May 23, 2005

Today we left Norway with its tri-color flag - red white and blue - and traveled into Sweden where we can play for the first time the march "Under the Blue and Yellow Flag."

Major Kathleen Steele's devotions on the bus in the morning raised a question which I think we all ask once in awhile, "Why am I here?" Kathy shared that the answer is found in the book of Esther where Queen Esther is assured that "for such a time as this you have been placed here." This Scripture promise helps us to understand that when we give ourselves to God's will in our lives we are placed in the right place and right time for His purposes. We believe that the band is where God wants us to be "for such a time as this."

Our first stop in Sweden is Kristinehamn, a lovely community with a population of 26,000. We were taken for dinner to a Lutheran summer house by a lake where we met Lars Otto Ljungholm and Malcolm Kendrick, our tour organizers in Sweden . The Vicar of the church, a former SA officer, gave us some cards of the area and a Rolls Royce hat. As we left the restaurant we were shown a monument created by Picasso, five stories high, which is supposed to be his wife. I couldn't tell the front from the back.

The evening festival was held at the Broangs Church , a free missionary church. We played to a full house. In fact many had to be turned away. People came from distances of two hours or more to hear the band. A 100-year-old woman was present. The band played well and the congregation was very receptive to the music.

One of the evening's highlights came during Aaron VanderWeele's introduction of his solo. Referring to composers represented in the piece he suddenly had a momentary mental lapse and, instead of naming George Marshall, he mentioned George Larson, an employee in our Trade Department. I'm sure the audience was puzzled as we erupted into laughter.

The local corps has thirteen members in the band. The corps bandmaster has served in that capacity for over fifty years.

The first day in Sweden has given the band a positive outlook for the rest of the tour. We thank God for the opportunities of ministry this day.

TVM