Once again, almost a month flies by and I realize I have not updated my blog in awhile... I can not believe it is May. Since, I have returned from Sweden, the time has flown by with a lot of practical work. I have gotten busier, which is nice, I like being busy. So... how have I been keeping myself busy??? I don't know! :) A lot of my focus has been on getting Danish lessons and figuring out how I am going to be able to pass a test this summer on the language and the culture. Right now, it seems I will not be able to get into the official classes in enough time before work in the cafe and the test happens. But, I think I will be able to study to pass the test. That is the not so exciting project that has been keeping me busy.

Cafe Shopping... We have been looking at different possibilities for the cafe. We have also been pushing forward with figuring out paperwork, foundation legal stuff, and budget things. But, the most exciting thing is we are pretty set on a property! We have visited a shop for sell that we REALLY like! It is a little small, but it is a great deal and will not have a lot of work to get it reopened. We all feel like this could be the place and we are now in the middle of the paperwork for taking it over. We are also continuing our need for fundraising! Right now a couple from the team is in the US speaking at different churches. And I am slightly jealous that they get to be Stateside....

This past Friday was National Prayer day here. A few of us went to an international service held in a state church in the center of the city. It was international! I think there were a lot more immigrants there, then Danish people. It was a great experience to worship with so many different nationalities. And to hear and see them pray for the leaders of this country even though it is not their "home land". It was amazing to be a part of.

Things have been busy with Danish lesson, meetings, and such. But, we are really moving forward and I am excited to see where we are heading with the shop.

Some work in Sweden

I spent my Easter holiday in Sweden. I took the two hour train ride over to Arrie (a very small country village outside of Malmo) and stayed with the American family living there. They have a large home, cafe, gallery, and barn on the property. Their goal is to start a coffee shop ministry and plant a church. However, the only buildings complete are the home, 2 galleries, and 1 room seating area for the cafe. Their is no bar or kitchen, all of that has to be built. During Easter time Malmo host a huge art round. Different artist rented the galleries on the property during this time. So, they decided to have a small trial cafe during this time. I went over to help. We served drip coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice, and various cakes. We kept our prices low and took plenty of time to visit with those who came in. It was a pretty successful 4 days. Many people from Malmo were excited to here the plans of a future country cafe and we received a lot of encouragement. However, this time also opened eyes to how much work needs to be done. Not, just with the fact there is no kitchen, no bar, and no water source to the cafe area (although getting those things done is a massive job in itself), but they were hit with the realization of the time commitment it takes to just run a cafe day to day. You are not working only when the doors are open. You are prepping and cleaning as well. It was and eye opening weekend. We were left thinking, we have an amazing opportunity here, but it is going to take A LOT of work to get the building to operational. And after that, they really need some missionaries to help support them in working and doing ministry. But, dreams are big and we got to pray with one girl and have lots of conversations with others. All the hard work will pay off!

on the steps of the cafe

the view out of the window

our simple set up

the cafe side of the property

running on the beach in Malmo

castle in Malmo

castle ruins near Arrie

All work and no play makes Katie grumpy...... so we had our good times too. Even though I have traveled to this area a few times (even the week before with my visitor) I had never been able to see any of the sites around. And since I am slightly stir crazy (especially when I don't have my running time) I got to take some good running trips. I ran around the small farm roads of Arrie. But, I was also taken to Malmo and ran down the coast towards the bridge from Danmark to Sweden. It was a gorgeous view to see Kobenhavn in the back ground. Then we drove around the city and I got to see a few of the landmarks of Malmo. It was nice to see some more of the country. Overall it was a good, but tiring trip.

Visitor From Home

When I was contacted that a future missionary was interested in coming to visit me I wasn't sure what that meant. But, I am always excited to have visitors and to share with others who are interested in missionary work, so I said "yeah come on over." I got to spend about 10 days showing her what it was like to be a volunteer missionary in Northern Europe. It was very different from the places she had been before. I really enjoyed the time. It was like a gift from home for me. To have someone around that understood where I was coming from and someone to take places. It was fun to play tourist in the midst of all of the work. And yes we did get some work done in Sweden and in Greve. :)  We went over the the Sweden shop and painted and prepped the cafe room. We also got a chance to wander around Malmo and explore the down town area. It was a great break and joy for me to have someone from home. Sometimes we need that reminder and encouragement to keep going. And this visit was that for me!

Fundraising for Copenhagen

We are starting a new fundraiser for the Copenhagen shop. Here are the details-

Fundraiser: Cup of Coffee for Copenhagen-

Coffee is a way of life in Denmark! There is a huge coffee culture in Copenhagen.  Churches are really struggling in Denmark and we need to find creative ways to reach people. So, we are combining the familiarity of coffee with outreach. The Church of the Nazarene in Denmark is going to be opening a coffee shop / ministry center in Copenhagen to go out and reach people where their interests are. Through the coffee shop we will find unique ways to share the gospel, start Bible studies, and support non-profit organizations (such as donations to NCM). This project in Copenhagen is the dream of members in the Greve Church of the Nazarene. It will be their new start ministry and they need some help to get things going. We still need to raise $50,000 to be able to purchase the building and keep it in operation for 1 year. We are looking for some help with fundraising, so we set up this project- A Cup of Coffee for Copenhagen.

How it works-

            The leader can choose a time period to raise the funds (such as 1-2 months that works with the church calendar). During that time challenge each person to give up one of their favorite coffee drinks a week, and donate the cost of that to the Copenhagen Shop. At the end of the time period collect the funds and send them in to help support us!

I am really excited to start this new ministry in Denmark. There is a real need for a creative way to reach people. There is a strong team here, who has been praying about this new ministry for 3 years. It is time to put this call into action! Our plan is to have property purchased by July 1^st and then open the shop by September 1st. We would love any kind of support. If you, your church, small group, or whatever are interested in participating with this fundraiser, please email me at katie_rae27@yahoo.com. Thank you for all of your prayer and support! 

Scandinavian District Assembly

I spent this past week trying to help prepare for the assembly. I am not sure how much of a help I was, but I think I had a pretty interesting job. There are 3 churches, and 2 new starts on the district. Each group speaks a different language. There is the Greve church, Copenhagen Cafe (new start) that are from Denmark, the Sweden Cafe (new start) that are Americans in Sweden, a Portuguese speaking church in Oslo, Norway, and a Korean church in Helsinki, Finland. It makes for a pretty interesting gathering. All of the pastoral and district reports were written in original languages and needed to be submitted into English. I was given the task of making sure they were in "correct" English. Thank God for Google translate and 4 Danish housemates. It was a pretty entertaining job, after all Google translate does not translate into proper sentences and does not account for cultural phrases. It got some pretty interesting sentences to figure out. :) But, I think I succeeded with expressing everyone's thoughts in understandable English.

The assembly was held in Helsinki, Finland. I was excited to add another country to my list. When we got there, we spent the first day walking around the city. It is a beautiful city on the water, it is actually a bunch of islands bridge together. We got to see the harbor and experience seeing some traditional Finish food in the market. We also saw a really huge Lutheran church. It reminded me of a lot of the catholic churches I have seen. 

I spent the weekend sitting in different meetings, NMI, District Advisory Board, discussions about the new work in Sweden. I think my mind has hit discussion overload. I don't see how all these church leaders can do this weekend after weekend. It's not my favorite activity. However, I think we have come to a great place with everything. I did really enjoy my conversations with our Field Strategy Coordinator, Regional Director and his wife, and the GS's wife. I felt very encouraged listening to them and what they had to share. I did walk away feeling inspired and supported and ready to move forward with both of the cafe teams (Copenhagen and Sweden).

We also had an ordination service for the pastor in Finland. It was another exciting experience to be a part of. I don't know how to describe what it feels like to pray over another Elder and the power of the Spirit in that moment. I hope it is a feeling and memory I never loose. 

It was a great weekend! I am so glad I get to be a part of the Scandinavian District! There are a lot of wonderful people on this district!!! 

Danish Crew in front of the Lutheran church

Danish Crew touring Helsinki

Lutheran church

Harbor in Helsinki

walkin around Helsinki

walkin around Helsinki

Ordination Service

the beach by the house

the botanical gardens in Copenhagen

newspaper war during youth group

newspaper war during youth group

newspaper war during youth group

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! :)