Språkcafé celebrates Christmas!

When Språkcafé (our language café at church where we gather on Thursdays and practice our Swedish language skills) decides to celebrate Christmas with a party, wow, the table just really filled out!  In the past, we’ve done traditional Swedish food, and a couple of times we have ordered loads of pizzas from the pizza shop down the street.

Our local pizza shops have become fast friends thru the years ~

 

But this year, we went international.  Because, well, because we are international!  In a room where 30 people gather, at least 18 nations are represented.  Our primary focus is also on Swedish language learning, but during the fika (snack) break, any language is allowed back into the room.  Mandarin?  You can hear it!  Arabic?  Of course you’re going to hear it!  Add some Persian, Turkish, Italian, Ukrainian, English….and the list goes on!

 

Oh, the tastes!  The spices!  And aromas!  Throw in a big crockpot of chili for good measure, and everyone went away with full bellies and smiles on their faces ~

 

Our international table reflected the food cultures of China, Mongolia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, several options from Ukraine, Sweden, the USA, Finland, India, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia ~ to name a few.  And oh, let’s not forget the Philippines!  Everyone pitched in with something from their homeland’s food culture, and the results certainly didn’t disappoint.

 

 

And the international dessert table surely didn't disappoint ~ homemade, store bought, it didn't matter!

We played games, ate well, read the story of Christ’s birth from the gospel of Luke, and then, when all bellies were full and we were talked out, we landed in the quiet of the church with low lights and candles and quiet music.  We took with us the statues from the manger scene that had been placed on the tables during our meal and reread the Christmas story and replaced the Bible story characters back in their places.  Mary and Joseph.  The animals.  The shepherds.  The wise men.  The angel.  And, of course, baby Jesus….though the debate afterwards was whether or not baby Jesus should be lying in the manger yet, as it wasn’t yet Christmas Eve.  Go figure!  The important details of the Christmas story that different Christian traditions from around the world celebrate in different ways.

 

Landing in that quiet place, bringing forward the statues that completed the manger story ~ solemn moment!

Blessed.  That’s who we were that night.  Sharing our cultures, our languages, our foods.  Sharing the story of Jesus.  PRICELESS!!  No more pizza for this crowd!