Fun insights of other places

When was the last time you saw a package of licorice candy - the real stuff? Licorice is very popular in Denmark. It comes in sweet, salty, hot and very hot flavors, some with berry flavors too. A tea shop we found in Helsinger had tea, some coffee and lots of licorice. The candy isles in the stores were filled with licorice; bulk, packaged and by the piece.
Everywhere in Europe people walk and use bicycles; but in Denmark they have special bike paths along the side of the road. These are cleared of snow first before the roads. Bike racks are everywhere and filled with bikes.
Arriving in Denmark we asked each other what is Denmark known for. We didn't know but found out not only licorice but Legos come from Denmark. Copenhagen Porcelain -way too expensive to get even a cup and saucer; bikes and being 'green', green architecture, wind mill generators, they are very energy conscious.

Everywhere in Europe It is not odd to stand close together in a bus, or sit next to someone unknown in a restaurant or on a bench; here we want our personal space.
Starbucks was no where in Albania or Italy where Coffee is served as macciato, latte or cappichino in very small cups. We found our favorite style of coffee only in the airports of Denmark and Malaysia but there were several in Singapore. Italian food is everywhere we went in Europe-lots of pizza and pasta.
Singapore is very clean. It is also a mix of people from all over. Shopping for electronic like camera, jewelry and watches is big. Orchids are popular. People in Singapore are very friendly and helpful. Food is a mix of all types of Asian, doesn't include sushi but a lot of cooked fish. Interesting fruits like dragon fruit, leech berries.
Malaysia is much like Hawaii. The island of Langkawi reminded me of Kauai. It is a famous holiday place for Muslims. We didn't learn much about what Malaysia is known for. Trinket made from coconut shells and sea shells, wood carvings, batkin scarves we would wear over bathing suits.

All the way around!!!

We have navigated all the way around the globe. Our last third of the journey, leaving Malaysia we stopped in Tiepae, China for a brief layover, and then on to LA and then Phoenix. Our whole trip was smooth; no missed flights, lost luggage, no sickness. Everything was great. We feel like we got to experience life in Albania through the homestay and walking through town and the village where we stayed; Rome, by staying in a 14th century villa that housed cardinals and priests. Denmark, we stayed a distance from town but once in town we walked all over. We spent much time on the pier where people gather each evening. Our side trips to Florence, Italy, Helsinger, wading in the Kettegot Bay, driving over the bridge to Malmo, Sweden allowed us the opportunity to see what is beyond the big cities. The world is both a big place and small at the same time. It is vast with large expanse of space and yet crowded where people seem to gather. It is small in that everywhere we go there are people from all over. Sometimes only language and sometimes just dress distinguished one nationality of people from another. But everywhere people with all their differences are the same, with the same needs and the same creator. It has been fun learning about people from around the world.

Malaysia --- we are here!!!

Our journey allows Just a couple of days in Singapore, a city much like Hawaii and yes very clean. The picture is taken from our hotel room. It is progressive in it architecture and a collection of people of all races and backgrounds. We enjoyed the Night safari but Wild Animal Park has it beat by a long way.
Flying on - just a short flight to Malaysia. We are here!!! Malaysia; the conference. We are on a very a tiny tropical island much like Hawaii might have been in the 30's. The resort is beautiful with several pools and a beautiful beach. Our Cabin is a 4 unit two story building - very nice comfortable room.
We are learning a lot about CRM, meeting people from all over the world, seeing Travis at work both publicly and privately as he connects with those he is doing ministry with. I can't share much detail in this blog but will do so in a letter to you when we return
Blogs have ears and some ears don't understand or like the work being done. But I will say that it has been an amazing experience to learn all about what these people from all over are doing with a common focus and goal that impact us individually and collectively for now and the future.
Humidity is high! We are thankful for great ac. Food is abundant and from many different cultures. Yesterday a boat ride to other islands gave us a perspective of the beauty from a bigger picture. We walked through a monkey filled rain forest, swam in a lake and watched eagles dive for fish. At our resort, we have walked the crushed sea shell beaches and waded in the warm waters of this ocean/sea. So, on this trip I have waded in this water, and the water north of Denmark - i believe the sea just below the Artic Ocean. I will have to do some geography to figure out what these waters are called.

Going further on around the globe.

We have driven, walked, done the metro and the city bus through Copenhagen and north to Helsingor, Denmark; over the bridge into Sweden and along the western coast. We notice a relaxed culture that enjoys hanging out in the parks, on the piers and city plazas. Language is often a barrier but we seem to get around it and figure things out. Our favorite city here is Helsingor, north of Copenhagen. It is more like what we expected here, a quaint town, less progressive and more local people.
Today we fly the second third of the globe on to Singapore. We expect a totally different culture and new experiences.

Walking the cobblestones of history

Rome is almost too much to grasp. We stumbled upon the church/school of Saint Ignazios while walking through the narrow streets. Nothing, easy to over look from the outside but amazing inside. We saw the Vatican with a great tour guide, later walked to the colosseum, Pantheon, through a couple of churches and around lots of ruins. An amazing place.
We expanded our experience by taking the train to Florence. A learning curve especially for Rick and I, Travis' experience was a great help. Florence was nothing of what any of us expected, but we had fun walking through the out door markets that were everywhere. We crossed the famous golden bridge that survived Hitler's destruction.
Now we are in Copenhagen, Denmark. Another new venture to something so completely different. Our first night we took the metro which we will use every day while here into the city and walked along the canal filled people mostly locals doing life hanging out on a Saturday evening. More adventures here, maybe a trip into Sweden.

Looking back and Moving On

We look back at our time in Albania as a great experience.
Some 200 children attended at least one day of camp. One day we had 150. Most non English speakers, most head the good news for the first time. Taste and See that God is Good. They all got at least a taste of the goodness of their heavenly Father.
Games, crafts, stories, fun, relationships, food, big smiles, laughter, new thoughts, lots of questions answered.
Our team took a tour of Albanian ruins learning about the Albanian hero who stopped the Turks from pushing through Albania west to Rome. We were able to spend one day with our host, getting to know this young newly married couple heading to Bosnia in a year to work with Campus Crusade. It has been a great time, and humbling experience to be used in what seems a small way, but possibly a life changing way for both us and the people we met.
We have moved on -back-to Rome. It is hard to grasp how old this city is. Our B&B is a very quaint cluster of rooms and courtyards, hall ways and massive doors that was built in the 16 hundreds and was the home to many cardinals and clergy. The whole street was where they did much of their work and owned shops. It is a perfect place to relax and cool off after walking the streets and touring the ruins all around us. This morning we walked through the local outdoor market. We will walk through a Piazza this evening watching the local artists and taking in more antiquity and culture. Travis arrives in the morning in time to tour the Vatican with us.