Goodbye lovely Sweden...

I really am being honest with you when I say that I feel as if my heart will be left behind here in Sweden when we leave. This experience has been more than words could ever express. I find it hard to even write this. I really don't want to leave. Even with the thought of comming back.. leaving here is going to break my heart. I just feel like God has been blessing us in amazing ways here. I feel more like me than I ever have, and I have made friends that are impossible to ever forget. Matt and I have just had a hard time the past few days.. wraping our head around the reality of leaving. We both have found our place here and love it with all of our hearts. I know for him it must be so hard to leave. For him, leaving also means going back to work. I know that after this experience.. that would be hard.

Tonight we were so blessed to have a going away party thrown in our honor. It was amazing to get a chance to be with alot of our friends who have become like family to us. A couple of the hockey guys showed up as well to say goodbye. My heart is overflowing with gratitude. I am so thankful to be able to know all of the people that we have met here. I really can't imagine not waking up here. The party tonight really made me aware of how much I want to come back. I really can't imagine not ever seeing those people again. They are too close to my heart. I know Matt feels the same way.

Tomorrow is our last day in Sweden. Even writing that sentence brings me back to the reality of it all. Tomorrow.... we will spend our last day packing, taking a walk, and spending some time with friends. Please pray for us in this time. It is really hard for us to leave. Also please keep our flight in your prayers. Matt and I both are not too fond of flying, and after my experience in comming here... i am very nervous and anxious to fly. It is crazy to think that this time...l this season in our life is over. Now we ask for you to pray for our next steps. Please pray for us as God continues to guide them. We do want to so what He wants. I know that He gave us such an amazing love for Sweden and for the people here. We are excited to start the next process in getting back here. We love you all and thank you for comming along for the ride with us. It is so sad that it has come to an end.. but we feel as if it is also just the beginning.

Lots of love from Sweden.......

Jess and Matt

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!!!

Hello friends and family!
Today Matt turns 27. SO OLD! haha. Matt and I both have such mixed emotions about leaving. On one hand we feel so excited to see our friends and family, and share with them some of the adventures GOd has taken us on. On the other hand... we both have fallen in love with everything here. God has really shown us so much about where our passion lies. It is amazing how when we surrendered our time, money, and posessions... how God totally took control. He really wanted to strip us of everything, and He has taken amazing care of us. He has showed us things about ourselves individually, and as a couple. God took us and just used us, and that is exactly what we prayed for when we arrived.

I have been involved in the figure skating show here. It was yesterday and is again today. It is so cute. I just love watching the little girls skate around so proud looking for their parents. I was nearing in tears yesterday thinking of how blessed I am by those little girls. They love me without words. It is amazing.. God has just showed me how to show His love to them.. when no words are even spoken. I will miss them a lot.

Matt has been enjoying some time off from practice.. now he has some time to just relax before we head back to Colorado and he begins to work at full speed. Tomorrow we will have our last meeting with the Church group. Also, our friend Nikolus will be there to help us figure out things for next year with the hockey team and the school. Please remember him in your prayers. I really just want him to see the love that we as Christians have for each other. I want him to feel accepted and loved. Matt and I really feel that God has amazing plans for him. We are praying for him. He has played such a huge role in everything we have done while we have been here. He has made it so nice for me. I love Volleyball and he is the one who first invited me to go help coach. Him and Matt have been able to form a great friendship as well.

Please pray for us as we begin to pack our things and head off. It is pretty emotional for us. Even with the thought of returning.. it is still hard to leave this place that we have fallen in love with. It is hard to believe that we arrived here nearly 3 months ago. Time passed so fast! I know the rest of this week will just fly. My mom knows that i will wait until the last minute to pack all of my things. I think i got that "gift or procrastination" from her. haha.

Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts. This time that we have spent here has been life changing for Matt and I. We both can't wait to share our stories with you in person. Thank you so much for wanting to keep up with what we are doing, and for being so invested in our time here. We love you all so very much.

LOVE,
Jess and Matt

Stockholm...

Matt and I have been away for the past few days on a trip with our friends to Stockholm. It was a 6 hour drive. We went with 2 other couples and Jon (the other HMI missionary). I suppose I will go from most recent events backwards.
On our way home from Stockholm the weather seemed to be getting worse the closer we were to home. We were driving 2 cars. On the way to Stockholm we drove with girls in one car, boys in the other. However my friend Helena wasn't up to driving in the snow on the way home so her husband drove in the car with us. I had switched from driving in the car with the girls to driving with the boys. Helena and Louice are the sweetest girls and wouldn't sit in the front seat because they thought I should sit in the front. I knew they were being too nice, so i changed cars and thought one of them might change into the front, but they never did. We were about 10 km outside of Goteborg when the snow got really heavy. Helena's car was ahead of us by maybe 1/2 a km... but we couldn't see them. All of the sudden Peter (Louice's husband) recieved a phone call saying they were in an accident. Within seconds of that, we pulled up to the accident. Helena's car was totally smashed. They were hit from behind, the whole back part of the car was crushed. They were driving a VW bug, and anyone who has been in one, knows that there is hardly any trunk space, and the back seat is very squished. It is a miracle that nobody was extremely hurt. The lady in the other car was hurt pretty bad as well. Helena, Louice and the other lady were taken to the hospital in an ambulence. Louice asked that I go along with her, so i drove to the hospital with her in the ambulence. Sirens ringing and all. On the way to the hospital, the paramedic told Louice that they had to of had guardian angels around them, becuase the crash could have seriously injured them all. I believe this is true. If you saw their car, and where they were sitting, you would be amazing. They didn't even have any cuts, and the back windows were crushed, and fell on them both.
Louice was able to leave the hospital soon after we arrived, but Helena was complaining of back pain, so they took some x-rays to make sure nothing was seriously wrong. Later on last night we found out it was all good, and she was going home. To make matters worse... yesterday was Helena's husband Simon's birthday. Please keep all of them in your prayers! Louice can't remember anything from the crash, and I know that Simon was really worried about Helena. I will see them all today to make sure they are all ok, but please pray for quick healing. I am sure they are all sore today.
It was just such a strange ending to an amazing weekend. I know God was watching over us though, I am so thankful to Him that nobody was seriously hurt. Words really can't express how thankful I am for those friends. The past 3 days were so much fun. It was so great to get to know our friends better, and to be able to have some time to be tourists in Sweden. Stockholm is beautiful! We got to see the castle where the King lives, go shopping, walk around the beautiful cobble stone roads. It was just the most amazing time. Riding on the subway was an experience in itself. It was so great to have some tour guides with us also. I will post a few pictures on here of our time.
It feels so odd to be in the last days of our time here. We will be heading home in less than 2 weeks. It is the weirdest feeling. We have both come to love it here. To be honest, the people here are what make it so amazing here. We have made some awesome life long friendships, that I will take with me everywhere. The next couple of weeks will be pretty busy. Spending time with people, meetings, and packing. We have a lot going on, but we are so glad to be busy in the last days we are here. Please pray for us as we leave. It isn't an easy thing to leave behind our friends, but we have faith that we will be back here again. Thank you again to everyone who supports us. We love hearing from you. We love you all, and we will see you all soon. I am sure I have a couple more posts in me. haha.

Lots of Love, and thanks for your prayers.
Jess and Matt

Ps: Bob, Matt says to get your golf swing ready!

Lobsters going to division 2?

My heart, in this very moment is so full. I feel so many emotions that it is hard to put into words. I can't explain to you how amazed I am at the work of our Lord. He has take Matt and I on this amazing journey and i feel so unworthy of all of the blessings that He has given us. I think of the song verse " every blessing you pour out i'll turn back to praise." It is impossible to take any praise or glory away from our God. He has done so much in our hearts and through us. He has taken us both on this amazing road that we both never even would have thought of. I am overwhelmed at the thought of Jesus dying for us on the cross. He paid our debt, so we can live today.. so that we can be here in Sweden telling people about what He did for us. Yesterday I had this amazing opportunity to share in a kids class. It was for ages 5-8. I was really nervous and unsure about what to say, once I was there and speaking to the children I was so blessed by what God taught me through it. Those little kids are going to grow up to be men and women... and me telling them about what Jesus did for us, is just as important if not more. It blessed me to be able to teach them the song Jesus loves me.. and to hear their sweet voices singing along in english. That whole experience is something I have never had the guts to step out and do in north america. How silly!

God is so faithful! Matt's team won Wednesday night agains their rival team. Matt was named player of the game as hey contributed 3 goals to their 8. The score was 8-3 in the end. This puts them pretty much in the position to move up to division 2. They are in first place. In the past few days Matt has really had the opportunity to talk with some guys on the team. He has had some deep conversations and had some open doors for sharing His faith. I think it is so awesome that God placed us here over easter. I don't think there is a more perfect time to tell about Jesus and the price he paid for us. We have had some of the guys to our house even, and Matt has prepared supper for them. I am so proud of Matt.. you have no idea. He has been so bold in sharing his faith, and so trusiting that he just wants to be used in whatever way. Please continue to pray for Matt as he has some great oppportunities this weekend to hang out with the guys and get to know them better.

I feel so overwhelmed with emotions because.. i am in love with this place, but excited to go home at the same time. I feel like my heart is in two places at once. All I know, is that we feel so amazingly blessed to be used in whatever capacity we can. We want to be lights, we want to live in this place and shine.. we want Jesus to shine in and through us.

Matt has another game tomorrow at home. It is the last game of his season. I know it is a bittersweet feeling to be finished with hockey. He is excited that they made it through playoffs, but will miss playing.

We miss and love you all. Thank you for all of your comments. we appreciate them all.. and we are happy to have some people from Sweden viewing our blog also. Thanks for all your love and support. We love you all!

Happy Easter!!!!!

Much love,
Jess and Matt

a blink of an eye....

This is Matt and Jon after their big win on Sunday.

Wow.. three weeks exactly from this day we will be on our way back home to Colorado. It seems like not long ago that we arrived here. It seems so strange to be gearing up to go back. It is kind of a bitter sweet feeling that I have. I am excited to get home to friends and family and have a clothes dryer once again!!!! haha. But I dread leaving our friends that we have made here. I have found myself feeling so comfortable here and so challanged each day. I am not sure what the decision will be as to whether or not we will be comming back, but I know without a doubt that I love this place. IT really has become like home for me. I love our appartment, so cute and cozy and steps away from the sea. I love our friends, they are so loving, accepting and kind. There is hardly anything bad that I could say about this place and our time here. It has really just been a blessing from God. Such an amazing blessing!

Matt had a game on Friday night against a division 2 team. They tied 4-4. Last night they played the same team again and walked away with an amazing victory! They won 9-2. Matt scored 3 goals and had an assist. It was so fun to watch. The team really looked great and they were playing amazing. They have 2 more games left in the series. They play their rival team again at home on Wednesday and then again they play on Friday. They are in first place right now, but the next two games are really important for them. I just keep reminding matt before every game how cool it is that we are serving our God IN SWEDEN.. and that he gets to play hockey here. I think it is the most amazing thing. Never did we think that this would be an option in our life. God really has provided for us in ways that are "immeasurably more than all we could ask or hope for." I am so thankful for everyday that we have here. It is so amazing to watch Matt taking part in something that he has been dreaming about since he was little. I am so proud of him~!

Matt has been having some great opportunities to talk with a guy on his team named Tobias. He came over for supper the other night. IT has been really nice getting to know him. Please pray for this relationship! I feel that God is opening doors for Matt in these last few weeks to be bold with some of the players on his team. I am really excited to see what God does in Tobias' life. I know that Tobias knows God.. but he has a hunger to go deeper and this is very exciting! We have a very busy schedule this week.. lots of meetings, games, practices, suppers, and much more. Everyone seems to be wanting to get some time in with us right before we leave.. but it is great! We love it!

I will update you all more and let you know how the games went. Please continue to pray for us, as decisions may be made soon. We both really want what is best for the churches, the team and the rest of the people here. We trust that God will work out all the details as He has in the past. Our hope and trust is in Him as we continue to walk in His calling. Thanks for all your love, support and prayers.

Much love,

Jess and Matt

Stingers vs Lobsters

Matt's team won tonight 6-3 against their rival team. It was an away game, and i think that Ronnang (matts team) had more fans there than the stingers. It was amazing! Their next game is Friday at home. I am thankful for a home game. It should be fun. I don't exactly know how many points matt got, but I know for sure he had three assists. This is just an update for any curious hockey fans. So yeah. I will write again soon.. all is well I am feeling much better and God is good! Miss you all.
Love,
Jess

Bitter sweet....

Hello again friends and family. I am sorry it has been awhile since I last wrote. Things have been pretty busy around here. Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. God has been faithful in calming our hearts and helping us to refocus and see the big picture. Yesterday I had the opportunity to go with the girls volleyball team and help coach them at a volleyball tournament. It was awesome! They ended up winning the whole tournament, and played amazing! This win meant that next year they could move up to division 2. It would be so awesome because if we were to come back next year, i would be able to actually play. Right after the volleyball tournament we drove to the hockey game. I ended up being really sick and had to spend the first period in the car, sleeping. I missed a penalty shot that matt made.. and scored on.. and i was pretty bummed. I ended up going in for the second and third period. It was really hard to be there, but I am so glad I was. The guys ended up winning 8-4 over the division 2 team they played against. They weren't expecting to win so it was awesome that they won! I was sick all night and into this morning. I am feeling a bit better now. Just achey and sore... but God is so good. I just feel like He is being so faithful in supplying our needs. Matt played awesome last night and got 2 goals and 2 assists.

We had a meeting with the a group of church members last Thursday, but we didn't actually end up talking about us comming back next year. They mostly were looking for us to tell them about our time here. We have both come to realize through things people have been saying to us, that the church and the hockey team have a big part in deciding if we come back next year, but ultimately it is our decision whether we will come back or not. Through some people we have heard that they would like for us to come back. Which is really encouraging. Matt and I really want to make sure that this decision is made with a lot of prayer and thought. We both feel as if we need to go back home first, and take some time to make sure that what we are doing is what God wants for us. It would be really hard to say no to comming back after experiencing what we have here. We have made amazing friends, had amazing opportunities to grow relationships with younger kids, and we have just felt like God has been blessing us in amazing ways. We spent this weekend with some friends eating, playing games and having fika. It was awesome!! I realize how important friendships are!

Tomorrow is a busy day with Swedish class, then volleyball and Matt is going to be sharing at a boys youth night. I am really excited for this. The guys here look up to Matt so much! I am praying that God will prepare the boys hearts and that they will be receptive to what God has to say through Matt. Matt is also really looking forward to this time. Today Matt spent most of the day helping out with the school and their hockey tournament. He is being so great and really has been open to helping out in whatever way he can. Wednesday he has another game away, against their rival team... the STINGERS!!!!! It will be a hard game.

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. This week has been a great week. We both have had time to just be by ourselves and focus on our time with God. Our "white space" .. yes pastor monty I am listening to your sermons online. Keep praying that God will continue to open up doors for us to share. I can't express to you how much i love this place. It is beautiful, the people are amazing and I am in love with the food! haha. Matt and I have really been able to grow and learn a ton here! Thank you to everyone who helped in getting us here. You will never know how much it means to us!!!

Once again, we love your comments and love to hear from you all! We love and miss everyone. God is good!

Love you all!

Jess and Matt