Holiday Season in The White House, part 1

The US holiday season kicked off on November 24th. In Danmark we started things a little sooner, but not by much. My first new experience was to go with a group from the church out to the forest to kick roots. I was told we were going to the forest and then going to a little tea house for kaffe and æbleskiver (coffee and these donuts like pastries). I agreed to go, not fully knowing what I was getting into and maybe I didn't actually believe we would be kicking out tree roots. But, that is we did. This is something a group from the church has been doing for years. They find old dead roots, pull them out of the ground, clean them decorate them and you have a great center piece.

The following week was Thanksgiving and even though this is an American, not Danish, holiday I decided I still wanted to celebrate it. And I have never had such a special Thanksgiving away from home. I am able to recognize the fact that I am an emotional person and I know that holidays are especially hard on me. So, one of my housemates very heroically took on the job to make sure that I was busy Thanksgiving morning to keep my mind off of things. We got on our bikes and he took me to the beach/harbor that is not too far from us. We walked around an old military fort down the beach and around the harbor. I loved the water and the waves and the great conversation.

After my morning at the beach I came home and started on my first Thanksgiving dinner in Danmark. I have a wonderful housemate who is an amazing cook and she jumped in and helped me make the perfect dinner. I mean even when I was too grossed out to touch the raw turkey and pull the gunk out she did it! She was my hero in the kitchen that day! We had about 11 people over- the pastor and his family, my housemates, and a couple of the teens. They asked me questions about my traditions and we talked, ate, and laughed A LOT! It was a very special time. And I really felt like I was with family, and I was... my Danish family!

After our Thanksgiving celebration it was time to let the preparations for Christmas begin. We spent a Saturday decorating our house to get into the Christmas spirit. As well as decorating the church juletræ (Christmas tree). We have been combining American and Danish juledekorationer (Christmas decorations). It's always very interesting to see what we consider to be typical and how it is different. I have been learning Jul (Christmas) everything! Now, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We then spent another Saturday baking all kinds of goodies for Christmas! We filled the house with smells of gingerbread-men, cut-out cookies, and jew cookies. And had plenty of fun decorating them! There was lots of icing!!! :) Now, it's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas!

We still have a couple weeks before Christmas filled with a church party, youth party, and other things so there is still a lot more celebrating to be had. Stay tuned for part 2 of the Holiday Season in The White House....

Settling In

I have been settling in here in Greve, Danmark. I have been getting to know my housemates, the youth, the cafe group, and the city. It has been really good to be working with a church again. It is nice to have the support that was missing in Poland. I feel a lot more relaxed here. Also, I have been given a lot of freedom in ministry and the ability to be able to focus on people and not on tasks. It has been really nice getting back to that.

I am working with the youth ministry team. Well, living with them too. It is a fun idea, to have a house full of leaders where the teens are welcome to come and hang-out anytime. I have enjoyed the youth group meetings and times we have been together. I think we have got things heading in the right direction and I am excited to spend a year with them.

I am also working with another group in the church that is wanting to begin a coffee shop ministry. People are no longer actively seeking God in churches. From what I have learned there are not a lot of big churches, whether they are state churches or free churches here. There needs to be a new approach to reaching people. So, we are starting a coffee shop ministry. We are looking for locations in Copenhagen to begin the shop. The hope is to be able to have the shop open the beginning of September. We are still needing to fund-raise money to be able to purchase the shop and all of the items we need in it. We are also looking for Work and Witness teams to come and help us with the shop this summer. I am really excited to be helping with this new ministry.

I have started free Danish lessons at a church in Copenhagen. I am determined to learn some Danish. :)

Things are going really good. I am feeling very settled here and am loving the teams I am working with!

First Week in Denmark

I arrived in Copenhagen last Tuesday and moved in the white house, where I am living with 4 other people. It has been a good first week! My housemates have been doing a great job of taking me around and helping me get adjusted to a new place. Sunday was my first time with the church and everyone was so nice! Last night was the first youth group meeting, as well. It was a fun time. I am feeling very blessed to be here. These first couple weeks I am getting adjusted to being in Denmark and learning about the different ministries I can be involved in. I am feeling very excited about working here. There are a lot of different options and a lot more freedom to do ministry here. Plus, it is beautiful! So far things are going great! I can't wait to see what will be in store for me in Denmark!

A lot of Lasts or Movin On

This has been a hard weekend. It's my last weekend working as a volunteer in Krakow. Tuesday morning I will be moving to Denmark. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this move. It did not come about in the best way. But, I know that God is moving me to Denmark for a reason. I am excited to work with the Danish church. Everyone I have met from there have been wonderful! I think they will be a great group to minister with. But, even with the excitement of something new there is the pain of saying goodbye. And I hate moving. I hate being uprooted. I wonder why God called me to do mission work when it is so hard for me to move away from home. So, all that to say this has been a weekend of lasts. Last walks around the castle, the river, last church services, and last times with friends. When I first came to Poland in the summer of 2009, I never believed I would fall in love with Krakow. I saw Krakow for the first time in August of 2009 and I moved here a year and a half later. And I fell in love with the city and my Polish family here. Really, I am a die hard California and I love S. F., but Krakow is a very very close second. And I never thought I would find a second family. But, I have found a second family in the people I work and worship with here. So, I am going to miss Krakow and all of my friends. I am struggling right now with saying good-bye, wandering around the beautiful city and knowing it will be a very long time before I see it again. But, when God calls us somewhere new we must go. Life is an adventure and with that comes change and new places. So, I move forward to a new adventure. Good-bye Krakow, you will always be in my heart!

Pictures of the resort in Turkey

Euraisa Regional Confrence aka Chillin' in Turkey

I have been in Turkey the past week, enjoying the sun, water, and of course worship! We are staying in a beautiful resort in Antalya, Turkey. We have been swimming, sunning, eating, relaxing, and having fellowship with other Nazarene's from all over Europe and Western Asia. The Eurasia Regional Conference has been AMAZING! Each of the field coordinators reported about what work is being done. I have always felt a little bit of pride for being from a District that has so many different languages and cultures, but it is nothing compared to here. This region spans 2 continents. There are over 20 languages being spoken here. The field Poland is on has 7 different languages and none of them are similar to each other. It is amazing to worship here. To stand in the conference hall and see so many nationalities standing next to each other. People whose countries are fighting or have horrible pasts of hate worshiping together.  As I look around the room all I think is this is exactly what the kingdom of God is supposed to be. Hearing all of the different ministries, outreaches, and churches stories. Seeing people that have been affected by being children that were sponsored, changed from alabaster, the hospitals, the schools. To actually worship with the people who were changed by all the programs I read about in mission books and heard stories of when I was growing up. To be here and know God has called me to be a part of their legacy. To be a part of the future of this region. There is nothing like this. I can say for me General Assembly had no where near the impact of being here on the mission field worshiping in many different languages and celebrating our vast diversity. Being here makes it even more clear that I am exactly where God wants me to be. Last night we had an Ordination service. I was blessed to be able to participate in it as an Elder. There were 5 people ordained and 2 of them were nationals from different creative access countries. Here they were being Ordained, prayed over and sent back to nations where they are killed for being Christians. It was such a blessing to be a part of it.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Turkey. It has been a great time of inspiration and I am ready to get back and face my new adventures in Denmark!! :)

In The Middle Of Transitions

I have been back in Poland for a few weeks now. I have enjoyed getting to be around my Polish family and friends. I have been working some hours in the shop and have preached a couple Sundays. It has felt like coming home again. Krakow is as beautiful as ever. I am going to really miss this city and all my wonderful friends here.

I will soon be leaving my Polish home and getting adjusted to a new home. I am moving to Denmark in a couple weeks. The official move date is October 25th. I have been given a brief job description and I am excited to start work in Denmark. I will be working with the youth ministry team, mentoring, planning, teaching, and encouraging. I get to live in "the white house" with students from the church who are involved with the youth ministry. I will also be working with a team who are interested in starting a coffee shop ministry. I can't think of a better job for me!

Before I make that big move, I will be taking a little trip to Antalya, Turkey. I will be there for the Eurasia Regional Conference. I am excited to see and new country and gather with fellow missionaries, volunteers, and church leaders from all over Europe and Asia. It will be a great time of fellowship and rest.