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Everything I learned about gardening

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Trading City Noise for Farm Life: My Journey into Eco-Gardening For the long time, I wanted to try to live on a farm, to escape the noise of the city, and simply live. To care for animals, plant seeds, work in the garden, and watch real life grow from a tiny grain to a big garden. To be honest, my gardening experience used to be pretty short. Growing up, I planted a few peas on the windowsill and watched my grandparents tend to their tomatoes and greenhouse cucumbers. I’d water a plant here or help harvest there, but I had never witnessed the magic of the full cycle. And now I get to experience every single tiny step of the process, from the first touch of soil to the final leaf. The Eco-Awakening: More Than Just Planting Seeds It was only after stepping onto the farm that I realized how many small choices determine whether a garden is truly ecological. I never imagined that gardening was a series of micro-decisions that directly impact the planet: Composti...
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I Never Learned to Ride a Bike — Until Sweden Changed Everything

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Faith & Life  ·  Luleå, Sweden Freedom on Two Wheels — On Courage, Community, and God’s Grace Along the Road Learning to ride a bicycle as an adult in northern Sweden wasn’t something I had planned. But sometimes it’s in the most unexpected challenges that faith finds its depth. John Elhami ·  The Good Seed Project  ·  ESC Volunteer , Luleå For a long time I held on to the belief that learning to ride a bicycle as an adult would be an enormous, perhaps impossible, undertaking. I pictured months of frustration and wobbling — an uphill battle that most people had left behind in childhood. But God has a wonderful way of surprising us the moment we step out in faith. As it turned out, all it took was a day or two. Those days were anything but easy. The humbling was real. I learned the hard way — falling again and again, scraping my knees and elbows, and eventually realising I had barely thought about the brakes. Rolling along out of control is n...
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Location: Luleå, Sweden
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Solidarity

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By Sarah Medhat I had never really stopped to think about the meaning of the word Solidarity before.  In March I went to Stockholm for a training connected to the European Solidarity Corps. During the program, the twelve of us volunteers were asked to go out into the school’s backyard and choose something that, in our own eyes, represented solidarity. Then, one by one, we were invited to place what we had chosen at the moment we felt was right. Each person chose something different. Some picked twelve leaves, others picked twelve small stones, someone brought a plant pot, and someone else chose a tree branch and a rope. Everyone expressed the idea in their own way. As for me, I chose a large, strong tree trunk. At that moment, I found myself asking: "What makes something like solidarity possible in the first place?" And the answer that came to my heart was this: "Solidarity needs a strong foundation." That foundation can only be love and acceptance. When Jesus came ...
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Stop Running!

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av Sarah Medhat One day, I said to myself, “Stop running.”  I was just working. My life was waking up for work and sleeping for work. Sunset at Sundet  (Photo by John Elhami) I know how hard life can be, and how difficult it is to quiet my mind for a few minutes, whether I am thinking about the future or the past. But then I said to myself: I am not in a race to see who wins. I am only creating my own mental race.  I tell myself: I must do this. I must achieve that. I must reach. I should change my life. And that will never happen without money. Even achieving my goals no longer brings happiness, because I have lost the sense of value. I am always looking for more.With all these self-imposed duties, I forget things far more important: God, others, the world around me, nature, and enjoying life simply. I recall a line from the movie "Soul", when the pianist dreamed of performing on stage. When his dream came true, he asked his supervisor, “What will we do tomorrow?” S...
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Green Travel

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  av Egle Davydovaite Choosing the Green way: A Sustainable Journey from Kaunas to Luleå Boat trip from Tallinn to Stockolm My journey from Kaunas to Luleå was a way to experience travel slowly, moving through the world with care and intention to reduce my carbon footprint and to acknowledge the beauty of traveling by land and sea. The trip began on January 14th, early in the morning. After saying goodbye to my family, I boarded a bus to Tallinn. The ride felt calm and peaceful. Instead of rushing through the sky in a plane, I allowed myself to move slowly, to watch the scenery shift and to feel the emotional weight of leaving home. From Tallinn, I took a tram to the port and boarded an overnight ferry to Stockholm.  Egle fixes her bike Traveling by ferry is not only more climate-friendly than flying, but it also offers a more unique way to experience travel. It gave me time to breathe, to rest, to listen to the soft rhythm of the waves and enjoy the calming motions of the Bal...
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From the Sun to the Snow: Unique Things About Sweden Through Egyptian Eyes

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By John Elhami If you had told me a few years ago that I’d trade the bustling, sun-soaked streets of Ismailia for the snowy, freezing landscapes of northern Sweden , I probably wouldn't have believed you. Moving to a place like Luleå is a massive culture shock, but it’s also an incredible adventure. Sweden is famous for IKEA , ABBA , and meatballs , but when you actually live here especially coming from an Egyptian background you start noticing the little, unique quirks of everyday life that truly define the country. Here are the most unique things about Sweden that caught me completely off guard. 1. The Art of Fika (The Swedish "Ahwa") In Egypt, sitting at an ahwa with a tea and shisha (Hookah), talking over each other late into the night, is a staple of life. Swedes have their own version of this, and it’s called fika. But fika isn't just a quick coffee break; it’s an institution. It’s a dedicated time to sit down with a coffee and a sweet treat (like a kanelbull...
Location: Luleå, Sweden
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Planting gardens in a distant land

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 By  Josh Armfield (project coordinator) " Build houses and settle down; cultivate gardens and eat what they produce..." (Jeremiah 29:5)  God spoke to his people through the prophet Jeremiah while they were living as prisoners in Babylon. " Promote the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because your future depends on it´s welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7) What is it like to live as a people in exile? Who among us can say they have this experience? Maybe not so many of us privileged Europeans or "westerners" can say we have much exile experience. But surely our many refugee sisters and brothers living in Luleå can enlighten us on the subject. Nonetheless, immigration, exile, home and hospitality are recurring themes in the Bible. Where is our home? Even the Son of God himself lived as a refugee and " had nowhere to rest his head" (Matt. 8:20). The apostle Peter addressed the readers of his first letter as "...
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Cultivating Peace in Luleå - project results from 2023-2024

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By Mariam and Josh The Go(o)d Seed Project has concluded it´s second project with young volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps. We said goodbye to our three volunteers at the end of June and we miss them greatly already. What a huge impact they have made here! Palina left for Poland where she plans to study Music Therapy at a university there. Oussama left for Morocco where he plans to spend the summer and then travel to China to work as an English teacher. Mariam returned to her home in Tblisi, Georgia where she is working, volunteering and speaking out for the human rights there in Geogia. Such amazing things have happened in the lives of each one of them during their time here with us. They have grown in their faith, in there understanding of their calling in life, and in their interpersonal relationships, how to work as a team and even to show hospitality to strangers. They have each persued with fervor the goals of The Go(o)d Seed Project as well as their own personal learn...
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Nonviolent Communication: A Language Of Compassion

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By Palina Tupik   Let us become the change we seek in the world. -Mahatma Gandhi Recently we’ve finished reading “Nonviolent communication” by Marshall B. Rosenberg with our community. I want to share with you the story how I was contributing to emotional violence before reading this book without even realizing it and how the thoughts from this book help me now to be more compassionate for my own needs and needs of others. Before reading it, I was sure that I’m really good at communicating with people. I thought: “Yeah, if there is a problem, I need to immediately talk with the person to solve it because this relationship is really important for me and I want to be 100% sincere with others”. But nobody taught me which words to use to talk about the problems. So, one day I said to my boyfriend Daniel*: “ I feel so sad in our relationship as you are non-initiative. Usually I organize all our meetings. Can you just initiate more so I will know that you love me?” . What was I waiti...
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Embracing Love and Community: A Heartwarming Journey of Living in a Christian Community in Sweden

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In the heart of Sweden, you'll find a vibrant Christian community, where love, care, and understanding blend harmoniously to create a welcoming haven for people from all walks of life. Here, amidst serene landscapes and shared beliefs, relationships flourish, and bonds deepen, fostering unity and compassion. Love is the cornerstone of our community, a guiding light that brightens our path as we journey through life together. It's not just a feeling but a beautiful practice—an intentional act of kindness and generosity towards one another. Every day, we strive to embody love in its purest form, offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and unwavering support. At the heart of our community life is the art of non-violent communication, a skill we try to develope through patience, empathy, and understanding. We value each person's unique perspective and experiences, bridging our differences through open dialogue and attentive listening, forging deeper connections. We are all b...
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How´s the growing? A midterm evaluation...

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By Mariam and Oussama In the heart of our community, our church stands as a beacon of inclusivity, love, and spiritual growth. Through a carefully crafted series of weekly events, we have woven a tapestry of fellowship that transcends age, background, and social status. These events serve as pillars, supporting our mission to create a vibrant and welcoming space for individuals seeking connection, spiritual nourishment, and shared experiences. The Community Meal (Gemenskapsmåltiden) Every Tuesday, our church transforms into a haven of warmth and acceptance during the Community Meals event. This weekly dinner, open to all, transcends economic and social boundaries. Supported by generous donations, including a bountiful supply of bread from a local supermarket, we extend not only physical sustenance but also a sense of community and shared humanity. The distribution of clothing further underscores our commitment to addressing the diverse needs of those who walk through our doors. During ...
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