This is a reflective post that has nothing to do with the band. Sorry all. Recently I have been thinking about the word 'journey.' I think that it is one of my favorite words. It is a word of action. It is a word that describes my life. I am on a journey. I started out being born and physically, mentally and spiritually I am progressing through life. I don't really have a choice about this, but I think that is a neat thing.
No matter what I do, I am either moving forward or backward. Every action or lack of action impacts the life that I am living. There is progress that can be lost or gained and the lost can be made back up. And there are all kinds of little journeys that make up the big journey.
This journey over here in Germany is part of that big journey. It feels like the primary journey right now, but it is just part of life affecting the big journey that I am on as I grow in life, age and hopefully grow in God. That I guess is the whole point of the journey. How I grow in my relationship with the amazing figure of Jesus as God and learning how to glorify the one that sacrificed so much for me.
30.12.07
24.12.07
A hard time of the year
Hey everyone,
It is December 24th and I am sitting in beautiful Germany. And it is hard. I don't know why, but this year is harder than last. I miss my family and friends more than last year. It is harder being away. So if you wouldn't mind, just please pray for me.
And I pray that you enjoy the season with family and friends and find a time to sincerely thank God for his incredible gift.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."...Luke 2.12
It is December 24th and I am sitting in beautiful Germany. And it is hard. I don't know why, but this year is harder than last. I miss my family and friends more than last year. It is harder being away. So if you wouldn't mind, just please pray for me.
And I pray that you enjoy the season with family and friends and find a time to sincerely thank God for his incredible gift.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."...Luke 2.12
10.12.07
Schon Weihnachten
What's happening around here? Well over the last week we have been quite busy. With the break coming so soon(this Friday), things are wrapping up. Last Wednesday were all of the parties for the small groups. Gift exchanges, scavenger hunts and many other crazy activities were carried out by small group members.
Thursday was Kandern's Christmas market and BFA offered some entertainment. A mime and all kinds of music were performed by these very talented students.
Friday and Saturday were our first basketball home games of the year. One thing I can say is that although the results weren't necessarily what was hoped for, the guys and gals played hard and were good sports.
Sunday was a very busy day as the Christmas concert was in the afternoon and the dorm Christmas party was in the evening. The students had been practicing for the concert throughout the first semester and it showed as they did an excellent job. It was a short concert at about an hour, but filled with many good sounds and memories including a funny song about the "12 days after Christmas."
Sunday evening we prepared all kinds of wonderful food and sugary type things. We sat down for a wonderful meal and enjoyed eating many different assortments of things. Then we cleaned up and moved on to the gift exchange. Everyone brought a lot of laughter to our living room for the next hour. There were funny gifts and serious ones. In the end, everyone had a wonderful time.
This week brings exams and more exams. The guys start to leave at the end of the week and have expressed that they can't wait to get back and see their families. It will be good for them and a good break for us.
Thursday was Kandern's Christmas market and BFA offered some entertainment. A mime and all kinds of music were performed by these very talented students.
Friday and Saturday were our first basketball home games of the year. One thing I can say is that although the results weren't necessarily what was hoped for, the guys and gals played hard and were good sports.
Sunday was a very busy day as the Christmas concert was in the afternoon and the dorm Christmas party was in the evening. The students had been practicing for the concert throughout the first semester and it showed as they did an excellent job. It was a short concert at about an hour, but filled with many good sounds and memories including a funny song about the "12 days after Christmas."
Sunday evening we prepared all kinds of wonderful food and sugary type things. We sat down for a wonderful meal and enjoyed eating many different assortments of things. Then we cleaned up and moved on to the gift exchange. Everyone brought a lot of laughter to our living room for the next hour. There were funny gifts and serious ones. In the end, everyone had a wonderful time.
This week brings exams and more exams. The guys start to leave at the end of the week and have expressed that they can't wait to get back and see their families. It will be good for them and a good break for us.
26.11.07
Busy Weekend
This past weekend has been quite the eventful weekend. The guys had Friday off so they got a long weekend free which means that we as staff had a very long weekend. I nice surprise was getting 2 hours off on Sunday though. Very nice surprise.
Thursday evening, we as a dorm had Thanksgiving. It happened to actually be on Thanksgiving this year which is unlike BFA. But we had one of our student's parents come and help us. They brought turkey too. So the ladies did wonderful cooking and Jeff and I went to decorating the dining room. We put up all kinds of lights and green garland everywhere and it looks nice and Christmas treey. The dinner was enjoyable and there were plenty of pies for dessert. We got a football game taped and watched it after dinner. Overall a good day.
Saturday night was the Christmas banquet. All of the guys had fun asking the ladies to go to the banquet. And finally the night brought guys with corsages dressed very nicely and waiting for their dates. There was much happiness when everyone arrived and finally sat down for the meal and program. People turned in Christmas wishes over the past few weeks and then on Saturday night probably around 30 of them were granted. Ranging from having a song sung to the wishee or to fuzzy pick slippers. There were also musical acts galore, some serious and others funny. In the end the Christmas court was announced and everyone cheered happily. It was an enjoyable evening and a chance for everyone to do something different.
Those were the two biggest events of the weekend.
Thursday evening, we as a dorm had Thanksgiving. It happened to actually be on Thanksgiving this year which is unlike BFA. But we had one of our student's parents come and help us. They brought turkey too. So the ladies did wonderful cooking and Jeff and I went to decorating the dining room. We put up all kinds of lights and green garland everywhere and it looks nice and Christmas treey. The dinner was enjoyable and there were plenty of pies for dessert. We got a football game taped and watched it after dinner. Overall a good day.
Saturday night was the Christmas banquet. All of the guys had fun asking the ladies to go to the banquet. And finally the night brought guys with corsages dressed very nicely and waiting for their dates. There was much happiness when everyone arrived and finally sat down for the meal and program. People turned in Christmas wishes over the past few weeks and then on Saturday night probably around 30 of them were granted. Ranging from having a song sung to the wishee or to fuzzy pick slippers. There were also musical acts galore, some serious and others funny. In the end the Christmas court was announced and everyone cheered happily. It was an enjoyable evening and a chance for everyone to do something different.
Those were the two biggest events of the weekend.
14.11.07
Well, a first of a season
It snowed today. Really it has been flurrying for the past week, but last night and today it decided to pick up. Probably got about a couple to a few inches on the ground. Also broke the shovels out for the first time of the year. I shoveled for two hours and man do I hurt. We have a long driveway. I only got about half of it done then other people came out and helped. Yippee! Let it be known that it was not required, but I went out on my own free will. A wonderful surprise was some ladies from the dorm across the street bringing me a cookie and some hot chocolate. Very nice of them.
It looks beautiful and is nice to have a different start to the winter than last year. Right now it is about two months ahead of our first snow last year. I could be in for quite the winter. Anyway, just wanted to say 'Hi.'
It looks beautiful and is nice to have a different start to the winter than last year. Right now it is about two months ahead of our first snow last year. I could be in for quite the winter. Anyway, just wanted to say 'Hi.'
3.11.07
November
Hello all,
It has been a while, but I am coming to you with a prayer request. The year has started out quite smashingly. But it is now a bit over two months into the school year. That honeymoon period has worn off. School is a long boring day for the students and the dorm is just a place where there are a bunch of rules.
For staff, we are tired. It has been busy and will just get busier. My reactions are not what they should be and aren't as gracious as they were at the beginning of the year. Overall, it is just a hard time for everyone. Please pray that I will respond with grace and love to people and that November will be a happy time rather than a tired and stressed time.
It has been a while, but I am coming to you with a prayer request. The year has started out quite smashingly. But it is now a bit over two months into the school year. That honeymoon period has worn off. School is a long boring day for the students and the dorm is just a place where there are a bunch of rules.
For staff, we are tired. It has been busy and will just get busier. My reactions are not what they should be and aren't as gracious as they were at the beginning of the year. Overall, it is just a hard time for everyone. Please pray that I will respond with grace and love to people and that November will be a happy time rather than a tired and stressed time.
22.10.07
Strange hours
Since we over here are from the USA, we need and want to connect back to the states every once in a while. This can lead to some strange hours. This was brought on by my fellow RA staying up to watch a baseball game of his Red Sox that started at 2am. Another RA I know calls her family in Alaska at 5am.
Last year we watched the Super Bowl which wasn't over until 5am. We frequently will call people back in the states between the hours of 11pm and 1am. This is when they start to get back from work.
Strange hours are held by us who long to connect with our other part of our life.
Last year we watched the Super Bowl which wasn't over until 5am. We frequently will call people back in the states between the hours of 11pm and 1am. This is when they start to get back from work.
Strange hours are held by us who long to connect with our other part of our life.
21.10.07
New in Life
Hello from cold Sonne,
It is snowing today. Nothing major, just flurries. The first of the year. The guys are really excited about that. It has been pretty cold for going on a week and finally the flurries broke through. It has been a busy week with things happening everywhere. We got to go see the US men's national team play Switzerland in soccer. That was very enjoyable and hopefully I will put some good photos up soon. We took a van of guys up to Freiburg yesterday to walk around and do some shopping.
Things are going well and I am tired. That is just part of things here though. I pray that all of you are doing well.
It is snowing today. Nothing major, just flurries. The first of the year. The guys are really excited about that. It has been pretty cold for going on a week and finally the flurries broke through. It has been a busy week with things happening everywhere. We got to go see the US men's national team play Switzerland in soccer. That was very enjoyable and hopefully I will put some good photos up soon. We took a van of guys up to Freiburg yesterday to walk around and do some shopping.
Things are going well and I am tired. That is just part of things here though. I pray that all of you are doing well.
4.10.07
October in Germany
Es ist Oktober hier in Deutschland.
After September was in the 50s most of the month, for the first week of October we are in the 70s at least. It has been a nice change. Today the seniors leave for Rome. They spend a week traveling with stops in Venice, Florence and a couple days stay in Rome. Most of them have been looking forward to this trip their whole BFA life.
The juniors are gone to Normandy this weekend. They will stop in Paris on Friday and then be in Normandy on Saturday. They will be exhausted when they get back, but will have a great time.
That is the latest here.
After September was in the 50s most of the month, for the first week of October we are in the 70s at least. It has been a nice change. Today the seniors leave for Rome. They spend a week traveling with stops in Venice, Florence and a couple days stay in Rome. Most of them have been looking forward to this trip their whole BFA life.
The juniors are gone to Normandy this weekend. They will stop in Paris on Friday and then be in Normandy on Saturday. They will be exhausted when they get back, but will have a great time.
That is the latest here.
24.9.07
What's happened
It has been busy. Sports are in full swing with tennis, volleyball and girls volleyball. We have 2 in tennis, 6 in guys vball and 1 in girls vball (dorm parent's daughter).
I was creeked a couple of weeks ago for my birthday, but I don't have any pictures yet. I'll get them at some point. A two friday nights ago was the fall party. The theme was movies and tv shows. I joined 5 other RAs to go as the Gilligan's Island crew. I was the skipper. Here is a pic.
Last week was Spiritual Emphasis Week. The topic was 2 Peter and talking about being fully equipped in God. The week ended on Friday with a very powerful service where many people took some big steps in moving towards God. It was nice to see the students make some important commitments.
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