5764,6 kilometers, Sollentuna (home!), Sweden
We are finally home after 27 days of traveling, visiting, praying and exploring. Traveling wears you out, emotionally as well as physically. Strange how sitting in a car, only moving your right ankle and fore-arms exhaust you. Out of shape I guess...
It was great meeting Marcus and Mia in Falun after not seeing them for about four years. We had much too little time to really catch up, but it was great to reconnect after such a long time. After a nice breakfast in their impeccably designed apartment, we hit the road again.
Found a hitchhiker called Gabriel, who was going to a school reuniun at a "folkhögskola" in Biskops-Arnö, a beautifully located school on an island outside of Stockholm. He showed us around the place as he reminisced about his days at school. A really good guy with lots of stories.
People like Gabriel sum up our trip. There simply are a lot of really beautiful people in this twisted world. People like our friends in Broby that try to incorporate the values of 24-7 in their community and among the local kids. Like our crazy friends in Denmark who invite us as if we were part of the family and work out community in both a 24-7 and YWAM context at once. Like our friends in Neubrandenburg who are willing to stay for as long as it takes to build Gods Kingdom in the forgotten and marginalized parts of empire. Like our salvation army friends in Riga who have a rhythm of prayer as a foundation for the innumerable things they do. Like our friends in Helsinki who try to invest more locally. Like our friends in Pyhäranta who want to live out life together during the summer, listening to God and learning as they go along. Like Sinikka in Oulu, who longs for a true expression of community in her town, and has become a good friend. And many more, not to mention Misty, Scot, Mimi and Evan, who have shared life with us for a large part of the journey, and have been with us through both the good and the less good.
As we have met all these people as well as explored all these places it just seems blatant that God is at work all around the Baltic Sea. As we have traveled, we have added our prayers to the many others prayed over this corner of the world, connecting the dots somewhat and having a blast while doing it. As I don't have Evan's ability to make and unmake invisible things, I can't verify the two first items, but we really did have a blast. Blues worked great, we met friends, we traveled, saw places, people and things I've never seen before, we recieved plenty, gave quite a bit, lived simply, saw God provide again and again. What else could we ask? For now, the only thing that springs to mind is a good nights sleep before jetting off to Croatia 5 AM tomorrow morning.
A big "Thank You" to all of you who have prayed, read the blog and have had us over. You rock!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Change of plans
About 5600 kilometers, Falun, Sweden
God came through again. As we woke up yesterday we get a text from my dad saying he has put some money into our account, making it possible for us to go home (leaving Blues by the road and hitching home would be an interesting, but not very desirable end of the journey).
Halfway home we decide that we aren't quite ready to go home just yet, and realize that friends we haven't met for ages, Marcus and Mia, live just 80 km from where we are heading. After a quick call, we head to Falun. It has been really nice catching up a bit and sharing diverse stories, as well as watching Germany barely beat Turkey in the Semifinals. I would have loved Turkey in the finals, and they put up a good fight, but to no avail.
Tomorrow we head head home for real (we think). Just to re-pack, clean our clothes and leave for Croatia, where we celebrate dad's birthday with our family. This trip has been amazing, and our travels have been a period of intensive learning. Being mobile is great, and God has been more than faithful (who would have guessed?), but there is something about coming home that... I don't know. There is just something very special about it.
Thanks for following our journey.
God came through again. As we woke up yesterday we get a text from my dad saying he has put some money into our account, making it possible for us to go home (leaving Blues by the road and hitching home would be an interesting, but not very desirable end of the journey).
Halfway home we decide that we aren't quite ready to go home just yet, and realize that friends we haven't met for ages, Marcus and Mia, live just 80 km from where we are heading. After a quick call, we head to Falun. It has been really nice catching up a bit and sharing diverse stories, as well as watching Germany barely beat Turkey in the Semifinals. I would have loved Turkey in the finals, and they put up a good fight, but to no avail.
Tomorrow we head head home for real (we think). Just to re-pack, clean our clothes and leave for Croatia, where we celebrate dad's birthday with our family. This trip has been amazing, and our travels have been a period of intensive learning. Being mobile is great, and God has been more than faithful (who would have guessed?), but there is something about coming home that... I don't know. There is just something very special about it.
Thanks for following our journey.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Finally in Sweden
5102 kilometers, Härnösand, Sweden
No matter how much we love traveling, there is a certain something about walking into a shop and being able to read all the signs, or saying hello to people, knowing they will answer you in the same language. Welcome back to Sweden.
We left Sinikka's place all bubbly. It was just one of those meetings where there is a certain connection, which is especially interesting as we hardly knew each other before meeting. I love gatherings and events where you meet a lot of people at once to share stories. But sitting in a kitchen over a cup of tea beats any gathering hands down. After we shared journies, prayed and ate we walked away feeling that we had made a new friend, knowing that we had given and taken in equal measures. Lovely.
We were sad to leave, but felt that our days left were running thin. Stayed the night on Seskarö, one of the northen most island in the baltic sea. Finding a place to spend the night after a pray on the shore proved to be more difficult than we thought. 2400 kilos of Mr.Blues proved to be an easy target for the soft sand, leavin the tires deeply embedded in the stuff. Luckily we had experience from last years adventures in Latvia, teaching us to place the car-mats under the tires. After a mere 20 minutes of digging, emotional self-control and prayer, Blues was free from the clutches of the sand. Instead of sand we fought mosquitoes the rest of the night.
Next night was one of extensive driving, all the way to the south of Umeå, where we spent the night. This morning we both woke up feeling rather blah, for unknown reasons. We kept heading south until we came to Höga Kusten, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We climbed Skuleberget, a daring and exhausting venture, which wiped away all blah-ness. Just a powerful experience, standing on a cliff, 285 meters above sea level, knowing that water once was lapping at our feet. With the ice-age 3 kilometers of ice covered the land, pressing it down with its weight. Now the land has risen with amazing speed. If you haven't been there, please visit soon.
After that we were warmly welcomed by the Arenanders, my sister in law's parents. Clas even drove us around town, showing us the sights, including a lesson in tree recognition. Resa has alredy gone to bed, and I'm just about to join here in a minute. A short art exhibition tomorrow before we finish our journey in Stockholm tomorrow afternoon. If a miracle occurs, that is, as we just put our last money in the tank which by no means is enough to get us home. However... I'm not worried.
Motto of 2008: "It will work out. It always does"
No matter how much we love traveling, there is a certain something about walking into a shop and being able to read all the signs, or saying hello to people, knowing they will answer you in the same language. Welcome back to Sweden.
We left Sinikka's place all bubbly. It was just one of those meetings where there is a certain connection, which is especially interesting as we hardly knew each other before meeting. I love gatherings and events where you meet a lot of people at once to share stories. But sitting in a kitchen over a cup of tea beats any gathering hands down. After we shared journies, prayed and ate we walked away feeling that we had made a new friend, knowing that we had given and taken in equal measures. Lovely.
We were sad to leave, but felt that our days left were running thin. Stayed the night on Seskarö, one of the northen most island in the baltic sea. Finding a place to spend the night after a pray on the shore proved to be more difficult than we thought. 2400 kilos of Mr.Blues proved to be an easy target for the soft sand, leavin the tires deeply embedded in the stuff. Luckily we had experience from last years adventures in Latvia, teaching us to place the car-mats under the tires. After a mere 20 minutes of digging, emotional self-control and prayer, Blues was free from the clutches of the sand. Instead of sand we fought mosquitoes the rest of the night.
Next night was one of extensive driving, all the way to the south of Umeå, where we spent the night. This morning we both woke up feeling rather blah, for unknown reasons. We kept heading south until we came to Höga Kusten, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We climbed Skuleberget, a daring and exhausting venture, which wiped away all blah-ness. Just a powerful experience, standing on a cliff, 285 meters above sea level, knowing that water once was lapping at our feet. With the ice-age 3 kilometers of ice covered the land, pressing it down with its weight. Now the land has risen with amazing speed. If you haven't been there, please visit soon.
After that we were warmly welcomed by the Arenanders, my sister in law's parents. Clas even drove us around town, showing us the sights, including a lesson in tree recognition. Resa has alredy gone to bed, and I'm just about to join here in a minute. A short art exhibition tomorrow before we finish our journey in Stockholm tomorrow afternoon. If a miracle occurs, that is, as we just put our last money in the tank which by no means is enough to get us home. However... I'm not worried.
Motto of 2008: "It will work out. It always does"
Saturday, June 21, 2008
the longest day's drive
4308 kilometers, Oulu, Finland
Here I am in Oulu feeling both sleepy and expectant. It was a long days drive from Pyhäranta. A nice hour long stop in Vaasa for a yummy lunch in an overgrown field, prayed some big prayers and off we went again, only to pick up a hitchhiker and make a new friend. People don't hitchhike very often in Finland, I can imagine, and when they do they are bound to be interesting. I liked listening to stories of Alin's journeys and was glad we had picked him up when it started to pour down with rain shortly afterwards and continued like that for an hour. We cooked dinner about 20km outside of Oulu and had interesting conversations. He told us that sometimes he gets a feeling when someone stops to give him a ride that he shouldn't get in the car, and sometimes he doesn't. He said that people often think he is crazy, but actually I understood him quite well.
I'm not really sure what the point of the journey would be without God, or even with life in general. I'm reminded again in so many ways today that God is always with us and speaking. We just need to tune in and listen.
It is refreshing to be here at Sinnika's place. She has a gorgeous apartment which feels very homey and has given us her bed for the night. We had one of those conversations over fika which leave you slightly energized and encouraged and more aware of God around you. And that was before we prayed.
I'm off to bed, as it looks like it is another early morning tomorrow. Thanks for following our travels.
Here I am in Oulu feeling both sleepy and expectant. It was a long days drive from Pyhäranta. A nice hour long stop in Vaasa for a yummy lunch in an overgrown field, prayed some big prayers and off we went again, only to pick up a hitchhiker and make a new friend. People don't hitchhike very often in Finland, I can imagine, and when they do they are bound to be interesting. I liked listening to stories of Alin's journeys and was glad we had picked him up when it started to pour down with rain shortly afterwards and continued like that for an hour. We cooked dinner about 20km outside of Oulu and had interesting conversations. He told us that sometimes he gets a feeling when someone stops to give him a ride that he shouldn't get in the car, and sometimes he doesn't. He said that people often think he is crazy, but actually I understood him quite well.
I'm not really sure what the point of the journey would be without God, or even with life in general. I'm reminded again in so many ways today that God is always with us and speaking. We just need to tune in and listen.
It is refreshing to be here at Sinnika's place. She has a gorgeous apartment which feels very homey and has given us her bed for the night. We had one of those conversations over fika which leave you slightly energized and encouraged and more aware of God around you. And that was before we prayed.
I'm off to bed, as it looks like it is another early morning tomorrow. Thanks for following our travels.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Pleasure spiked with pain
3688 kilometers, Pyhäranta, Finland
Arrived safe and sound in Pyhäranta (Holy Beach) without any major incidents. Dropped by Lahti to visit Petra who utterly spoiled us with delicious food (which was quite expected). Driving took a bit longer than expected, but finally we arrived at the address we thought was correct, but assumed we has got it all wrong, as the "house" turned out to be a huge mansion-like residence right on the water. We tentatively walk up to the house and ring the bell, almost expecting a butler to ask us for the purpose of our visit. Instead we are greeted with hugs and ice-cream. Beats any butler I've ever met.
Our friends are exploring communal living for the summer and mix work, meals and prayer in an interesting mix. They are usually around 10, but tonight we have a midsummer celebration, expecting around 40 people to show up. We even sent some hand-made invitations to some folks from the local elderly home, so we may even be more than that.
So far we've just been resting, pretty much doing nothing but reading, eating, praying, eating, rowing out to an island, having saunas, eating and swimming. Bliss.
However, this morning, we were rudely shaken out of this bliss, as Misty and Scot's son Evan (4 years old) woke up sick, and soon was didn't respond to any exterior stimulation at all. Here is where the Finns impress me. Within 10 minutes of our phone-call the ambulance as well as the local rescue patrol arrive (remember, we are in the sticks). They decide they need advice from a doctor, so after another ten minutes a helicopter (not kidding!) flies in with a doctor who does some further tests. 7 people all in all. Turns out Evan had really low blood sugar for some reason (as I know a thing or two about that, I should have been able to read the symptoms), and after a shot of glucagon he was doing better. Because we have no idea why this happened, they are bringing him to the hospital in Turku for observation and further tests. During all of this we have been praying and have been quite worried, so if you are the praying kind, please pray for protection and clear answers for the Bowers.
However, we are sure everything will turn out OK in the end (God has it sorted. If anything, he has proved that to us this trip). The only thing that saddens us is that we won't be able to say a proper goodbye to Misty and Evan if they stay at the hospital over night, as we need to head up alone to Oulo early tomorrow. Misty and Scot are heading over to Sweden early next week, but all that depends on what the test results are. More later.
Arrived safe and sound in Pyhäranta (Holy Beach) without any major incidents. Dropped by Lahti to visit Petra who utterly spoiled us with delicious food (which was quite expected). Driving took a bit longer than expected, but finally we arrived at the address we thought was correct, but assumed we has got it all wrong, as the "house" turned out to be a huge mansion-like residence right on the water. We tentatively walk up to the house and ring the bell, almost expecting a butler to ask us for the purpose of our visit. Instead we are greeted with hugs and ice-cream. Beats any butler I've ever met.
Our friends are exploring communal living for the summer and mix work, meals and prayer in an interesting mix. They are usually around 10, but tonight we have a midsummer celebration, expecting around 40 people to show up. We even sent some hand-made invitations to some folks from the local elderly home, so we may even be more than that.
So far we've just been resting, pretty much doing nothing but reading, eating, praying, eating, rowing out to an island, having saunas, eating and swimming. Bliss.
However, this morning, we were rudely shaken out of this bliss, as Misty and Scot's son Evan (4 years old) woke up sick, and soon was didn't respond to any exterior stimulation at all. Here is where the Finns impress me. Within 10 minutes of our phone-call the ambulance as well as the local rescue patrol arrive (remember, we are in the sticks). They decide they need advice from a doctor, so after another ten minutes a helicopter (not kidding!) flies in with a doctor who does some further tests. 7 people all in all. Turns out Evan had really low blood sugar for some reason (as I know a thing or two about that, I should have been able to read the symptoms), and after a shot of glucagon he was doing better. Because we have no idea why this happened, they are bringing him to the hospital in Turku for observation and further tests. During all of this we have been praying and have been quite worried, so if you are the praying kind, please pray for protection and clear answers for the Bowers.
However, we are sure everything will turn out OK in the end (God has it sorted. If anything, he has proved that to us this trip). The only thing that saddens us is that we won't be able to say a proper goodbye to Misty and Evan if they stay at the hospital over night, as we need to head up alone to Oulo early tomorrow. Misty and Scot are heading over to Sweden early next week, but all that depends on what the test results are. More later.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
To Finland and Beyond...
3256, Helsinki, Finland
After a brilliant stay in Estonia, staying at the historical sity of Happsalu, and visiting sparkling Tallin we jetted on to Helsinki. A friend of us through 24-7 met us and took wonderful care of us. getting us a place to stay, taking us out to food, making sure just everything worked. I can't stress enough the joy of a warm bed... Mmmm.... Sleep in.... Mmmm. We have been quite cold lately. We have again been blessed with friendship and economy. We hooked up with wonderful Laura and Vilja for a rainy day in Helsinki, catching up, sharing stories, dreams, and communion in Helsinki Central station.
Today we are treated to what I expect to be a lavish lunch in Lahti, where we visit our excellent friend Petra, and then moving on to the "Holy Beach" where we are meeting a community and perhaps spend midsummer.
Thanks for prayers.
After a brilliant stay in Estonia, staying at the historical sity of Happsalu, and visiting sparkling Tallin we jetted on to Helsinki. A friend of us through 24-7 met us and took wonderful care of us. getting us a place to stay, taking us out to food, making sure just everything worked. I can't stress enough the joy of a warm bed... Mmmm.... Sleep in.... Mmmm. We have been quite cold lately. We have again been blessed with friendship and economy. We hooked up with wonderful Laura and Vilja for a rainy day in Helsinki, catching up, sharing stories, dreams, and communion in Helsinki Central station.
Today we are treated to what I expect to be a lavish lunch in Lahti, where we visit our excellent friend Petra, and then moving on to the "Holy Beach" where we are meeting a community and perhaps spend midsummer.
Thanks for prayers.
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