Saturday was a big day in Stockholm…a royal wedding of the Princess of Sweden to AN AMERICAN! It was great to observe all the preparations and to watch the wedding on television. Men on horses, marching bands, cannons firing, bells ringing, horse-drawn carriage, and a boat parade. It was a beautiful day as we prepared to return home early Monday.
Sunday was a rainy day as we went to the services at New Life Church in Stockholm. (This is the church where Grant and Lindsay Morgan will be serving this fall.) We enjoyed the services at 10 and 1, followed by a luncheon for twenty as we mixed with church leaders and Kelli Dahlin, a Converge short termer working at New Life this summer. John van Dinther preached an excellent message, and the group especially enjoyed the Fika. New Life stops the service forty-five minutes in and takes a fifteen minute coffee break. (What a great way to network with people!) I noticed many like nursing their coffee and tea through the sermon. Let’s do it!
Then it was off to turn in the vans and settle in at the airport. We stayed at Sky City, a hotel right in the terminal building at the airport. We sat around tables later that night and shared a wonderful Swedish meal…cheese pizza. We shared on our last night about the highlights of the trip.
Monday morning, up at 5:30 for a 7 AM check-in. Two hour layover in Newark, and finally home sweet Whittier.
Epilogue:
As I reflect on our weeks together, it was a great group! No problems, but many tears…. Our hearts were touched in several places by the dear friends along the way. It felt like the last day of summer bible camp as a boy, saying farewell to friends, wishing we could all stay together.
Thanks so much for your prayers during these days. The vertigo is gone, Praise God! The saints were encouraged, but we were blessed. One friend wrote, “Thank you so much for blessing me and my family personally. Thank you for spreading God’s kingdom in all the world.” To God be the glory….
