" The Glorious Unfolding" at Fill My Cup

The neighborhood meeting place opened up in Arrie, Sweden on September 15, 2015 and it is called "Fill My Cup."  Those of us who had worked so hard the past month on the renovations tried not to have any expectations about our first day.  Some warned us that very few people might visit, while others warned us that we might be overwhelmed - be prepared with a large menu!  Our menu for that opening day included: homemade cinnamon rolls,
Pasta Alfredo made from scratch, Club sandwiches on homemade bread, Quinoa salad, fresh pumpkin soup, chocolate cake, carrot cake, and chocolate chip cookies, all from scratch. Our chef trained in, arrived at 8:30, fired up the kitchen and presented all of this by midmorning.

And, it was good timing
because the people came!  Neighbors, sewing groups, road construction engineers, school children, and church friends made this day a delightful and almost unexpected surprise!
The new baristas gave it their best try and no one sent back their
espresso orders! Gift-bearing neighbors met and sat and visited for a long time.
Newcomers to the neighborhood met old-timers who chronicled the history of the village.  No one seemed to be in a hurry on this less-than-ordinarily windy, and sunny day.  The smell of coffee and cinnamon and conversation permeated the cafe/coffee house, and it felt so good.

When people heard our American accents, they asked why we were here.  They knew we were working that day because we had on YOUR aprons.  Their standard reactions to our explanation of being volunteers here for 3 months to help open Fill My Cup was astonishment mixed with curiosity.  More questions followed and then we told them that our church asked us to serve here.  Europeans volunteer in very limited ways, so this idea of leaving a home country and traveling to a place where you know no one to volunteer is very perplexing.  It is a great conversation opener and an opportunity to share more about our faith.

The inviting aroma of Fill My Cup will change each day as our menu will change daily.  Passersby, cyclists, local business owners, small groups and after-school children will find a comfortable place at our cafe to sit, network, play games, learn more English, discuss business, and taste the menu fare.

We loved the sound of a full house on our opening day.  God gave the owner, Juliene, a song that she shared with the volunteer/workers during our pre-opening devotion time on our second morning, The Glorious Unfolding by Steven Curtis Chapman.  Have you heard it?  God gives us promises,  He asks us to believe them and stand on them.  Remember, we had no grand expectations about our first day, but God had a plan and He is unfolding it for Fill My Cup in glorious ways.

When you come to Sweden, drop by Fill My Cup, sit by the fire, have a bowl of soup, meet a new friend and be amazed!

Keep Looking Up!  and thank you for reading our blog.
J:m and L:nda