Copenhagen

On Tuesday of this week, we traveled from Lund to Copenhagen, by bus, train, and subway.  Sweden and Denmark are connected by a long bridge, which carries both train and highway traffic between the countries.  We took advantage of this connection to visit with John and Ruth McNiell in Copenhagen.

We met with John and Ruth at their apartment home in the city.  To get there we climbed five flights of stairs, getting our morning training in.  John and Ruth were missionaries for many years in Africa in the countries of Malawi and Namibia.  They have been living in Copenhagen since January, where they head up the European Leadership Team for Agape (this covers many countries in Europe, including the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic countries).  They also coordinate Agape staff leaders specifically working at Copenhagen University.  We met two of these leaders (Susanne from Germany and Orla from Ireland).  They have been working with students at the university for only a brief time.  A new set of staff leaders is expected to be arriving in August from Canada to work with students throughout the next school year.  Specific prayer requests include:  mobilize believers to make public their beliefs in Jesus and the bible; John would like to make connections with the Lutheran chaplains on the university campus, as he wants to be a "friend" of the chaplains (who work closely with many students), rather than the “opposition”;  visas are needed for the staff coming from Canada (pray that these would be issued without any hassles or delays); there are currently three student leaders on campus (pray that this would double to six, and that there would be some females added to the student leaders also); Agape needs to get set up as a legal entity in Denmark (pray that this process would go smoothly).

Ruth and John at their home in Copenhagen

Orla (L) and Susanne (R).  They are currently the staff working with students on the campus of Copenhagen University, but they will be transitioning out this year and new leaders will be coming in for the Fall Semester.

Caroline, Susanne, Lily, and Ruth (L to R) at lunch.  This was Lily's last day with the team, as she flew back to Minnesota on Wednesday to be able to attend a friend's wedding this weekend on the East Coast.