Showing posts with label missions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label missions. Show all posts

9.25.2026

12 things to do, see and eat in the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are one of those places out of a fairy tale. We took a once in a lifetime trip back in 2012 for our Faroese friend’s wedding, never thinking we’d have a chance to return. Then, we were thrilled to find out that we would be joining Logos Hope in Klaksvik, giving us another opportunity to spend time in this favorite country of ours. 


Us watching the Logos Hope sail into the Faroe Islands


Some of these tips below are from our visit in 2012 and some are new advice from 2026. Either way, book the trip. Even if you only eat bricks (you’ll get this in a moment) and take in the views, it’ll be worth it.


Best brick you'll ever eat

  1. First, eat a brick

     This is one of my favorite pastries in the world. No kidding. It’s translated to “brick” because of its shape, but if you’re looking for it around the Islands, it’s Múrsteinur in Faroese. It’s like a Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll, but it’s filled with moist, white cake instead of chocolate. The outside is a combination of white marzipan and chocolate that holds its rectangle shape. Inside it filled with cream around the cake, and on the bottom, there is a tiny layer of raspberry jam. It’s nothing like I’ve ever had before and I can’t get enough of them. I’d be in trouble if they were readily available in the USA. And I won’t allow myself to learn to bake them from scratch. Go ahead and grab one on your first day, so that you can fall in love and enjoy many more during your trip.


  1. Hike up lovers lane

     On our first visit to the Faroe’s, our friend suggested a hike behind his family home in Klaksvik. It’s called Lovers Lane because tradition says you have to kiss at the top. It’s not too difficult of a hike and the views over Klaskvik are phenomenal.


We made it to the top of Lover's Lane in 2012!

  1. Walk through the forest

     Trees don't naturally grown on their own in Klaksvik, but there is a little forest of trees that have been planted. It’s a cute area to walk around, cross an adorable bridge and spot the old community pool.


    4.  Visit the zoo, Leitisgardur


     Our friend’s sister has opened up a “zoo” just a short drive from Klaksvik. There are some turkeys, geese, ducks, rabbits and chickens. You can come in the gate, open to bins to the right to find some bread and feed the animals. Just be careful because they are not shy and really come after you! In the near future, the zoo will become part of the farm to table restaurant that is being built across the street.


 Leitisgardur

  1. Visit the outdoor pool

     This pool is no longer in use, but our friend shared that this is where all the kids learned to swim. Outside. In the freezing temperatures. We’re from South Carolina, so 80 degree water feels cold to me. These Faroese kids were learning to swim in a country that’s summer is in the 50s, often rainy and always windy. I can’t imagine!


  1. Shop for wool sweater, Vimu

     Near the harbor on one of the main streets, look for the store Vimu. You can buy sweaters from various materials and countries here. Nick has always wanted a traditional wool sweater and was so happy that he found one he liked. They also take commissions if you have something specific you are looking for. The products are quite expensive, so if you want to save some money, walk to the other side of the harbor and shop at the Red Cross Charity Shop. Ivy and I found some good options here, including wool sweaters!


View overlooking Klaksvik

  1. Eat fish and chips at Noa

     Near Vimu, stop at the tiny, bright yellow building for fish and chips. It was delicious and they served generous portions! Then treat yourself to a brick for dessert. Wink wink.


  1. Drive through an underwater tunnel

     The Faroe Islands, at one point, were only connected by boats and ferries. Now, however, there are a series of tunnels that run under the ocean. The longest tunnel is 7 miles long, 620 feet under the water and has a roundabout inside for directing traffic. It’s a little uncomfortable if your claustrophobic or afraid of being under water, but a cool experience. 


Just some more gorgeous views


  1. Torshavn

     Make a trip over to the capital city to check out the government buildings. They are all very neat, painted bright red and have grass roofs. It was fun to stand on the top of a few of them. They are definitely the prettiest government buildings I’ve ever seen.


  1. Tour the Viking house, Kirkjubour 

    While you’re in the area of Torshavn, go visit an 800 year old viking house. It’s set up inside like a museum so that you can walk around, see how they once lived and check out some of the saved relics. There is also an old and beautiful church nearby with a stained-glass gate for an entrance.


Gjógv

  1. Drive to see the natural harbor, Gjógv

     The Gjógv is a natural harbor that was used by locals and early Norse settlers. It’s a deep, protected, water-filled ravine that creates the natural harbor and boat-landing ramp. It’s only a short drive away from Klaskvik and boasts incredible views on the drive over. Take time to walk around the adorable village. There are some coffee shops that weren't open when we were there, but I would have loved to have treated myself.



      12. Learn to knit, paint, crotchet or do perler beads


     Recently Nick heard that people who live near the water tend to be more artistic. Although I’m not sure if that’s always true, I’ve found that the Faroese people are extremely talented. Everyone is wearing handmade sweaters, walls are covered with original paintings by the homeowner and spare time is used for crafting.


I made this beaded heart in my friend Gunhild's kitchen,
while she baked us fresh rolls and served them with tea


     We’ve now been twice to the Faroe Islands and I’d love to come again. It’s a beautiful country, full of warm, welcoming people. Unlike anywhere I’ve been in the world, the Faroe Islands is worth putting at the top of your Bucket List!


Can you spot the OM Ship's Logos Hope?

5.27.2026

My forever water bottle

We’re preparing to serve with OM Ships again this year and it reminded me of sometime back in 2008 when we were volunteering to go overseas with this ministry the first time. We were newly married, graduating university, wrapping things up in Florence, SC and packing what we thought we needed for a couple years of full-time travel.

We didn’t have much, living on love and rarely had money for anything extra other than food, gas and bills. So, I was shocked when Nick came home one day with a little brown paper bag from Naturally Outdoors. I excitedly opened it and found my very first reusable water bottle…a Klean Kanteen. Up until that day, I only remember drinking out of plastic bottles that were supposed to be used once and thrown away. Sounds crazy in today’s world where everyone is carrying water bottles everywhere they go. But back then, my friends and I would buy a Gatorade at the grocery store and use the bottle until it disintegrated or a boy in our class broke it.

Our Klean Kanteen in Aruba 2009

Nick was immediately jealous of the gift he bought me and got himself a matching stainless steel water bottle the very next day. Since the day I got my Klean Kanteen, I’ve gone through many water bottles that have been gifted to me. But, none have lasted. I use them until they break or get lost. But guess what water bottle I still have? My Kleen Kanteen and it’s going with me, yet again, to serve overseas as I volunteer on the Logos Hope. It’s survived, not just sitting safely in the back of the cabinet, but extensively traveling the world with me for over 18 years.

Our Klean Kanteen in Grand Canyon 2012

And because I’m actually so impressed myself, I wanted to put down in writing all the places my Klean Kanteen has been by my side: Trinidad, Tobago, St Lucia, Curaçao, Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, several road trips to Texas, the Faroe Islands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, New York City, Scotland, a one-month USA road trip visiting 21 states, camping in the Grand Canyon and the Redwoods, Yellowstone, the Color Run and the Color Vibe races, an Atlanta Braves game, climbed Table Rock in SC and Pinnacle Mountain in AR, been to Shoot the Hooch in Atlanta, camped in the Lavender Farms in Mona Utah, spent three months in Bolivia (South America), kayaked in Murrell’s Inlet, cruised the Caribbean many times over, hiked all over Hawaii, attempted a Triathlon, roadtripped all the way from the Everglades to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the Chicago Bean and Niagara Falls to the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter and Mount Rushmore, hiked to the Lake Louise Tea House in Banff, visited the Rose Test Garden in Portland, cruised through Alaska twice, white water rafting in Spokane, camping in Okracoke, touring Colonial Williamsburg, hiking Gettysburg, Animal Kingdom and Epcot, Biltmore again and again, Cabbage Patch Kids Hospital, Dominican Republic several times and all-inclusives in Cancun over and over and over, Dollywood, London, Clearwater, Miami, Nashville, Savannah, West Palm Beach, Key West, Naples, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Columbia, Buckhead, Boston, Orlando, Charleston, Panama City, Chapel Hill, New Jersey, Asheville, Atlanta, playgrounds everywhere, horseback riding, paddle-boarding, boating, a million play dates and 9,482 other places I can’t even recall and recently got “decorated” by my daughter with stickers that apparently don’t come off.

Our Klean Kanteen in Hilton Head 2021

If I’ve been there, where ever there is, so has my Klean Kanteen. And it’s not a fluke because it’s not just mine that’s lasted, but also Nick’s. Both have seen the world with us and both have no signs of it being close to the end of their life. So, as we pack up yet again, for another long-term adventure, our two Klean Kanteens are on the packing list, just like always.

Our Klean Kanteen in Dominican Republic 2023

It just so happens that Ivy, our 5-year-old, is obsessed with water bottles, is often gifted them because she always loves a new one and is always is hoping to shop for just one more. It’s such a thing with her that we tease that maybe she’ll grow up to one day start her own water bottle company because she’s such a connoisseur. Although she’s owned more water bottles than I can even count, she’s never had her own Klean Kanteen. I know it’s silly, but I wonder which water bottle she’ll finally land on that’ll follow her adventures into her 20s and beyond. Her forever water


Our Klean Kanteen in Banff 2018

3.16.2026

We're SERVING onboard the LOGOS HOPE starting this AUGUST!

We're returning to the Logos Hope in a few months...in Europe!


If you didn't know, this past January we served onboard the Logos Hope for 1 month as a vision trip. Click HERE to read more about how that trip came together. We enjoyed our time onboard so much that we asked for permission to return to the ship.

So, we're excited to share that we'll be serving onboard the Logos Hope again this August-January, spending those five months in the Faroe Islands, Wales, Northern Ireland, England and the rest of the countries and ports TBD!


Nick will be working in Project Maintenance (think construction). Nick will pause his construction projects in Greenville, SC during our time onboard so that he can offer his gifts and talents to this ministry that we believe in. The ship is aging and in need of upkeep and repairs, so Nick's job onboard will help us keep the World's Largest Floating Bookfair open!



In each port it visits, the ship opens it’s bookfair for hundreds to thousands of visitors each day, offering over 5,000+ titles at discounted prices, including Bibles, resulting in many people buying quality literature for the first time in their lives! The ship also offers practical help like dental and construction teams and partners with local churches, according to the needs of each port. But most importantly, the ship offers hope to each person who comes aboard because they are given the chance to learn about God’s love for them. Click HERE for a 60 second clip about the Logos Hope.



The Logos Hope is the world’s largest floating bookfair, but I like to explain it’s like a floating city. Just like in a city, there are engineers, electricians, plumbers, nurses, teachers (like me), cooks, bakers, a finance department, event planners, maintenance team (like Nick), kids (like Ivy) and many others. It’s a great way to combine a career you enjoy with a calling from God. Right now there are roughly 264 volunteers from over 60 countries serving onboard as unpaid volunteers! We are excited to join and serve in a meaningful way as we use our strengths where there is a need.


Nick, Ivy and I will be in a family cabin. It’s basically 3 rooms: Ivy’s bedroom, a bathroom and a family room with a couch that converts to a bed for Nick and me. It’s extremely tight, but living in a small cabin was actually one of my favorite memories of ship life. And to Ivy's excitement, we will eat all our meals in the Dining Room with everyone else. The ship life is really fun for extraverts, like Ivy!



And Ivy's favorite place onboard...the school! Onboard the Logos Hope, there is a school for all the kids that live onboard with their parents. Ivy loved visiting the boat and attending the school in January and can't wait to get back to her class and her friends in June. Because the school year runs differently, she'll graduate 5K here and go into 5K onboard, until in September when she enters 1st grade when the new term starts.



***We will be serving as unpaid volunteers, so to make this family missions trip possible, we’re raising $8,950 to cover our room and board, plus airfare and emergency medical insurance on top of that. We’d be so grateful if you’d consider partnering with us—through your prayers and, if you’re able, with a financial gift. Every gift, big or small, helps us!

👉 How to Give:

  • Check – Payable to OM USA and mailed to OM USA Finance Dept. PO Box 444 Tyrone, GA 30290.  Put “Nick and Emily Stewart - 2261134” in the Memo Line.


Please reach out and keep in touch...and let me know if you want to get our updates!

nickemily07@gmail.com

Nick (843) 245-4936

Emily (843) 618-1447




9.30.2025

We’re Serving Onboard the Logos Hope January 2026!

We’re so excited to share with you that we’ve been given the opportunity to volunteer onboard the Logos Hope in January for 30 days. Nick will be working in Project Maintenance (think construction) and I will be helping in the school as Ivy attends classes with the other kids that live onboard. We’re eager to be part of what God is doing through the ships ministry and to learn what He has planned for our family.

Joining the Logos Hope in 2009

In each port it visits, the ship opens it’s bookfair for hundreds to thousands of visitors each day, offering over 5,000+ titles at discounted prices, including Bibles, resulting in many people buying quality literature for the first time in their lives! The ship also offers practical help like dental and construction teams and partners with local churches, according to the needs of each port. But most importantly, the ship offers hope to each person who comes aboard because they are given the chance to learn about God’s love for them. Click HERE for a 60 second clip about the Logos Hope.

This trip is especially meaningful to us because we served with OM Ships from 2009-2012 in both the Florence, SC office and on this same ship, the Logos Hope. If you’ve followed me since I began blogging in 2008, you may remember this blog used to be titled, ‘Sailing with the Stewarts” during our years with OM Ships! Nick and I have always shared a heart for missions and, since Ivy was born in 2020, we have felt a calling to return to overseas missions. During these years we have been going on short-term missions trips and praying that God would reveal where he wants us to serve. This summer, we felt God giving us direction when we found that the Logos Hope can use Nick’s skills in construction. We’re excited to volunteer with the ship ministry again, this time bringing Ivy with us!



***To make this family missions trip possible, we’re raising $1822 to cover our room and board, plus airfare and emergency medical insurance on top of that. We’d be so grateful if you’d consider partnering with us—through your prayers and, if you’re able, with a financial gift. Every gift, big or small, helps us!

👉 How to Give:

  • Click HERE to give online
  • Check – Payable to OM USA and mailed to OM USA Finance Dept. PO Box 444 Tyrone, GA 30290.  Put “Nick and Emily Stewart - 2261134” in the Memo Line.


Random things you may be wondering…

-The Logos Hope is the world’s largest floating bookfair, but I like to explain it’s like a floating city. Just like in a city, there are engineers, electricians, plumbers, nurses, teachers, cooks, bakers, a finance department, event planners and many others. It’s a great way to combine a career you enjoy with a calling from God.

-There are about 400 volunteers from over 60 countries serving onboard!

Nick and I with our “ship family” 2010


-Nick and I will serve as volunteers, we will not be paid and Nick will pause his construction company’s projects during these 4 weeks we will be away.

-Nick, Ivy and I will be in a family cabin. It’s basically 3 rooms: Ivy’s bedroom, a bathroom and a family room with a couch that converts to a bed for Nick and me. It’s extremely tight, but living in a small cabin was actually one of my favorite memories of ship life. 

-We will eat all our meals in the Dining Room with everyone else.

My Reception Class 2009

-The school is on Deck 9, the top deck. When Nick and I lived on the ship previously, I was the Reception Class teacher, which is ages 4-5. Ivy will be 5 as we join the ship, so it feels really special to have the chance to experience the school again with my own daughter being the same age as the sweet little students I loved!

-While I worked in the school during our time onboard, Nick worked in the book-hold. His days were spent driving a forklift to unload containers, unpacking and organizing, inventory and restocking the Bookfair. This time, however, he will use his skills as a builder to help in Project Maintenance!

Nick driving the forklift in Jamaica 2010


-The ship is scheduled to be in Trinidad during the month of January. Just like returning to the school, this also feels very special because we visited this same port during our time on the ship and have good memories of how much we enjoyed that area.


Thank you for considering being part of this journey. We can’t wait to share how God works through this trip!

Please reach out and keep in touch:

nickemily07@gmail.com

Nick (843)245-4936

Emily (843) 618-1447


11.18.2015

THANKFULNESS

I really honestly believe that I am thankful.

I like living simply and being generous, so I always feel like I am doing "good" in the thankful and non-selfish department.

Haha...that's funny.

...you know how Nick and I just recently bought our first house in June?  Let me just be honest here....yes, I LOVE having my own house.  BUT, I want it renovated...decorated...Pinterest ready.  This takes TIME and MONEY, so that's what I think about...planning how I will get my dream home. I am constantly thinking about the future house that I WILL be thankful for, not my present house that I SHOULD be thankful for.


I grew up overseas...I've seen the poor and the homeless.  But, I don't see it often anymore and so I forget what it looks like and how much I have.

Until Monday night.

I went with a group of girls to Whosoever Church to serve dinner to the homeless.  After driving to a less than safe side of town, I pulled up and would NOT have gotten out of my car if I had not seen my friends standing on the Church porch.  We walked inside and I immediately noticed that the hot air was on high and the smells were not pleasant.  My group leader did a short devotional and then everyone filed through the kitchen to eat fried chicken, green beans, mac-n-cheese, rolls, brownies and sweet tea.  Many of them came back for seconds and even thirds and some took plates home.  They were SO kind.  No one was pushy.  Everyone was grateful.  One man even said "God bless you" to each person who put another thing on his plate.


As we were cleaning up, I learned that we had served many of these people their ONLY meal that day.  And that some of them had no where to go and would be sleeping on the uncomfortable wooden church pews that night.  I KNOW that people are homeless and starving, but until I see it with my own eyes, it doesn't seem real and hardly has an effect on me. 

When it was time to leave, we got in our nice, heated cars and drove over to Redbone Alley and shared appetizers and desserts that we all could afford to pay for...then we all went home...I walked into my warm house, had a hot shower, put on clean clothes, snuggled up in my comfortable bed, talked with Nick and enjoyed the safety of it all.  

Over the years, God has reminded me over and over again of "giving thanks in all circumstances" and I want to do that NOW and stop waiting for my "perfect" life.  I ALREADY have a life that many people would die for and I should be Thankful EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.