First lesson in Sweden: Faith (ENG)

whew...it's been quite a while since my last post. things really move a lot faster when the school starts (like the first exam, which is like the final exam for that course will take place in a month). even though I should actually be sitting in front of my desk studying, i've got so many things that I'd really like to keep them recorded, and I'm sure I'll only get busier as time moves on, so i guess it's like do it now or never. (hope I'll still have time to write here from time to time...)

I'm really glad that I came, I really am. Because I know this year would be different and it'll be (i do hope and i strongly believe so) the foundation of my life walking with God in the future. Meanwhile I'm grateful I've been given this opportunity to do so. believe or not, this adventure has started from the very first day...

People usually ask, why this school in Sweden, but not somewhere else, like in the States? Oh well...the real answer is...I don't know, but I just personally like European countries better than the States, I guess. The other reason is that, I've heard it from Eileen, when I was still at her cell group, and also from Emma, how nice the year at the bible school has been for them and how God has answered their questions during that year....and so on. So secretly I've wanted to come long long time ago... But there's no scholarship or financial aid available from the school, all the students need to support themselves financially during this whole year, both for tuition and for life, of course. Asking help from my parents would definitely be out of the question. It's not they're not willing to, just I don't want it, because I want to be responsible for my own decision. But praise to the Lord that it didn't really take me much time to save enough money. Or let's put it this way, a little bit above the amount Emma spent when she was here. I think, "oh well, this might be a bit tight, but I really want to make it happen", so I made my move!! There was also time that I doubted and even when the school actually took me, I was still not certain if this is what really God wants me to do. But when I prayed to Lord, I said, if this is not what you want, then please shut the door to me. (I was quite nervous when I made that prayer though...XD)

Despite i seemed to have enough money that meets the required amount to support my life in Sweden (SEK7,300, which is around NT36,500 per month) but since I'll still have some costs to cover and a significant amount of my money comes from my funds, it's therefore floating, and unfortunately they're on a pretty low spot at this moment....Orz So when I first arrived and we went to a big shopping center where prices are supposed to be lower at the supermarket. Before we went into the supermarket, we had "fika*" at a coffee shop (like Dante or Ikari), their prices are as below:

sandwich (w/ baguette) SEK40 (whereas in TWN: SEK25-30)

coffee (americano) SEK25 (whereas in TWN: SEK10-12) 

fika combo (coffee+cake of the day) SEK 35 (whereas in TWN: SEK20)
(even though I know I should've stopped calculating or comparing this way, still....i just couldn't help)

when I went into the supermarket, some of the prices are sweet, but still some price that can really scare you out. after seeing all these normal prices in Sweden which really match its high living standard, i think "panic" is not strong enough to describe how I feel inside....

But after talking to a friend, she reminded me to always give praises to the Lord, and to proclaim Him as my provider. so I did, also to thank Him for what I've been given. In addition, I shared this concerns with my cell group family in Taiwan, asking them to pray for me. This is when the miracles starts!

Ever since then, I feel less and less fear about the financial status (it's not completely gone yet, but I proclaim and I have the faith that He'll provide!) of course by saying that doesn't mean I can now spend my money without thinking carefully. I may not be able to eat out all the time, but I can enjoy cooking and still living a good life in an economical way. and the most important thing is that I don't feel I'm caught by the fear of having not enough or need to grab everything tight any more.

After I start practicing this, the next day when I gave the rent to my landlord, i tended to give more than they asked. For I did come one week earlier, and they've been so kind to me, inviting me to almost all family gatherings and even introduced me to their friends as one of family members. when my landlord (I usually call her mama actually) found it, she even returned some of it to me saying this is not right and I'm being too nice. I really don't know how can I be so lucky that being so well received. so...just praise the Lord. Hallelujah! =)

What happened at the school is even cooler. In order to have better knowledge of the neighborhood, I tried to walk to every place I'd like to go to. On the first day, if it were not Jacob's help, I could've walked for hours but still didn't get to the place, 'cause i was on the totally wrong direction. (which is pretty normal to me...). And Helene (my landlord's daughter) and I were just talking about I should get a map of Uppsala to help me when I'm lost. The next day at school, where we registered and get the literature books for the whole year (we actually get a library, I think), the international students all got a "map of Uppsala"!!! We even got a set of in-ear headphones and blocks for note taking, which were the things i was just wondering if I should either buy it here or ask my mom to send me from home. Lord just gave me what i had in mind, I didn't even ask for them....that was just amazing!

Thank you for reading all these exciting beginnings of my life in Sweden. As an appreciation for you to read through all my murmurs, I'd like to share with you the promises from God and I pray it can also be yours if you just happen to be in need of God's help/miracles for your financial status:

First it's when God explained the Sabbath Year to Moses, His words said: you may ask, "what will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. (Lev 25:20-22)

Here I know that God will not only provide me what I need for this year, what I need for the coming year, He too has prepared for me already! Oh, isn't He generous and thoughtful??

He also said in the following verses: "I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. (Lev 26:9-13)

I especially like the last verse, cause I think he really broke mine. =) With His words, I'm sure I'll have an abundant life, and so can you!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!