Sorry so late!

OK So you all had to wait a long time for tomorrow. When I returned to Sweden, my life got busier than ever before. Time to do anything like blogging was put asside, and even if I had time on the computer, it was short spells to check out my moms blogg, or my sibblings böoggs, read and answer (some) emails, and pay bills. The shortened version of my trip to Bulgaria is that with the advise of both my pastor and one of the elders, we decided against taking the team to Bulgaria. The main reasons were that I (as the sole team leader) could not insure the saftey of the team. That is what sent me into a whirlwind of research, phone calls, emails and web surfing- to find an alternative trip. The answer came really close to home, in a way.
Our church works very closly with another church- the Missions Church here in Vännäs.One of the team members is from the Missions church, and she had a suggestion. One of their members has a sister that works as a missionary in Mijas, Spain. Their son is the pastor at the church and in charge of the Bible school there as well. First we prayed- that God would open the doors we were to go through and close the ones we were not to go through. Then we called the sister, got the number for the pastor, and called him. He was very oppened to having us come for 2 weeks, and it worked well in their plans to have us come on the very weeks we had previously planned!
So, now we are on our way to southern Spain! We are leaving on the 23rd of July and returning the 10th of August. Our mission is mainly to do practical work while there- cleaning the Bible school. We also are looking forward to blessing the pastor and his family in some unique ways. It has been a joy to work with the group that is assembled.
Last week we had 2½ days of "team building". Even this was a challange. I had invited someone to help with the activities so I could also be involved, when not taking care of the practical aspects of our little "get away". Two weeks before we were to go, the woman called me and canceled- she had broken her leg!! So, I spent one week trying to find a replacement, and the other getting the activities together, because I couldn't find a replacement! (There was a lot of praying in between there too!!)
Turns out that we had a blast together! God was really there with us, and I could feel his presence leading me the whole way. Solving the practical problems became a part of the team building- with the added difficulty of not being able to see (for half the group) or not being able to talk (the other half of the group). We found some really creative ways of communicating, leading one another, and helping each other. Even the discussion afterwards was fun! I am so psyked to go on this trip with this group.
And there is one more thing to be really happy about. We needed to raise 45000 swedish kronor (a little more than 7500 dollars) to take the 6 of us there, room and board while we are there, and get home again. There is not the same sort of financial backing from the churches here as in the states, so we had to WORK for the money. But we can praise our wonderful Savior- we got the cash!! Our youngest team member baked and sold muffins door to door for 5 weeks to earn $500, Katrina came with me to do tattoos twice to earn $600, I took on extra teaching, and the other team members worked overtime to earn money. We also did a number of presentations at churches- drama, testemonies, singing, telling about our trip. That earned us a little too. We still have one more fundraiser to do- this Sunday. We are working with a bike shop in Vännäs, and having a unicycle day. The reigning swedish master of unicycle "just happens" to be a member of our church, and works at the bike shop. He was more than willing to help out, and even do a show for us! So we are really glad for his help and for the help of 360 Norr who is sponsering with setting up the competition, running the show, and for all the prizes!! And a special thanks to Niklas Jonsson (reigning Swedish master in unicycling) for all his help as well!

And the excitement never ends. I wanted to post some pictures, but the cable for the digital camera is missing. And while posting this blogg, a water connection upstairs just decided to spring a leak. So, gotta go get a bunch of towels.