slow dancing in a burning room

Fall is almost here in my part of Germany. It has been really gray and dreary lately, but today, I noticed the leaves beginning to turn faint shades of red, orange, and yellow. Its so thrilling to look at the woods everyday and try to see what is different from the day before. I wish I had the skills to do one of those time lapse slideshows (if that's the name for it).

So much has changed in my daily routine since I have been here! A month and a half ago, my week consisted of: working 40 hours, driving at least 2 hours a day, studying for classes in between work, and hanging out with friends on the weekend. Now, studying and leisure time is pretty my full time job....and I really was starting to miss work, family, and friends. I was getting stressed out having so much time on my hands (sounds odd doesn't it?). Then, I found this perfect place half a mile from our house that I have claimed as my own spot of germany. I go there and just sit...drinking in my surroundings. From that place, I can see for miles, and it is so soothing. I encourage you to find a "reflection" corner in your world....its amazing I have discovered. I really need this time to think and reflect, and I this will probably be the only time I will ever have to do this.

In other news, my dad and brother are coming next week! They are coming with some friends, and long story short, the friends know some people who own a castle and they invited us to stay with them. Cool, huh? : )

tip of the day: Citizen Cope -- drab name, but pretty groovy music, and its free to download on Myspace!

ok

go to the woods and hills

Sunrise on the Hills

by Longfellow

I stood upon the hills, when heaven's wide arch

Was glorious with the sun's returning march,

And woods were brightened, and soft gales

Went forth to kiss the sun-clad vales.

The clouds were far beneath me; bathed in light,

They gathered mid-way round the wooded height,

And, in their fading glory, shone

Like hosts in battle overthrown.

As many a pinnacle, with shifting glance.

Through the gray mist thrust up its shattered lance,

And rocking on the cliff was left

The dark pine blasted, bare, and cleft.

The veil of cloud was lifted, and below

Glowed the rich valley, and the river's flow

Was darkened by the forest's shade,

Or glistened in the white cascade;

Where upward, in the mellow blush of day,

The noisy bittern wheeled his spiral way.

I heard the distant waters dash,

I saw the current whirl and flash,

And richly, by the blue lake's silver beach,

The woods were bending with a silent reach.

Then o'er the vale, with gentle swell,

The music of the village bell

Came sweetly to the echo-giving hills;

And the wild horn, whose voice the woodland fills,

Was ringing to the merry shout,

That faint and far the glen sent out,

Where, answering to the sudden shot, thin smoke,

Through thick-leaved branches, from the dingle broke.

If thou art worn and hard beset

With sorrows, that thou wouldst forget,

If thou wouldst read a lesson, that will keep

Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep,

Go to the woods and hills! No tears

Dim the sweet look that Nature wears.

how overwhelming....

One of my "contacts" here is Chris, a 44 year old pastor who has been married for 11 years and has 3 adorable little children (and, he went to Regent!). Anyways, this weekend, I stayed with him and his family, and I soon found out that he is incredibly more gifted than I thought. Get this --- he has been to so many countries that he has lost count and he can speak and write German (duh), English, Spanish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin (which really isn't spoken anymore), Italian, and he's thinking about learning Arabic. You would think that someone who knows so much would be the kind of person who has lived in an office all their life and has no social life, but no, he is in charge of the "college" group at his church, so he knows everybody.

So of course, I began to feel a little insignificant around him. We have very different views on some things, and honestly I feel scared to challenge any of his views. Talking with people other than him has also confirmed my view that I am very much a "fish out of water" over here as far as social issues goes. Its amazing to me how two Christians who have studied and prayed about the same thing can arrive at totally different conclusions. I think the best way after you each have presented your opposing sides and are still at loggerheads is to agree to disagree. All I do know is that I cannot wait to get home and talk with someone who shares my opinions and is enthusiastic about them. argg, that sounds odd....

That's my insight for the weekend.

back to German grammar.....

another day in the life

Today that sun is out for a change! I was beginning to tire of the cold and soggy weather. It really irks me when it is drizzling...I wish it would either pour down rain or just not rain at all.

Being that I have more time on my hands these days, I have been able to go out and walk in the woods surrounding our house. I feel like Little Red Riding Hood on her way to grandma's house as I walk around. Its kind of creepy at times, so I walk faster, which is good I suppose. There are places where the trees are extra low, creating a sort of cove, and when I look in those places, I half expect a troll to come barging out at me. My love for fairy tales has been reignited of late due to these frequent explorations. I'll let you know if I meet the 7 dwarves...

Other than my walks, not much is new here. This weekend, I am volunteering at a conference an hour away. It is about the Holy Spirit and evangelism, so it should be exciting. Last night, the youth team leaders came over to our house for a meeting, and we had worship together. Let me tell you, worship is one of the only moments during "church" when I feel I can connect through the language barrier. My mind is more at ease during those times, so I can soak in more. I actually understood a lot, which was exciting!

I must return to the grind of schoolwork (which really isn't a grind, I just like using that word). I actually love both of my classes, which is amazing.

ok. later.

where am I going with this?

I intially wrote here a long montage about lonely people and how to reach them, then I re-read it and realized what a piece of uneditable mess it was. So here is what I was trying to say in a large nutshell:

Bars on a Friday night are the best place to talk to people about Jesus.

Friday night, Tina, Mary and I went to downtown Stuttgart to walk around and just observe the nightlife. As we walked around, I noticed how many people seem so empty. They may be appearing to have a good time drinking, dancing, or talking, but there is no joy in their eyes. And it pained me so much to see people like that, because I want to talk to them, but I can't yet. I have prayed for a long time to have the gift of tongues, but it hasn't come yet. I've heard stories, and I think it would be awesome, if I could go to someone and speak truth into their life, in a language they understand. It is so hard sometimes to accept the fact the you must obey the whispers of the Holy Spirit. You aren't always supposed to speak to every person you see, but sometimes, that's all you want to do.

arg, anyways, I hope that made sense. I'll let you know immediately when I have my first conversation with a German speaking stranger : )

my third week

As I approach the third week of my stay in Germany, my brain is beginning to feel the intensity of this whole experience. The first two weeks were no problem, but this week, I can't turn my brain off at night and I get headaches during the day. I suppose that is all part of being submersed in a culture. I wish I had a picture of my face when people talk to me in public.....since I don't understand half of what they are saying yet, I have to wait until they stop talking, then give them, "I don't speak much German" line. I feel so stupid, but its incentive to study more and more so I can converse like a normal person soon.

Everyone I have met so far is so nice and warm. The grandmother of my host family speaks a little English, and she told me the other day that she learned her English from the American soldiers who came to Germany after WW2. She said they gave the children gum, which was pretty unheard of back then. It is hard to believe that most of the elderly people I see everywhere saw first hand the horrors of the Nazis (if that's what you call it). They lived in a totally different time, and I can't imagine they stories they have to tell.

Pray that I sleep well at night and learn German very fast. I already have learned so much, but your brain can only handle so many words everyday.

and, I miss driving my car : (

Hasta luego!

P.S. You should get a FACEBOOK account if you want to see pictures of Germany. ok, that's all : )