LEAVING AND RETURNING

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Our family of seven people was already on board the white ship Ebeneser, which would take us from Finland to Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. The family consisted of my father Toimi and my mother, Anna. We siblings were Toivo, fifteen years, the twins Samuel and Mary fourteen, Emmanuel (usually called Manu) twelve and I Lisa was ten years old. It was August 1955. Dad's vision was being realized. Several future missionaries traveled with us.

  

The northern quay in Helsinki was filled with people who came to take leave of the travelers. The music played by the Finnish Salem Church's brass band sounded over the water that warm afternoon and attracted more people to the dock to see what was going on.

Grandma, aunt Göta, and aunt Elna were among those who came to see us off. It was hardest to leave them. Their home had become a stable place for us during our two short years in Finland.



FAREWELL

Farewell is never easy, not even for those who have left many times. Maybe even harder it may be for those who remain. The joy was great for anyone who had been waiting for this day, waiting to get away and start the big mission. Then came the moment when the guests have to leave the boat. The landing was pulled up, and the moorings were released.

The engines had already been running for a while. The brass band continued to play as long as the boat was in sight.


I stood at the stern of the boat under the waving blue and white flag and watched as Helsinki eventually disappeared. The beautiful islets became smaller and smaller. Screaming gulls followed us as long as it was still light. Soon the first august stars were lit where the sun had gone down. It started to feel a bit cool on the deck. I searched for the cabin.


I was leaving and returning at the same time; leaving my newly found homeland and going back to my childhood country.
The story of the first journey


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLTu1xv2-Us

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Comments

BettieG said…
Dear Lisa,
Oh this song fit so perfectly with the story of your leaving. What an emotional time that must have been for all of you. I am so thankful to hear about the ways that Jesus took care of you and your family through the years! Love and Blessings to you!
August 17, 2018 at 2:18 AM
Lisa Enqvist said…
Thanks, Bettie, for your encouraging words. There are too many thoughts and stories to write. It's hard to know in what order to write. What we left behind would be a story for all grandchildren who are far away. I might have to write that separately, and just continue writing about the journey away.
August 17, 2018 at 7:11 PM
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