Maria and Me

So I had my 14-year-old niece over for the week.  The week went fast.  We cooked, went to my prayer group, rode bikes at the peninsula, visited the library, went for ice cream, had Chinese on the beach, and just hung out at my house.  She even helped me work in my yard (4 bushes down, 10 to go) and watch another niece and nephew for a full day.  And she also helped me install a webcam so that I can use Skype with my oversees and out-of-state friends.  And after going to my prayer group, we were challenged on how we could be more like Christ, so I asked her what we could do.  She suggested, without hesitation, that we visit a shut-in that we know.  So we did just that the next day.  We also read the bible together, and spent time studying about God's unfailing love for us. So amazing to be studying with her when just a few years ago we were playing with play dough. 

While I don't know when I'll be able to have her over again for a full week, it makes me appreciate the fact that I could do this during this season of my life. 

My family

So, I had a birthday while in Europe, in the Netherlands, actually.  And that was lovely, just unbelievable really.  Never thought that I'd spend a special birthday there.  But it was also nice to have my family throw me a birthday party today.  I had a chance to see all of my family since I returned.  There's 19 of us in total, counting nieces and nephews.  I caught up with them a bit, and just enjoyed being with them.  They really are a wonderful, supportive, and loving family.  That alone is birthday gift.

My parents and siblings:

Jim, Sharon, Mom (Fran), Dad (Andy), Sandy, Karen, Suzanne

How hard can it be?

Where I lived, Schaldming, Austria

"How hard can this be?"  I don't know how many times I said this in Austria and when traveling.  How hard can it be to hike in the Austrian Alps?  Well...as I quickly found out, very hard.  Like perspiring in the first 3 minutes and huffing and puffing because of the altitude.  I was humbled.  And how hard can mountain biking be in the Alps?  Umm...I never walked up a hill before -- and I mean never -- but I walked the mountain bike up the hill four times on the first steep hill in Austria.  Humbled again.  How hard can it be to travel a low cost airline that I've never traveled before from Rome to Amsterdam?  Well, I felt about 2 inches tall after I was herded like cattle and boarded a plane with people openly excited about going to Amsterdam to party (perhaps with the legalized drugs there?).  And each time I went through a situation like this, I knew that I had to practice everything that I was learning in bible school.  And when I came home, I had water in the basement, my air conditioning in my car didn't work, my garage door wouldn't close, and today my drain basin next to my washer kept overflowing as I did laundry.  I just laughed.  I fully expected that I would be challenged when I got home, and these things certainly did the trick.

But in the quietness of being home again, I've been able to read more.  And this has helped me keep perspective.  When you're reading the amazing truth of God's word often, it's very hard to have a bad day, or at least not let things get out of proportion.  And so I've been reading a study on the sermon on the mount by Jacques, whom I visited in the Netherlands.  And appropriately, I've just read about "Blessed are the meek, they shall inherit the earth."  I used to think that meekness meant being weak, but in reality it means being humble.  And even Christ said that he was humble in heart (Mt 11:29).  Moses is also described as humble (Num 12:3).  And being humble means that we are content in all circumstances.  As Paul says in Philipians 4:11: "For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." 

So whether in the beautiful mountains of Austria, or squishing through my basement in my Old Navy flips, I pray that I always remember these words.  For being a Christian means that I can't be content on my own, but with Christ, I can.

Life in North America

Well, it's still an adjustment to come back from such an amazing, challenging, and inspiring trip.  The biggest adjustment is being on my own.  I've lived on my own for years, but now I really miss living in community and eating all my meals with others.  While eating with over 75 people, mostly those in their late teens and early twenties, could be a bit crazy and loud sometimes, it was just like one big happy family.  So I pray for my future, when I can be in community and live in the blessings and challenges of being with others.

In my backyard, Erie, Pennsylvania

In the meantime, I've been busy around the house.  My sisters and my friend kept up with my house, and for that I am so grateful.  I was so impressed at how nice my house looked on the inside and out when I came home. I do have a few bushes to trim, but first I had to work on my basement because I came home to water around the walls of my basement.  I've been meaning to clean my basement...so I've spent several days just moving things around and tossing out garbage bags full of "stuff."  It's so embarassing, but I have held onto papers from grade school and had four file drawers full of college and masters materials. It just never seemed to make the priority list.  But since I lived off so little for several months in Austria and Europe, I began to chuck heaps and heaps of papers (by the way, when I came home, my closet felt like a clothing store and I still haven't cracked open my jewelry box).  And if you know me, tossing out part of my past would have been an emotional experience, but it felt good to get rid of it.  Besides what am I going to do with it, really?  I also had a little inspiration from one of the devotions at bible school.

Every morning after breakfast at Tauernhof, at around 8:30am, a student would give a devotion, or an 10-minute talk on what has inspired them recently from their bible reading, or what God was doing in their lives.  I was so impressed -- the students gave such deep and profound stories of God's grace or provision in their lives.  So one morning, Stefan, a 28-year-old, gave a devotion about looking forward.  For the first part of the school semester, he always seemed distracted, and it was hard to talk with him for any length of time.  But then there was a noticeable change in him.  He looked lighter, less burdened.  So he gave his devotion.  He said that he had met a girl just 10 days before he left, missed his family, and had left his job, so he had a lot on his mind.  But then God inspired him through this scripture:  "Jesus replied, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:62. He said that it was easy for him to dwell on what he left, but that didn't allow him to be open to all that God could do during his time at bible school and afterwards. Looking forward can be hard at times because we don't know what the future holds, but then again, that can be the adventure if we trust in the one who called us.  For me, so much has happened in my life over the past few months that looking forward feels good.  So, I want to travel a little lighter, be more open to what could happen, and spend time with Christ as I find my way.

Home safely

Sharon/me home in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

I arrived home safely late Friday night.  It's hard to believe that I was Germany just a day ago, and now I am in Erie, Pennsylvania.  It was a very long travel travel day and really difficult to leave.  Ashley saw me to my train platform to take the 1.5 hour train from Wuerzburg to the Frankfurt airport.  Once the train pulled out, I got emotional, realizing that I was leaving such a great experience.  But I enjoyed the beautiful countryside, and even befriended a young woman on the train who was also going to the airport, so I was sure to get off at the right stop.  Once at the airport, I found the check-in and my gate with some difficulty, but by now I was used to traveling in foreign airports, so I just asked someone to help me find my way.  I traveled from Frankfurt to Toronto on an 8 hour flight, and then from Toronto to Cleveland.  I arrived home at 12:30pm, which would have been 6:30am Europe time.  Even though I was so tired, I smiled as I walked into welcome home signs, a stocked fridge and cupboards, and even fresh flowers.  My family and friends are amazing.  I felt so loved.

I slept through the night and it was so strange to wake up in a place by myself.  For 2 1/2 months, I've lived in community and haved dined with others.  So, I had to adjust to being on my own again.  I talked with the neighbors and have already arranged to spent more time having tea with my 80-year-old neighbor and will go on more walks with my single neighbor.  Living in community is a blessing.  I can't wait to share my experience with my family and friends and catch up with all the details of their lives.  While being in my little house is comfortable and I feel the same God that I did in Austria here, I am now more ready than ever to follow God's leading, wherever that may be.  In the meantime, I think that I'll enjoy every day sleeping in my own bed and getting into a routine where I can spend more time with God to hear his voice.  Funny, while I am home, I don't feel the same.  I am ready to start the next adventure.

Leaving Europe

Leaving Europe is harder than I thought that it would be.  I've had such a great experience -- bible school, living in the Alps, traveling around Europe, visiting friends.  I've had so many amazing, challenging, growing, and relaxing experiences that I never dreamed of.  I've met very solid young people at bible school, befriended some of the staff, and traveled to make better friends in Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany.  And I've learned so much:  to be patient, to allow myself to fail, to adjust quickly, to live in community, to live through the stress of public transportation, and to live on a small suitcase of clothes, including 6 pairs of earrings, four pairs of shoes, and about a dozen outfits.  I really did learn to live more simply.  And when I lost my suitcase, I lived off of even less.  I also learned to take pictures, but to know when to just enjoy the moment.  Most importantly, I've learned that no matter what I do, where I go, I need to live a life that allows God to work through me.

A German meal with Ashley and Thomas on my last night in Europe

As I lived my last day in Europe, I enjoyed a breakfast with Ashley and then she went off to German class.  I spent a bit more time in her place reading, but then wandered around town and had lunch in a winery in town, where the building was built in the 1400's.  Since Ashley was at class, I dined alone, but a woman at a nearby table came over and took my picture when she saw me taking pictures.  And then a little bit after I started my meal, she came over with a wine glass and poured me some of the wine from her carafe, and said, "You're in Wuerzburg, you have to have a glass of wine."  Remember that Wuerzburg is surrounded by vineyards and famous for their white wine.  She poured me a Bacchus 2009 Randersacker Ewig Leben.  Ashley met me after class at the winery and we headed off to have a coffee.  After a lingering time over dessert, we headed back for an early dinner to make an authentic meal called spaetzle (pronounced spetz-le).  We cooked at a leisurely pace and I even helped to make the spaetzle, which is dough dropped into boiling water.  A bit similar to long thin gnocchi.  You layer the noodles with cheese and top with carmelized onions.  We enjoyed the spaetzle and a strawberry salad with some of the wine from the wine festival. We laughed and talked about travels, and anything else that came to mind.  It was nice to have a German meal before leaving.  I have so enjoyed my time here, and getting to know Ashley and Thomas better.

I don't know what is next, but I trust that God has brought me thus far, that he'll continue to guide me on my way.  And if its half as adventurous as what I experience over the past few months, I'll quickly abandon my plans to follow his.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6 

German 'bibel' study

Today was one of my favorite days.  After almost two weeks of traveling, it hit me.  I was just tired.  So I slept in a bit.  Ashley made some fabulous sweet rolls, German-style, and then she headed off to her German class at 10am.  She would be gone until almost 3, so she left me the keys and wished me a restful time.  I ate breakfast on her balcony, read, and just enjoyed the sights and sounds of everyday life in Wuerzburg: a woman kicking her bike stand-up and riding off for the day, dishes clanking in nearby places, and an older woman slowly walking her dog.  After breakfast, I spent time reviewing my notes from some of the sessions at bible school.  It's just what I needed.  I was so encouraged and reminded about how much wisdom is in the bible.  I reviewed some of the notes on Galatians, where we are to live life by the spirit as evidenced by the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  A change in our inner selves will result in a change in our outer selves.  If we live in the spirit we'll  have a changed attitude towards others (e.g. love, kindness, goodness), a changed attitude to circumstances (e.g. peace, patience), and a changed attitude towards ourselves (e.g. self-control).  It was a good reminder to show the fruit of the spirit wherever we find ourselves.  In doing so, we shine the light of Christ.  I relaxed and slept on her couch, reading in between and just enjoying the time with God.  I enjoyed the early afternoon this way, and was refreshed by the time Ashley got home around 3pm.

A view from the bridge in Wuerzburg

She was to meet the girl that she is mentoring, so I decided to meander around Wuerzburg.  Ashley walked with me part of the way then went to meet Jasmine.  She showed me a local shop where the man makes leather goods.  I spent time in there browsing and talking the best I could with the owner, or lederatelier.  I walked along the old part of Wuerzburg browsing a few shops and stopping at a cafe to have a pastry.  I walked more in the historic district and ended up at the Rathaus, or town building.  I also walked on the famous bridge that looks like one in Prague.  Since I've wanted to go to Prague for years now, I enjoyed seeing this.  I could see the large fortress on the hill as well.  I walked back to Ashley's and we headed off to bible study.

We walked about 15 minutes to the bible study, which was held at an apartment.  Apartments are very nice here.  It's the German way. They're solid, clean, and quiet large for an apartment.  Ashley introduced me and they said that it was no problem to translate during the study.  We studied chapter 3 of Daniel.  Ashley did a great job translating and I learned quite a bit.  Chapter 3 is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and how when King Nebuchadnezzar asked them to bow down to his idol, they replied, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).  They had made a decision to serve God no matter the outcome (and not just when life is good).  God did rescue them from the furnace, but we talked about that God does not always do this, but he did choose to rescue them.  He rescued them, not only because they stayed close to God, but to show his power to the king. 

We concluded the bible study and talked afterward and they all talked to me in English.  Of the fourteen people there, most were over 35, so I felt quite at home.  I talked with one man who is a orthopedic doctor and he has such a passion for reaching the Islamic people of Germany.  Apparently, it is growing and could be a problem in the future.  I talked with the two other ladies there -- one is a music teacher of smaller children and the other works in a pediatrician's office.  They were all so genuine.  They were very confident that God would provide direction in my life and wished me well as I left.  Although the study was in German, even when we prayed you could feel the presence of Christ.  And it was a good reminder that God speaks more than English.  We headed home and it was almost midnight.

I'll enjoy my last full day in Europe tomorrow.

Schweinfurt, Germany

On the phone with my father in Schweinfurt, Germany

Today, Ashley and I took their bikes through several small villages and vineyards.  They were so small and quaint.  We rode along bike paths through the countryside.  In Germany, they have paths so that you don't have to ride along the road.  In every small town that we passed through, I couldn't help but think, "I can't believe that I'm cycling through Germany."  I soaked in the scenery and took several pictures in my mind as we road along.  I loved one tiny village that had just a few buildings, flower boxes and a goat in a pen. We rode for several hours and stopped to have lunch in one of the small towns.  We headed back by train because it was getting late and I wanted to visit one other town in Germany: Schweinfurt.


Schweinfurt is where my father was stationed in the army for 18 months.  It took about a half hour to drive there.  We drove past the army barracks, then walked around town.  It's like many other German towns, but a bit more industrial.  I thought that the city center was nice.  I took lots of pictures and called my father while I was there.  He was so surprised that I was there and told me to take lots of pictures to see how much it had changed.  We walked slowly through the town, taking even more pictures.  We ate dinner and I just was so happy that I could see where he lived for a short period of time. What an amazing trip.  


I'll be home before you know it....

Wuerzberg, Germany

Sharon/me and Ashley 

Sommerhausen, Germany

I arrived in the Frankfurt airport on the one hour flight from Amsterdam, however, my luggage did not make it with me.  Fortunately, I had a small change of clothes and Ashley lent me some things.  I still have not received it, so I am exercising my patience as I learned in the study of the Psalm this weekend.  Ashley and Thomas picked me up a the Frankfurt airport and after waiting almost an hour for me to come out, we headed to Wuerzburg. It was good to be with them.  We relaxed over a stir-fry dinner at their house and I got to know Thomas better.  He's studying for his PHD in physics.  Their place is so quaint and Ashley, who is originally from Kansas, but married a German, decorates so simply and has such bright and happy colors.  We finished dinner and went to bed.  I slept so soundly.


Thomas left for the university where he works before I even got up.  Ashley made crepes and we enjoyed a slow and relaxing breakfast on her balcony.  We left shortly before lunch to explore Wuerzburg.  We didn't go too far because there was a chance that my luggage would be delivered.  We also wanted to go on a bike ride, but maybe tomorrow.  We walked to town via a beautiful garden complete with old lamp posts.  We walked past a palace, which we visited later, and walked on the stone streets to see a poetry garden, a few different types of churches and browsed a few shops.  We even saw a winery built in the 1400's.  We stopped for lunch at an authentic German place, complete with the beer umbrellas on the outside tables. It was very tasteful though.  The buildings around it had flower boxes and were so well maintained.  I had a version of a light pirogi with broccoli and carrots, it was very good.  We walked to the palace and had a very detailed tour of the palace that the bishop built in the 1700's.  The place was so decadent, but the fresco's on the walls and ceilings were stunning and so colorful.  On the one above the staircase in the entryway, it had four continents pictured on it with people appropriate for those continents.  And the rooms were so ornate with gold, marble and tapestries.  Since he built it with the people's money, it was no wonder that they didn't like him. We walked through some very magnificent gardens and headed back home.


In the evening we drove to a German wine festival in a nearby village called Sommerhausen.  Just so quaint.  We walked around the village and then followed a path around the town and through local vineyards.  The evening was just the perfect temperature for strolling through the vineyards.  We walked up the hill behind the village and around and back through town to the location of the festival. When we arrived, there was a 'glas,' or brass band playing traditional German music.  Orange benches lines the streets and people were drinking local wines.  We had an onion-like flat pizza and fries and some white wine from the vineyards that we walked through. We enjoyed the music, conversation, and the town-like atmosphere.  A German couple and their two kids next to us were playing cards and the family beside us asked in German (as I looked a bit wide-eyed) if their grandmother could eat the pizza.  It was that kind of atmosphere.  We walked back along the Min river watching the sun set.  A great way to end a day in Germany with a very nice couple.

Holland for my birthday

Ruth, Sharon/me, Jacques on my birthday

Who knew even three months ago that I would be in Holland on my birthday?  Life has been such a sweet and challenging adventure over the past 6 months that it's hard to believe that I am here.  I woke up after a very good sleep (with an electric blanket mind you), to the sun and a peaceful morning.  Ruth and Jacques prepared a nice breakfast and had a few gifts waiting for me.  As they gave me a hug and wished me a happy birthday, I thought that I didn't feel any different today that I did yesterday.  But what a special place to celebrate a birthday.  While I miss my family and celebrating with friends, I'm so blessed to be with two very special and godly people.  After breakfast finished, Jacques announced with a smile, that instead of continuing on in the study of Luke, that we would read the Psalm number corresponding with my the age of birthday.  So we read the Psalm and talked about patience and how patience is a fruit of the spirit.  And patience makes us more like the character of Christ.  I enjoyed and could get used to studying the bible after meals.

Shortly after breakfast we headed to their son Steven's house to meet his family and children.  Along the way we stopped at a bakery and Ruth picked up little cakes to celebrate my birthday.  She said that it is a tradition in Holland.  We had a very relaxing time and enjoyed our cakes and with Steven's family.  Steven and his wife had met at the bible school in England.  They were very welcoming and also lived very simply.  And it was nice to be around a 12-year-old, a 10-month-old and a 2-year-old because it reminded me of being with my family.  While I was there a few neighbor children came by speaking Dutch.  It's so strange to go from German-speaking to Dutch-speaking people.  We stayed until lunch and headed off to a small fishing village.  Along the way, I just soaked in the scenery looking at thatched-roof houses, pastures, windmills, and tree-lined streets.  It's very beautiful.

We arrived in the village and Jacque explained that the brick walls just past the water to the canal were for putting up a blockade if the water got too high.  Once in the village, I just loved it.  A quaint little Dutch village with boutique shops, restaurants, and buildings as old as the 1400's.  One of my favorite things to do is to go to small villages so this was such a pleasant surprise and treat.  We had some fried fish for lunch and this was not your typical fried fish -- it was very light and the fish so tender.  We walked along the canal and enjoyed the slow pace.  They thought that we were walking slow because of them, but I laughed (because they are so young at heart) and assured them that I enjoyed just taking in the scenery.  There were old wooden boats parked in the canal and there were so many bikes parked on their kickstands.  That's one thing that Holland has is bike paths along the road.  And not just along the road, there's grass between the road and the bike path, and it's everywhere.  I saw so many bikes along the roads as we had traveled, both cyclists in full gear and others taking a more leisurely pace with baskets on the front.  We headed back to Apeldoorn after stopping at the grocery store for items for dinner, including several different types of cheese. 

Before dinner, we chatted outside, enjoying the sun and the very peaceful afternoon.  They live in an area where there are wooden fences and horses, and lots of greenspace.  So it's very, very quiet.  We talked about their time as missionaries in New Guinea and other stories that showed of how God has worked in others lives as well.  We had a Swiss meal for dinner -- 6 kinds of cheeses on a cheese plate, boiled potatoes, olives, radishes, and a salad.  And a white wine from South Africa.  Such a simple meal, but very good.  We prayed for the suffering church after dinner and read from a daily bible book.  I can't say enough how nice it is to go to the word after a good meal and before going on to the next thing in life.  It keeps you focused on what's important. 

After dinner, Jacques and Ruth shared a slide show of their 13 years as missionaries in New Guinea.  When you see pictures of people who were so primitive -- they could only be reached by plane, it's amazing to think that Jacque, Ruth and other missionaries there could share the gospel to people who spoke a different language and didn't know anything about the civilized world.  As we went through the pictures, they shared how difficult is was at times, but that God had called them there, so they did what they needed to do to spread the good news.  And as they figured out how to connect to the Dani tribe, the people went from killing, raping, stealing, and other strange practices to very free and loving people who they themselves wanted to share the good news with other tribes around them.  And they had many of their four children in New Guinea.  While Jacques and Ruth were spared, other missionaries were killed and eaten by the unsaved tribesmen.  But in the end, the gospel saved 22,000 of the 25,000 people there.  Just amazing at what the power of Christ can do to change and free people.  I was really engrossed in the slide show and just marvelled at what a step of faith by Jacque and Ruth led to -- even though they didn't know completely what they were getting into.  I asked them if they were afraid, and Ruth said yes, but you just did what you needed to do.  What a testimony to really living out the Christian life and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). 

We chatted for a bit more and then headed off to bed.  What a wonderfuly unexpected way to spend my birthday.  So peaceful and relaxing.  I'll be sad to leave tomorrow, but so thankful that I was able to spend time with two very inspirational people who were once words in an email, but now are friends.

The Netherlands

I arrived safely in the Netherlands via a flight from Rome.  I took a regional low-cost carrier known in Europe -- Easyjet.  This was quite the experience.  I felt like cattle being hurded along in the whole process.  It was all a bit stressful, so I was so grateful to land in Amsterdam and be in very organized and clean airport.  And most of the signs were in English, so I could actually better understand where I was going.  I claimed my luggage and headed to the train station.  This, too, seemed easy after our trying train schedules in Italy.  And our accomodations last night turned out not to be so good, so we basically packed up early, lost a full night of sleep and headed to the airport.  While I appreciated the adventures of Italy, I do appreciate the organized public transportaion of Austria, Germany, and even the Netherlands much better. 

Jacques and Ruth Teeuwen

I arrived at the Apeldoorn train station, and hopped off the train only to see Jacques and Ruth waiting for me with a big American flag in their hands, smiling.  I was so glad to finally meet them because they were an instrumental part of me going to bible school.  I met Jacques over email through an old Torchbearers brochure and he quickly spoke truth into my life and was words of wisdom when I would be fearful of leaving what I knew to go to school.  So, they are very special to me. 

Ruth surprised me at the car with a beautiful bouquet of peach roses for my birthday.  This was so sweet and really touched me, especially because I love peach roses.  We drove to their house and I loved it.  Beautiful garden outside, and a bungalow inside (which is what I have, so I like this).  I can appreciate the simplicity of the house -- it has kept them free to give or to go where God called them.  I rested for just a bit and then we had a lovely meal together.  We talked so easily as they shared their testimonies, how they met, we marvelled at how God brought us together.  What I love about them is their passion for sharing the gospel, and how much they see God in our everyday lives, and how much they have opened themselves up to be used by God.  We talked about 2 Corinthians 5:14, "For Christ's love compels us." How true that should be.

After dinner, since they read after each meal, we picked up where they were at in Luke.  We studied how the shepherds returned to their jobs after hearing the good news.  So, some may be called to jobs and others to full-time missionary work.  I really enjoyed this time of studying and praying together.  What a great evening in fellowship, laughing, and getting to know each other.  It's just so comfortable.  I'm headed upstairs to my room that has many family pictures and a cozy bed.  I feel so at home here.