Danny and Manuela

Stockholm

For the weekend we drove up to Stockholm. Danny played disc golf in the Stockholm Open while Manuela went shopping for 10 hours. We camped at a nearby campsite, the weather was great and Stockholm showed itself from its best side.

Chris Zimmerman from the Niagara Falls, surprised us here in Holsby. He was a student with us 6 years ago. While he was on tour in Europe with his brother DJ Dead Mau5 he decided to jump on the train and see his old home Holsby. What a surprise! It was so good to see him again and to talk about the good old times.

Justin Priebe from Langley, BC who was also a student with us, attended his brother’s wedding in Denmark. He drove up together with his whole family to visit Holsby.

6 years ago he was the youngest student our year. And already back then you could see how God called him out of his old life and changed him radically.

A few years ago he got into a bad accident with his motor cycle and suffered severe brain damage. To see how he clings to Jesus through the hard times and is passionate about him, encourages us so much. His long term memory works perfectly and to listen to his stories from the “Guys Dorm” was simply amazing. Being reminded of things we had almost forgotten. It was so good to see him again after so many years.

Jasmin Maier together with her daughter came up in June and Inge Rinklin just visited us last week. We are privileged to live here – old friends always find their way back home.

Camps at Holsby

One of our highlights of the summer season was to have the Immanuel Church here from Stockholm. This international youth group has been coming here for many years now. The kids had a lot of fun and to see their hunger for Jesus was very encouraging. Here you see Danny with his maple sirup. The kids had to make pancakes over the open fire as a part of a group activity.

Even though the summer could have been fuller, it was rich in conversations and experiences. God touched and changed lives. For many of the Swedish confirmation kids it was the first time they heard about a living relationship to Jesus. They reached their limits in the ropes course and experienced team work and fair play during the initiative games.

Our last group of the summer was a school class with a bunch of 12 year olds. Carved names in bunk beds, mattresses soaked in pop and the fire alarm set off for fun … this group really kept us on our toes. The kids loved throwing water balloons at Danny at the end of one of our games. They had a lot of fun and we trust that the Lord will continue to speak to them after their time here.

Our summer was full of surprises and things we could not foresee. So our plans to visit our parents were interrupted by an operation which Manuela had to have. They had to take out her left ovary because of a cyst.

I am fully recovered and I am happy I can get in and out of bed without pain and sleep through the night. The days shortly after the operation were difficult, but also fulfilling. I could see life through different eyes. One afternoon I remember clearly. Sitting in the rocking chair on our porch, listening to country music I was so filled with such joy. Thankfulness about my life and about the decisions I have made so far, the ways the Lord led me so far. It was great to feel so alive for the first time in a long time. Life has been so busy … to be able to stop and ponder, was a great blessing I would not have wanted to miss.

The biopsy came back as neither benign nor malignant. The current diagnosis reads borderline. So Manuela will be closely monitored and have regular checks. The next appointment will probably be in November. We are so thankful the cyst was found and could be removed. Thank you very much for your prayers.