MISSION TRIP TO NORTHERN EUROPE - Part 1

The past two weeks was so busy coz we went to 3 countries for a Mission Trip as part of Ptr. Aldrin's responsibility as JIL Director for North America, Europe and Australia Operations. It was such an exciting time since this is the first time that we will be visiting the 3 Scandinavian countries under the JIL Northern Europe Region, namely, Norway (Oslo), Sweden (Gothenburg) and Denmark (Copenhagen). Ptr. Jojo Delos Reyes, the Regional Pastor of JIL Northern Europe Region, heads this Region.

We left from Vancouver on July 22 via a KLM flight and arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport the next day. We were met there by our dear beloved Pastor, Ptra. Mimi Dela Cruz, the Area Pastor of JIL Netherlands, together with her family, Bro. Mike & their son, Philip. We enjoyed the time fellowshipping with them and hearing some updates and news on what the Lord is doing in JIL Netherlands and JIL Belgium. We stayed overnight at Amsterdam coz our flight going to Oslo is at 7:00 am the next day.

We woke up at 3:00 a.m. to prepare coz we have to be at the airport at 5 a.m. to catch our flight to Oslo, Norway. Pastora Mimi and Bro. Mike picked us up at our hotel and brought us to the airport (Thank you for your kindness . . .). Everything went very well . . . . check-in, security, etc. . . . and off we go to Oslo . . . . . It was a very smooth one and a half -hour flight going to Oslo. And finally, the plane touched down at Oslo Gardermoen airport.

When we arrived at Oslo's airport, we were met by our two dearest Pastors, Pastor Jojo Delos Reyes (Pastor of JIL Norway) and Pastor Gino Hernandez (Pastor of JIL Sweden). We ate breakfast first then they helped us check-in at our hotel in Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel in downtown Oslo. We took the time to rest for a while before going out for a stroll in the city center of Oslo (centrum) in the late afternoon.

The best way to tour around the city center is by foot so we spent the rest of the day walking and strolling along Oslo's main street, Karl Johan's Gate. We took pictures as we pass by some of the noted tourist spots and buildings, like the Stortinget (the Norwegian parliament), National Theater, boutiques, etc.

But of course, the day won't be complete without going to the house of Ptr. Jojo to see Eddielijah, the newly born daughter and miracle baby of Ptr. Jojo & Sis. Florence, and of course, my "soon to be" goddaughter.

What a joy to see this cute little baby! Pastor Jojo shared to us his testimony about the miracle that God has done upon their lives through the life of "Jaja", Eddielijah's nickname. Her conception was truly a miracle from God! We had a fun time fellowshipping with the family until night time while eating their famous "Peppe's Pizza" in Oslo.

The next day we were able to visit some more tourist spots in Oslo as there are no scheduled ministry activities yet. Pastor Jojo & Pastor Gino brought us to Holmenkollen Ski Jump, where world ski competitions were held including the 1952 Winter Olympics. This tourist spot is considered as the national symbol of Oslo.

We were almost short of breath as we climbed the topmost part of the hill tower where you will see a great view of the city of Oslo. Thank God we made it to the top!

We also visited the Holmenkollen Ski Museum which is located at the base of the ski jumping tower.

Then we went to Vigeland Sculpture Park. The park covers 80 acres and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland.

You will find 58 of the park's sculptures at the Bridge where you will find one of the most popular statue called “the Little Angry Boy”.

Most of the statues at the park depict people engaging in various human activities, such as running, wrestling, dancing, hugging, holding hands and so on. We enjoyed looking at the statues and taking pictures with them, mimicking their poses. Thanks to Pastor Jojo for the beautiful pictures!

At the highest point in the park lies the parks most popular attraction, The Monolith. According to my research, the Monolith towers 14.12 meters (46.32 ft.) high and is comprised of 121 human figures rising toward heaven. This is meant to represent man’s desire to become closer with the spiritual and divine. It portrays a feeling of togetherness as the human figures embrace one another as they are carried toward salvation.

Though it was a really hot summer day, we truly enjoyed visiting these places and touring around Oslo. At 7:00 p.m., we went to the American Lutheran Church, the Church being rented by JIL Norway to hold their Sunday Services and other activities. We attended their Prayer Meeting / Midweek Service. We were welcomed by our brethren from JIL Oslo as well as the CYN Norway headed by Ria Saliendra. After the Service, we enjoyed the night fellowshippping and chatting with our JIL family in Norway. Thank you JIL Norway for your very warm welcome to us!

We went back to our hotel before midnight to prepare for our early trip the next day to Goteborg, Sweden where Pastor Aldrin will be speaking on their Saturday Service. . . . . . .


I will be continuing the updates on our Mission Trip to Nothern Europe on my next blog. Keep on coming back for more updates! God bless!


Until next time . . . . . . . . . . .

BEARING FRUIT THAT LASTS

John 15:16 says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." This passage states what Jesus is expecting from His genuine disciples - to become fruitful!

But you may probably be asking, "What kind of fruit is Jesus talking about?" Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Fruitfulness is a very serious matter in the kingdom of God. There is judgment attached to it as well as blessings. In John 15:2, Jesus said, "He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Jesus speaks of two kinds of Christians - the unfruitful and the fruitful one - and the actions that will be done to each kind. An unfruitful Christian is one who professes being a Christian but do not live a life that is consistent to the faith he profess. Though he is a member of the Church and attends every activity and church service, he doesn't really have a close and intimate relationship with Jesus. His relationshp with Him is only external. While a fruitful Christian is one who possesses and manifests the "fruit of the spirit" in his daily life, a person who radiates the true image and character of Jesus as he interacts with all the people around him. He is a genuine believer of Jesus Christ and has an intimate, personal, close and internal relationship with Him. He trusts and puts his faith on Him in all situations and circumstances in life, and walks with Him in his daily journey in this world as a Christian.

An unfruitful Christian will be cast away from the Kingdom of God as Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "

On the contrary, a fruitful Christian will be "pruned" (trimmed, purged) so that he will bear fruit continuously. Hebrews 12:11 gives the reason for this pruning process, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Mark 4:19 lists the causes why Christians need pruning, "but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." As we continue to live in this world, we will be tempted by the devil in every way so that we will go back to our old life, forsake our faith in Jesus, and become unfruitful believer of Jesus. We need God's discipline and correction in order for us to become strong and mature in our faith and grow more in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and bear lasting fruit for Him.

John 15:4-5 reveals the secret for fruitfulness, it says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (NKJV). The secret of fruitfulness is abiding in the vine - Jesus Christ. The synonyms for the word "abiding" are remaining, enduring, surviving, unshakeable, long-lasting and permanent. In other words, a person who is abiding in Christ will have an enduring, surviving, long-lasting and permanent relationship with Jesus. He will never be shaken or defeated by any temptations, difficulties, trials and problems in life. Instead, he will continue to bear the fruits of righteousness. This verse also implies that the quality of our relationship with Christ determines our fruitfulness. Matthew 7:17-20 says, "Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit . . . Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

A genuine disciple of Jesus Christ will be known by his fruit. We were commanded by God to "be fruitful and multiply" and "to bear fruit that last". Thus, we were all called to reproduce. As we live a fruitful Christian life and become living testimonies to all the people around us, we will be able to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus to our unbelieving relatives, friends, neighbors, etc. This will cause them to see the light of Jesus Christ shining though us and will cause them to desire the life that we have in Jesus. The souls of men that we will bring out of the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light are the only fruits that we can have that will last until eternity.

Let us be a shining light of the image of our Lord Jesus Christ to all the world and bear fruits that last!

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