of blood. The only thing that can be done for those patients is to amputate the leg. I (Katrin) assisted in a few amputations and we saw quite many during our stay at the hospital.

Enjoying life
That is something most Ethiopians know how to do. Living in the “here and now”, enjoying the moment and finding joy in the little things seems to be innate. As we passed by some homes while walking through Arba Minch town today we looked through the gate of one of the small compounds. We heard music from the house and outside there were people singing while this very old respectable man, wearing a worn out navy hat, was dancing. His face beaming with joy, smiling from ear to ear. If that’s not enjoying life, I don’t know what is! Ah, that’s Ethiopia!

That´s all for now, we will post a blog about our time in Jinka later! We will also post some pictures here soon. Till then, have a great time!

A few snapshots...

2010-01-16T21:37:00.008Z

A couple of shots of the smallest patients in the hospital, quite amazing what they've been able to accomplish!

At the Mobile Clinic showing a little girl her picture

Vilborg and Eun Kyung with one of the burn-patients

This little girl always had a smile on her face!

Vilborg with the nurses in ward MS1 (internal medicine)

First blog from Ethiopia :)

2010-01-16T14:51:00.002Z

We've had some trouble trying to blog, but finally we figured it out!

Vilborg and I left for Ethiopia on January 4th 2010 on a 3 month trip. In the couple of weeks we've been here we've been to a lake called Langano with a couple of childhood friends (also missionary kids). There we had a lot of fun with waterskis, boat trips, card games and a camp fire at night. What a way to start our time in Ethiopia!

A week ago we started our time in the Myungsung Christian Medical Center (MCM), which is a hospital here in Addis, the capital city of Ethiopia. We are going to be there for 4 weeks all together. So far our time has been great. I was in the Naonatology Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for most of the time while Vilborg was working in the three different wards they have at the hospital (medical, surgical and VIP/first class). A lot of things are different from what we are used to back in Iceland, but there are also things we are impressed with, NICU being one of them.

Today we went with volunteers and staff from MCM to a church in the suburbs of Addis where we had a mobile clinic. We had our own post where we saw patients and treated them as best we could or referred those who needed it. It was a great experience! All together 400-450 patients came to the mobile clinic.

We will try to post some pictures in the coming days, so stay tuned!!

Greetings all the way from Ethiopia!

Regretting the past and fearing the future...

2009-11-03T23:05:00.003Z

I was regretting the past and fearing the future.
Suddenly, my Lord was speaking:
"My name is I am."

He paused.
I waited. He continued,
"When you live in the past
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WAS.
When you live in the future,
with all it’s problems and fears,
it’s hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.
When you live in this moment
it is not hard. I am here
my name is I AM."

(Helen Mallicoat)

Crashing back into reality...

2009-09-18T20:08:00.002Z

That's how I feel. I got back from an amazing time in Lebanon just one week ago and I've already taken two final exams!! If that's not crashing back into the reality of school life I don't know what is! But it's all good because it went well :) I think this last year of medical school is going to fly by!

Anyways, that's all for now. Have a nice weekend!!!

Friends for life and eternity :)

2009-09-13T19:55:00.005Z

Here are the greatest gifts God gave me this summer. Some very special friends!!!

Above: Ralph, Jovita and Esther

Below: Salem and I

Above: Ruta and Gerard

Below: Sarma, Baiba, Ralph and Salem

Wherever this group was there was tons of fun!

What a wonderful gift God gave me in these people! I can't stop thanking Him enough! This summer was such a blessing for me. It was like coming to an oasis in so many ways!

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."-- Anonymous

"Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends." -- Cindy Lew

"Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. "

Stop the World

2009-08-24T09:35:00.003Z

The TV is talking
The telephone’s ringing
The lights are all on
And the radio’s screaming
A million distractions are stealing my heart from You
I’m tired and empty
This life is relentless
It weakens my knees
And breaks my defenses
It’s wearing me down and I’m desperate to hear from You

Stop the world I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me

I need to be still before I make a move
I need to be humble with nothing to prove
I need Your Word to show me the truth
And I need time, precious time

Stop the world I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me
Stop the world I’m ready to listen
Show me a sign, give me a vision of heaven
I can hold on to
Stop the world I need some time with You

Before I can find my voice
I need to hear Your voice
Above all the senseless noise

As I was studying this morning I listened to some music by Matthew West and this song caught my ear. I realized how often I feel exactly like that. The world has millions of distractions that seem to take my focus away from God. These distractions are colorful, loud and scream at me anywhere I go... there's no wonder that I feel like I can't hear God. Listening to the song reminded me of how important it is to remove myself from the distractions of this world to a quiet place to spend some time with my Creator so that I can really rest in Him and listen to what He has to say to me. I believe God speaks to us everyday. Often I think our problem is that we are listening for God in the loud things in our life while He might just be gently whispering, waiting for us to give Him our undivided attention.

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

(1 Kings 19:11-13)

The LORD was not in the powerful wind, He was not in the earthquake, nor was He in the fire... He was in the gentle whisper...

Short update from Lebanon!

2009-08-14T12:37:00.004Z

It's about time I wrote something here!!

Now I've been in Lebanon for almost a month! These past 4 weeks I spent doing a Children's Day Camp called "Health & Fun" and yes, it was a lot of fun! There were about 50 kids in the camp, divided into 4 groups depending on their age. They had different activities like sports, games, arts and crafts, music, dance, aerobics, health awareness sessions and different outings. This was a very rewarding time for me because I absolutely love working with kids. I've had trouble posting pictures, so unfortunately I will not be able to post any here yet.

During my time here I have met some wonderful people from all over the world that I know will be my friends for life. We had a ICMDA camp last weekend (ICMDA = International Christian Medical and Dental Association) which was a lot of fun as well as being very beneficial to all of us. People from different cultures and countries gathering together because they share the same vision of serving God in their medical profession :) Such a huge blessing for me to be able to participate in this.

Anyways, I think that'll have to do for now. I just wanted to let everyone know that I LOVE MY LIFE! and I am having a blast here in Lebanon. The people here are very hospitable and welcoming. In a lot of ways it feels like home because the culture here is a bit of a mix between what I experienced growing up in Ethiopia and the culture and luxuries of Europe... if that makes any sense...

So... Have a great weekend everyone! I know I will :) Lots of love from Lebanon!

Experiencing the miracle of life...

2009-05-16T21:44:00.004Z

This morning I came home extatic after a wonderful night shift at the labor ward. The birth of a baby is truly one of the most wonderful miracles in life! It never ceases to amaze me. God is a wonderful Creator.

Last night I got to experience one of those "wow-moments"... I got to deliver my first baby! I've assisted many times, but this time I was playing the main part while the mid wife assisted me and guided me through the delivery. WOW, it was so... WOW! That was not all! What made this night even more special is that I got to assist in a very special delivery :) Friends of mine were having their first baby! Going through that experience with them was really special. I was honored to be there when their first-born entered this world. Tears of joy and happines and the sound of a newborn baby crying... It was just beautiful!

Congratulations to my friends! May God bless your beautiful baby!!!

Death isn't sad...

2009-05-10T01:29:00.005Z

"Death isn't sad. The sad thing is: most people don't live at all."

Just a quote that really caught my ear from the movie "Peaceful Warrior". Have you ever given that a thought... are you really LIVING? Or is life just passing you by?

That movie had a lot of good points like that quote. It reminded me how easy it is to just let the moment pass me by instead of making the most of it... whatever it is, because "there is never nothing going on" and there is no ordinary moment, because in that moment, that's actually your life :) Living in the here and now is such a cliché, but it is what I know I need to do to really enjoy life. I tend to dwell on the past and worry about the future... and that can ruin "the NOW" and when you think about it "NOW" is my life...

Well, that was my philosophy for the day.... or maybe month... haha!

Anyways, have a great rest of the weekend! And don't forget to take in the moment and enjoy LIVING!

Plans for the summer

2009-05-01T23:18:00.004Z

It's May already and summer is just around the corner! It's hard to believe how fast this school year has passed! It's been a great! Haven't taken much time to blog at all... sorry about that.

Right now I am busy trying to figure out the summer. I am hoping to go somewhere to do voluntary medical work... Hopefully it'll all work out in the end :) I'm just waiting for a reply... If it all goes well, I'll be spending 2 months somewhere in Africa this summer!

But... until I know for sure I guess I'll just chill out ;)

27.... wow... really? hmmm...

2009-03-30T23:50:00.002Z

So, I turned 27 today. Seems so old, hahaha! The past two years have gone by way too fast... well, maybe not. Last school-year was pretty tough so I'm glad that stressful year went by fast. This year has been quite plesant and nice though, I like the 5th year of medical school :) Anyways... My life is good. I had a nice and relaxing day with my family, ate some good food and then watched a movie while I knitted away on a sweater for my brother. I got great gifts from my siblings and my parents and a whole bunch of family and friends wished me a happy birthday. I feel loved :) It was a good day. I'm thankful to God for every person he's put in my life :)

"As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God"

2009-02-21T15:38:00.002Z

I just read an article in The Times that had this heading. Such a strange and contradicting heading, but VERY interesting :) An atheist's view on missionary work in Africa, and why he holds that view... I suggest you read it too!

Here's the link to the article:
As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

Does time fly, or what?!

2009-01-31T01:50:00.002Z

I can hardly believe that January is over already! I just had my Opthalmology exam today... well technically it was yesterday... Anyways! Now it's on to something I've been looking forward to since I started medical school... Paediatrics! :)

While I was studying for my exams I discovered (thanx to my brother) some Christian bands that I kinda fell in love with. The bands are 33 Miles, Mainstay and Starfield. Great music and wonderful lyrics. If you've never heard of them I'd suggest you check them out!

That's all for now! Have a great weekend!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T13:10:00.002Z

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years celebration! I had a great time with my mother's side of the family at our house, about 40 people all together :) At midnight we went up to Hallgrímskirkja and watched the fireworks! It was awesome!

As I wish you a Happy New Year, I want to start off the year of 2009 with this music video by Phil Wickham. It's a beautiful song my 19 year old brother told me about! I hope it touches your heart as it did mine!

Christmas

2008-12-30T20:20:00.002Z

I love Christmas! I could make a list of everything I like about it, but that would be boring for you to read. I will just stop at the most important thing... Celebrating the birth of my Saviour and Friend, Jesus Christ. I've often tried to imagine how it must have been for Mary and Joseph to hold the little tiny baby boy in their arms, knowing that He was the Son of God. I wonder if they knew what that really meant... what went through their minds?

I like speculating about that and I guess that is why I like these Christmas songs so much:

SMILE!

2008-12-16T00:58:00.004Z

There is NEVER a reason not to smile! ;)

If you don't have a smile, I'll give you one of mine. ~Author Unknown

People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. ~Lee Mildon

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller

Wear a smile - one size fits all. ~Author Unknown

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. ~W.C. Fields

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. ~William Shakespeare, Othello

I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author Unknown

Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to. ~Author Unknown

If you would like to spoil the day for a grouch, give him a smile. ~Author Unknown

A smile is something you can't give away; it always comes back to you. ~Author Unknown

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. ~Andy Rooney

Everyone smiles in the same language. ~Author Unknown

A laugh is a smile that bursts. ~Mary H. Waldrip

Smile - it increases your face value. ~Author Unknown

Old pictures - great memories!

2008-12-11T16:56:00.003Z

Just a few snap shots from my childhood. Looking at those old photos brings back so many great memories... I'm so thankful for the family God blessed me with and for all the experience I had as a missionary child growing up in Ethiopia. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I absolutely LOVE my childhood.

My sis and I got along pretty well most of the time. In the picture above I am about 2 years old and my sister is only a few months old. In the picture below we are 2 and 4 years old, wearing dresses that our grandmother Vilborg made us.

I said we got along MOST of the time ;oP Haha.!

I'm covered in flour (pic above) while my sister is covered in dirt (pic below).

Just love this picture (below). Here I am with my father's coworker in Kibish.

I wasn't all that innocent, haha! This picture was taken the day that I put vaseline in my hair! I just wanted to be like my girlfriends who put butter in their hair to keep their braids nice. It took my mother a few weeks to wash it out.

Christmas in Konso (pic above and below)

Family picture taken the night my baby brother was born (above). Below is a picture of Gísli, my brother, and Alle one of our neighbour's daughter.

Just taking a bubble bath (above). A picture of us siblings when we were about 8, 6 and 1 years old.

Well, that's it! Hope everyone is enjoying themselves! I am, cause I have time off from school and stressfulness :) Later! God bless!

Enjoying time off :)

2008-12-09T18:48:00.003Z

Ahhh! It feel so great to finally get some time off without any school work at all! I've baked some Christmas cookies, decorated the house, made some Christmas presents and relaxed... Love it!

Today I decided to go through piles and piles of paper... school notes and all kinds of other paper stuff that tends to pile up cause I just can't be bothered to put it in it's right place the moment I get it... Not so fun to have to go through, but I have myself to blame for that, haha. I'll be done soon enough.

Once my room is tidy and out of paper piles I'm going to post some fun photos my sis and I were looking at a couple of days ago, so stay tuned!. It brought back such great memories from our childhood and reminded us of how blessed we are to have had the experiences we had in Ethiopia. Man, I want to go back there!

About time I blogged!

2008-12-06T17:24:00.002Z

Wow, I don't think I've ever gone without blogging for this long... Thought it was about time I gave a sign of life.

This semester has been pretty good and not nearly as stressful as last school year. To tell you the truth I think it's hard to beat last years stressfulness and busyness, I'm SO glad that year is over :) The 5th year is more fun and I've been able to enjoy being a med student. I just finished my exams last Tuesday and Thursday (neurology and psychiatry). Now I have about 10 days off before I the next course starts. I was supposed to be in the US right now, but had to cancel my trip because of the echonomical situation :( Such a huge bummer! I'll just have to go some other time!

So these days I'm just relaxing and preparing Christmas, which is nice. Today I spent the morning with my mother and her sisters making "laufabrauð". My sister and I are going to bake some Christmas cookies and make a ginger bread house one of the coming days :) It's been quite a few years since we did that! Brings back great memories! I remember one Christmas in Ethiopia when we made a gingerbread house it had completely collapsed one morning and noone understood why. We had "glued" it together with melted shugar so it shouldn't be able to collapse like that. We took a closer look... You know what? The sugar was GONE! How? Well... let's just say the ants had had quite the party! Haha! They had eaten all the sugar and left the gingerbread alone... so in the end it collapsed. Oh, well... we just melted some more sugar and "glued" it back together ;)

Anyways, I hope everyone is having a great time preparing for Christmas in spite of the crappy echonomical situation! ;)

"This is not this"

2008-10-16T19:42:00.001Z

Where do you put your trust?

I put my trust in the One who will never fail me, no matter what happens in the world!

Some pictures from Austria :)

2008-09-19T12:00:00.004Z

I already posted lots of pictures on my facebook and myspace account, but for those of you who don't have that I thought I'd post some pictures here. A week ago I was at an ICMDA conference for the Eurasia region. ICMDA stands for International Christian Medical and Dental Association. The program was full of useful and encouraging Bible readings and seminars about so many different things. They touched on ethical issues, communication, addiction, psychiatric illnesses, mission work, being a Christian medical student or doctor and so on and so forth... I could go on and on. I had an amazing time and got to know some really great people! Here are just a few pictures!

Got to know a lot of really great people!!!

Took the cable cart to Dachstein:

The surroundings were just gorgeous! Like a fairytale!

Thought it would be approprate to have the last picture be of Daniel and his wife Petra wearing Austrian national dresses :)

Just amazing!

2008-08-04T11:19:00.002Z

This weekend I went to Kotmót, a Christian conference that is held during this long weekend at the beginning of August here in Iceland. I spent the Saturday there with my father and my sister. In the evening there were a couple praise and worship meetings and I went home SO refreshed! I think the highlight of my weekend was hearing the story behind and singing the song Healer. I felt so surrounded by the Love of God, like He was pulling me close again. Just take a look at the following video and you'll understand:

This summer has been a dry season in my spiritual life. I've felt very empty and I've not spent much time studying the Word of God or praying for that matter. I was so distanced from God and I didn't even realize just how dried out I was until I was at these worship meetings, especially when singing that one song. All I want is to be close to my Father in Heaven, living each day in His will, feeling His presence. There is nothing better than that! Below I've posted a video with the performance of the whole song:

Stupid?

2008-07-20T17:46:00.002Z

Have you ever been in a situation where things play out in such a way that they leave you looking stupid? I don't know if you understand what I'm trying to say... but that is how I've felt on several occasions this weekend. I've been left with the thought "Man, they must think I am just stupid" so many times. Usually it is because it ends up looking like I don't know certain things or that I called the specialist for no valid reason or because of something that in the end looks like a simple problem. I don't know about you, but I don't like feeling like this. Oh, well. They can think what they want. I'm doing my best and that is all I can do!

I'm still alive!

2008-07-06T22:04:00.002Z

WOW, it's been a long time since I wrote on this blog! I don't think I've ever gone this long without writing. Let's just say my job keeps me very busy! I practically feel like I live at the hospital at times, that is no joke.

The job as an assisting doctor at the Orthopaedic ward is extremely busy and I don't think I've ever learned as much in such a short time! The down side is that it's so exhausting I almost feel like I don't have the energy to enjoy the summer properly. A whole month of the summer has already flown by, and I feel like it just escaped me or something. Oh well, I guess it will be worth the experience in the end. At least I hope so!

I hope all of you are able to enjoy the wonderful season that summer is!

First week of work...

2008-06-07T18:33:00.002Z

So I started my job as an assisting doctor at the orthopaedic ward last Monday. Lets just say it's been a stressful week, but it went ok. I do my best to keep my chin up and take the challenges handed to me even though some of them seem impossible at times. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? I will be super strong after this summer!

Finals are OVER! FINALLY!!!

2008-05-31T03:28:00.001Z

I am finally FREE! Finals are over! Just thought I'd share the joy with all of you... Ahhh!

Turn up the music!

2008-05-25T01:48:00.002Z

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don’t hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want, but want what you have
And don’t spend you life looking back

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it’s not who you knew and it’s not what you did
It’s how you Live

So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don’t run from the truth cause you can’t get away
Oh no
Just face it and you’ll be ok

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it’s not who you knew and it’s not what you did
It’s how you Live

Where ever you are and wherever you’ve been
Now is a time to begin

So give to the needy and Pray for the grieving
Even when you don’t think that you can
Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
And make peace with God and Make peace with yourself
Oh yeah
Cause in the end there’s nobody else

Turn up the music Turn it up Loud
Take a few chances Let it all out
Because you won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Because it’s not who you knew and it’s not what you did
It’s how you Live

Because it’s not who you knew and it’s not what you did
It’s how you Live

("How you live" by Point of Grace)

Click HERE to listen to it!

I survived!

2008-05-23T22:44:00.003Z

THE test is over and I survived! I had my written exam in internal medicine today and boy am I glad it's over. The test was quite far from what I had expected... from what any of us expected, but hey... that's how it goes sometimes, right? At least it's over. On to the next one now... written exam in surgery in a week.

This picture kinda discribes how I felt today as I walked away from the university after the exam.

Why I like country music

2008-05-18T23:17:00.005Z

This is why I like country music... It tells stories like this one:

Carrie Underwood - Jesus Take The Wheel

I don't know about you, but I've experienced taking life down an icy road, ending up spinning out of control, knowing that what waits ahead is an ugly crash. I've had those moments where all I could do was throw my hands up in the air and say "Jesus, take the wheel!". It's so easy to get lost and make mistakes... but in the end what counts is who is at the wheel today? It's never too late for God to turn things around, I've experienced that in big and small ways in my life. So instead of just turning to Jesus when I'm spinning out of control, I'm starting every day with that simple prayer... "Jesus, take the wheel"

Hard to stay positive!

2008-05-17T00:20:00.002Z

Yes, it's hard to stay positive these days... I have 2 more weeks of heavy duty studying before finals are over. I have already spent a few weeks studying because of the practical test we had a week ago, so let's just say I'm a little bit tired of it all... Man, I'd give anything for a couple of days of just relaxing and not worrying about the upcoming finals. On well, thinking like that doesn't change the fact that I need to keep at it! So, no more self pity! This will be over in 15 days, that's better than 20 days! (Trying the Pollyanna approach, haha) Can't wait till it's over!! I will be extatic on that day!

Anyways, have a great weekend!

Feelin' good!

2008-05-09T22:34:00.002Z

Just finished my practical exam in surgery today! Ahhhhhh! Feels so good! I think I did pretty well, so I am all smiles right now. Trying to get ready to study for three more weeks... hmmm... not really feeling like it... But let's not spoil the happiness - I'm done with the practical!

Counting down...

2008-05-02T19:42:00.003Z

Only 7 days to go until I finish my practical test in Surgery.

Only 21 days to go until I have my written exam in Internal medicine.
Only 28 days to go until I have my written exam in Surgery.

The next 4 weeks are going to be MASSIVELY hectic! I feel exactly like the guy in the picture above...

Taking things too much for granted

2008-04-26T04:20:00.002Z

I heard this song as I was studying... feeling all sorry for myself and all the stress ahead. Well, this song kinda pointed out to me how much I take for granted!

I get to

They used to make me go to church
clip-on tie, starchy shirt
I never heard the preachers words
all scrouched down in that pew
these days goin' to church
is somethin' I don't have to do
I get to

I used to have to hang with dad
wash his car and cut the grass
it took all day and I hated that
till his heart attack last June
these days helpin' dad I don't have to do
I get to
I get to

I get to wake up early
I get to go to work
I get to make an honest living
put my hands down in the dirt
I get to hear grandma complain about all her
little aches and pain
I get to rock my baby girl to sleep
spend my weekends coaching little league
there's a lot of things I don't have to do
I get to

I used to have to say those words
you always seemed to say em first
but I dreamt one night you'd left this earth
and I woke up and reached for you
now I realized I don't have to say I love you
I get to
oh baby, I get to

I get to wake up early
and I get to go to work
I get to make an honest living
and put my hands down in the dirt
I get to hear grandma complain
about all her little aches and pain
I get to rock my baby girl to sleep
spend my weekends coaching little league
there's a lot of things I don't have to do
oh there's a lot of things I don't have to do
I get to
I get to

I get to wake up early
and I get to go to work
there's a lot of things I don't have to do
I get to
I get to rock my baby
and I get to help my dad
there's a lot of things I don't have to do
I get to

(Click HERE to listen to the song, if you scroll down on the player list you'll see it)

Just think of all the things you GET to do! It just made me smile cause I need to have more of that mindset... not the "I have to" mindset.

This is the cutest thing EVER! Incredible!

2008-04-19T22:10:00.000Z

My first stiches!

2008-04-03T00:41:00.003Z

I got to do my first stiches on my evening shift at the ER tonight! The patient was kind enough to let me document my first stitches ;) I like sewing people, so just watch out! Haha!

This much...

2008-03-26T21:29:00.002Z

Just thought I'd share an illustration I heard a long time ago.

Imagine that you are talking to Jesus face to face. He's right there in front of you. You ask him, "Jesus, how much do you love me?" With a 3 cm gap between your thumb and index finger you say "This much?" Jesus answers "No, much more". You ask again, "This much?" with your fingers spread as wide as possible. Again Jesus answers, "No, much more". You're getting a bit impatient and you really just want to know so you ask, "Then Jesus, how much DO you love me?" Jesus looks into your eyes, stretches out His arms and says, "This much". He then bows His head and dies, hanging on a cross.

What a beautiful day!

2008-03-22T19:01:00.002Z

Yesterday I went for a walk around my neighborhood and took these pictures. It was such a beautiful day with a clear blue sky and practically no wind at all. (The "no-wind-part" doesn't happen all that often in Iceland.)

TCK is just what I am!

2008-03-18T22:05:00.003Z

I'm sure some of you may be familiar with the term "Third Culture Kid" or TCK. That is just what I am and I know a lot of my friends both here and abroad can identify with me. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about let me just post something I found online that describes exactly what it means to be a TCK.

"A third culture kid is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside their parents' culture. The third culture kid builds relationships to all the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the third culture kid's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of the same background, other TCKs."

You know you're a TCK when:
- "Where are you from?" has more than one reasonable answer.
- You flew before you could walk.
- You speak two languages (or more), but can’t spell in either.
- You feel odd being in the ethnic majority.
- You go into culture shock upon returning to your "home" country.
- Your life story uses the phrase "Then we moved to..." three (or four, or five...) times.
- The best word for something is the word you learned first, regardless of the language.
- You own personal appliances with 3 types of plugs.
- When asked a question in a certain language, you've absentmindedly respond in a different one.
- You have the urge to move to a new country every couple of years.
- You have friends from 29 different countries.
- You sort your friends by continent.
- You have a time zone map next to your telephone.
- You realize what a small world it is, after all.

I'm in over my head

2008-03-02T13:30:00.005Z

Today I'm in over my head in Radiology... but that is not the only thing, I'm also in over my head in something else :)

"Over My Head"

I tried to figure it out
Time and time again and time again
I guess there's just some things I'll never understand
'Cause Your ways aren't our ways
But deep down in my soul, down in my soul
There is one thing I know that I know

I'm in over my head
Right where I wanna be
I'm so lost within Your love
The love that always covers me
So high, so deep, so wide
A strong and cleansing tide
My soul has found a place to rest
I'm in over my head

I've been holding on
Now I'm letting go, just letting go
Gonna let Your love carry me away
I don't know where I'm going
But I'm surrounded by the truth
And I can feel the current pulling me
Deeper into You

I'm in over my head
Right where I wanna be
I'm so lost within Your love
The love that always covers me
So high, so deep, so wide
A strong and cleansing tide
My soul has found a place to rest
I'm in over my head

You see me for who I am
You did reach out Your hand
You made me understand
That Your love has always covered me

(By: Brian Littrell)

Click here to listen to this song!

I realize this post can have a dual meaning, haha! It just depends on the point of view you see it from, and I am just going to leave it at that! ;oP

You should read this!

2008-02-24T00:20:00.003Z

Here is a very cool book I've quoted from a few times on my blog. You can get the whole thing online for free. It's not copywritten so just press print and you have yourself a new book to read :) It's got some pretty awesome stuff in it and it's easy to read AND it's short so it doesn't take long to read either. I absolutely love it! All this to say: I highly recommend this book!

Click here to get to the book!

The CMF conference in England

2008-02-14T20:53:00.004Z

Last weekend I was in England attending a CMF (Christian Medical Fellowship) student conference. It was such a blessing for me and a real encouragement to meet and hang out with all those people. There was a lot of Biblical teaching as well as seminars on ethical issues like for example euthanasia. I came back all pumped up spiritually :) God is good! Here are some pics I took while I was there.

The area where the conference was held was absolutely gorgeous!
And I made some new very awesome friends! Here's part of the "international group" that was at the conference:

Having a good time at the dinner table!

Quiz time on Saturday night! That was so much fun!
The other groups taking part in the quiz.
Dancing and having fun :)

Fighting a dragon?

2008-01-24T18:20:00.000Z

There was once a great and noble King whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey, the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath. Hapless victims ran from their burning homes, only to be snatched into the dragon's jaws or talons. Those devoured instantly were deemed more fortunate than those carried back to the dragon's lair to be devoured at his leisure. The King led his sons and knights in many valiant battles against the dragon.

Riding alone in the forest, one of the King's sons heard his name purred low and soft. In the shadows of the ferns and trees, curled among the boulders, lay the dragon. The creature's heavy-lidded eyes fastened on the prince, and the reptilian mouth stretched into a friendly smile.

"Don't be alarmed," said the dragon, as gray wisps of smoke rose lazily from his nostrils.

"I am not what your father thinks."

"What are you, then?" asked the prince, warily drawing his sword as he pulled in the reins to keep his fearful horse from bolting.

"I am pleasure," said the dragon. "Ride on my back and you will experience more than you ever imagined. Come now. I have no harmful intentions. I seek a friend, someone to share flights with me. Have you never dreamed of flying? Never longed to soar in the clouds?"

Visions of soaring high above the forested hills drew the prince hesitantly from his horse. The dragon unfurled one great webbed wing to serve as a ramp to his ridged back. Between the spiny projections, the prince found a secure seat. Then the creature snapped his powerful wings twice and launched them into the sky. The prince's apprehension melted into awe and exhilaration.

From then on, he met the dragon often, but secretly, for how could he tell his father, brothers or the knights that he had befriended the enemy? The prince felt separate from them all. Their concerns were no longer his concerns. Even when he wasn't with the dragon, he spent less time with those he loved and more time alone.

The skin on the prince's legs became calloused from gripping the ridged back of the dragon, and his hands grew rough and hardened. He began wearing gloves to hide the malady. After many nights of riding, he discovered scales growing on the backs of his hands as well. With dread he realized his fate were he to continue, and so he resolved to return no more to the dragon.

But, after a fortnight, he again sought out the dragon, having been tormented with desire. And so it transpired many times over. No matter what his determination, the prince eventually found himself pulled back, as if by the cords of an invisible web. Silently, patiently, the dragon always waited.

One cold, moonless night their excursion became a foray against a sleeping village. Torching the thatched roofs with fiery blasts from his nostrils, the dragon roared with delight when the terrified victims fled from their burning homes. Swooping in, the serpent belched again and flames engulfed a cluster of screaming villages. The prince closed his eyes tightly in an attempt to shut out the carnage.

In the pre dawn hours, when the prince crept back from his dragon trysts, the road outside his father's castle usually remained empty. But not tonight. Terrified refugees streamed into the protective walls of the castle. The prince attempted to slip through the crowd to close himself in his chambers, but some of the survivors stared and pointed toward him.

"He was there," one woman cried out, "I saw him on the back of the dragon." Others nodded their heads in angry agreement. Horrified, the prince saw that his father, the King, was in the courtyard holding a bleeding child in his arms. The King's face mirrored the agony of his people as his eyes found the prince's. The son fled, hoping to escape into the night, but the guards apprehended him as if he were a common thief. They brought him to the great hall where his father sat solemnly on the throne. The people on every side railed against the prince.

"Banish him!" he heard one of his own brothers angrily cry out.

"Burn him alive!" other voices shouted.

As the king rose from his throne, bloodstains from the wounded shone darkly on his royal robes. The crowd fell silent in expectation of his decree. The prince, who could not bear to look into his father's face, stared at the flagstones of the floor.

"Take off your gloves and your tunic," the King commanded. The prince obeyed slowly, dreading to have his metamorphosis uncovered before the kingdom. Was his shame not already enough? He had hoped for a quick death without further humiliation. Sounds of revulsion rippled through the crowd at the sight of the prince's thick, scaled skin and the ridge growing along his spine.

The king strode toward his son, and the prince steeled himself, fully expecting a back handed blow even though he had never been struck so by his father.

Instead, his father embraced him and wept as he held him tightly. In shocked disbelief, the prince buried his face against his father's shoulder.

"Do you wish to be freed from the dragon, my son?"

The prince answered in despair, "I wished it many times, but there is no hope for me."

"Not alone," said the King. "You cannot win against the dragon alone."

"Father, I am no longer your son. I am half beast," sobbed the prince.

But his father replied, "My blood runs in your veins. My nobility has always been stamped deep within your soul."

With his face still hidden tearfully in his father's embrace, the prince heard the King instruct the crowd, "The dragon is crafty. Some fall victim to his wiles and some to his violence. There will be mercy for all who wish to be freed. Who else among you has ridden the dragon?"

The prince lifted his head to see someone emerge from the crowd. To his amazement, he recognized an older brother, one who had been lauded throughout the kingdom for his onslaughts against the dragon in battle and for his many good deeds. Others came, some weeping, others hanging their heads in shame.

The King embraced them all.

"This is our most powerful weapon against the dragon," he announced. "Truth. No more hidden flights. Alone we cannot resist him."

Melinda Reinicke, Parables for Personal Growth (San Diego, CA: Recovery Publications, Inc., 1993), pp. 5-9.

I found this story very powerful. It's funny how you can hear something so often that it doesn't seem to even touch you anymore, but once you hear it told in a different way, by way of a parable you get a completely new understanding of it, or it suddenly speaks right to your heart! I don't think I have ever heard a story or parable that describes the alluring and entrapping power of sin as this story does. Another image so vividly portrayed through this story is true grace, the kind of grace we find when we turn to God with our sins, no matter how ugly they are, no matter how hopelessly entrapped we are. This story was refreshing and it explained a little bit about the heart and grace of God in a very understandable way! Just wanted to share that with all of you :) Hope the story touched your hearts as much as it did mine!

Going to England!

2008-01-12T13:28:00.000Z

Yep, I'll be going to England for a weekend in February! I can't wait! I'll be attending the CMF student conference. It's a national student conference held every year and I'm finally able to make it. I've wanted to go the last couple of years, but didn't get the chance because of finals. I am very excited! It'll be refreshing and fun and such a great oppurtunity to make new friends who have a heart for God and a heart to reach the world through medicine :)

But, until the beginning of February I will be very busy preparing for a clinical final. Lot's to read and review and practice!

I love medical school! Just thought I'd let you know once again, hehe! God bless, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Here's to a fresh start! Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T10:37:00.000Z

I like the concept of the New Year being a fresh start, a time to let go of the past and think ahead with an open mind and a clean slate... I happen to be able to start each and every day like that because of the forgiveness I have in Christ, and that is a wonderful thing. But there is still something special about New Years... I guess maybe because this one time a year almost everyone thinks of it as a fresh start. Sometimes it almost feels like the atmosphere has been cleaned, people let go of "the old" and look to the future with optimism. So with these words I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

I hope and pray that this next year will be a good year with new adventures with God. I pray that He will lead me each and every step of the way and that I will not take any side steps. I yearn to feel the presense of God in a new way. I also pray that I will be able to lean on God 100% and trust in Him completely... I've ran into the wall too often because I started trusting in myself instead of God. I know from experience that when I trust in God I can rest because He is in charge and He knows where He is taking me :) So I'm starting this year with God in the driver's seat and myself in the passenger seat and hope to keep it that way :) I am ready to ride!

Tale of the three trees

2007-12-22T18:07:00.000Z

I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas with this little tale I like so much :) I hope you enjoy it too...

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.

"Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.

"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.

But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.

The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.

"What happened?" the once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.

"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered.

The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." she said.

And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler feel asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.

Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.

The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.

And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her.

She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.

But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong.

And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Broken World

2007-12-12T17:01:00.000Z

Music Video: BROKEN WORLD -Across the Sky

Promises shattered
Answers don't come
Friends say goodbye
Plans come undone
Dreams get crushed
Lies get told
Words can turn cruel
Hearts can grow cold

CHORUS
In a broken world where we cry to feel
Some hope that helps these hearts to heal
You're my strength, You're my refuge
In a broken world, Jesus I'm holding to You

You make sense of the madness
And You make darkness flee
You bring such a calm
To the chaos in me
Show me life
Tell me truth
Day after day I keep running to You

CHORUS

Long ago, we fell so far
Yet You came to where we are

CHORUS

We certainly live in a broken world... even my little world is broken. I have my struggles and my own mountains to climb. Things don't always go as I would want and it can be tough. Dreams are shattered, plans are torn, the heart breaks and it hurts. Anyone you ask will tell you they've experienced those things, it's "just life". At times like that, when everything seems broken and nothing makes sense, I don't know how I would get through the day if I didn't have God to lean on and to carry me. I have experienced times where my little world was nothing but a caos of a broken heart and shattered dreams, times where my struggles have overwhelmed me to the point of feeling completely defeated with no strength left to fight. It's at time like these that I have learned the most valuable lessons about my amazing Father in Heaven. I cry out in despair, and in a situation where everything seems impossible I suddenly become calm and have peace that is hard to explain. I am able to rest in His arms, because I know I can trust Him to carry me. Little by little the heart mends and sense is made of the madness. Light shines into the darkness again and life slowly "goes back to normal". I don't know how it would be to go through those valleys if I didn't have Jesus to cling to, it would be so much darker, so much harder with all the weight of my troubles resting solely on me. I am grateful that I have a Saviour who carries me and my troubles through tough times. It makes ALL the difference in my life. That is why I can have peace, even in the midst of the darkest, most violent storm in life.

Trust in You

2007-12-03T21:46:00.000Z

You have always been
You will always be
Faithful
When I cry out to You God
And my heart is overwhelmed
You are near

And I know I can trust You
At all times
Cause the One who is higher
Stands by my side

Hide me God
In the shadow of Your wings
Draw me close
I'm secure
In Your holy embrace
I'll trust in You

God You are the one
Who is steadfast, strong and true
Always
Always

And I know I can trust You
At all times
Cause the One who is higher
Stands by my side

Hide me God
In the shadow of Your wings
Draw me close
I'm secure in Your holy embrace
I'll trust in You

Trust in You

(By: H. Dawson)

Christmas is just around the corner!

2007-12-02T00:31:00.000Z

It's December 1st already! WOW! Time has just disappeared! It's kinda crazy, I can't even seem to keep up with it :oP I am happy that Christmas is so close. I love celebrating the birth of my Saviour, thinking about how it all happened, trying to imagine what it was like for Mary and Joseph :) And ofcourse I love the Holidays with all the family parties and games. It's just such a nice time of sharing and celebrating.... Ahhh... Christmas...

Never feel unloved!

2007-11-22T20:29:00.000Z

WOW! I came across this video a couple of weeks ago and as I was watching it I could feel God's love for me in such a strong way! Just wanted to share it with other people in hope that they also will feel the true and infinite love God has for them.

God is truly amazing and I think this video shows so clearly that He loves us right where we are at! We don't have to become "better" for Him to love us, He already loves us more than we can ever imagine (no matter what we have done or do!), and He will help us make the changes we so desperately want to make.

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did!

Busyness

2007-11-17T22:51:00.000Z

Wow, I don't think I've ever felt as busy as I do these days. It's a constant battle to try to stay on top of everything... oh, well. Other people made it throug this year, and so will I! The most important thing is that I absolutely love being in the hospital so much :) That makes up for the busyness a little bit, haha. But sometimes I wish I could "have a life" too. You will just have to excuse how limited my blogging is, at least for now. There is a bunch of stuff I want to say and put on here, and I will... in time.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

God is moving in Iceland :)

2007-11-10T22:49:00.000Z

It sure looks like God is making His move here in Iceland. Things are happening all around. Today a couple of thousand people walked down Laugavegur in a "prayer walk", praying against drugs, alcohol, abuse and "darkness". And tonight from 6pm on there was a concert in Laugardalshöll - open to everyone, no charge. It was pretty amazing to see all the people from the different churches and denominations gathered as one in Christ. Very exciting! I can't wait to see what God will and is doing over here!

Taking some time to breath

2007-11-04T13:06:00.000Z

The past couple of weeks have been exhausting, but VERY fun and interesting :) I am, like so many of my classmates, constantly tired. There is so much new to take in and learn, and I love it. It's been really busy and I just need some time to stop and breath... Maybe you do too? I thought I'd post a slideshow to a song I like on here for you to enjoy while you take a short break ;) Just click the link below and enjoy!

Answer the Call

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

One step closer to becoming a doctor :)

2007-10-25T21:58:00.000Z

My first week inside the hospital is almost over. Can someone please tell me why I was so nervous about it?! It is such an exciting experience. Taking small steps every day, learning the simple things first... slowly learning the skills of the working doctor :) I love it! It is challenging but fun! I am sure some weeks will be harder than others, but I do think that I am up for this challenge. It's a good feeling. I've had a great start to this part of the studies. The team of doctors on the ward I've been at are just awesome. They do expect certain things of us and they ask questions, but at the same time they do it in such a way that we are always comfortable, even when the answer is not right. If we don't know something they just take us through it and explain. I've learned a whole lot this week!

Just thought I'd share that with you. Now you know how my first steps inside the hospital went.

Last shift at the labor ward...

2007-10-20T17:33:00.000Z

The past night was my last shift at the labor ward. It was the busiest shift I've been on in a long time, but it was great. I got to assist in the deliveries of two baby girls!! Yea, I was extatic! Nothing beats the miracle of child birth ;) So I leave my job as an assistant at the labor ward with a smile on my face. It's been a privilege to work there!

Life without limbs!!!

2007-10-16T23:19:00.000Z

This guy is just AMAZING! Nick was born without arms and legs, but that doesn't stop him from living life and enjoying it! This video is only 7 minutes long, so you have time to take a break and look at this. If you think life is hard, take a look at what this guy has to say and be encouraged!

Camp with 100 tenagers! So fun!

2007-10-07T20:36:00.000Z

I had a wonderful weekend with about 100 teenagers in Vatnaskógur. It was the youth group's "fall-camp" or haustskólamót as we call it in Icelandic. God is doing some amazing things in these kids' lives and it was such a blessing to be a part of this weekend. Lots of singing, learning, sharing and hanging out in this BEAUTIFUL place! Here are just a few of the 200 pictures I took! God's creation is amazing :)

Ex-porn star tells her story!

2007-09-30T00:13:00.000Z

The first video is about 7 minutes and the second one is about 50 minutes. I highly recommend listening to her tell her whole story in the longer video! She tells everything about how she got into the "business" and out of it again and what it did to her. Very powerful! You should also visit her website: http://www.shelleylubben.com/

If you can't get the longer video to play here on my blog just click the link and watch, I know it works there: CLICK HERE!

With God, ANYTHING is possible, that's for sure ;) The best thing is that I don't have to have something to offer when I come to God, He takes me just as I am, He meets me exactly where I'm at, be it broken and bruised or happy and content. God takes us as we are and when we feel like there is nothing left but a broken life we can and should bring that to God. Because...

"...You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
-Psalm 51:16-17

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
-Psalm 147:3

The 4th year... the year many of us will cry?

2007-09-28T19:36:00.000Z

We had one of the 5th year medical students come and talk to us today after school. He was basically just telling us what we are haeaded for this year, what books are recommended and how the 4th year works. And then he said:

"You may have heard it said that no one gets through medical school without crying... well, the 4th year is that year for many medical students!"

I guess we're in for a ride on a roller coaster! It will be scary at times, it might even make some of us cry, but boy will it be a rush as we take this ride for the first time! We don't know exactly what to expect or how it is going to be, we've only heard stories from the people who already went on the ride! I think it's going to be exciting. I'm sure I will have many stories to tell about how I made a fool of myself, but it is all a part of the learning process! Let's just hope I can keep the tears to myself if it ever comes to that this year ;o)

I am still alive

2007-09-19T18:25:00.000Z

Just thought I'd give a super short update! The weekend went well and I think those of us who were there had a really good and blessed time together! I enjoyed it a lot at least. I haven't had time to write anything about it yet because I am too busy studying for finals. I had one today and then I have another one on Friday! It's pretty hectic! One down, one to go! Until then, have a great week!

Does anybody hear her?

2007-09-13T13:08:00.000Z

DOES ANYBODY HEAR HER (2006)

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All too often the church is like what we saw in this music video. It should be a place where everyone feels welcome and safe, not judged. Honestly, who hasn't messed up or done something they are not proud of? Who isn't struggling with something in their life? The only difference is that some people carry their mistakes and trials on the outside, they can't be hidden. I hope that I can be the person Christ wants me to be when I meet people. I pray that He will exchange His love and understanding for my judgemental thoughts and short-comings.

The program for the weekend!!!

2007-09-08T01:13:00.000Z

The program is now ready! I am posting it in Icelandic... sorry

FÖSTUDAGUR

Kvöldsamvera kl. 20:30
Reynsla af kristilegu starfi meðal heilsufagsnema (nemar segja frá)
Vitnisburður íslensks læknis (Lárus)
Mark, norskur læknanemi, verður með hugleiðingu.

LAUGARDAGUR

Kl 10:30
Biblíulestur: Jesús og blindi maðurinn (Haraldur, læknir)

Kl 12:30 Hádegismatur

Kl 14:00
Fræðslustund: The servant leader, að þjóna þeim sem þjóna (Birna, hjúkrunarfræðingur)
Tími fyrir spurningar og umræður

Kl 15:30 Síðdegiskaffi

Kl 16:00
Fræðslustund: Fóstureyðingar (Ingvild, norskur læknanemi)
Tími fyrir spurningar og umræður

Kl 18 eða 18:30 Kvöldmatur

Kl 20:30
Tómasarmessa í Friðrikskapellu (við Valsheimilið)

SUNNUDAGUR

Lokastund kl 11:00
Guðlaugur Gunnarsson guðfræðingur talar

The puzzle is coming together

2007-09-03T22:59:00.001Z

I can almost see the whole picture, there are very few pieces missing. The plans for the weekend (see my last post) have gone well and the program is almost ready to be posted! So stay tuned!

Being a Christian health care worker

2007-08-25T17:55:00.001Z

The weekend of September 14-16 will be a weekend of sharing and learning about what it means to be a Christian health care worker. If you are a medical student or a nursing student here in Iceland this is open to YOU!

A group of Norwegian medical students will be joining us, taking part in the program. Some Icelandic doctors and nurses will also be there to share their experience with us. We will talk about tough ethical situations we might encounter when we start working in the hospitals, hear about how others dealt with such situations and focus on how Jesus met people who were sick or in need.

Let's get ready to dig deep and listen to what God has to say to us in His word!

And just some practical information:
We will be meeting at Háaleitisbraut 58 (Kristniboðssalurinn).
The first meeting will be on Friday night.
I will put the program for the whole weekend here once it is ready, so stay tuned!
If you are in any kind of medical studies, YOU ARE WELCOME!

Something to think about!

2007-08-21T00:11:00.001Z

What are the odds that Christ was a fraud? Ever wondered about that? Or maybe you think he WAS a fraud? Well, either way, just read on. There have been done some scientific studies on that.

"Science has developed a method of studying odds. It is called the science of compound probabilities, a mathematical study of situations and the odds of possible outcomes. One of the most amazing studies conducted using this method, was recorded by Professor Peter Stoner in Science Speaks. The purpose of the study was to determine the odds of one man in history fulfilling all the prophecies recorded in the Scripture that point to the Jewish Messiah. There are over 300 Messianic prophecies in the Scriptures. Stoner chose just those that are clearly defined and specific for his study. To begin, eight prophecies were chosen that were totally beyond the human control of Yeshua (Jesus):

1) His place of birth (Micah 5:2)
2) Time of birth (Daniel 9:25)
3) Manner of birth (Isaiah 7:14)
4) Betrayal (Zechariah 11:12, 13)
5) Manner of death (Psalm 22:16-18)Notice the detail even down to the gambling for His robe.
6) Piercing of hands, feet, and side (Zechariah 12:10)
7) People mocking (Psalm 22:7,8)
8) Burial (Isaiah 53:9)

The compound probability of just these eight prophecies being fulfilled is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (1 in 10 to the 17th power). To understand this number, take that many silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They would cover the entire state two feet deep. Next, mark a single silver dollar, fly over Texas, and drop it anywhere. Then blindfold someone and let him parachute in anywhere he wants. He should take his time; he only gets one pick and the coin he picks must be the one you marked. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man. Yeshua fulfilled them all! In practical terms, would anyone fail to invest in a financial venture if the chance of failure was one in 10 to the 17th power? This is how secure an investment it is to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. (Only the rewards are truly out of this world!)

Now let’s raise the odds using 48 prophecies. We find the chances of one man fulfilling just 48 of these Messianic prophecies to be 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1 in 10 to the 157th power).

Yeshua fulfilled over 300 prophecies! It would take more faith to deceive your self that Yeshua is NOT the Messiah, than to accept the FACT that He is!"

Just think about this for a moment:
"Refusing to choose is a form of choice.
Disbelief is a form of belief.
In choosing, we must not only use the intelligence G-d gave us, but also our hearts."

“If there was one chance in a million that Yeshua is the actual Messiah and is the only way to G-d, then you owe it to your good sense just to look into it."

(Fom the book "I Have a Friend Who's Jewish, Do You?")

I just thought that was very cool! :) What about you?

Pictures from Rhodos!

2007-08-15T14:11:00.001Z

Here are some random pictures from our time in Rhodos:

Does it look like we enjoyed it???
Enjoying the sea and the sun... ahhhh...
We spent a day at the water park! Such a blast!

The picture above shows me in front of Monolithos (there are some ruins on the top there).
Rhodos old town at night (above) and in day (below).
My brother and sis with the view of a beach in Marmaris, Turkey behind them.
Buying sponges in Symi:
Still in a cute little town in Symi:
Enjoying the sun from day one!

On a boat/ship/ferry whatever you like to call it:On Acropolis in Lindos (Lindos beach is seen far below):
Happy siblings :)
A cool tower in Rhodos old town.
Such a nice vacation we had! And now you've seen a few glimpses of it!

What it means

2007-08-13T17:20:00.000Z

I’ve been here a thousand times before
Face down on the floor
Wondering how I even reached this place again

But, You have shown so endlessly, how Your love pours over me
No picture can re-create the beauty that I see

Chorus:
Show me what it means, to live my life a sacrifice
If only I would realize how much it took to pay the price
I know I’d always give, everything to You

I want this world to always see
Your perfect majesty
Reflecting from my life this brilliant poetry

Written all over this place
The signs of all creation that You breathed
Words can’t even state how much You mean to me

Chorus:
Show me what it means, to live my life a sacrifice
If only I would realize how much it took to pay the price
I know I’d always give, everything to You

I want to face my very crime
Of not giving all of mine
But I can feel the hope You bring to me

When I heard this song by Jeremy Camp I had to smile, because it is kinda what I was trying to say in my last post... just in some different words, and so much better. This is such a great song! You just have to listen to it! It's the song labelled "What It Means" on Jeremy Camp's myspace site. Click it to listen! Click here to get to his page: CLICK!

Don't look at ME

2007-08-11T23:11:00.000Z

Don't look at ME...

I can tell you what is right and what is wrong,
yet I often do the wrong.

I know that God has a plan for me,
yet I try to make my own.

I know God's infinite Love,
yet I hurt others.

So please,
don't look at ME...

Look at Jesus

It's through His Truth that I know right from wrong,
It's through His Grace that I can stand tall,
He picks me up when I fall.

It's through His Life that I can live,
It's through His Love that I can love,
Can't you see, it's from above?

Through my life I've learned:
He's faithful, even when I'm not.
It amazes me! And I pray
That by His Grace He might use me,
So that when you look at me,
JESUS is what you see.

Having a good time in Greece!

2007-08-01T15:33:00.000Z

Now I've been on vacation with my family for a week and a half and we still have over one week to go :) It's been great. We've traveled around the island of Rhodos (where we are staying), gone over to Marmaris in Turkey, been lazy on the beach and gone to the huge water park in Faliraki. So much fun! I'm loving it! I will put up some pictures when I get back home. I just thought I'd give a sign of life to those of you who might check my blog :)

Oh, one more thing! I saw the funniest thing the other day! There was a goat at the top of a tree!!! I am not kidding, the goat climbed up this funny looking tree and stood right at the top of it. Don't think I'll ever see that again. I am so bummed that I didn't catch it on camera (we were driving).

That's all for now! Have a nice day!

Nothing can separate...

2007-07-18T15:55:00.000Z

Romans 8: 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l]

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thank you, Paul, for reminding me of this verse :)

It just blows my mind!

2007-07-16T01:54:00.000Z

I know from the beginning of time
You promised me
That You'd keep me close and catch my fall
But now I see that I need more than ever
You here with me
Holding my heart through it all
My broken spirit, my wounded soul
Is more than willing to give You control

To show me how You need me
'Cause You know me better than I do
Free me from these feelings
And break the chains on my soul
Move me closer to your heart
Change my mind and help me to see
I need You
Love me, hold me, mercy me

So now we pick up the pieces
And move ahead
Putting the cares of the world aside
I may stumble
But You're quick to forgive and believe in me
Oh, how You mercy me
My broken spirit, my wounded soul
Is more than willing to give You control

I confess I didn't know if You'd care
But, Lord have mercy
You will always be there

(Title: Mercy Me)

Ever felt like that? I know I have... God's mercy and grace is something I am beginning to understand on a whole new level. It is AWESOME! God is amazing! And to think that He loves ME, He believes in ME even when I doubt myself and feel so inadequate.

Pictures from my cousin's wedding!

2007-07-13T17:56:00.000Z

Last Saturday, 07.07.07, my cousin Katý got married to Óli. The wedding was very beautiful and the reception was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures from that day:

Am I coo-coo for believing in prophecy???

2007-07-07T12:21:00.001Z

Are you one of those who is sceptical about the whole "prophecy-thing"? Do you think that there is just too much weird stuff in the Bible for it to be true? Maye it just seems a little too "coo-coo" or strange... I mean, you practically have to be a lunitic to believe some of that stuff, right?

But, however strange or weird it is, have you taken the time to check it out just a little bit for yourself? Or have you just heard from others that it can't be true?

Well, here's your chance, and this will be REALLY easy for you because someone else has done the research for you... all you have to do is read on!

Are the Scriptures prophetically correct?

In my opinion, the answer to the validity and the power of the Scriptures does NOT start with faith or belief. The unique signature on the Scripture is its fulfilled prophecies. Prophecy is predicting what will happen before it happens. Present day astrologers, mediums, psychics, etc. are not prophets from G-d since their predictions are not 100% accurate. Why? G-d said His prophets would be 100% accurate or they would be stoned to death. (So much for Nostradamus.) But our Scriptures have proven themselves for thousands of years to be 100% accurate! Here is a little bit of verifiable proof. Much more will be covered later.

Did you know that G-d told Abraham ahead of time that we (Jews) would be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, and we were? (Genesis 15:13) “Then the L-RD said to him, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.’”

Did you know that about 100 years before the Babylonian captivity, before the Jews were even taken captive the first time, G-d told the Jewish prophet Isaiah about the second time He would sovereignly bring us back into our own land. In Isaiah 11:11, it says, “In that day the L-rd will bring back a remnant of His people for the second time, returning them to the land of Israel…”

Isaiah prophesied 120 years before King Cyrus was even born that he would be the king who would permit the Jews to return to their land... And Isaiah the prophet calls him by name! Isaiah 44:28 ... “who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please;’ he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”

Israel’s rebirth in the year 1948 and Jerusalem being recaptured in the year 1967 predicted in the Scriptures!

Did you know that in Ezekiel 4, G-d told the Jewish prophet Ezekiel to tell Israel that they would suffer 430 years of judgment for their sins? We know that we served the first 70 years of that judgment when our people were taken captive in Babylon. So what does all of this have to do with anything? Well, let’s first understand that in the Scripture, a year represents 360 days because it is based on the Hebrew calendar. From the time of our captivity in Babylon which began in 606 B.C., add 70 years X 360 days for each year, then take into account the calendar corrections they made in those years that were similar to our leap years, and they were in captivity for the equivalent of 69 years (as we count years). Now add 69 years to 606 B.C. and the Babylonian captivity ended in 537 B.C.

But did G-d just forget about the other 360 years? NO! G-d keeps His word. In Leviticus 26, G-d tells us four times that He will multiply his punishments on us 7 times if we do not obey Him the first time! Oh boy, you mean we will be under His judgment for 360 years X 7, or 2520 years? YES! Now, if you take the 2520 years and make the same adjustments for leap years and changes in calendars over the years and multiply the 360 days X 2520 years, you will have 907,200 days.

Now add 907,200 days to 537 B.C. (remember there is no 0 year) and you come to 1948! Do you remember David Ben Gurion declaring on international radio, using Ezekiel as his authority, the restoring to us of Israel as the new Jewish state?

Is G-d consistent? We also know that in 587 B.C. Jerusalem fell. If you add the same 69 Biblical years of captivity to 587 B.C., you come to 518 B.C. So let’s do it again. Add the 907,200 days to 518 B.C. (remember there is no ‘0’ year) and you come to 1967! You probably remember the stunning victory Israel had over her enemies. As a result of the “Six Day War”, Israel regained control of Jerusalem in the very year her punishment for disobedience ended!

Think about this... No other people group has ever been systematically exterminated, forced to renounce their beliefs and their language, yet still remains. No other people group has lost their language and got it back. Who am I talking about? The Jews. We are proof that the Scriptures speak the truth. Isaiah 66:8 Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Israel was!

(Written by Don Goldstein)

If you want to read more go to http://www.prophecyrevealed.com/ or just CLICK HERE!

USA trip ---> PICTURE TIME!!!

2007-07-01T03:23:00.000Z

Just a few pictures from my trip:

NEW YORK CITY
Central Park

We rode The Beast:

Ragna and I in front of the Statue of Liberty:

Up in the Empire State Building:

China Town:
SIX FLAGS (New Jersey)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEK! It was so much fun! ... and so scary, I thought I'd DIE!

NYC again - World Trade Center site
Some buildings and the Empire State Building :)
Times Square

CHICAGO HERE I COME
... crazy traffic at the airport (in Atlanta, that's where my lay over was)

The Bean in down-town Chicago
It's ME!
Amy and I at the beach:

EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

Hangin' out with my friend Dave:

The river that runs through Eau Claire
Just a cool bridge... We walked around a lot :)
Dave, his parents and I:
Yup, Dave and I at Olive Garden

ORLANDO

My friend Jason Todd:

The only pic I got of Ryan... He doesn't like cameras ;oP
Kevin and Alida:
Kevin and his dog, Sky:
Kevin and Gina, such cool people!

I LOVE MY FRIENDS! Thanx for a great time in the US everyone!

Visiting friends in the USA!!!

2007-06-28T05:14:00.000Z

The past 3 weeks I've spent visiting friends in different parts of the USA. When I get back from this trip I will post some pictures and tell you more about it, so stay tuned. Right now I just wanted to give a little sign of life ;) This trip has been great so far and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Want to know where I've been these past 3 weeks? I started off in NYC, visiting my friend Ragnheidur for a week. From there I went on to Chicago to stay with Amy and her husband, Tony, for a few days. My next stop was in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where I hung out with my friend Dave for a few days. Right now I'm in Orlando! Yep, it's been a great trip. Pictures to see once I get home! I'll be sure to post them very soon!

Let me just say, I LOVE TRAVELING.... and I LOVE MY FRIENDS! Having friends all over the place is an excellent excuse to travel! At least that's my excuse! ;)

Our deepest fear...

2007-06-05T01:37:00.000Z

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

(by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles)

Free like a bird!

2007-06-04T18:32:00.000Z

It is finally over! I have handed in my paper and in an hour I am going to be eating delicious Indian food with my classmates at a restaurant near by. Mmmm, yummm... I love spicy Indian food!

So, summer break is finally here for me! The last 11 weeks have been an awesome experience, but at the same time I am glad that they are over and vacation is here. The stress is over :)

In 3 days I will be on a plane going to the US! YAY! Can't wait. Anyways, I'm going to go and do something now. I don't feel like sitting in front of the computer anymore, hehe!

Have a nice day!

I'm back in Iceland

2007-05-25T09:57:00.000Z

Last night my plane landed in Keflavik. I was home after 10.5 weeks in Göteborg. What a great time I had! I lived with a family who made me feel right at home and I learned so much through the reserach project. It's not quite finished yet, but there's not too much left. Just some editing and a few things that need to be added and then it's ready to be handed in :)

The last few weeks in Sweden most of my time was spent writing so that I would be done with as much as possible before leaving. Below you can see pics of my mentor and me writing and fixing things...

Prophecies fulfilled right in front of our eyes!

2007-05-10T22:26:00.000Z

Prophecies are cool, I like them a lot and they are exciting. Especially ones that are yet to be fulfilled! It's exciting to watch them unfold. Maybe you don't believe in prophecies or think that they are "out dated". Well, let me show you something really cool then... It happened a while ago, but I think it's really neat and an obvious fulfillment of this prophecy.

In 1948 Israel became a nation again, and YES it was foretold... just read the following verses. (As you may know Israel is often referred to as God's people.)

Ezekiel 36:
24'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Cool, huh?

Have you seen God today?

2007-05-08T22:55:00.000Z

A friend of mine has a habit of asking this question. I think it is a very good thing to contemplate. Where did I see God today, in what situation? Not only that... how about if I live each day looking for God throughout the day. I think that would really shed a different light on a lot of things. Maybe I would hear His subtle whisper then. I think that we often miss what God is saying to us simply because we don't listen carefully enough, becaues we don't look hard enough... or maybe we quite frankly just look in the wrong places. Sometimes I think we look for what we WANT to hear or see. God doesn't always do things the way we expect or want Him to. I think that most of the time He does things in ways we don't expect Him to. At least with me, He has a way of plesantly surprising me, even in the little things.

So, where did I see God today? I saw God in His beautiful creation. I went for a run and noticed how all the trees have turned green with leaves in only 2 weeks. Other trees are covered in flowers in different colors. Nature is coming back to life after a long winter... God is amazing.

Take You Back

2007-05-04T09:15:00.000Z

It's MAY already!

2007-05-03T18:06:00.000Z

I can't believe it's May already! 7 weeks have flown by and now I only have 3 weeks left here in Sweden. A lot left to do on my research paper, but I think I will manage to get it done before I leave. That is my plan and I am going to stick to it! In about 2 weeks I will do a presentation of my research project for the doctors at the children's hospital here in Göteborg. Hopefully I'll be done with everything in time! It will be great practice for me before I have to present it in Iceland at the end of the month.

Anyways, I'm off! Take care!

Valborgsafton in Sweden!

2007-04-30T22:18:00.000Z

I'll just let the pictures tell the story... I had a fun day :)

Just havin' fun!

2007-04-28T22:31:00.000Z

Thought I'd do another photo-post :) I'm havin' a lot of fun!

Had a hair-cut and some high-lights the other day.

Took this on a walk around the neighboorhood one evening:
Magga came for a short visit! I love her!
Walking towards the beach...
Then we went to a small lake cloes by... The weather was warm but the water was COLD.
Enjoying the sun :)
Göteborg in spring time! BEAUTIFUL!

Eating dinner outside:

Enjoying the sun again...

People enjoying a nice day in Göteborg centrum:

On My Own

2007-04-22T11:03:00.000Z

I don't know about you, but I can see myself in these words:

On My Own

I can't believe that I'm here in this place again
How did I manage to mess up one more time?
This pattern seems to be the story of my life
Should have learned this lesson by the thousandth time.

'Cause I promised myself I wouldn't fall
But here I've fallen
I guess I'm not as strong as I thought
All I can do is cry to you.

Chorus
Oh God you have to save me
You're my last and only hope
All my right answers fail me
I can't seem to make it on my own.

Always thought that I would be strong enough
What made all of them fall couldn't take me down
Yeah, did I think that I was above it all?
I have learned that pride comes before the fall

I can't promise myself that I won't fall
'Cause here I've fallen
I know I'm not as strong as I thought
All I can do is cry to you.

Chorus

So many times I fail others, myself and God. I do things I shouldn't do, say things I shouldn't say and think things I shouldn't think... Yet every time I'm in that place... when I feel like I've failed... AGAIN... when all that goes through my head is: "But I promised myself that I wouldn't..." When I feel like that, and cry out to God He is already there with outstretched arms ready to help me up again. It amazes me... Grace and forgiveness... And I get up again with a clean slate.

Time for some PICTURES!

2007-04-19T15:35:00.000Z

Just a few high lights...

Sara and Lovise, two girls I've gotten to know :)

Karin and I

Vilborg came for a visit and we went shopping... amongst other things ;)
Here we are on a walk around a little lake in the forest.
Hilli invited us out to eat one of the days... Indian food, mmmmm.
On my 25th birthday we went to the Opera... and had some Champagne afterwards to celebrate my age. Hahaha!
The sunset on my birthday:

Raggi and Rósa visiting.
Never a dull moment with these people ;)

I spent easter in Norway...

Ingunn and Hlíf at the Ethiopian Restaurant we ate at. YUMMY!

A beautiful day for a pick nick and a walk in the forest.

Walking towards the farm.

Playing cards... and easter dinner...

A great time so far! I am really enjoying myself! And next week my friend Magga is (most probably) coming for a visit! YAY!

Mercy Said NO

2007-04-16T22:32:00.000Z

What a peculiar heading. Mercy said NO? When? How can that be? Hmmm... It definitely caught my attention when I heard it. But it does make sense if you just read on.

Mercy Said No

I was just a child, when I felt the Savior leading
I was drawn to what I could not understand
And for the cause of Christ, I have spent my days believing
That what He'd have me be, is who I am

As I've come to see the weaker side of me
I realize His grace is what I'll need
When sin demanded justice for my soul

(Chorus)
Mercy said no
I'm not going to let you go
I'm not going to let you slip away
You don't have to be afraid
Mercy said no
Sin will never take control
Life and death stood face to face
Darkness tried to steal my heart away
Thank You Jesus, Mercy said no

For God so loved the world, that He sent His son to save us
From the cross He built a bridge to set us free
Oh, but deep within our hearts, there is still a war that rages
And makes a sacrifice so hard to see

As midnight fell upon the crucifixion day
The light of hope seemed oh so far away
As evil tried to stop redemption's flow

(Repeat Chorus)

(Bridge)
And now when heaven looks at me
It's through the blood of Jesus
Reminding me of one day long ago

(Repeat Chorus)

Let me just emphasize something:
Oh, but deep within our hearts, there is still a war that rages And makes a sacrifice so hard to see. As I've come to see the weaker side of me, I realize His grace is what I'll need. When sin demanded justice for my soul Mercy said: no, I'm not going to let you go!

The Hiding Place

2007-04-15T18:42:00.000Z

I'm reading this book by Corrie Tem Boom - The Hiding Place. It's a book I highly recommend!

Corrie is a woman of wisdom and to proove it to you here are a few quotes of hers. (The first quote is one of my favorites.):

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our path, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.

Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.

Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to faultfinding.

Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.

If God has called you, do not spend time looking over your shoulder to see who is following.

Good Friday

2007-04-06T11:47:00.000Z

Here I am, sitting with my computer in my lap on this beautiful farm in the countryside of Norway... The sun is shining and the air is filled with beautiful notes of classical music and I feel... peace...

Today is Good Friday. In Icelandic and Norwegian we call it the Long Friday. I am sure it was the longest Friday Jesus, His family and His desciples ever experienced. That day can't have felt like a good day... although the purpose of what happened that day was the greatest there is.

Here is how it might have been for a little girl to experience what happened that day:

Why

We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I'd finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide

We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes

So I said "Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I'll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can't you do something?
He looks as though He's gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
addy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?"

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide

So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross

And it said, "Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can't You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?"

"My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I've heard Your unbearable cry
The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You'll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father's side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die"

Clich HERE if you want to listen to the song!

This morning I woke up to a song...

2007-03-30T07:40:00.000Z

and it goes like this: "Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you..." and so on and so forth. Stefán, Hilli and Sólveig woke me up with that song and brought me a very nice birthday gift. I am going with them to the opera tonight! I am very excited :) I also recieved a CD with a collection of Sissel Kyrkebø's songs. Oh and let's not forget the blue plastic fish from "Finding Nemo" (it's an inside joke). Such a nice gift from such nice people.

Today I am 25 years old... That's pretty big, huh? Am I a grown up yet? Mmmm, that's debatable. When I was little I always thought growing up would be really boring and that I would get boring as well. I guess that's what I thought a grown up's life was like - just boring. I was sure I would be married and maybe even have a child by the time I was 25, cause that's how it was with my parents so I just assumed that's how it would go for me as well. I even thought I would be back in Africa already. Funny how things turn out differently.

None of those things have happened, not even the "boring"-part. My life is all but boring, and hopefully I am not boring either. Hahaha! And now a few pictures to finish off my post... let's call it...

"Now And Then"

Here I am about 1 years old

... and 24 years later...

My siblings and I at Christmas, when I was 8.

My siblings and I last Christmas... Did we change at all? :oP

These are my wonderful parents 25 years ago.

And 25 years later :)

Life is beautiful :o) Even with all it's ups and downs... with out the "downs" I don't think we'd appreciate the "ups" as much ;o) We learn to appreciate the beauty of life through everything we go through... At least that is how it is for me.

Hiding behind a smile...

2007-03-27T20:16:00.000Z

... is something I am pretty good at. Maybe not with my own family, not anymore at least. I have learned not to hide behind my smile around them. With others on the other hand, I will put on my smile and everything might seem just "perfect" or at least good in my life... even when the opposite is true. Why do I hide behind the mask of a smile?
Because I am afraid of making myself vulnerable? Mmmm... yes.
Because I don't want others to know I'm not ok? ... Sometimes.
I'm not saying that I should go around and tell EVERYONE everything about how I'm doing all the time. What goes on in my life is not for everyone to know, but I hope you get what I mean. Many of us hide behind masks of some kind to cover up how we really feel, how things are really going, so that noone will know our pain or our struggles. Maybe it's out of shame. Maybe it's out of pride. Maybe it's because we feel like a failure...

Joy Williams - Hide
From the album Genesis

To anyone who hides behind a smile
To anyone who hold there pain inside
To anyone who thinks they’re not good enough
To anyone who feels unworthy of love
To anyone who ever closed the door
Closed their eyes and locked themselves away

Chorus:
You don’t have to hide
You don’t have to hide anymore
You don’t have to face this on your own
You don’t have to hide anymore

So come out, come out
Come out wherever you are
Anyone who’s trying to cover up their scars
To anyone who’s ever made a big mistake
We’ve all been there so don’t be ashamed
So come out, come out and join the rest of us
You’ve been alone for way to long

Chorus:

And if you feel like no one understands
Come to the one with scars on His hands
Cause He knows where you are and where you’ve been
His scars will heal you if you let Him

Chorus:

You don’t have to…
You don’t have to hide
Come out, come out wherever you are
You don’t have to hide
Come out, come out
Come out wherever you are
You don’t have to hide
You don’t have to…

I've learned how important it is to have someone to talk to about things - both good and bad, happy and sad, mistakes and successes, anything and everything... I am blessed to be able to do that with my family and a few very close friends. Not only that, because sometimes I feel like noone can really understand what I'm trying to say or what's going on. In those situtations I still know there is One who understands.

And if you feel like no one understands
Come to the one with scars on His hands
Cause He knows where you are and where you’ve been
His scars will heal you if you let Him

Better Than I

2007-03-23T11:14:00.000Z

I thought I did what's right
I thought I had the answer
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here
So I put up a fight
And told You how to help me
And just when I had given up
The truth is coming clear, for...

You know better Than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
'Cause You know Better Than I

If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing, I don't know
Is part of getting thru
I try to do what's best
Find faith has made it easy
To see the best thing I can do
Is put my faith in You, for...

You know better Than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
'Cause You know Better Than I

I saw one cloud, and thought it was the sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was You who tought them to fly
If I let You reach me...
Will You teach me? For...

You know better Than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
I'll take what answers You supply
'Cause You know Better Than I

Somewhere down the road...

2007-03-22T11:04:00.000Z

This morning as I was feeding the computer again I was listening to music that I have on my computer... some of it I haven't listened to in a long time. One of the songs I noticed especially is a song with Amy Grant that I treasure because it has described how I've felt at certain times in life. It is a nice song and it has comforted me and who knows... Maybe it will comfort someone else :) A good song with good lyrics.

Somewhere Down the Road

So much pain and no good reason why
You've cried until the tears run dry
And nothing else can make you understand
The one thing that you held so dear
Is slipping from your hand
And you say

Why, why, why
Does it go this way
Why, why, why
And all I can say

Somewhere down the road
There'll be answers to the questions
Somewhere down the road
Tho' we cannot see it now
And somewhere down the road
You will find mighty arms reaching for you
And they will hold the answers at the end of the road

Yesterday I thought I'd seen it all
I thought I'd climbed the highest wall
Now I see the learning never ends
And all I know to do is keep on walking
Walking 'round the bend singing

Why, why, why
Does it go this way
Why, why, why
And all I can say

Somewhere down the road
There'll be answers to the questions
Somewhere down the road
Tho' we cannot see it now
And somewhere down the road
You will find mighty arms reaching for you
And they will hold the answers at the end of the road

Time for an update!!!

2007-03-21T12:23:00.000Z

Man, time just disappears! I have been in Sweden for 1,5 weeks already and really enjoy it. These first few weeks will be full of hard work, feeding information into my computer about all the patients and controls for my study. I am well on the way with that and even a little bit ahead of schedule :) That is always a good feeling.

Today is a very beautiful day and the sun has been shining since this morning. Spring is in the air. Just 2 days ago it snowed for the better part of the day, but as soon as it stopped snowing the sun was out again and melded almost all the snow. No more snow, thank you very much ;oP

Well, I should continue feeding my computer. Just thought I'd take a short break and give a sign of life :) Have a wonderful day!

Sweden is....

2007-03-15T21:17:00.000Z

GOOOOOOOD!

SPRING IS HERE! That is SWEET! WOHOOO!

Sólveig (my mentor), Hilli and Stefán - the family that I'm staying with - are so nice! I've kinda just been included like one of the family :) Very nice indeed!

The resaearch project is going pretty well. I am gathering information about patients and controls these first weeks and then the REAL show begins... when I work through all that info and write a paper with graphs and fancy stuff like that ;oP I am enjoying it. It's such a nice change from the regular school schedule :)

Allright I'm out! Have a good one!

Sunrise

2007-03-08T02:30:00.000Z

If I had the chance
To go back again
Take a different road, bear a lighter load
Tell an easy story

I would walk away
With my yesterdays
And I would not trade what is broken for beauty only

Every valley
Every bitter chill
Made me ready to climb back up the hill And find that…

(Chours)
You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?

You’re my horizon
You’re the light of a new dawn
So thank you, thank you
That after the long night, you are sunrise

There’s a moment when
Faith caves in
There’s a time when every soul is certain God is gone

But every shadow is evidence of sun
And every tomorrow holds out hope for us
For every one of us

(Chours)

You alone will shine
You alone can resurrect this heart of mine

(Chours)

You are sunrise

Click here to listen!

SWEDEN HERE I COME!!!

2007-03-07T11:49:00.000Z

Yep, I am leaving for Sweden in only 2 days, on Friday morning! I am super excited! I will be there until May 24th doing my research project on the 22q11 Deletion Syndrome. I will be staying at my mentor's house. I know her and her family a little bit and I know that my stay with them will be just fantastic. They are so hospitable and nice and I could not ask for anything better :) So the time ahead of me is very exciting in all aspects. I will go to a new place, meet new people and get to work on something I find very interesting! Could I ask for more??? It all looks very promising. Sure it will be challenging and a lot of work with the project, but I will also have an amazing time getting to know new friends and enjoying a Swedish spring :) YAY! I am so happy and I thank God for this oppertunity that He's given me.

Be strong!

2007-03-04T07:07:00.000Z

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”- Isaiah 55:8-9