".......to give you a future and a hope".

I (Fred) am happy to be home in Ubon again. I had very good 2 months home in Sweden with family and friends. (We feel we are at home in Ubon/Pakse and in Sweden.) People is asked: How is MISSION working 2025?

1. They want to have direct contact with the Mission field. Not just with a denominational office.

2. They like to be involved in Pioneer work... new places.

3. They like to see that the mission work is in the midst of the people. Not just in a mission compound.  

And we have already these 3 up and running. 

 "... yet will I rejoice in the Lord..." 

People askes: When will you stop working? The only right anwere is: As long as God gives us strength and inspiration..... we will use it in the Kingdom of God and bless others. '..... to give you a future and a hope " Jer 29:11b

Its good to think that I am not just doing Missions when I am myself strong and .....can do it in my power. But I also continue when I feel too week and I need Gods mighty hand. 

Another day we had a impossible task to be done. I woke up at 04;00 and started to pray. God gave a strategy and .... God did a miracle. Everyone Happy.

We have seen that when God`s hand is working, everyone sees it and are thankful for His clear solution.

After 10 weeks in Sweden.

After 10 very good weeks in Sweden I am now on my way by train from Gothenburg to Copenhagen. I will from there fly on to Bangkok and Ubon. 
I have met many wonderful Pioneer-Mission-friends. Many wants to talk and hear about how missions work .... these days.

Many are fed infront of the TV news with all the bad news and .... get a very dark worldview. Come and cooperate with Sida-vid-Sida and Child Safe ... and together we will give hope and also get hope ourselves.
                     There is more peace than war on the earth.
                      Light is always stronger than darkness.
   Together we shine faith-hope-love to people in need. Don't give up.
 

I appreciate that Anna and our colleagues in Ubon-Pakse are doing a fantastic job.

    "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift 

                         to strengthen you— 

that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.                              Rom 1:11-12

Thank you for partnering with us in this unreached area.

See more pictures on        https://ingvaranna.blogspot.com 

The Dark hole

 I heard on the car radio about an athlete who went down the Dark Hole.  

   

We all have trials and difficulties, but there is much more strength and help. We all have worries and questions, but there is much more peace and harmony. There is war, but there is much more peace and cooperation in the world. 

My experience is that God's Word, God's presence, and fellowship with others lift me up are my servant. 

"I have chosen you and not cast you off”; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Is 41 9-10

There are many dark and deep holes but we do not have to settle there. And we are not alone there. In the fiery furnace (Dan 3:25 Now I see 4 men) and in the lions' den (Dan 6) there was an angel to help. Even in the "dark place" the helper is there and we are not alone.

"My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Den 6:22-23)                                                     

We thank God for His strength, help and support that He wants to give us ...... throughout our lives. Even though it may sometimes feel like we are alone in a dark place, there is a force that is strong enough to lift us up. And when He lifts us ... we also want to be there and see God Himself lift many others up. 

I Fred am very happy to meet many friends and relatives in Sweden these days. 

Have a good week.

Bring it to Jesus.

I love to be a fixer. It is good to be creative. But it is not enough in life. Over the years I have found that ..... I can not do it all. I need more and more God and other people. 

In some countries, you can find D.I.Y. Shops. " Do It Yourself". It refers to the activity of creating, building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself, without the direct help of professionals or experts. 

When problems comes, we try D.I.Y. And when we can not make it we either: Smile, Smile and disappear. Or we cooperate with others and with Jesus.

"The Disciples said to Jesus, We have only 5 loaves and 2 fish.... but what to do?. It is too little for more than 5000 people. 

And Jesus said, “Bring them here to me.”

After that (in Matt 14:19) Jesus had a step-by step miracle-solution to the problem.

Many times in life we are too weak, too sick, too little time, too small resources ... etc    but he invites us: Come to me with all: Not enough.   

He only can looks up to heaven, bless it, break it and give it back to us for us to give it to the crowd. And we all can be satisfied. 

Good News: This week we are invited by JESUS: Bring the weak/sick/little time/little resources ... to Jesus. And ... we will have a wonderful week following his steps in life.  It works.

Be Blessed with songs of Hope

 

These days I am blessed meeting many wonderful Pioneer-Mission-Loving-People in Sweden. Anna, with our coworkers in Ubon-Pakse, are doing very well in Isaan and Laos. 

We all need to tune up with the melody of Heaven. Put on refreshing songs (85 min) .... to be blessed. 

Klick here. 

The Prince of Peace --- has peace for this area

We are working (as much as we can) as Peace-maker.   

Pray with us that the fighting at the border Thailand -Cambodia will stop.

Pray: Thailand-Cambodia

Pray for the situation at the Thailand - Cambodia border. The area has many old conflicts that have not been solved. 

We are safe in and around Ubon town.

 

With Great Joy

                                           

Our coworkers here i Ubon-Pakse have great joy and wholehearted calling to stand up and serve people who are struggling. ".... And do not be grieved, 

                      for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Neh8:10b  

Woooow The strength in the joy of the Lord is working regardless of circumstances. 

We have had a very good weekend. Saturday was a Creativity Day with around 80 children and teenagers. It is a challenge for many, even for the poor, to leave their mobile phones and do something fun and inspiring together with others.

We had a very good service yesterday. The Spirit of God was at work. This time of the year, after schools start i May, people are struggling financially. Some guardians say their children can not go to school.

Yesterday, in the service we rejoiced in many happy songs, .... and we were all Lifted-Up. 

We are thankful that God sends talented and wholehearted brothers and sisters to us. Leo and Chanon are new Interns willing to serve God and people. They have many gifts.

                               

Mission work is inspiring and stimulating. It is God's work and .... we follow Jesus who is walking before us.

Pray for Anna who today and tomorrow travels Bleket-Gothenburg-Copenhagen-Dubai-Bangkok-Ubon. 

Thank you for your prayers ... and support in different ways.  

Have a good week.

Pay It Forward

Many books and movies, most of all the Bible, encourage us to; Pay It Forward. ( = Receive and then bless others).  Think, how much we all have received. We are blessed and we can bless others. And they also .... do the same..                                                                

                         

Jesus is our greatest example. He truly received from God himself and gave it to us lost and helpless people. 

            Jesus: "I only do and say what I see my Father do and say".

One beautiful Pay-it-Forward example is Mia and Hasse in Andra Bullar, Töftedal, Ed, Sweden. They give bakery and coffee to people but do not themself charge anything. Instead, people give money to 4 organizations, including

   

                                              Click here and you will see Andra Bullar 

Thank you all Pay-it-forward friends in Töftedal, Ed Sweden and other places.                                  

Pray for Anna as she is travelling Gothenburg-Copenhagen-Dubai-Bangkok-Ubon that all wil be peace under her wings ... over Middle East.  

Be Bless wherever you are.

The Teddy Bears

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) stated that SAFETY is the 2nd level of Basic Needs. Here in Ubon, many children/teens and adults are looking for safety.

Malow also believed that BELONGING / COMMUNITY is the 3rd level. Last Saturday, about 45 children/teenagers came to our Saturday program. They are looking for both Security and Belonging. One man told me, we call him Tom:

When I was 14, my mother left us for another man. My father was so devastated that he hanged himself. And .... I saw him doing it. This picture is still showing up for me every day". Top was put in a Catholic orphanage, where he was unhappy. If he did something wrong there, he had to pay money ..... before he was forgiven. Since his mother's new husband don`t want Top or his 2 sisters, they needed to be strong enough to stand by themself. One of his siters lives in Dubai and has become a Muslim. They have now no contact. "I am alone".

In Ubon Music Cafe we ​​have 2 Teddy Bears. Thank you Pet. Your teddy bears make many people happy, who want to hug them, especially the bigger one. I understand they miss their dads and moms.

                   

I too need Security and Belonging. In Jesus' Agape love we always find Security and Belonging. 

     Some more Saturday pictures.