La Sonya

"Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your friends, your families, and your homes!" Nehemiah 4:14

Well it's the eve of my 27th birthday. I thought I'd get pumped up about it and write 27 things I have enjoyed about my life so far. So here goes: 1. My nutty brother 2. my Dad 3. my Mom 4. Wonderful grandparents 5. the sun 6. my friends 7. Spunky, my pet dog when I was a girl 8. Carseat, my pet cat when I was a girl 9. Texas 10. 10 years working at summer camp (including this summer to come) 11. working in Honduras 12. living in Tchad 13. Exploring the world 14. Mowgli, my African dog 15. Duplicat, my Norwegian cat 16. Traveling 17. Chisholm Trail Academy, high school years 18. Southern Adventist University, the growing years :) 19. Green grass 20. Learning Spanish, French, and random Scandinavian words 21. Spring 22. Photography 23. Earth Day 24. Destiny Drama Company, Southern's touring Christian theater 25. University roommates 26. Colour 27. Living the life God has given me

Sunrise by my hut Originally uploaded by dreams with faith What's the best thing in the world? June-rose, by May-dew impearled; Sweet south-wind, that means no rain; Truth, not cruel to a friend; Pleasure, not in haste to end; Beauty, not self-decked and curled Till its pride is over-plain; Love, when, so, you're loved again. What's the best thing in the world? --Something out of it, I think. Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Last Thursday night when I went to bed I called for Duplicat and he was a no go. So I figured he was all tucked in for the night under my porch. Then when I didn't leave for Scotland on Friday, I called for him again that night . . . again he was a no go. I realized perhaps he was just out running around, sowing his wild seeds for the weekend a little bitter that I was going to be gone again. When he didn't show up all weekend I started getting a little worried. I had been given reports that people had seen him, but I knew in fact they had actually seen the mom cat, not in fact Duplicat. I had been getting in the habit every morning to yell out my door, "DUPLICAT, HERE KITTY" but alas, nothing. I would repeat the same thing in the evening. Nothing. Hmmm. Where could that cat be? I found myself on Monday wondering where and when Duplicat was going to return again. I was afraid that perhaps something had happened and a normally kind, quite Norwegian had gone CRAZY on hi...

So I am pretty sure that Duplicat is the best cat EVER. Tonight we were kicking around the football outside and Duplicat was watching and waiting from the sidelines to attack it any time it came over to his area. How many cats do you know that do that? Honestly. Then Friday night I went to sleep on my couch but not before Duplicat came up and cuddled in right next to me. He was purring loudly at first but then he stopped because he had fallen asleep. Best cat, ever. Then on Monday I woke up to the sun beams pouring through my window at 5:30 am and there was Duplicat right by my head watching me waiting for me to wake up so I would pet him and feed him. Then when I am in my flat (my two room flat) he follows me between the two rooms as I get ready in the mornings. I guess he doesn't like to be left out either. I can sympithize with that too. All in all I vote Duplicat the best cat ever. If anyone differs let him come and tell that Duplicat's face.

Tall friend of mine You hail from Danmark. We didn't wait for you We went on the train Arrived in the rain Saw nothing planned Including you, my tall friend. The streets were stone The buildings full of colour The rain fell Then the sun shone. We took pictures But we missed our tall friend. We spoke English But missed our Danish friend. The country of pastries Gave back to it's patrons She opened her heart And let two Americans in. She gave us her gold for free Yet how can it be? We did it all without thee? We went to Danmark But missed our tall friend.

“Were it not for hope the heart would break.” ~Scottish Proverb

From Malmö, Sweden In no particular order and not necessarily from a speaker but were rediscovered during a meeting. Enjoy. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, " You are my God !" My future is in your hands. Psalm 37:34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along His path. Psalm 37:34 The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong! 2 Corinthians 12:13 It's how you live Live the life faithful in everything you do. Character should be thoughtful, courageous, and self possessed Love people You will be my people and I will be your God. Cannot keep good things to Himself If He knows He can help, HE WILL Luke 9:59 He was foolish to not drop everything and go. Same foolishness today there are no BUTs! Then he said, “D...

You take the chocolate I'll take the sugar And I'll be asleep before ye For me and the sugar will Never replace you On the balmy, balmy benches of Malmo One day I met you Another day I left you But we met again in Norway For a camp friendship will never ever end From the balmy, balmy weather of Alamisco

This is Laura and I at the start of our journey to Malmo, Sweden. This is Laura and I at the end of our journey in Malmo, Sweden The question to be asked is, "What just happened here?"

So my time in Sweden has come to an end. It was a great week, well I should say 10 days. (That's as long as an American family vacation!) I was greatly blessed by the meetings. I had known they would be good, but I didn't realize they would be THAT good. I'll share more about what I learned later, this is just a quick update. I also made heaps of new friends and had crazy adventures! But just know it was 10 days I will never forget! Here's to all my new friends, the good food and God inspired meetings.