So, the apples I received from students last Wednesday went into an apple cake yesterday.
I brought the cake to share with the staff, but there is now a community fika (coffee/tea break) after Tuesday’s chapel. So, I changed the plan and invited students for an afternoon fika, including two of the apple givers, the giver of the recipe book, and two who are Swedish conversation partners, as well as any who came into the student lounge at the time. Here was the beginning fika group.
As the Old Testament teacher, I relayed that I was blessed with the apples and was then able to be a blessing with them; blessed to be a blessing is an important OT theme!
The apple cake was very sweet. I followed the recipe, but this was over-the-top sweet. Note: no glaze next time!
After fika, I had a Swedish conversation time with one student. Our conversations were at a white board, which is great for me as a visual learner to see the vowels and differentiate between similar words. The conversation steered to some important OT words (for Pam: the divine name, Torah, and hesed, which is translated “grace” in the dominant translation). It started because I’m not connecting with “Herre” (mister) as adequately representing the divine name of God in the OT. It was a great conversation. (Pam, any insights on this issue for me?)
Later, I chatted a bit with another distance student. She shared her story of what brought her to Johannelund. It was beautiful. Through a choir, she was enfolded into a church community after her husband died of cancer and she was experiencing great loss. Now, she wants to be equipped to care for others as her life has been transformed beyond just the loss. I love these stories!
She was also grateful for the additional resources I had posted on the Moodle page (an Internet portal for this course). She was feeling a bit stressed about the major paper, but the resources I prepared and posted were helpful for her. These are some amazing students, and I’m glad I can support them — be a blessing!
One or more students left a message to the community in the snow outside my window.
With blessings,
Beth
No snow today in Seattle; 60+ degrees and sunny and clear. No excuse not to vote across the country. Now we wait. . . trying not to watch the ‘news’ until it truly is all counted and over.
Leslie and I are together for a prayer retreat and read your blog together. We love it and you!!!