a much needed update

I know, I know, it has been over a month since I have written. I keep thinking I need to update and then I become distracted and forget and all of a sudden a month goes by without an update. I have been finding ways to keep myself busy.

I have been having a lot of fun in the white house. Things with the youth group have been going well. We have been meeting regularly on Monday nights for youth group. We have been doing bigger activities once a month and sometimes having impromptu movie and game nights.

Things are going well with the cafe group. We have now established a set operating budget for the first year of business. We are ready! We have begun to look into different properties. We have 2 right now that we are looking for more information on. The goal is to start renting in July and open in September. We are busy making summer plans and trying to figure out how to get everything we need. We really need some help with fundraising and work teams. At this point we need $50,000 more to be able to operate through the first year.

There is a new ministry start in Sweden. A couple there are looking into opening a coffee shop and planting a church. I have been spending time consulting with them over the steps we need to take to open that shop, this fall as well. They have a huge project in front of them. They also need a lot of fundraising support and work teams as well.

I have been connected with a school in Greve. I have shared in 4 different English classes. I have talked mainly about American culture, but in one class I was able to share about religion as well. I had a great conversation about faith with the students. It was so neat to be able to openly share Christ in a classroom, something that would never happen at home.

My energies are really pulled in 3 directions right now. 1st is the white house/youth ministry, 2nd is the cafe group in Copenhagen, and 3rd is the cafe in Sweden. It makes for some interesting days spent writing emails or meetings. I am getting anxious to open a shop, I really beginning to miss getting to hang out in a coffee shop to work.

I LOVE living in Denmark, it has brought joy back to ministry for me. I am trying (and not very successfully) to learn Danish. I am enjoying the fellowship with the different teams I am working with. Things are good! :)

beginning to see some funds

On a positive note, I thought I would post how the fundraising has gone so far.

Our goal is to raise $80,000
1 Time Pledges-
* $10,000 from the Pittsburg, Ca. Church

Monthly Pledges-
* $25 a month from Bob & Jo Green

Thank You so much to those who have committed to help us so far! We are greatly blessed by your help!

Sunshine and Rain

Once again I am being forced to adapt to a climate I would not choose to live in.... Well, it is not that bad. I should feel pretty lucky because there has not been snow, just rain and coldness. The hardest thing for me is the lack of sunshine. I really miss that. At least we do get a couple days where we see the sun each week and I make sure I spend some time outside when I see it.

With ministry things are good and things are hard. We are really stuck with the Copenhagen cafe group. We have been trying to find partners to come along side us and help us financially. We also need work teams this summer. So, far we have not had much interest in finding support. We are at a point where we can not move forward without having some commitment of support.

Things are going really well with the youth group. We have had some really great meetings the past couple of Mondays. I can see God working among the group. This past weekend we had a movie marathon night. We set up the house like the CIA headquarters and had a secret agent night. We watched all 3 Bourne movies. There were 9 of us that survived the night. It was a good time. And finally I have a picture with all of my housemates.... well the secret agents that run the white house...

Typical Day??

Yesterday I was asked a very interesting question. I was at the church helping with some of the remolding and one of the guys asked me "What does a typical day look like for you?" My response "Uuuhhhh...... I don't know... I don't really have a typical day." And that got me thinking. How do I express what I am doing here when I can't express a daily schedule. But, that is what I love about working in the ministry, nothing ever follows a schedule and nothing is ever the same. There is always room for change, distractions, and detours. Of course there are things that happen at the same time every week- youth group, cafe meetings, white house meetings, church, danish lessons. Between those meetings my week is filled with people and tasks for the next meeting. Every day is different, some are crazy and some are mellow. But, that's what happens when you work with people. You never know when you are going to get that message that you are need to help, teach, or just listen. And that is when all your plans just change, but the biggest blessings come in the detours.

We have a shop blog!!! Here is the blog for the coffee shop ministry in Copenhagen. Check it out! Sweet Surrender Copenhagen

Work & Witness

We need help!!!! We are in a really need to fundraise and to have work teams come and help us this summer. If you are interested in helping us out, click on the project below to get more details. Or email me!
Copenhagen Work & Witness Project!!!

Holiday Season in The White House, part 2

It was the week before Christmas and all through the house everyone was stirring, but was as quiet as a mouse. There were books and laptops all over the tables and stress hung thick in the air. It was a week of exams and projects; tensions were high and coughing was loud. Everyone got sick, well except for me because I don't get sick very often (i take my vitamins). The last week before Christmas reminded me why I was happy I am no longer a student. And it also made me realize that as Americans we have some good drugs, and not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. But, I got to be the pharmacist handing out daytime and nitetime cold pills. Never thought I would be grateful my sister-n-law is willing to mail me cold pills. They did help everyone make it through their studying.

Little Christmas Eve (or what I call Christmas Eve Eve) brought the much needed break for everyone. This is my third Christmas away from home and I keep telling myself that it will get easier, but it never does. I think that there is something about Christmas that makes you long for traditions and childhood comforts. In Denmark there are three days of Christmas- Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and 2nd Day of Christmas. (I am beginning to think Americans are the weird ones that only celebrate 1 day).

Little Christmas Eve or as I have always affectionately called it- Christmas Eve Eve was our first day with a break. As a house we enjoyed a wonderful brunch together before everyone took off on their separate things. That evening I went to dinner at the Pastor's home. It was a nice "cozy" time where I got to watch the family get ready for Christmas.

Christmas Eve brought on the beginning of celebrations and for me the realization of another Christmas with different traditions and without any family. The homesickness hit hard on this day. But, God has blessed me with amazing housemates. I walked into a room where The Office was being enjoyed and they knew I was not ok. After be prompted to share I cried (of course because I cry A LOT) and my housemate decided that during these days of Christmas we would have an American Christmas. That calmed me some and we went on with our celebrations. I went to the service at church and enjoyed it and then went home to the Pastor's family for celebrations. It was another completely different experience! We ate an amazing dinner of turkey, stuffing, pork, potatoes, and rice almond porridge w/ cherry sauce for dessert. One of the competitions with the dessert is to be the one who finds the whole almond in their bowl. And I found it!!!! :) After dinner we got kicked out of the room while they lit the candles on the tree and filled it with presents. When we returned we held hands and sang different Christmas carols while walking around the tree. Afterwards we opened gifts and ate more candy!  It was a great time! I felt incredibly blessed to be a part of the family.

Christmas day is another family day. I was invited to lunch with the Pastor's family once again.We gathered and ate fish and liver pate on bread. Another new experience for me. It was really neat to see the whole family and watch the family interactions. Once again I was blessed to be welcomed as a part of such a wonderful open family. When I came home us girls got pizza and watched Harry Potter. And I got to skype with my whole family for a very long time! Plus I got a surprise call from 2 great friends in Poland! It turned out to be a good day!

On the 2nd day of Christmas we got to celebrate an American Christmas, well the best we could. I woke up and made American pancakes for breakfast for the whole house. And then I spent the day with my housemate and his girlfriend. They went out of their way to make sure I got to do whatever I would enjoy doing. We found the Raider game from Christmas Eve and they watched it with me! We even ate nachos! (I know not a Christmas food, but a football food!) Then I made dinner for everyone in the house, and a couple extra. We had honey/pineapple glazed ham, twice baked potatoes, and green bean casserole. We then watched a Muppet's Christmas Carrol and played In A Pickle. It was great. Truly like what would have happened if I was with my family.

Even though it is hard to be so far from home during this time, I am blessed to be with people who care about me and take me in. I would have never expected it. I really appreciate my housemate that pushed for me to do something like I would if I were home. To be able to share my traditions while I am learning so many new ones is a real blessing for me. It makes me feel even that much more like I can do this, what God has asked me to do. Because no matter how far away I get sent from all that is familiar, God always brings someone into my life that helps me find comfort in the middle of the cultural challenges.

reading the Christmas Story

the lit tree

i found the almond!!