PASSPORT 2 FREEDOM

Happy New Year!
2011 was a great year. I learned so much. My life has changed for the better...
I've been volunteering at Homeless shelters all year and it's been such a great experience where I feel like I have learned more deeply the Heart of God.
I went to Africa, finally.
AND
I started a Non-profit that I believe was something that was planted in my heart in 2004 when I went to Brazil. And as I started studying international communication and culture understanding I dove deeper into studying human rights and the culture of Brazil. What I found was shocking to me. In 2004 I went down to Brazil with GX International and saw people living in the favela's (slums) but as I learned more about why they were there and the history of it all I knew that this is something that needs to be addressed.
Passport 2 Freedom is the result of that.

I won't go on a long rant about what Passport 2 Freedom is about.. that you can read about yourself if you are interested at: www.passport2freedom.org

It is scary and exciting at the same time.
I am so thankful for my friends that has been and is helping me run Passport 2 Freedom

2012 is the year where I am hoping to give $10.000 to a safe-home called Jocum Borel outside of Rio De Janeiro.
Please be in prayer for this project!

Here is also a lil' story a friend of mine did on P2F
http://shariandmike.ca/blog/?p=6061

AFRICA!

Sierra and I have always wanted to go to Africa. We were always talking about going there for our honeymoon, but when my whole visa thing happened we put it off.
This year Sierra got invited to the first ever International skateboard competition in the history of all of Africa, hosted in South Africa.
So we made a whole trip out of it!
We started in Cape Town and ended in Kruger national park.
It was 2 weeks of joy! and new experiences!
On our trip we sat on osteriches and held a lion cub, saw african dancing and a ton of gorgeous animals. But my favorite part was still visiting Melkbos Care Center in Capetown area.
Before hand we had talked about going deeper into the culture of Africa and also do stuff that is not just touristy.. even though we for sure did most tourist stuff.
So we decided to do what we love - and share the love...
I did some research and found the center, and got really excited about the work they do there and also saw that they were in need of some things.. like a new fridge etc.
We brought candy from the US and got to hang out with the kids one afternoon and also got to give them money for a fridge and pray for the staff. I know God loves children so much! The staff were so welcoming and grateful. But I feel like I gained way more by coming there and by being inspired by what they do.
Doing things like this together with Sierra is my favorite. At one point I saw him looking at me like.. let's bring 2 of these boys home with us...
hehe
maybe some day.
Here is a link to Melkbos care center and some pictures:

http://www.ubunye.org/

What do I want to be...? known for..? as..?

I've been thinking about a lot of stuff the last week.
What's important..
I think I've been thinking this way for some different reasons.
- The terrorism in Norway
- Sierra's friend past away snowboarding - hitting his head on a rock
- my grandpa is in the hospital
- Passport 2 Freedom non-profit - I've kind of ended up alone doing it.

well..
I guess my thoughts are: This life is short.
What I do make such a difference.
Serving others rather than myself will be more fulfilling. Not following selfish ambitions - But follow God's heart for the people of the world (more specifically for me - the people looked upon as the "poor" although I would argue we are poor in really fatal areas.
I have spent a lot of time in prayer.
This earth is being shaken.
my heart is stirred for "the poor"

Again I come to the conclusion from a song called: "FLAG" by Brooke Fraser:

Come, tell me your trouble
I'm not your answer
But I'm a listening ear

Reality has left you reeling
All facts and no feeling
No faith and all fear

I don't know why a good man will fall
While a wicked one stands
And our lives blow about
Like flags on the land

Who's at fault is not important
Good intentions lie dormant
And we're all to blame

While apathy acts like an ally
My enemy and I are one and the same

I don't know why the innocents fall
While the monsters still stand
And our lives blow about
Like flags on the land

I don't know why our words are so proud
Yet their promise soothing
And our lives blow about
Like flags in the wind

Oh oh oh oh

You who mourn will be comforted
You who hunger will hunger no more
All the last shall be first
Of this I am sure

You who weep now will laugh again
All you lonely be lonely no more
Yes, the last will be first
Of this I'm sure

I don't know why the innocents fall
While the monsters stand
I don't know why the little ones thirst
But I know the last shall be first
I know the last shall be first
I know the last shall be first

RESCUE MISSION L.A

Last evening I was so blessed to go spend the evening at the Rescue Mission in L.A where families that currently don't have a place to call home can come and find shelter and food.
The Underground goes there once a month to bring food and hang out with the people there.

Over 28% of Los Angeles County (my county) live below poverty level... It totally struck me today as I was driving home... MY county.. These families were so precious! I love this mural... Homeward bound.. Never stop believing...


This little girl's name is Lena! She melted my heart every time she smiled:) It is still so hard for me to fully get that they don't have a home...


I'm praying that I will keep getting my eyes opened every day to my surroundings and the people that God has called me to be a light and love to..

The Underground.

The friendships.. the rawness.. the cultures.. the Joy.. the excellence...
The Underground LA
Don't know what I would do without the people around me. They build me up and challenge me to reach higher.. go deeper.. Love...

Here are some video's from the UG!

BLOG...SMOG...

Blogging just haven't really happened for me lately.
It's not that I don't have anything to say.. It's just that blogging hasn't really crossed my mind lately.

I have had a lot of time to Pray about this one project I feel led to do:
WWW.PASSPORT2FREEDOM.ORG

It is combining a bunch of my passions. And I believe it's something that's going to change me and mold me in the nearest future.
Reading the word a lot lately. Thinking about the ones called the "least" thinking about the poor. Praying for God to show me His heart and change me to be more like Him.
I guess this is kinda what started happening...
It's in the very very beginning fase, but I am believing that with prayer and hard work, that it will be something real, something needed...something blessed.

This month is very busy for me. I head to KC for a GX staff retreat and hosting the annual GX creative camp! So gonna be busy but great! I'm trying to get all the paperwork in for Passport 2 freedom to be a official organization.
Living in the moment. Being thankful!

A DIFFERENT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

Sierra is turning 24 in just a few days! Sierra and I decided to do something different for our birthdays this year.
Charity water is a very special organization that does amazing work all around the world.

Right now, almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. That’s one in eight of us.
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We use 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years.

So for our birthdays, instead of getting gifts, we are asking our friends and family to donate to this cause.

here is our link: http://mycharitywater.org/hannesierra

Mexico with The Underground

Last weekend Sierra and I went to Mexico with The Underground church that we are a part of here in California. The purpose of the trip was to love on some kids that live in an orphanage, or that is living with only one parent. We brought a bunch of christmas gifts - toys and goodies. We danced and had a little puppet play explaining the Love of God. It was a very special day. I know I will never forget it.
The moment we drove over the US border into Mexico, I was shocked at the difference and the poverty that you could see right away. To me it doesn't really make sense for it to be that different. Like even when I travel within Norway, Sweden, Denmark - I can almost not tell any difference. It was very very weird, and left me with a unfair feeling. A feeling of where you grow up does determine a lot on how people turn out. It's not that these people are less smart or anything like that. They just have never gotten the opportunity to go to school, or have opportunities like we do...
Being there and getting to hug and play with so many beautiful kids was really awesome. I can so feel the Fathers love for these little ones.

Here are some photo's

delayed blog

It has been too long, and so much has happened. At this point I don't know where to start.
Well.. first off.. God is good and He always has a plan.

I would say the most exciting news is that the Underground church now is rising! meaning we just got a new location in Burbank, CA and the grand opening was today, and it rocked my world. I got to pray with a girl and really.. the whole time being there was like a fresh breath of God! I danced for the first time as a Word in Motion dancer.. I have never been so nervous before in my life... mainly cause all the dancers are so excellent!
God is good... I keep saying it.

These last months... so much has happened. GX tour was amazing. I kinda wished I was touring more. I just love it so much.
God showed up and did so much! The new program looked good, and people were touched.

Sierra has been raging the skate-contests. Now he finally gets a little break!

All in all.. it's been a couple of amazing months.

Our home is THE BEST! we are so thankful, and we LOVE having people over.
2 days after moving in our friends Eddie and Saori came and stayed the night:) then my best buddy Gunst came... Lisa from KC came to visit...
My mom and dad came after tour and that was a highlight for me. Sierra's parents came, Jesse, Melissa and Amariah came, and now Meg and Isaac are coming. I go to KC for a couple of days and then Sasha is coming to visit. Then we go to Montana for thanksgiving.
:)

Busy but good

Today was just so amazing. The Underground is rocking my world.
SO THANKFUL

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMERTIME!

I've been really bad at writing these days...
I went to Kansas City to do my exam, and visit with the GX family! It was great being there, it feels like a second home. And I even got some GX work done!

We are loving living in Beach City and loving our church The Underground, and I'm loving the dancestudio and fellowship with the girls from The Underground and Word in Motion!
I will be attending the Word in motion dance festival in July! :)

These days have been chill and busy all at the same time. Busy in the sense that it's competition season for skateboarding. And I recently went with Sierra to NYC for the Maloof cup, where Sierra actually did really good and placed 6th of 50 skaters!
It will air on FOX tv tomorrow at 2 pm east central time!
Here's some pix:



The Dew Cup is also starting which means 4 competitions in 4 different cities.
Sierra is also in a video contest for X-Games check out this link and see his video-part!
It will air on ESPN: http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/realstreet/2010/
His video part will be up on the site on July 11! Go vote!!

BUT!
The greatest news is that we finally got our HOME! And we are moving in this week! :) Thank, God! We are so greatful! We have been looking so much forward to having our own spot!
Come visit us!
Here's some photo's from our new place. It really feels like a resort - pools, gym and walking distance to the beach, movie theatres and restaurants! :)




WE ARE SO BLESSED!! :)
( I will be blogging about what God has been teaching me in His word lately in the next update after we're all moved in! )