Faith

Faith makes us do things, say things, pray things that we couldn't do if we didn't have faith. So when Jesus says to the blind beggar, receive your sight, for your faith has healed you!, he refers to the beggar's call for help. The beggar believed that Jesus was able to heal him when he screamed, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! And when Jesus asked him, what do you want me to do for you?, he was able to say with confidence, Lord, I want to see. If the beggar had doubted in the least, he would have either given up after the people told him to shut up, or he wouldn't have shouted at all. How important it is to have faith in Jesus and his power! Not only in theory, but also to expect this power in my life on a daily basis. Based on Luke 18:35-43

End of the Baltic

We've come to the end of the Baltic cruises and are getting ready for the transatlantic! I'm really excited to see new things. Leaving on September 3rd, we are first going to France and Ireland, then we'll enjoy an overnight in Iceland, one day in Newfoundland in Canada, and after a few sea days we are in Boston where this particular cruise ends.

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of months which have gone by so quickly!!

Russia

in front of one of the many churches just outside of St. Petersburg

Denmark

in front of the famous Little Mermaid (which apparently has legs...) in Copenhagen with my friend Adél

Sweden

in the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg with friends Marko and Adél

Estonia

Nicki, Adél and I met Shrek and Donkey in Tallinn

My sister and her family came on board for a few hours when we were docked in Copenhagen. We even managed to take a picture with Captain James.

Sweden

I got to go to an Icebar in Stockholm which was very cool. Literally. -5°C air temperature and everything in the bar was made out of ice, including the glasses we drank from.

I have had a blast working with teens for a few cruises now.

Finland

Somehow almost every time we went to Helsinki, the sky was either gray or it was pouring rain. I went on a speed boat tour and got to see the down town area from the water view.

If I had to choose the port I enjoyed most I think it would be Tallinn in Estonia. The down town area looks a lot like my home town Höxter, and there is a hotel really close to where the ship always docks which has good food AND provides free WiFi. Everyone who has ever worked on a ship knows how important this combination is :-)