Finally there...

So we made it to Germany alright. These last few days have gone by in a flash. Our travel went quite well. We caught all our flights and had no delays and even all our bags made it there. The kids got to sleep a little bit on the plane but we all ended up being pretty exhausted and tired by the end of our second flight. Jetlag hit us hard but the second night went a lot better than the first.
We are keeping very busy, getting paperwork done, spending time with family and adjusting to life in Germany. It is very weird being here and not just for a visit. We are super excited to start this new season of our life and are looking forward to these next few weeks. I will try to keep you posted on what is going on, but might be a little sporatic due to busyness and tiredness.

Almost there...

Our time in Nebraska is coming to a close and I figured I should give you all an update on our “USA bucket list”

Mexican food -We went to LaMESA and Finley kept flirting with the girls on the table next to us….that child.

Grilling s’mores -Our neighbors and some other people from the college had a bonfire and John and Elea got to go, even though it was really pushing her bedtime.

Going to a water park -We stayed one night at Big Wolf Lodge in Kansas City and the kids loved the water park. We pretty much spent all day there since we literally could not leave because our car was at the shop getting a new alternator.

Eating ice cream cake -We just had ice cream cake today to celebrate all of John’s family members who had birthdays in July.

Catching a firefly -Mommy caught some in a jar and we watched them glow in the dark bathroom ( the sun goes down after our kids’ bedtime)

Getting our nails done -We bought some non-toxic kid nail polish and we decided we will paint our nails together with Elea’s cousins when we are in Germany.

Malt Shake -We were planning on getting some in Clay Center at the little Diner where I had my very first malt Shake, but their ice cream machine was broken.

Fair -We were planning on going to the Fair during Papillion Days, but that same weekend was the tornado. The kids and I went for a little while but I had no cash with me so we didn’t get to ride any rides and it was super hot and then our car died on us, so it was a rather un-fun trip.

Time just flew by and of course there are a million things we’d still like to do. I just hope my kids will have some fun memories from our time here.

Everything is getting kind of hectic and we are very on edge.

It’s getting really real as we are trying to be organized about packing our life in 3 boxes, 3 suitcases and one duffel bag. We still have a lot of things we will probably end up storing at John’s dad’s place or donating.

It’s quite the struggle…there are things you want to take but it is impractical. Then there are things you need to take but you can’t pack yet because you need them until the very last day. Then there are things we’ve packed that we would like to take and will probably end up having to unpack to make room for very important things in the end…and so on…it’s really like having this Tetris game in the back of your head going on 24/7 and in the middle of the night you remember things you need to take and try to figure out where to pack them…..”Box #1 is at it’s weight max, but box #2 still has lots of room….the duffel bag is full room wise but still has a lot of weight capacity left, maybe if we move some clothes from there over to the black suitcase, then that book can be in the duffel bag and….so on and so on…you get the gist.

Wrapping up our lives here is sad and complicated and really bitter sweet. I already know there are so many things and so many people I will miss. It will be weird coming back here to “visit”. Right now it is hard to picture because for the last 9 years we would go to Germany to “visit”. I am really antsy to leave but also would love to stay here longer. It’s so fun catching up with old friends and then it’s sad because we knew our time here was very limited.

We know God has a plan and He is good, so His plans are good. We trust in Him and His timing and His provision. We feel so blessed to be able to follow His call and we are humbled by our brothers and sisters in Christ coming alongside us and supporting us in our ministry. Looking forward to writing our fist blog entry from Germany soon. Then this blog title will finally make sense. 

Coming full circle

13 years ago I started my American adventure. I was 17 years old, or young, and had never been to the U.S. I remember standing in the immigration line at Chicago O’Hare and seeing a water fountain by the restrooms. I thought it was the coolest thing! (there are no water fountains in Germany) I was so so nervous meeting my host family and I think there were thousands of times where I thought up the perfect thing to say in my mind but then was too nervous to say it out loud (introvert problems). They probably thought I was the strangest person ever, and they still laugh about my quirks. But they took me in and fed me stakes and potatoes and butternut squash which was so delicious, I still remember it to this day.

I had an amazing time that year and made some lifelong friends, but I could have never imagined the way God used that year to set the course for the rest of my life.

In Nebraska I met John, and the rest is history.

So this last weekend, when we visited my host family on their farm in rural Nebraska, it felt like coming full circle. I said goodbye to my life in the States. Goodbye to endless skies and fireflies, and I cried. Sad tears, and happy tears, about this amazing God of ours who would in His grace and infinite wisdom let me experience such a wonderful time in this strange land; happy to have done it all and sad to see it come to a close. That view from the kitchen window, seeing the cardinals, will always be home in my heart.

These last 9 years I’ve spent in the US, plus the year I was an exchange student have grown me so much and in so many ways. Had I stayed in Germany, had I stayed in my comfort zone, I am sure I would be a completely different person.

God grows us and prepares us sometimes in ways we don’t even notice.

I’ve had so many opportunities to grow and learn, in so many different areas of my life, and only looking back, and seeing God’s plan in it all, will it make sense.

John and I were talking about how living and working in Salt Lake City the last few years had, unbeknownst to us, prepared us for our ministry in Germany.

At Southeast Christian Church, John had the opportunity to serve in multiple areas of church life. Student and Children’s Ministry, Worship Ministry and preaching. How awesome is it that he got to try his hand at all these things and learn on the job. He now has a way better understanding of all the different ministries as if he’d just been responsible for one area. But God knows, and God prepares us for the work He has chosen for us.

I got to work with Students and Kids and preschool kids and even with juvenile delinquents.

I got to be part of a worship and student ministry and plan events and go on camps.

I had to overcome my fear of public speaking and find my own voice. I most definitely still have a long ways to go, but God is never done working on our hearts.

Not only are we excited to be learning from the Church in Germany but we are also looking forward to share our skills, experience, and heart with them. We’re hoping to learn from each other, to become all things to all people so that by all possible means we might save one.

And when we will be working on putting together a team for a church plant, all that experience will help John, lead others in their various roles.

We had a lot going on these last few weeks. We took a short trip to Kansas City and our car died on the side of the road. Yes it was stressful and yes it was annoying and yes we we’re quite upset, but no one got hurt and we still made a fun trip out of it.

John was invited to be the camp missionary for Camp of the Good Shepherd last week. He got to hang out with some high schoolers and share our new mission. It was a fun time and we hope God will do great things with this next generation.  

This last weekend we enjoyed the good life, farm life! Finley was absolutely thrilled. Things with wheels everywhere!! One time we lost him and found him again trying to climb up into a semi-truck. (He didn’t even make it up the first step) It was a wonderful time and it flew by too fast. 

We are admittedly a bit stressed, as things are coming to a close here (only 2 weeks till departure) but also excited and thankful to have so many friends here in the US praying for us and supporting our ministry. Thank you all for being a part of this. 

P.S. John started his own blog where he will share some thoughts about our ministry, life and such. Please hop over and read...      www.Fadedself.blogspot.com