From Pennsylvania to North Carolina and soon back again...

Well, sorry that I haven't posted until now... been a bit crazy with all the traveling. So far, we have had 3 shows in Pennsylvania that were quite successful. Many youth responded to the gospel and were inspired. Now, we are in North Carolina where we have only seen the same awesome results. Not only have there been youth saved, but youth have been inspired in their Christian lives and also inspired to do something more with their lives. It is truly God working through us here. Tomorrow, we will be leaving back to Pennsylvania for the remainder of our trip. On the 27th of this month, I will be on a plane to Oregon for one week. I hope you all are doing well. No matter how crappy things seem, God is still there.. That is something that I am realizing in my life right now. When I get down and really bummed, I have to come back to the truth that God has not left me and He is still just as much there for me as when I was feeling good. Be blessed!
-Jordan

Lufthansa...

Well, at the very moment I am on my way to JFK. I am sitting in the butt of the plane, and surfing the internet on my laptop. Yes, that is right. I am on the plane. Lufthansa now has wireless. It has a base fee, but it isn't too bad... It is very nice being able to still be connected while mid-flight. It helps with the boredom... =) I am really looking forward to see what God is going to do these next 3 weeks on Tour in the States. I am also looking forward to the week following, where I will be stopping home for a week. That should be nice. I am really enjoying what I do, even though it can be extremely hard and chellenging sometimes, it is sooooo worth it. God is good, and it is so good to know that I am doing what he has asked me to do. That is the best feeling. Being in God's plan is absolutely incredible. Now the screen is telling me we are flying right over Cork, Ireland... and we are at 10,972 meters... that is basically telling me that we have quite a few hours to go.... boring.... I love flying, but I hate it at the same time... I get soooo bored... and I can't sleep on planes... I am fairly tall, so space is a bit of an issue... but for some reason, I continue to do it... =) The ironies in life.... =) Random thought... Has anyone else ever wondered why there are ash trays on planes when smoking is always prohibited?? I mean, even on the new planes... they still put in ash trays, but they don't allow smoking... is there such thing as smoking flights? if there are, i have never heard of them... ok, I need to make one small correction... i discovered just now that there isn't actually an ash tray on this sit I am in... but there was on the last one I was on from Oslo to Frankfurt! Seems like a waste of material and logic to me... oh well... not my problem... just one of those things I guess... it will be so nice to be in the States for a short while because it is sooooooooooo much cheaper than Norway... I can't get over how expensive things are in Norway.... I lived there for a few years now, and still it amazes me... I mean, I just bought a bottle of water and a time magazine and calculated out that it was almost 10 US dollars!! That is insane! Oi..... I don't know how much a time magazine is in the States, but i am sure it is nothing like that... Well... the food is coming down the aisle now, so I am going to finish this up.. I am quite hungry. God Bless!
-Jordan (airborne)

Back from Estonia and Sweden! And still alive!

Well, I arrived back home this morning at 3.... That was a long two weeks of traveling and doing the show... But well worth it. Not only did we see people saved and take steps they have never done before, I also had huge breakthrougs! I feel like a new person! It is soooo cool how god works, and at the most opportune times! He is so good. I am still in a process, but it is going to prove to be the best. I am now getting all my things together to leave for the States in two days. I leave from here on Tuesday afternoon and fly out at 6:40 Wednesday morning. I will be in the Eastern United States for 3 weeks doing the same show I have been working on for the past wo weeks, then I will be off to Oregon for a friend's wedding. I will be in Oregon for only a week and then fly back to Norway only two weeks before I go to Thailand for two months... wow... I have exactly no time of recovering from any of these trips... haha... God is my strength... So yes, that is me for now.. I will write more later. Take care!
-Jordan

snow, snow, and more snow...

Well, as of right now, there is probably over half a meter of snow outside.... it has been snowing constantly for the past couple days.... I love it when it snows like this... I have had to do a lot of snow shoveling though...Anyway, just thought I would let you know.... oh, and when I go to Estonia it will be around -2 farenheit... crazy cold.....

Woot Woot!

Well, we are in the middle of a week of teaching on Spiritual Warefare with Wilkin Van De Kamp from the Netherlands. We always tend to notice a lot of spiritual attacks during these weeks on DTS... It is a subject that Satan reallllllllly does not want us to understand and work on. He starts wetting his pants whenever Christians start working in Spiritual Warefare. So of course he will do whatever he can to confuse us and make us distracted.... but he is a loser, and losers lose... as long as we are aware of him, and ask God for protection and keep our focus on Him, we will be fine! Amen! =)

On another note, Monday I will be heading to Sweden and Estonia for an evangelistic dance, singing, and preaching tour. I am the head sound technician for this little tour... It is a very outgoing evangelistic tool. We have already see hundreds saved in the last year and a half, and we are looking forward to even more in the future. It will be going full time next year, so that should be awesome.

So, that is me at the moment... Hope all is well with y'all!

Jostein and I in the TV Norge studio

It was really cool to be in the studio and then watch tv later and see that I had been standing right there! haha

In the elevator on the Radisson Hotel in Oslo

Jostein and I enjoying one of the tallest buildings in Oslo... Jostein is a friend of Ingvar's, and also a journalist with TV Norge (TV Norway).

Me and Ingvar at the Christmas service in his church

Christmas break in Østfold

Well, I am now in the middle of enjoying the relaxing christmas break. I eat incredibally good food, and don't have to do anything. Just relax. It is a blessing from God I tell you. I was in Oslo last night with some friends of my friend and that was quite nice as well. The friend is a journalist for TV Norge (TV Norway). On Thursday he arrived back from doing a story in Malawi. He is a Christian who wants to help give more accurate news. Norway is famous for having extremely bias and self-centered news. It is good to know Christians who are trying to make a difference. We need to be thinking in that way and not just sitting and pointing fingers. We need to do something.

On a more personal note, I am doing well and will be soon on my way to the States for three weeks. Two of which will be work, and the last one week for Travis' wedding!! Travis Cibolski is a friend of mine for those of you who don't know him... That will be a very nice time. Anyway, I am going to get back to relaxing here. Hope you are all doing the same! Merry Christmas!!
-Jordan

Christmas time again!!

That's correct! It's Christmas time again!! I love this time of year! Especially in Norway, because it is often white. But anyway, last night the base had a Christmas party that went quite well, and was a good time for people to fellowship with each other in a more relaxed setting. Plus great food! =) Aside from that, I will be starting my Christmas break here on Sunday and will be with a friend of mine for the holi-days. He was a staff on my DTS, but is now a missionary in Ethiopia. He is doing an incredible job with a certain people group down there, and on top of that he is alone! He had a team of 5 with him last year, but not he is the only one... a real man of God. I am really looking forward to relaxing with him, and spending time away from the base for a while.. you just have to get away every now and then.... So yeah, you can keep me in your prayers and be blessed! merry Christmas!
-Jordan

The Tour!

Well, early tomorrow morning I will be heading to Bergen on the west coast. There we will perform a few different shows that have an evangelistic approach. We have dances and special songs and preaching. Our goal is to present the gospel in a way that is received by the youth of today. I am in charge of the sound and I very likely will also perform the song, Salvation is Here by Hillsong United... That will be a bit of a stretch for me... Please pray for me to be able to relax and do it for God. I want to have the right focus while I am singing and mixing. This tour is to reach lost souls, and I want to remember that constantly. God is the focus. Please also pray that it is successful. Pray that we reach people. Last year it was really successful, and we hope for it to be even better this year. We will be in the Bergen area for one week performing at various locations. This is only one of six weeks that we will be sending this tour around northern Europe. We will also be in Finland and Sweden on top of all our performances in Norway. Lots of opportunities to preach the gospel. Please be a part in whatever way you can, whether it be in prayer or finances. I will appreciate it and so will the rest of the team. Join me in my ministry here in Norway!

Fall Break!

We are now finishing out or last days of our fall break. I have been staying with my student, Eirik, for the weekend with his family. It has been an incredibally nice time. They have been very welcoming and relaxing to be around. Eirik and I will head back to Skien tomorrow afternoon so we can get ready for the team week that we have this week. I will be staying in Skien with the team there. Right now, at this very moment, I am sitting upstairs on the couch with my laptop and just existing... it is nice.. if I were at the base now, i would not be relaxing... It is a blessing to be able to go to people's homes and to just get away. I think I should take advantage of it more often. I really don't get away enough, and I really should. It is amazing just how much more relaxing it is to be in an actual home. Anyway, I am doing quite well. I am loving life, and God is faithful... Even if I tend to forget that sometimes... Until next time!
-Jordan K. Ernst

First snow of winter!

yes, it is snowing today... I have a feeling it will be a cold winter....

The first team week!!

Well, the teams are made and the destinations are set. There will be one team going to a place called Nærbø in the west of Norway, and another team that will be going only an hour away to a place called Bø. And then, of course, the team that stays here in Skien. I, however, will not be joining the DTS this week. I am just working with my other duty of being handyman for the entire week. It is a good thing, because I have so many things to do, and such little time to do it in otherwise. This is a good opportunity to catch up a bit. I have already had a successful first day of putting up nice and new shelving in the walk-in cooler. A day well spent is a day to be proud of. It is also nice because I don't have to wake up quite so early.... =)

Aside from that, I am doing much better. God has blessed quite a bit over these last days. He truly has not forgotten me here in Norway... =) Until next time, be blessed!
-Jordan

Another week already!

This previous week's teaching was on creative ministry. During this week, the students learned ways of doing dramas and dances and other techniques that they can use. It went surprisingly well. I didn't expect the students to like it as much as they did, but they seemed to get into it. That was cool. Now, the present teaching is on Team life and also Relationships. The first three days are on Team Life and the last two are on Relationships. Both are very interesting topics. It should prove to be a good week for everyone I think.

As far as I am personally, I am doing.... I have had some stressful days this week, and that makes things hard. I have also had some internal things that have been occupying my time that aren't so fun. I know God is good, and I know He is in control, but sometimes things just seem to be so down.... Next week is the first team week where the students split up into 3 teams, two of them being out for a week, and the other being in Skien. They will work with schools and churches and other various things for one week in a hands on setting. The team weeks are awesome. They add so much to a DTS. They really do. I will not be joining this week, however, because we have more than enough staff for that, so I will be focusing on my other duties. I am the handyman here on the base, and I have plenty of things to work on...

Anyway, I hope all is going well with you guys! Until next time!
-Jordan K. Ernst

Two weeks down; 34 to go... =)

Well, we have now finished the first two weeks of DTS! Without disappointment, everyone has gotten through the beginning and are ready to tackle the next step. This week in front of us is a week of creative teaching. Creative teaching isn't just drama and dance and things like that, but it is actually just more ways of presenting the gospel. It is just a way of making you think outside the box. How can I communicate what I want to say in a better way? That is basically what it is. This week tends not to be the favortie among most, but it is a good week just the same.

On a more personal note, I am doing well. I have my up and down moments, but I guess they come with the territory. On days that I am really down I tend to feel that it is more of an attack of the enemy, rather then just being down for no apparent reason. I have to remind myself that Satan doesn't like what I do here, so it is in fact a good sign when I am under attack! =) So yeah, please keep praying for me, and I will keep you updated as best I can! Until next time!
-Jordan K. Ernst

The DTS is now officially started!

The students have come. We have welcomed them in to the base. We leave in the morning for an overnight cabin trip. We get to know each other a bit better. DTS life is good. I am really really excited about these guys. They really seem awesome. I really mean it. They are all cool people. Really onfire group. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it is official now. Talk to you later!
-Ernst, Jordan Kenneth

Søndag-Sunday

It is Sunday afternoon, and I haven´t really done anything all day.... I am going to church in an hour.... That will be the most excitement I will probably have all day.. We have a student coming today, so that will be cool..... sorry, I am trying to think of things that I can talk about that are interesting to write about often, but I seem to be a very boring person... or I just suck at remembering the things that are interesting to you guys reading this... I am going to be mentoring 3 guys this year, so tomorrow I need to turn in my choices for the guys I want. I am praying that God gives me some guys that I can really work with. I think I know who I want, but I will have to wait and see who I get... I trust that God will give me the guys he wants me to have.... =) Always fun with new challenges! =/ =) So, anyway.... I will get the pictures updated as soon as I finish making the student welcome folder and when I have some time this week... I know I keep promising them, but I will get them up very soon! Thanks for holding in there! Until then! Peace out!
-Ernst, Jordan Kenneth

Lørdag-Saturday

Well, it is another Saturday afternoon, and I am just relaxing a bit to gain some more energy for the coming week. The students are now starting to trickle in one by one... so far it is only one, but there is another one coming tomorrow. By Thursday they will all be here. We are still waiting on the student from India... we don´t know if he even has a plane ticket yet, but we will see I guess... With him it will be 27 students.. if he doesn´t show up, then it is obviously 26... =) still a good number! We are practically ready for the arrival of this DTS. Things are coming together very well practically, and the staff are doing very well emotionally and mentally. I am also very ready for this DTS. It'll be a good one.

It is nice to hear from you all every now and then! Please feel free to e-mail me! jordan.ernst@gmail.com

If you write me, I will write you back... As soon as I can.... I am usually really good at e-mailing...

Also, keep checking the other places on this blog. The pictures, I'm sorry, will be up soon... I haven't had too much time to do that yet... Also, the Prayer Request page is also updated every now and again... I will really try to use it more this year, so please check that one as well. That is a very important part of this page. thanks for reading! Talk to you later!
-Ernst, Jordan Kenneth

Well, I am back from Italia!!

Italy was very very cool. Such an awesome country! I got to see Bergamo and Milano while I was there. I lived in Bergamo, but I took a day trip to Milano, which was very worth it. Milano is an incredible city. I only got to see ONE city block! It was amazing... so much to see, and only one day to see it... At any rate, it was worth it.

Now that I am back in Skien, I will be starting on preparing for the students to come in just over a week.... The school will start on the 21st of this month, so the students should start coming just some days prior to that date. I have received my two positions aside from being DTS staff now. I will continue to be the base handyman and will also now be the guy in charge of worship here on the base. I will pick out the worship teams and make sure all the songs are in a good system and so on.... I´m the boss... =) kind of... It could be a bit of work at first, but I will hopefully make a good system that will work for itself after some time... it should be a good job. I am thankful for it. Oh, and by the way, we now have 27 students coming! That ties the record for YWAM Skien! That is a good number. I am really glad we have so many. They all have really positive applications and I am looking forward to working with them.

Soon I will have new pictures up from Italy and from around the base here, but until then keep checking back and God bless!
-Jordan Ernst