O. D. C.

Officially a Dual Citizen

Hurrah! I just picked up my swedish passport today!

The (short) Story:

I had (foolishly) let my passport expire, then went to the consulate in L.A. this summer to get it renewed. Unfortunately they told me that because I had dual citizenship as a minor I needed to as an adult (between 18-22) declare my interest in still being a citizen. Ok, no problem, lets do that. Wrong! They needed all these documents that my parents had in Germany! So I waited until I got to Germany (part of the reason why I left so soon, I needed to get this done) then my parents on I got the ball rolling. This was going to be a two part process. First re-establish my citizenship then second apply and wait for a passport. Only things is that the consulate in Frankfurt can't do this, the consulate general in Berlin has to.

Don't you just love passport bureaucracy!

So I had to either find time to go with my mom to Berlin or go to Sweden directly and stay with my grandparents.

So I'm in SWEDEN! And I got my passport now! After all this trouble, paperwork, traveling, waiting. . . God has really opened the doors and I now hold the key to living and serving in Europe!

Purging

So I like to save things. I like to save everything. I have to save everything.

I think it's a neurological condition, I wonder what Dr. House would say. . .

Anyway, I realize my condition and how potentially fatal it can be. So periodically I go though my things and get rid of my once precious and vital possessions. I decide to do this with the boxes I had stored in my parents attic. What I found was 4 boxes of mementos of my past. Scraps of papers, 11th grade essays, swimming caps, sugar packets and a billion postcards.

After 2 days of shunning the outdoors I am proud to say that I fit 8 years of my life in to 5 shoe boxes. boxes small enough to fit into 1 large box.

Needless to say I am quite proud of myself (an so are my parents)!

It feels good to go though things, let go of memories not needed, remember things I needed to and neatly tuck everything away where it belongs.

Go me!

Where is she now?

What Happened to Aan-Sofie?

Not much! I’ve been in Europe, Germany specifically, for 2 weeks now. My last couple weeks in California we so busy and chaotic so I was very grateful to be home and just sleep in my old bed! Mom and Dad were quick to plug me in though; the day after I got here I helped cook lunch at the Bible College! I’ve also helped out in the school’s cafe and other little errands. It has been a blast to listen to my dad teach one Sunday and to go to his classes. My mom is also teaching a class and it was a joy to attend!

My birthday was the 7th, so we had a little party with my old friends here and that was really great. I’ve also been able to get together with some of them for coffee dates. So much fun! Other than that, I’ve really been taking the time to rest, reflect and rejuvenate.

Passport Update:

Some of you may know that I’m actually in Germany to not only visit my parents but to renew my Swedish passport. This is turning out to be quite a process and unfortunately we can’t do it from Frankfurt (which is only an hour away). Our options are to go to Sweden or to Berlin. I’d would have to fly either way. So it looks like I’m going to Sweden! My grandparent live in the centre of Gothenburg and they can help me with the paper work. Plus I get to visit them! I will probably be there a week and I’m looking forward to it! Sweden is very much on my heart for the Lord. I’m hoping to get to meet people and pray over the city.

Cork Update:

Since I can’t go to Cork until I have my passport I am obviously not there now! I’m itching to go there and have just been praying for the city, the church, the pastor and myself. I will have to get a place to live on my own so I’ve been looking online at apartments and rooms; no luck yet. Please be praying that I find a good situation. Low rent, good location, decent room, and nice neighbors!

That is pretty much it! I’ll probably send another update like this from Sweden. Thank you so much for reading this and for taking an interest in my life of serving God. I pray you are well where you are and enjoying the blessings of God in whatever form.

Thank you again for reading!

And here are my prayer needs in short:

• Filling of God’s grace and spirit
• Passport
• Sweden trip
• Living arrangements in Ireland
• Financial support

I am a little toe!

Here is an excerpt from an article my mother sent me and it captures my heart for mission brilliantly! Just read!

God brought us all over here to get a job done, and as members of the Body of Christ, we all have a part—big and small—and Scripture says each part of Christ’s body is equally important. I wonder, however, if the stateside churches realize this equality of ministries. I wonder whether Christians at home are getting a realistic picture of missions when churches go overseas for short mission trips and accomplish only the flashy special projects. Yes, the team members come away excited because they were part of building an orphanage, or a bush house, or a school room. Yes, the missionaries and people who benefit are thrilled and grateful for fellow Christians willing to give of their time and money—but what about the small jobs that are not being accomplished because the mission does not have the workers?

Should the church's leaders not be helping its members realize that the small boring jobs are as equally important as the big exciting jobs? Could they not teach this lesson: God needs evangelists overseas and He needs plumbers; He needs church planters and secretaries? Otherwise, I am concerned that if mission-trip organizers continue to have the mindset that people won’t want to take a trip just for general handyman work, then the Church will believe that I am ‘just’ a support worker.

If that happens, missions will continue to have a huge need for support workers. Taking it a step further, the church may begin to believe that stateside church workers are of higher importance than overseas workers, which will mean missions will continue to have unmet needs for Bible translators and missionaries in all fields.

The trend would continue: Pastors are more important than church secretaries. Sunday school teachers are more important than mid-week volunteers. God did not intend that at home, and He does not intend it overseas. God values every individual and the role every individual plays in the Kingdom. I am a little toe, and God needs me!