For the first ten days of the ship’s stay in Sweden, I got to go on a land team to a Christian centre outside Gothenburg called Renningsborg. 
Situated on what used to be the site of an old water purification plant, the name Renningsborg also means purification in Sweden – but purification of a different kind. Working with the Swedish government, the centre provides sheltered living for recovered addicts or convicts, giving them food, accommodation and employment as a stepping stone back into society. The organisation also runs two large second-hand stores, the profits of which support many different ministries in Eastern Europe and India.
Together with seven others from the ship, I came to Renningsborg expecting to serve in whatever way I could. However, as is often the way with pre-conceptions of what “service” entails, I did not expect anything in return. We worked hard for several days, painting one of the second-hand stores a bright shade of yellow to match the hot sun beating down on us. We also provided a lot of encouragement for staff, and a living example of Christianity for residents. 
But we received back everything we gave and more through the hospitality and friendship of those we encountered. We were treated to many different outings around Gothenburg, including a three-day holiday on a beautiful island, one of ten in an archipelago just outside the city. To adopt a cliché, we were blessed to be a blessing. Cringe. But seriously, it was true. As the director of the centre so concisely summarised it, we left “permanent yellow footprints”.
Now back on the ship, I am blessing others through a totally different ministry… the ministry of power tools. 
You can read more about that later!
For more pictures of my land team, check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/hopefloating.
