Uniting with young leaders

*Tämän blogitekstin kirjoitan englanniksi, koska lähetän linkin myös ulkomaalaisille ystäville.*

So, finally I could get internet on my computer so that I can write a new blog text! Greetings from our church in Kutina. :) Last Wednesday was interesting since there was sun, rain and clouds. Today it's a beautiful sunny autumn day, therefore it's a good time to look back to the weekend on the coast. In Selce, to be precise. I'm gonna do it mostly with pictures because time to time they manage to tell the story in a way words can't.

 

Who and why?

WHO: Norway's largest missionary organization NMS (Norwegian Mission Society) & 9 young youth leaders + their 6 leaders from Estonia, Croatia & Norway (+ me, random driver from Finland)
WHY: NMS has had different projects over the years, and now they started this project which is meant to bring young youth leaders together from different countries and help them to improve their skills and knowledge in their work in the church. The camp will be held in a different country each year, and this year it was in Croatia.

 

Why I was there?

The reason I was participating was a need for a driver for the church's car. Elina called me on Monday last week and asked if I could go there. For me it sounded like an adventure, so why not?

 

What happened?

In the camp we had a few ceminars concidering subjects like group work, different personalities and life skills. In the morning we had a morning prayer and in the evening worship songs and evening prayer. The last two were my favourites during the day. :) During the camp there were a couple of thoughts that came to mind:

1. It doesn't matter where we come from, because in Christ we are one family.
2. English really is an international language. But it's also interesting how to figure things out when people don't know how to speak it.
3. Anything is possible.
4. Human brain can adapt incredibly to a number of various situations.
5. It doesn't matter how big the car is as long as you stay calm in the traffic.
6. Prayer works!
7. In different situations it's great to see how people help each other.
8. There is so much to learn from cultures and from each other. It never stops.
9. Being friendly towards people helps a lot. Even when you don't have the same language or culture.
10. There is so much to be thankful for.

Hey, you who were involved in this adventure: Thank you so much for everything! It was great to meet you and learn different things together. :) See you again (maybe)!

Here are some pictures from the camp (by the way, I'm so sorry for the pictures being so messy. Me and blogspot are not friends in that area :P):

Anything can happen on the way :P

Before every big meal, there is a soup as an appetizer

Art on the walls of the hostel where we ate

So many types of Milka-chocolate!

Don't mind driving here, thank you for asking ^^

Cap sister and brothers at a shopping mall in Rijeka

Driving on the streets of Rijeka

See the van on the up-right? Another interesting situation with the car, but everything went fine. Thank you God! ^^

People from Estonia, Norway, Croatia & Finland :)

One of my favourite road parts at the coast

Joshua the Hedgehog enjoying (?) himself

One of the best parts of being a volunteer: in the rain, waiting for to pay the parking fee at the airport

The parking meter at the Zagreb airport

The sea and the sunset <3

A quote from... The Hobbit!

Our presenters for the breakfast plate!

Normal breakfast at the hostel

Croatian people telling about their country, youth work and church :)

The gospel in four pictures

Another quote from the Hobbit!

Learning how to do advise someone to do something

When you can only use abstract words like "a circle" or "a line", drawing a single thing like a boat becomes interesting

1st try (from the previous picture)

2nd try (from the previous picture)

3rd try (from the previous picture)

4th and the final picture (from the 1st picture to here, how did it go?)

Trying to stand up without talking with your partner

Drawing three things in a way where two people hold the same pen and can't talk to each other about what they're supposed to draw: 1. House 2. A boy and a girl together 3. Freedom

How to lay down a stick in a group

"Everyone's touching the stick, right?"

Dinner outside ^^

Estonian candy made from the leftovers from other candies!

The name of our nice hostel

See the dark van in the corner? It wasn't that easy to get it inside with all the other cars, but with the help of a norwegian leader we survived! Life skills at their best: working together.

A good-for-nothing mirror selfie

Thinking of the goals for the congregation, Estonian style!

Sharing some thoughts

Last evening's meal in Rijeka

The 1st course

Someone in the dark

The main course

The streets of Rijeka 1

Dessert :p

This is what happens when you give your camera to young people while going to the bathroom...

The streets of Rijeka 2

Getting together with the thoughts and ideas from the camp

Last worship before going home

Another group photo :) The hats me and the guy in the back are wearing was a gift from NMS-U. It says "Love somebody" in the front and it's warm and comfy!