Who we are

Hi, this is the blog of Chris and Ethna Parker. We are using this space to keep our friends, family and interested passers-by up to date with our ‘great adventure’ in Iceland. Do drop by often and see what we are getting up to in the most beautiful country on the planet. And, do leave comments, especially if you come across any hints, tips and bargains in Iceland that you think we would like. We are total Icelandphiles, we love just about everything about the place. But of course, loving Iceland doesn’t mean it’s always an easy place to live, so here we will share our ups and downs of life in Iceland. The pain, the gain, the lot! Welcome to the world of the Parkers in Iceland.

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln

Featured Post

A radio star is born…

Posted on May 26, 2014 by essentialresearcher

Those of you who keep up to date with our meanderings will know that Chris is in the UK at the moment. He is busy catching up with our families and friends and those who generously support us with prayer, … Continue reading →

An open letter to the Daily Mail…

Posted on April 23, 2014 by essentialresearcher

Originally posted on squidgetsmum:
The Daily Mail chose today to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, champion of the oppressed, by publishing this article today. Here’s my response. Dear Daily Mail, I’ve got a little boy. His name is Isaac,…

From Iceland with love…

Posted on April 16, 2014 by essentialresearcher

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about life, or to be more precise, about the many amazing opportunities we have had since we decided to become Christians and get involved with mission. For the past twenty two years we have … Continue reading →

The big man in action…

Posted on February 17, 2014 by essentialresearcher

A brief look ahead..

Posted on January 14, 2014 by essentialresearcher

A few people have been asking about Chris’ ministry schedule over the next couple of months. So, here is a brief overview of the things that we know about at the moment. Please be aware that if you would like … Continue reading →

Nativity reloaded

Posted on December 23, 2013 by essentialresearcher

Given that summer (or what was laughingly referred to as summer this year in Iceland) seems like it was here only yesterday, I am struggling with the notion that Christmas is, quite literally, around the corner. I realise commenting on … Continue reading →

We three kings of Orient are. Bearing gifts we traverse afar…

Posted on November 28, 2013 by essentialresearcher

Alongside Facebook and Skype, the blog is one of the ways we keep our family and friends in the loop with what we get up to ‘on the mission field’ while introducing them to the wonder that is Niceland/Iceland. Because the blog is often written … Continue reading →

Book your flight to Iceland now…A Northen lights extravaganza over Hella, Iceland.

Posted on October 15, 2013 by essentialresearcher

To be fair, there is no bad time to visit Iceland. But at the moment, the skies above Iceland are literally dancing with colour and pizzazz. So much so that cities and towns all over Iceland are switching off their … Continue reading →

A missionary on the move…

Posted on September 26, 2013 by essentialresearcher

Many of the posts we write on the blog are intended to give our family, friends and supporters a peek or three into everyday life here in Iceland. Sometimes the blogs are about sharing some of the amazing cultural experiences … Continue reading →

Sumar á Selfossi – summer in Selfoss

Posted on August 10, 2013 by essentialresearcher

If Icelanders know how to do one thing well, it’s celebrate, especially if said celebration involves gathering friends and family together, dressing up and eating good food. Preferably, all three. I woke up today to discover that today the good … Continue reading →

To everything there is a season…

Posted on June 16, 2013 by essentialresearcher

Missionary…it’s a bit of an old fashioned word, one that is rarely used nowadays, although use of the word mission is somewhat ubiquitous in the world today. People, it seems, like to be on a mission, to live mission-driven lives, … Continue reading →

It’s been a positive tour de France…or should that be Iceland?

Posted on May 20, 2013 by essentialresearcher

As you know, it’s been some time since our last blog post proper. So, we were thinking, that perhaps the best way to introduce you to the lovely people we have been visiting would be to give you an overview … Continue reading →

So, where have you been my whole life…?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by essentialresearcher

Or, at least, where have you been for the last six months? Regular readers of the blog have noticed the lack of posts over the past six months. Thank you for noticing. It is fair to say that Life suddenly … Continue reading →

Happy New Year everybody!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Happy Christmas our digital friends…remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Posted on December 24, 2012 by essentialresearcher

The Icelandic National Anthem

Posted on December 13, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Ó Guð vors lands (O, God of Our Land), is the national anthem of Iceland. The lyrics are by Matthías Jochumsson and the music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson. The anthem has three stanzas, but most people only get around to singing … Continue reading →

It feels like home to me…

Posted on September 16, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Well, it’s been a bit of a strange year so far for the Parkers in Iceland. We arrived in Iceland in early January 2012, to be greeted by one of the coldest, snowiest winters to hit Iceland since 1984. Snow … Continue reading →

Continuing the great adventure in Iceland

Posted on August 18, 2012 by essentialresearcher

It’s been a while since we’ve done a ‘proper’ blogpost so when Anna Roberts from AOG UK asked us to answer some questions on our new life in Iceland, it felt right to share those responses with you here on … Continue reading →

You know you’re from Iceland when…

Posted on July 12, 2012 by essentialresearcher

There are lots of lists doing the rounds at the moment on the subject of, ‘you know you’re from Iceland when…’ this one from the howdoyoulikeiceland.blogspot.com is one of my favourites. If you come across any more, send them to me and … Continue reading →

How great thou art…

Posted on June 3, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Feeling the need to praise Our God for all that He has done to bless our little family. For all the blessings we have received through the years…thank you.

For Michael, Paul and dad…much loved, much missed

Posted on May 28, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Iceland calling…12 points!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Gréta Salóme and Jónsi will represent Iceland in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, with the song ‘Mundu Eftir Mér or ‘Remember Me.’ It’s a song about an elf and a mortal…I think it’s a winner! NEWSFLASH: I have … Continue reading →

Vitnisburður Ethnu á íslensku

Posted on May 7, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Ég hef aldrei haldið bakgrunni mínum leyndum og þegar ég starfaði í Darlington AOG birti ég vitnisburð minn í fréttabréfi kirkjunnar. Í gegnum árin hefur Guð notað vitnisburð minn til að færa mörgum konum lækningu og von og þó ég … Continue reading →

Photos of Iceland submitted to National Geographic

Posted on April 26, 2012 by essentialresearcher

It’s not for nothing that Icelanders claim Iceland is the most beautiful country on the planet. Here’s the evidence… Your Iceland Photos — National Geographic.

The midnight sun…

Posted on April 20, 2012 by essentialresearcher

I wasn’t planning to write another post just yet. But the following video is just too wonderful to not share with you. If you enjoy the video, please consider voting for it here. If he wins, Joe promises to make … Continue reading →

Happy first day of summer!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Although you would never know it from the freezing wind, today Icelanders celebrate the first day of summer. All over the country, memories of one of the coldest and longest winters in living memory are banished, hearts are gladdened and … Continue reading →

How do you like our volcano?

Posted on April 16, 2012 by essentialresearcher

Anyone who has ever visited Iceland knows the first question they are asked upon release from Keflavík airport is, ‘How do you like Iceland?’ In fact, you will be asked the question roughly ten times a day until the aircraft … Continue reading →

You ain´t seen nothin’ yet…

Posted on April 11, 2012 by essentialresearcher

This is one of the many reasons that Iceland was chosen as the number one holiday destination in 2012 by Lonely Planet. This time lapse video was shot by Kiddi Kristjáns at lake Kleifarvatn and two other places during March … Continue reading →

You know you’re from Iceland when…

Posted on November 11, 2013 by essentialresearcher

Given the flurry of interest in this post recently and the critical nature of the updates posted, I have decided to reblog this post. Stay alert peeps.

parkers_in_iceland

CORRECTION ALERT! I have been reliably informed (by an Icelander – thank you Jóhannes) that one of the factoids below is incorrect. The bit about trolls is in fact wrong:

Trolls don’t live in suspicious looking rocks, it’s elves, or Huldufólk to be more precise. Trolls on the other hand get turned into stone when exposed to sunlight.

CORRECTION ALERT! I have recently been contacted by Bergþór, who wanted to clarify one of the points highlighted below:

“okay, you pretty summed it all up very nice there. But there where some aspects that I didn’t agree on like… You believe in trolls (when foreigners…

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