Sweden: my experiences in the exchange program
"I will always give thanks to God, the Lord; His praise is on my lips all day. I will praise Him because of what he has done; those people who are persecuted will hear it and rejoice. Proclaim with me the greatness, praise the Lord together. "(Psalm 34.1-3)
It was the goodness of God that I (Thais Suelen Ferreira Israel) and the
other 13 participants were in Sweden in the exchange program promoted by the
Church of Sweden (Svenska Kyrkan) in partnership with IECLB (Evangelical Church
of Lutheran Confession in Brazil), the Philippine Independent Church, Lutheran
Church of Costa Rica and the Lutheran Church of Tanzania, in the months from
March to May of this year. Four young people from Brazil, four fromTanzania,
four from the Philippines and two from Costa Rica went to Sweden. This was the
fourth year that the IECLB participated in the program Young in the Worldwide
Church (in Swedish, Ung i den världsvida kyrkan).
In the Evening Prayer of my group in the last week in Sweden, we read the
Bible text from Psalm 34. 1-14. This passage is very interesting and was very
timely in that moment. Well, it talk about the goodness of God and we were
preparing to return to our home countries (Brazil, Philippines, Costa Rica and
Tanzania).
"Praise together" was something that we did a lot in Sweden,
to share how is the way to praise in our countries and we learned how is the
Swedish way of praising the Lord. Well, I can say that sometimes we praise in
different ways, but as the order is the same, however you do not understand any
word spoken, you can feel the praise. Sometimes it is more worthwhile to teach
or learn a very short song that you and other people can sing it and feel it,
than if few people sing a very long song.
"Try to find out, for yourself, as the God is good. Happy is who finds security in Him "(Psalms 34:8)
One of the objectives of the exchange program was to contribute in the
interest and commitment to work for the Church of Jesus Christ. I am sure that
we achieve this, because I had plenty of evidence that the goodness of God is
present everywhere and in different ways. The Word of God gives us strength
when we encounter challenges!
The time in Sweden was divided into five parts, with three meetings in
Sigtuna city and the two parishes in which each participant had. Well, the
first week in Sweden, we spent in Sigtuna School of Culture, in Sigtuna city,
during this time all participants were gathered. We met, we showed a little
about our churches in our country and about our cultures.
We learned about the organization and history of the Church of Sweden, we also had classes about Swedish society and language.
We talked about showing our countries and churches in our parishes in Sweden.
We prepared ourselves to go to the first parish in Sweden, usually in pairs. My
twin was I and Tatiani Muller (from
Pelotas city). Guilherme Reis
(from Teófilo Otoni city) and Eduardo
Borchardt (from Vitória city) also are from Brazil and participated in the exchange
program this year.
My first parish was Nederluleå, in the city of Luleå, in northern Sweden,
near Finland. I went to Luleå by train. The largest and oldest church of this
parish is called Gammelstad. There, I had two families that they received me
with open arms! There was lots of snow! It was a really good time there, I
participated in many community activities such as youth camp, rehearsals of
choirs, services, support group for people
with disabilities, choir presentations, work with confirmands, youth group
meeting, meeting of the community management. I went to a funeral too.
Sometimes I participated in the services, making the blessing in Portuguese
language.
We made presentations about Brazil, IECLB and our communities (Boa Vista
and Pelotas) to the community and for our families. I was at the Synod of
Luleå, had a meeting with Pastor Synod. We had short trips to Kiruna, Jokkmokk,
Haparanda, Övertorneå and Finland.
We participated of Holy Week in the community. At Easter, the services
look like the Holy Week services in Brazil; but, generally, in Sweden, they
don’t have “Foot-washing Service” and in
the Branches Service, they don’t have branches decorating the churches. Although not
understand Swedish language, nevertheless
the Easter Sunday Service was exciting.
Living with families was very good, they
told me about Sweden and I told them about Brazil. They showed me
interesting places in their city and snow sports. I visited museums, schools,
universities, a health center, squares and other churches in the city. I also
went to a music festival in Luleå House of Culture.
The time flew so fast ... When I realized, I was at the train station in
Lulea saying goodbye to everybody. It
was time to return to Sigtuna, to rejoin the other participants of this program,
share with them my experience in the north and how it was theirs experiences in
the other communities scattered across the country.
The second meeting in Sigtuna was very good! We talked about what we did
in the communities and what we learned about the Church of Sweden and Swedish
society, we also had other activities. We cooked together, because each group
had a typical food of your country (we did a Brazilian food called “Galinhada” –
it is rice with chicken), danced and taught some dances of our country, we had
afternoon games and activities and a Swedish barbecue (sausages and bread). And
we prepared ourselves for the second community.
My second congregation was Vikingstad parish in the municipality of
Linköping, in the south do Sweden. The parish is in an agricultural region, but
in 20 minutes by car, you could get to the center of Linköping. I had four
families, who also welcomed me with open arms! My time in the parish was also
very good; I participated in various activities on it and at the Synod.
In the parish I attended the services, activities with children (in the
Church House of the community and in the forest), helped in services (scripture
readings and blessing in Portuguese), a
group of mothers and babies and little children, testing of coral, services in
nursing homes for seniors, choir presentations, group of confirmands, youth
group and board meetings of the parish. I was also in two baptisms and a
wedding in the community. As with the first parish, in Vikingstad were also
made presentations to the community, youth group, a group of confirmands and a
school. We had short trips to Motala, Vadstena, Vislanda / Alvesta and
Stockholm.
Everybody was very friendly and
nice to me. I met many interesting places in the city and the region, such as
museums, the city theater, castles, a hospital, clinic, university, schools,
farms, parks and forests. I went to an exhibition with the title is "God
has 99 names" (about religion), an ice skating show and a medieval fair in
a castle. The bike rides that I had with the families are unforgettable.
At the Synod of Linköping, I took part of the annual meeting of the
Youth Synod, a meeting with youth leaders representing various parishes and
meetings of youth groups in other parishes. There was also a service in the
Cathedral of Linköping (Sweden's second largest) and a lunch with Pastor Synod.
Time passed just as quickly too ... Soon I was back in Sigtuna. It was
great to reconnect with other participants and share with them my experiences
in the second community; and vice-versa.
However, all of us had that feeling of
"wow, it is the last time that we are here in Sigtuna, soon we will return
to our countries ..." . We talked a lot about the exchange time, about
what we learned and what we will show and share to our communities in our
countries.
We also prepared our presentation to the General Secretariat of the
Church of Sweden, which is located in Uppsala. This presentation was a little
drama, we showed them how the services were in Sweden (which we witnessed) and
how is the service in our country (we
did the representation of the service mixing parts of the services in Brazil,
Tanzania, Costa Rica and the Philippines).
The last week in Sweden was very intense and full of mixed feelings… on
the one hand we were happy to return to our countries and start showing what we
learned in Sweden. However, on the other hand, we were sad, because we were
separating us and leaving Sweden and the
Church of Sweden in few days, who received us so well.
Well, some of us had visited Stockholm (the capital of Sweden) and
others were in parishes near of the city. In the same way, we had a great trip
with the whole group to Stockholm, we climbed the tower of the Cathedral of
Stockholm, a really beautiful sight! We also went to Uppsala, we held our
presentation at the General Secretariat of the Church of Sweden and again
visited the Cathedral of Uppsala (Sweden's largest church).
We had a project during the time in Sweden. It was about Human Rights and each participant chose a
specific right to study and observe in their host families, communities or society.
My project was on the right of people with disabilities are respected and not be
discriminated. And I observed on Swedish society.
Church is not something static, is not standing in one place. The Church
is made by people who participate in it, who gather together, who pray, who
hear the Word of God and praise Him. Every year the IECLB choose The Theme of
the Year; so, this year The Theme of the
Year is “Young Community - Living Church”,
and the Bible Lemma says that "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew
thee" (Jeremiah 1.5a).
I believe that this exchange program that I participated, it shows in a
very good way that young people can make the difference in their communities
and their countries, they can show and share their experiences of community
life, despite his young age. After all, as it says on 1 Timothy 4:12: "Do not let anyone
despise you for being young. But for those who believe, to be an example in the
manner of speaking, in the way of acting, in love, in faith and in purity ".
Thais Suelen Israel Ferreira
:)
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário
Obrigada pelo comentário :)