Travel Troubles

Sorry everyone that it’s been a while since I could update.  The whole week before I left was full of seeing people for the last time in a while and eating TONS (literally) of Tex-Mex.  On Sunday, I went to church and it was a great send off message from the Lord and the prayers from the mission board were super encouraging and strengthening.  Right after church I ate Moe’s again and headed straight to the airport for the longest travel day I ever had.

The plan:  Fly at 5 from Charlotte to Munich, get there at 8:05 (about a 9 hour flight)  Munich time and get on the flight to Stockholm by 9:05 then our boss would be picking us up and get lunch with the rest of our team that was already there.

The reality:  So we leave a little after 5 but the flight was thought to go a little faster and smoother, so we 

would still be early.  Everything went fine until we were just over 2 hours out.  We got served dinner and I was enjoying my chicken teriyaki when things started getting a little shaky.  “Oh whatever, normal turbulence” I thought, when all of a sudden our food goes flying all over the cabin.  Juice was all over me and my teammate that I was travelling with, my left shoe was filled with salad, my dessert was MIA.  It was chaos.  It took about an hour for them to be able to half clean up our seats and the floor.  It was about that time when we found out that 2 people had been pretty seriously injured, even though right after the air pocket they were only mildly hurt.  Their symptoms were progressing so we turned around to take a 2 hour flight back to Boston.  A couple of people actually got off of the plane and just decided they were done with this whole flight.  Me and my teammate had no way to let any of our team know we weren’t going to make it there, all we could do was borrow someones phone and hope one of our friends would answer at midnight and email our boss for us about our lateness.  After about an hour of moving the injured persons off the plane and refueling/cleaning the plane we were off again to Munich.  Lesson learned: always wear your seatbelt on an airplane so you don’t hit your head on the ceiling after some insane turbulence.

We got to Munich at about 2 and they had rebooked us for a 3 PM flight.  It was the last flight to Stockholm that day so that was such a huge blessing that we could get there that day.  I was able to get a facebook message out to my boss about what time we would get there by using some of the computers available in the Munich airport (which only allow you on certain international websites and everything was in German, including keyboards that have an emoticon button).  So we got into Stockholm around 6 and headed to meet our boss and get to our current housing locations.  Right now I’m staying with one of the couples from our team.  Be praying that I can find some housing soon! 

Also, thank you to everyone that has sent me facebook posts and messages and emails.  It means a ton I have very limited internet access right now but should be getting an internet card for my computer soon so that I can communicate with you all!

Ceiling:

With Love from Sweden,

Alex

Analogies

Hej everyone!

Yeah I'm already trying to mix Swedish and English (Swanglish??).  Sorry my blog has been anything but active, I promise I have a good excuse! And when I was thinking about it it led me to this blog you're reading or maybe skimming through.

On Sunday, my pastor was preaching on Ephesians 5:21-33 (if you don't want to look it up it's the often misused passage about how wives need to submit to their husbands and the nature of marriage).  It wasn't completely on how to be a good husband or wife but how Christ is the ultimate bridegroom to His bride, the Church.  The crux of the sermon rested on verse 32:

This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

By using something that some of us are very familiar with (marriage) he is able to point to the greater marriage.  That Christ is the ultimate bridegroom who looks at His weary, broken, blood spattered bridegroom and loves us despite all of that.

Some of you may or may not know (depending on our level of friendship or how much of this blog you have read) that I am going to Sweden for a year with Campus Crusade for Christ (soon to be Cru).  My original date to leave was August 26th but that has been pushed back and now I am a measly 18% of my support away from leaving on October 1st.  We had a briefing week for all of those serving with CCC overseas and it was honestly one of the most humbling experiences of my lifetime.  To meet and spend time with so many people that were passionate about bringing the truth of Christ's love to 37 different nations was incredible.  Then I left and went to the very diverse nation of Indian Trail (insert sarcasm here), to wait out my time to go.

A friend of mine sent me some encouragement through Luke 24:46-49

Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You re witnesses of these things, And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with the power from the high.

So that's what I'm doing.


Like always this strayed far from the original meaning of this post but it was a great sermon and I think that the way I am feeling at home can best be described by some analogies as well. So how do I feel?

 I feel like I just had a really killer track session and now I'm just waiting and trying to stay in peak shape for the final race.

Like I just finished classes and have a few weeks to take my final final exam so I can experience the paradise of the "real world"

Like I'm on my way home from a long journey but sitting in the thickest traffic possible only miles from my destination.

I'm ready for Sweden, I guess we'll see if Sweden is ready for me.

Interactive blog question of the week: Describe how you feel about your life in an awesome analogy.

Love,
Alex

The Baddest Blogger

I know I promised a serious post, but this will probably only partially deliver.  I'm still in the heat of raising support so it is a little difficult to arrange my thoughts for long enough to put together anything more than half interesting for you guys.  But! The serious part is is that I am only about 800 dollars a month away from being done with support.  If you feel led through prayer I would love for you to be a part of my team, just click on the little link up there (^) and it will set you right up.

The rest of the team is starting to come together and it has me completely fired up for this next year.  A young, awesome married couple got to Sweden last week to begin their time of ministry with Agape Sverige (Cru, Sweden style).  Their journey to the European mission field started with a strong calling from God, followed by an unsuccessful Google search and finally to the Cru STINT application.  Their names are Cale and Ashley and they have a sick blog ( caleandashley.wordpress.com ).  I talked shortly with Cale today and he already has 2 fika (think coffee shop with no music and about 3 times as long as anyone ever stays in America) appointments set up for tomorrow.

There are also some international campus staff that will be arriving this week for a minimum of a 3 year stay in Sweden.  So you may be asking yourself, "Alex, what is the point of this post?"  Well my friends I have an answer.  The point of this is to simply confirm that God is sovereign and He is at work mightily both in Sweden and in America.  He has raised up well over a half a million dollars in a few short (they felt much longer to us i'm sure) months to bring workers to this nation that many people mistake for Switzerland and even many more would have a tough time pointing out on a map.  He has also showed up in the midst of disappointments to show His greatness and that His plans trump us and that our short perspectives often hide the meaning of the lessons He is teaching us.

Also, this is a call to prayer.  First, for Cale and Ashley that they would continue to adjust well and that the fikas would be glorifying to God and that they would walk in boldness.  Second, that those arriving in the next few weeks (including me) would be at peace with this transition and that our families would be comforted in knowing that our heavenly Father and our siblings in Christ are still here for us and for them as well.  Finally that the Lord would continue to bring in the final parts of my support and the rest of my teams and that everyone that was involved on the STINT team would keep an open heart to what the Lord is doing in their lives regardless of where they are placed now.

I know I throw this word around a lot but God is truly AWESOME, like the literally meaning.  He is the one worthy of awe because of the way He works.  Thanks for stopping by guys!

In His Love,
Alex

Lists

So I was going to do a serious post about some stuff I've been pondering on lately but I don't think you or I are ready for that.  So instead I'm going to try to play with some editing stuff and make a fun list of things I'll miss about America and things I won't miss so much.

Top 5 things I'll probably miss:


1. Moe's, Chipotle, Qdoba, La Unica (any other variation of mexican or tex mex foods).  Seriously most of them cater I wonder if they can cater over to Uppsala, Sweden.

2. Netflix.  It has seriously taken up a large part of my summer, rewatching Lost and catching up on shows that I never had a chance to watch without a TV in college.

3. Being able to understand signs.  Sometimes I have no idea what kind of restaurant a place like "Pinky's" is so I need to read a menu or some type of describing sign.  This won't be possible in Sweden, but I'm sure the local Swedes can help me out. (P.S. Any one reading that doesn't live in North Carolina that might visit one day, make sure to never go to Pinky's).

4. My family and friends (duh).  I'll make new friends and my team will be my second family but all of you guys will be missed more than I can describe, so Skype me!

5. Not ALWAYS being the loudest one in the room.  If you know me you might doubt that I'm not the loudest one in the room in America, but in Sweden it will be on a whole new level.

Honorable mentions: Winters in short sleeves and no snow, fast food, being able to be late to stuff.

Top 5 things I won't miss very much:
1. Pavement.  Sweden has marvelous trails and gravel walkways as well as cobblestone.  Cobblestone is awesome.

2. The constant tie to my iPhone.  I admit this is completely an issue I should be able to deal with on my own right now, but it's simply impossible.  In Sweden I am hoping to break this habit.

3. Living at home.  Love you parents! But living with 2 other solid guys in our own apartment is going to be sick and I can not wait.

4. Constantly sweating.  Come on now does it really have to be in the 90's until October??

5. Driving.  Seriously, this is really the only time I get stressed.  So many people surrounding you in 2 ton metal boxes with some going 15 under and some going 34 over with barely any control.  I'll take a bike over that any day.

Honorable Mentions: Lady Gaga, "Run Forrest, Run," Sarcasm, Steelers football

What are some things you guys would miss/are missing about America?

Be ready for a serious post next week.

Love you guys,
Alex Martin

Who am i?

Welcome everyone!

If you don't know me and randomly stumbled upon this, my name is Alex Martin and it is great to electronically meet you.  I'm a recent graduate of UNC-Wilmington (GO SEAHAWKS!) in Environmental Science.  I came to Christ my Junior year of high school, since that day I have had quite a journey of ups and downs while I slowly grasped the true freedom that I have in Christ and the sacrifice that He made for us all.  I may post a more detailed story of my life later this year but this is just an intro post and I don't want to chase anyone away just yet.

This blog is all about the new adventure that Christ has called me to in Uppsala, Sweden.  Over the next year I will be working for CCCI reaching students in Uppsala with the truth and hope of the Gospel.  I'm still raising support for this time but am so encouraged by the people God has called to fund this ministry to see His name glorified in all tongues by all nations.

I hope I can entertain and encourage you guys as you walk through my days on campus, my culture shock stages, and most importantly the work that God does through a regular kid like me for His kingdom.  If you read this please introduce yourself below, I'd love to meet you and know who is reading this!  Also feel free to leave prayer requests because I would love to be praying for you.

In His Love,
Alex