Wow... I can't believe it's almost December! Time is flying by...

A very common thing to hear around the community house is "Shelter life has it's own time zone", and it's true. Our days are so packed full of working in the hostels, small groups, MTP (ministry training program), Bible studies, church and community activities that the days seem eternal! But then our weeks seem to fly by... I've been here in Amsterdam for 4 months now - and it feels like it's been just 4 weeks. I have learned so much, met so many amazing people, heard incredible stories. It sound so glamorous and romantic when I can say: I live in Amsterdam, in a community house with missionaries from all over the world and work in a youth hostel sharing the love and message of Christ with backpackers... and some days it is. But it's not easy. It's exhausting physically, mentally and spiritually. I have been challenged in so many ways, but at the end of the day, God is good, He is the reason I am here - and I'm more in love with Him than ever!

I was so blessed 2 weeks ago to have my mother come for a visit. It was a very short trip (only 6 days) but it was an amazing time of catching up, showing her the work I am doing, and allowing her to be a part of the community for a few days.


We are now in a "low" season in the community, where we have a shortage of staff... This makes covering the shifts at the hostel difficult (meaning we all get multiple shifts a day), but low season also gives us an amazing time to grow closer as bothers & sisters.

Last week we hosted Thanksgiving for all of the staff, managers, and paid staff at the hostels... about 30 in total. It was incredible to see the community gather together to pull off such a huge feast! All day Thursday we cooked, decorated and had spontaneous dance-parties to Justin Bieber's Christmas album (I definitely wasn't the DJ for the day). After feasting we has a time of prayer and worship as a community, and then we all piled together in the living room to watch Miracle on 34th Street.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favourite holidays - but this year was the best of them all.







I am so beyond blessed to be a part of this community and ministry.

Hopefully from this point on I will do better at updating you (no promises though!).
I hope you all have a blessed holiday season!
Xoxo
Stina

P.S. Here is a random (and blury), yet recent photo of me and my roommate Kirsten. :o)

Hey everyone!
I am so sorry for neglecting you all... I wish I could spend more time posting here... But in all honesty, life is moving so fast - I don't even know how to write down what's going on.

All I can say is, God is SO good!

I shall continue to try to post photos on this blog, but if you really do want to know what's happening in my life and in the ministry that I am a part of, I would love it if you either emailed me, wrote me a letter, or messaged me on Facebook. I am so much better at writing directly to a person, than attempting to write everything for the general public.
PLEASE write me! I'd love to hear from all of you!
Blessings,

kristinallund@hotmail.com

I bike to work in the early-morning along the dewy canals... Just myself and a few people walking their dogs on the cobblestone streets.






By providing Shelter for refugees, travellers & families from around the world - I'm living out the basics of Christianity in the everyday.

I get to share the Gospel with everyone I come in contact with. Whether it be with words, or actions. I've had the opportunity to make people's day with just a smile... a hug... a word of encouragement.

I am beyond blessed to be here.

I do apologize for my lack of updates - life has been a bit crazy over the past few weeks.

So, I arrived in Amsterdam on 1 August. My connections all went smoothly and I met one of my 'house parents' at Central Station. The home I am living in is about a 15 minute walk from Central Station along numerous canals.
I am living in a house in the Jordaan district along with 35 others who are working at the ministry as well. I am sharing a room with a lovely gal named Grace - who is from Idaho and working here for a year.
Life in the ministry is amazing. As soon as I stepped foot in the hostel - I felt at home. I am primarily working as a receptionist at the hostel, and occasionally working in the cafe - preparing and serving food to guests.
 Everything I have experienced thus far is so overwhelming... I'm not sure how I can put into words all that I've experienced, and all God is teaching me.

Thank you so much for your prayers over the past few weeks... I am so glad to let you all know that - my residency for the Netherlands was approved! I have 2 meetings over the past few weeks at the City Hall to register with the government - so, continue to pray that I have all of the documentation that is needed for these meetings.
You can also be praying for my health... I have been under the weather over the past few weeks. Partially due to a cold [which has been passed around to everyone in the house!], but I am unsure as to the other cause of my feeling ill. Please be praying for healing, and wisdom as to when I should seek medical attention.

Thanks again for all of your love and support. I am really gonna try my best to keep you updated with what's going on in my life.

Love and blessings to you all!
Kristina

More photos & updates to come!
But in the meantime - here are a few photos from around my neighbourhood to "wet your appetite"

Well, I'm OFF!!
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of packing and saying goodbyes.
I cannot believe that today is finally here... after 2 commissioning services at church this morning I shall be airport bound.

I am going to be working at The Shelter youth hostels alongside other young people who are passionate about missions. My job will consist of the day-to-day running of the hostel Jordan (ie cooking, cleaning, reception etc) and leading nightly Bible studies at the hostel for the lodgers.
Whilst working at the hostel I will be living in a community house with everyone I work with, that is half-way between the 2 hostels.

I am beyond excited for this new adventure... but I am still in desperate need of your prayers.

More updates to come - but in the meantime, I'd like to leave you with a picture of the general area I will be living in.
Love,
Stina

I forgot to mention...

     


I'm moving to Amsterdam!!!!!
  


  

I am trying to contain my excitement...


After being home from Australia for a year & a half - I hope that my next adventure is just around the corner.

Hillsong has been the highlight of my life thus far... It completely changed me. I was challenged & transformed, both by people, and experiences. But I didn't realize that my time back in the US these past 18 months would be even more challenging. I never questioned God's goodness, or his plan for my life... I was just wondering when my "layover" would be over. That's all my time here was. Just a "layover".

I've spent so many sleepless nights questioning my desires for leaving... wondering whether I was confusing God's will with my own... but then I got IT!


And I finally understand WHY I was put here. My dear friends and I have been in the middle of a majour spiritual battle this past year. Hearts have been broken, life's have been crushed, friendship have been torn apart, and every single one of us has been challenged in our faith. Yet we stayed strong, and clung to Jesus.
People could have strayed from the Lord, people could have let the pain overtake them, people could have let anger consume their lives... but God was gracious.
So, here we are in the aftermath of intense spiritual darkness... stronger.

I love the Lord's promise in Hebrews 13:5:

"I will never fail you

I will never abandon you"

And now here I am... Entering what could possibly be my next life-changing adventure - and I'm at peace about it. Yes, I have my moments of being anxious - especially considering the spiritual darkness that I will voluntarily be waltzing into. But I know if this works - it's God's will. And if it doesn't work - it's God's will.

I hope to be able to share with you all what this adventure is SOON!
And - given that this will be an adventure (hint: a passport & visa is required!), I shall be updating this blog more often with pictures, stories and, yes, coffee shop adventures.

.... Sweden at this moment.
I realize that I have not updated this little blog for WAAY too long... I'm thinking of changing that...

For those of you who did not know - I had applied for a job in Stockholm that would've started at the end of this month... I'd gone through interviews and references... it was down to me and one other applicant, and they decided to go with the other applicant who lived closer to the family.
The job was a live in nanny position IN Stockholm... only 20 minutes from Hillsong Stockholm, 15 minutes from friends, and 30 minutes from family.
I've been struggling with trying to figure out what God's got planned for this next step of my life... I feel like I'm treading water.
I'm sick and tired of questioning God's will for my life, but I'm also sick and tired of waiting.
Its not like I'm just sitting here waiting for a giant sign from heaven... a dream job to fall into my lap - I'm actively applying for jobs, and pursuing my dreams - but I feel like I'm at a stand still.

What's next God??
I trust and believe that He has my next step in mind and ready for me... but it's hard to wait patiently.

Well, here is a favourite photo to leave you with...
I'll be back someday soon... Hopefully I'll be able to fit a trip in later this year. :o)


Xoxo
- Stina