Germany Trip, the short version

So, it's been a very long time since I have written a blog. Mostly because I haven't felt up to it. Part of this summer was spent in a six-week adventure in a foreign country (or a foreign ant hill if you will). For a month and a half I was in Germany experiencing and participating in the life of missionaries over there.

It didn't hit me when my parents drove me to the airport. It didn't hit me during my eight hour flight to Frankfurt. When I walked through the gates and saw all the signs written in German, it finally hit me: Todo, we're not in Kansas anymore. I was to the point of tiredness where I was shocked but not freaking out. After finally meeting our first host missionary, he sat my teammate Sara and I down to chat while we waited for our third part of the team, Debbie, to arrive.

After we all arrived at his house in Geisenheim, we dropped our bags in our room, claimed our beds, and prepared ourselves to go to the Wednesday night Bible study. It was all in German so it was painfully hard to keep my jet-lagged mind awake. Our first week we had oriention, helped my college chorale who were also traveling in Germany, and helped clean the church. It was a very tiring thing that week to be fighting jet-lag and keep up with all the activities, but God definately blessed our time there and taught us many things already.

Our next stop was in Landshut with some very interesting missionaries. Imagine a cute granpa-type man from South Carolina with a sanguine personality. Yes. Good times. Definately a lot of hilarious stories to go with that week including some "help" in finding ourselves husbands from our loveable missionary "uncle." During our week there, we helped clean the church, put tracts in mail boxes, and gave testimonies. We also got to go to Munich for a day. God showed me how empty Catholicism is and how much we need to share with others the HOPE we have in Christ.

Our adventure took us to Bad Heilbrunn which is close to the Alps. The mountain view was AMAZING. When we arrived the team was ready to be put to work. And work, we did. There was plenty of painting involved (mostly on the walls), packing books, cooking, and etc. This week was a very interesting and fun week fellowshiping with the missionary family and new German friends. We also were able to go sight-seeing. We saw some pretty neat castles, and many pictures were taken through out the day. It was neat to see the missionary's relationship with others in the church and to learn about his discipleship ministry. He really took the time to develop relationships with younger men and teach them more about the Scriptures. What an amazing example!

After Bad Heilbrunn we stayed in Ingolstadt with a German pastor and his family. They have six adorable kids but one problem: only the oldest could speak minimum English! It was a great week of learning as interacted with their kids. While in Ingolstadt we had some interesting adventures. We made a trip to Dachau which really... has stuck with me and made me realize more of the impact World War II had on the people over here. On a lighter note, the pastor took us downtown and let us loose... on bike! Riding a bike in Europe is different than in America, so this made for an interesting and fun adventure (including getting lost and trying to decipher a map). Fellowshiping with the believers and the children in this church was so amazing and encouraging. The pastor also had taught us so much. In addition, we had a very nice ice cream parlor across the street that we visited every now and then, including taking a troup of children to go get ice cream without adults. Seeing the results of the work of many missionaries had in this church really impressed upon me the ministry people can have others lives.

The last two weeks went by very quickly. First we were in Nuremburg, which was the city where Hitler came into power, so of course we visited the museum that talked about his rise of power and the conditions the country was in that aided his rising. This week was really stretching. For the first time in my life I participated in street evangelism. As I tried to smile, pass out tracts, and converse with people mixing German and English, I was hit with the spiritual condition of those in Germany. Many stiff armed me. Those who listened to what I had to say nodded but seemed only slightly interested. There was even a lady who yelled at one of my teammate's for trying to pass out tracts! Many have little or no interest in spiritual things, even less the gospel. Despite this set back, I was encouraged by some believers around my age who had greeted me as their "sister from America." I had a great time as God stretched me and taught me many new things that week.

My last week was spent in Berlin. Berlin was very different even in culture compared to the other places around Germany that we had been. I very much enjoyed the time we spent with the two ladies there. One was a mother whose husband was visiting churches in the states and one was a single missionary. We had a great time touring Berlin and meeting aquaintances of the single missionary. If there was any place devoid of passion for God, I think Berlin is definately one of those places. Berlin has definately been a harder mission field for the missionaries there, and now that I have been there, I know how to better pray for them. As I pray, I ask God that He send more help there for the missionaries and pray that they continue to receive the encouragement they need to continue on the ministry.

God taught me so much on my trip that I am sure I could write a book. And yes, this is a short version of my trip. Sorry for not posting for so long but I hope this post was worth the wait. And I definately have more to post in my blog. Many things have been happening in my life, and I am learning SO much. I love sharing what God teaches me!