Photo dump Home Assignment 2022

So our last update, in September, told of how we managed to drop apartment and car keys into the city of Chicago sewer within minutes of scoring a great parking space near to the missionary apartment that Serve Globally (formerly known as Covenant World Mission) maintains in Chicago.  We have lived in this apartment in 2011-12 when we were in Chicago, and love the location in the city and also so close to the North Park University and Seminary campus.

 

Some things have changed about Chicago.  I (Barb) grew up in this fabulous city, and have always loved being able to tool around easily in the city.  But this time, I often felt like when I’m out in the city, especially while taking the CTA (public transportation), I had to be prepared to be assaulted.  Not as in physically assaulted, but having my senses and thoughts assaulted with the diversity and absurdness of this incredible city.  We have enjoyed going for walks, taking buses and trains, walking downtown, taking the architectural boat tour downtown, and just enjoying to get to know the city of Chicago in this season.

Chicago's Bean....okay, so I know there's another official name but this is what the locals call it.  So, when in Rome, do as the Romans....when in Chicago, call it like the locals do!

 

Even so, Chicago also became our place of refuge.  In this season of intense travel and visiting churches and hanging with people, every weekend in a different church, we so enjoyed knowing that at the end of each trip, we were coming back “home”….to the apartment, where life is cozy and warm, where we could just “be”.

Our sweet apartment during Advent

 Here’s a tribute to the first part of our home assignment 2022.

Sweet summer fika with Swedish friends in Minnesota

Because every city, including the city of Chicago, needs a Dala horse.  This one hangs out on Clark St. in Andersonville ~

 

When in Wisconsin.....eat cheese!  Even better if it's Gouda cheese being made there in WI by a real Dutch woman!

And if one dala horse wasn't enough...this one is one of many that are hanging out on Main Street in Lindsborg, KS

Super sweet furnished apartment in Appleton.  Thanks, Servant Care International!

Jalapeño cheese curds....only in Wisconsin is what I figure!

Refuge Church, Appleton WI.  This could also be the vision statement of our local congregation in Malmö, Sweden.

How's this for a list of ministry goals for your church?

We got a good giggle out of the fire hydrants in our neighborhood in Appleton....it was like they just wanted to invite us to the neighborhood with the colors of the Swedish flag ~

And then, one day, we stumbled upon this sweet coffee shop called FIKA in downtown Appleton, with its' quite proper definition of the Swedish word "fika".