Inspiration often comes to me in peculiar ways.  February 11^th was no exception.  Watermark had traveled via ferry to the island of Børnholm because the rest of Denmark was on winter holiday and we would’ve been hard pressed to find any programs or concerts to play.
 
Jeni and I were wandering the streets of Aakirkeby in search of peanut butter when I saw it.  As I exited the grocery store and rounded the corner my eyes fell on it.  Few times in my life have I encountered a sight as magnificent as what I saw that February day. For a moment the gray, cloudy skies over Børnholm parted and the sun shown on the most brilliantly colored Volkswagen Beetle that I have ever seen.  It was the most incredible shade of purple.  I thought to my self, “I’ve never seen one of those in the States!” 
 
I continued to contemplate the Bug when it occurred to me that a lot of the cars in Denmark are very different from the cars in America, in fact, at that time it seemed that there wasn’t a lot in common between Denmark and America.  The shopping list of differences between Danish and American culture continued to snowball in my mind until there weren’t any similarities between them to speak of.  I felt so far removed from anything familiar, so far from home. Then my paranoia ended when I remembered some simple Sunday School principals: God created people, all people.  Sometimes what we think is a barrier is actually a bridge. 
       
Any differences between Americans and Danes were intended; in fact some of the very characteristics of Denmark that I thought were hindering our ministry were actually some of the things that made it possible, like the language barrier.  Because we are an English-speaking group, a certain mystique surrounds us. The Danes want to hear the Americans and that brings some people to see us and hear our message that normally wouldn’t go see a Danish Christian rock band.
       
Our team was afforded a few ministry opportunities while sharing at public schools simply because we were from a different country.  The school children would see our program and then ask us questions about what they heard, what we believe or what God does in our lives.  After all, we both worship the same God.  How at home I felt then.  I wonder if Jeni, who was standing next to me the whole while, knew that I was reprocessing my entire mentality of Denmark on that street corner.
       
I looked up at the sun that was then being overtaken by the blanket of clouds that seem the be the soul feature of the Danish winter sky and thought, “The same sun shines on me in Denmark and in the States.”  And the same Son that brings peace in the States shows his love and grace to the Danes and me all the same.
        Scott
        Matthew 11:28-30
 
For more information on Watermark and our other International Teams, log on to www.youthencounter.org/teams. And keep an eye out for greetings and stories from EACH MEMBER of WATERMARK, coming SOON to the Youth Encounter website!