Twenty-one quarts of salsa and 14 quarts of dill pickles later, and I am finally feeling free of the brain fog and fatigue from traveling to Estonia. Oh, I’d better include mention of a couple of 12-hour nights under the quilt.
It seems that the days have shortened considerably in two weeks, and nighttime temperatures remind us of the upcoming season change. Although the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a mild, somewhat dry winter. That remains to be seen. My garden has taken the cold as a signal to go to seed. Even the pumpkins are changing color before they have reached a good carving size.
Back to the Bible camp. I do remember now that we toured the Home of Hope in Estonia on the first day of Bible camp. Mornings were spent touring the sights, followed by a pre-planned lunch and preparation for the day. Monday, Aug. 11. My testimony was first.
I was ill-prepared for the reaction to my story. When one of the participants, Ria, found out about my cancer, she was amazed. “I thought you were a mountain climber,” she said. What?
It was the color of my skin. I was told it’s difficult to tan in Estonia as it is further north than North Dakota. But, sadly enough, my skin has become very sensitive to light because of the chemo drugs I take. It made me smile.
The participants’ response to my story (deeper than my tan) was overwhelming. The care, concern, well-wishes, advice, and one-on-one conversations about cancer (and a couple of other events shaping my life) were humbling and uplifting at the same time.
No matter the miles, we are all humans with God-shaped holes in our hearts, waiting to be filled.
The first class session marked the beginning of a week-long exploration of God’s love through Matthew 4, 5, and 6, which features Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Small groups met following the main lesson for discussion.
And, no, language was not the barrier I had been anxious about. Unless, of course, the interpreter was not actually relaying what we were saying and instead was having a good laugh at our expense. All in fun, of course, I’m positive that did not happen. If anything, my interpreter, Mare, made me sound more impressive.
The women in our group were highly educated. It is possible to achieve a masters free of charge in Estonia. Many of the people we met had more than one bachelor’s degree. And, they were so lovely.
MORE SIGHTSEEING
On Tuesday morning, we visited the Estonian National Museum. Incredible. There’s nothing to describe the technology-driven experience of this building. Everything in Estonia is either ancient, as in built in the 1600s, or modern with an artistic bend.
The displays were interactive, and the artifacts dated back centuries. It was truly an experience. I found many commonalities with this country with my German-Russian roots. One of the displays on traditional dishes featured a local cook making cabbage rolls.
There were textiles from centuries ago, as well as a display on weaving and the methods used to process flax into linen. One of my favorite fabrics.
This was the tip of the iceberg from a week of wonderful adventures and sharing God’s word. My lesson was presented on Wednesday. I’m saving that for next week so I can post more photos.
If you are at all interested. I will be presenting my story at Amazing Grays, a group for people 55 years and older, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Charity Lutheran Church. If you would like more information on attending, please message me.
Gotta go, the garden calls.
INDYchildrendotme 
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