Looking back at my 6 months journey in Australia and Europe, there is no doubt to say that my experience working with the refugees forced me to have a big reality check of my own life and who I am.
During my time in Lesvos, Greece I met so many beautiful people, everywhere. From our first day in Moria camp (where the refugees get registered), we were welcomed with big smiles by two men who has decided to volunteered here to help this refugees out and during our stay in Mytilini we fell in love with the locals who only showed us love.
There was beauty everywhere.

After been working several of shifts in Moria camp, loving and serving the refugees, it hit me when I started to think how I was using some of my words. "Over here is where THEY sleep", "Here is where THEY can wait" "Have THE REFUGEES got some clothes". Their identity was given to this words, to this specific definition. It made me realise that I been viewing these beautiful people, these often misunderstood people, as a "they" and defining them as "refugees".
As if I somehow rank myself higher of value.

Every single refugee have their own story to tell. Every child have been forced to leave their childhood, mothers who only speak exhaustion with their eyes and fathers who fights to find security for his family and who strongly need to stand with optimistic hope. There is no words that do my emotions justice when thinking about what all of them have to go through.

Being back home and thinking about this group of people, who has been largely misunderstood by us in the west and from media, this people is in desperate need of a voice to share why and what their reality has become. For five years ago, this people lived much the same life we do, who had careers, homes, bank accounts, hobbies and plans for the weekend. People with dreams for their future and desires for their children.


It's so easy to separate myself from what is actually going on out there.

We are all human, we all have fears in our life, insecurities, pride, happiness, loneliness....we are all the same with feelings, dreams and desires. And we all longing to find our place to belong, to feel home and to be loved.
We all have a beating heart!
There is not a difference from "they" and "we".

So what my experience in a refugee camp has taught me:
​
Let's start caring about other peoples need as much as I expect others to care about my own.

Let's stop have our eyes closed!

I'm home, I'm safe and just realising that 2 weeks has already past by since I left the beautiful big island of Hawaii.
 2 weeks of relaxing, settling down in my parents house and getting back to my daily routines again. 
I have started to miss all the beautiful and wonderful people that
I had the honor to be spending time with in Kona, but hopefully I won't miss some of them for very long. 
I don't know when I’ll be back but I know I’ll be back for sure. 

But right now I want to rest! 
And I want to find rest in my heart and soul and the only place I find that 
is when I keep my eyes and heart to Jesus. 
When I put my hope in Him alone, my heart can finally rest. 
Even if I can't see Him, 
I know that He is the One that is leading my life perfectly right now in the right direction. 
No question about that but it is so easy to try to take control over our own life and figure it all out,
 to plan the next step and eventually our whole life….lets stop trying! 
Lets stop rushing around and connect the dots and just take time to look at Him, 
fix our eyes on Him! 
Even if I try to find hope in relationships, situations, new places 
there is only one Man that can give me that true hope
 - Jesus!

And the closer we want to be to Him, less planing we have to make for our life! 

 When I put my hope in anything else then Him, 
it will result in disappointment and heartbreak. 
Friends, new places, work and things will disappoint me and break my heart…..again and again. 
Only Jesus can satisfy the ache and longing in my heart and there is nothing else and no one else, 
who will be able to fulfil it. 
When He is my truly hope, I can rest in Him and knowing that He will provide for me, 
lead me and give me all I need in this life. 


And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You - Psalm 39:7

Much Love
- Amelia - 

Some picture from Hawaii - ENJOY!

Seasons change, it comes and goes and one moment
 I'm freezing in cold Sweden and next I sweat in hot Hawaii. 
Even though seasons change in life, I have come to realise that my purpose of life still remain the same 
and that will never change. And my purpose is 
to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love people. 
And here in Hawaii God has blessed me with so many wonderful people 
and I always feel so honoured every time I can have some heart-to-heart time and share Gods love.  
 I was made to love God with everything, and then to share that love to others. 
This is my purpose, and the purpose of every human being on the planet. 
We were made to love God with all that we are.

Only when we love Him with everything will our heart truly find the peace and rest that it longs for. 

It’s about giving Jesus our affection and love no matter where we are and what we are doing. 


Love is the point. 


Love is the purpose.


Right now I'm in at a place where talking about the future is a favourite topic
 and it can give people different feelings. 
For me the feelings change everyday, one day its joy and excitement and 
next it can be anxiety and fear. But whenever anxiety and fear comes over me, 
I know that my life is about loving Jesus 
and this is what I can do wherever I am and whatever I do. 
No need to worry! 
So in the middle of all changes, thinking and planing I don't worry because 
He loves me and my purpose will still remain the same. 




I will finish this writing with some picture thats show what i been up to this recent days. 
My little brother came to visit me and 
this has been a big blessing with lots of love and happiness. 

Much Love, 
Amelia

Life can become a little bit crazy and sometimes it feels overly complicated. 
And every time I face complications, I try to figure it all out but the only thing I get out of that
 is even more confusion because nothing seems to make any sense. 
And it's during this times my Father Lord reminds me about giving it all up
.....and Loving Him. 
There is so much more to life, but we only find it when we finally give it up. 
Giving up our life to Him!! 
Which it's scary because the world has taught me to protect myself before anything else and to be independent, 
solve my own problems and provide for myself. 
But when we give up our life, we will experience true love and there is way too many people
 who live a life and don't experience true love...

I have notice recently that my life with God is often about asking him for answers about my choices in life, 
about directions and questions over my calling. 
I so often forget the simplicity in given Him my heart and loving Him right where I am
....my own selfishness take over and 
I am too concerned about getting my own problems solved and question answered. 
The point is not to have everything figured out, but simply to love my Father where I am. 
To love him when life is going well or when my heart hurts and I don't understand why
 He don't answer my prayers. 

I am so excited for my journey with Him, to love Him and let His love overtake me. 
And right now I have the opportunity to be spending another quarter in Hawaii, Kona with YWAM.
 A place to grow, to get to know Him even more and make Him known. 
I am truly blessed and loved! 

Let God be your first love!!


Much Love
Amelia

What do you do when things doesn't really turned out as you planed?

Before, my thought of safety meant that I had a 5-years plan, 
somewhere to live, an education, a job, money on my bank account and a good reputation.
 But what happen if all of that just get taken away from me? 
Will I still feel safe? 
Or when I'm giving up the control over my life and my 5-years future plan, does that mean I'm not safe anymore? 

HMMMMM......?

Nej nej nej, it means that God now has the fully authority over my life and I'm able to do things, go to places and be the one that I never could have dreamt about before.
 I can only feel truly safe when my security and hope is found in Christ alone! 

But even when I stand in front of a life changing moment, I ask myself: 
Do I really trust Him? He who continually tells me to trust him, to put my faith in him, to give up everything and let him take my hand and lead.....do I really trust Him? 
With an honest heart, I can truly say Yes!
In him I can find peace, even when nothing is going in my way as I planed or when 
I don't know what's waiting for me in the future.
 And I can trust him with whole my heart and surrender and giving him all my "rights" 
- I don't need to understand all of His ways! 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5)

With this said, I will now go back and  continue to pack all my stuff and belongings, empty my house so it's nice and clean for next person to move in and on Thursday I'm heading back to Hawaii. Can't wait to discovery more about His love but right now I surrender my life to Him and start living my life in true Freedom! 

Just a small and quick update!
Love love love
Amelia

Over the last few months there has been a big amount of changes in my life where God has touched my heart in so many ways. I had the honor to spend 3 months in Hawaii with YWAM where I been serving as a teacher for the first month at the school for kids from age 6-12. The two last months I was sorting out the mail in Mailroom at the University and whatever that sounds like its been the most exciting, life changing months in my life. So why not go back and do another 3 months….

Now when I'm home it is so very easy to go back to old habits specially when I see old friends and when I'm at work, but in the midst of all this I know God is saying; 
Just trust me! 
His unstoppable LOVE is expanding in me and his transformation in me is going to increase - this is what I know and this is what I trust. To help me on the way, I read this:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, 
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God 
 Heb 12:2

To trust God with my life doesn't mean that I have to handle some parts of it by myself, it means that I give him control over whole my life and to fix my eyes on him. Everyday! Because He is my biggest supporter. WOW!


In April I will enter another change in my life, a change from being a mission builder to being a student and doing a DTS - disciple teaching school…so excited but still so nervous. I know my life is setting a new direction and I have no idea where is heading…crazy. But one thing I know, I'm stepping into something thats bigger then myself so if you feel led by supporting me financially I would be so grateful and honoured. Here is my adress to Hawaii, feel free to send me some love letters or messages with encouraging words:

Amelia Andersson
75-5851 Kuakini Highway
Kailua - Kona
HI 96740 
USA
box #247

or you can press the link and make a donation: 
http://www.gofundme.com/j08p70


Much LOVE,
Amelia

Ja, I have decided to write a blog...how exciting! 
After my time in Kona, Hawaii this autumn I don't think its more then fair to give you and everyone the chance to read about whats going on in my life. I'll keep giving you updates during this year and this is just a little thanks to you for all the support you giving me. 

Before I decided to pack my bag and go to Hawaii, I lived a very good, comfterble and safe life back home in Sweden. I lived in a house with my dog, worked full-time as a pre-schoolteacher and spend my leisure time with friends and family. I was happy! But still i had the phrase in my head 
"I've always wanted to..."

The only word that stop this phrase to be fulfilled and right is the word but. 
"....but I'm scared about what people will think"
"....but I don't have the time"
".....but I don't have the money"

Why do we let excuses stand in the way of pursuing our dreams?

So I decided, no more excuses and my ticket to Hawaii was booked. But still my expectation about this trip was pretty low and it was more like; A vaccination in Hawaii isn't to bad. How wrong I had. When I look back on this 3 months and see how God has changed my life, heart and thoughts I'm more than thankful for making the final decision to go. And what I have learned is that it's fear that stops us from taking that final step. And to feel fear is absolutely not from God!
Never be afraid to follow your dreams, 
because life will never change if you stay within the limits of what you already is doing. 
Let God deal with your fear!
























Blessings from a cold winter morning in Örkelljunga, Sweden!