It’s becoming more colourful with flowers and trees oh what a beautiful nature.

I have never seen people so excited about spring but I guess they should because their winter is long and very cold. They say to know that when spring is here you will see by the blue little flowers. They take pictures of with their cameras of every little flower they come across because most people have missed them a lot.

Swedes have what we call holiday cottages, and Easter is the extended weekend of spring and for many means the first trip to their holiday cottages, which have been locked all winter.  And for other is walk, cycling and barbeque in the forest and picnic by the lake since they love nature.

At Easter the aim is to gather as many relatives as possible. In many countries Easter is celebrated at church but as for Sweden you will find a small number of people in church, many celebrate it their homes with family and relatives.

Practices associated with Easter are colourful feathers, Eggs, fish, Easter witches and candy.  Children dress up as witches and collects candies from house to house in the neighbourhood.  Other parents let children search for the eggs themselves as a treasure hunt. I actually enjoyed painting the eggs before lunch which was so many different dishes done by my host family which included: Pickled herring, salmon in different ways, Roast Lamb with potatoes, cheese and asparagus. I forgot the others but I will never forget the dessert – Tårta a la smaskens, mmmm mumsfilibabba (delicious) and lots and lots of candy.

When it comes to church services things are done differently as well, but we learn new things everyday, a great experience indeed.  Every moment is treasured.  I believe we have so much to teach when we go back home.

GLAD PÅSK TILL ER ALLA (HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL)THE BEGINNING OF SPRING AND EASTER\ I BÖRJAN AV VÅREN OCH PÅSKEN

//Tshegofatso Thipe is one of the 2014 Young in the world participant from South Africa representing ELCSA, Western Diocese, Moretele Circuit (Makgabetlwane Parish).  Tshego is an Office Management and Technology graduate from Tshwane University of Technology and She works as a CEO’s Secretary at Odi District Hospital, Mabopane. Her focus in church is mainly Sunday School, Youth and Music.

//Tshegofatso Thipe är en av deltagarna i 2014 års internationella utbytesgrupp. Hon representerar den Lutherska kyrkan i Södra Africa, ELCSAs västra stift. Hon kommer från Moretele Circuit (Makgabetlwane Parish). Tshego har en examen i kontorsledning och teknik från universitetet i Tshwane och hon arbetar som sekreterare på Odi-sjukhuset i Mabopane. Hennes främsta engagemang i kyrkan är för söndagsskolan, barn och unga och musik.