The director of JTH, Hans, invited me to go with his mentor’s group to a city about a 2.5 hour road trip to the northwest. This JTH tradition gets students into various EFS churches. (The EFS is a subgroup under the Church of Sweden which comes from a pietistic tradition out of the Scandinavian Reformation of the late 1800s with an emphasis on lay leaders—but also with ordained clergy—and global mission.) I figured this would be a chance to connect with Hans, students, another EFS congregation, as well as see a bit of Sweden.
It ends up that there is only 1 student along, the one who will be preaching. He was my student last fall, and I know he has some good thinking, but now I get to hear more of his story. He comes from a line of carpenters and farmers in a central crossroads area in Sweden between large lakes. He says that before IKEA, his family made furniture that filled the farmhouses in that area. But now, there is less demand because of the expense of hand-crafted furniture. I asked of what he thought of IKEA. He wasn’t as negative as expected, as his family has chosen diverse professions, and he is pursuing the vocation of a pastor.
The city, Borlänge, is in the Dalarna region, which is literally “the valleys” in Swedish. Many know the Dala Horse, and we passed a very big one!
This area is higher and has rolling hills, with one that is steep enough to have some downhill skiing. (Not quite Washington state’s mountain skiing!) The area looks quite like northern Minnesota with pine and birch forests. This area used to have a big steel mill. Now they are specialists in rolling steel. The iron is mined in other places in Sweden and cast into semi-finished casting products which are sent here by train. The specialized production here converts the semi-finished casting products into finished products, big rolls of steel, that are shipped all over.
The evening plans included a congregational gathering. There were about 40 or so in attendance. Hans did the main presentation looking at Finnish hymns in the Swedish hymnbook, as he is Swedish-Finnish. (There are parts of Finland where Swedish is dominant, while all students learn Swedish in school, which is part of the remnant of the Swedish empire days when they controlled of Finland. The student introduced himself, and there were many questions about his experience at JTH. This congregation has had one of the professors come on several occasions for preaching and teaching, so there is a pretty good relationship with the school. I gave a little homily as part of telling a bit about who I am (I prefer to point to Jesus), and the student translated. He spent a year in England volunteering at the Walsingham pilgrimage center, so he has a distinctive British pronunciation of his English.
My host family were kind. I slept very well with a great view of the a partially-rural area out my bedroom window.
I was in their son’s room, who is now in university in Gothenberg. However, I discovered a book in his bookshelf from his younger years. I think I might have to find me a copy!
The Sunday morning service, went well for the student preacher. I said it went very well, for what I could understand (though it wasn’t much!).
There was also bilingual content for the Ethiopian children.
After the service, we had a lunch with some of the international men that are served by the congregation, including from Pakistan, Syria, and Ethiopia. They have international Bible studies in 5 languages at the church: Arabic, Spanish-Portuguese combined, English, and Swedish. I helped the Syrian young man, who is studying at the university, find an online New Testament in modern Syriac, which is similar to the Aramaic that Jesus spoke. (The first Syriac Bible was probably translated in the 2nd century AD!)
Really, there was an amazing spirit and warmth. Even though at the beginning of the trip I wondered why I had agreed to come, by the end, I was enriched and blessed.
We took a bit of a scenic route on the way home and stopped by a very old church from the 1300s.
Yes, I did make good connections and see a bit of Sweden. And one of the retired women who is volunteering to teach English to immigrants and refugees, told me that she was impressed with my Swedish speaking for being here 7 months. I was encouraged.
For those who are worried about immigrants and refugees, I wish they could have joined me to see how this Swedish church has opened up their hearts and homes to welcome the sojourner. This is the real beauty of churches.
With blessings,
Beth
Wow, what an experience! Take as many of these as you can! I always felt the journeys into Maasaini were the best of our time in Monduli! You know, trekking with Nangole!
I agree with Jean but also because you may be asked to lead such a trip for future students down the line. Networking is important in your role.
“God is at work in you both to will and to workd for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) “You are where you are so Christ can be there.” -Dr. Martin Luther. God bless you as you represent the Kingdom that has no end. Dad