22 Days In...
We're coming up on 1 full month of living in Kandern.I think we are all definitely still processing what that means. I mean, obviously, there's a new culture and new set of rules (namely, where your trash goes and why you need 4 different sets of trash cans in your kitchen). But, I think we're also still processing how we got here, what we left behind in order to follow the Lord's leading, and what exactly He has for us here. I still can't get over the way that God works out His plan, for His glory - like calling us to this place and paving the way in His exact timing AND using our friends and families and fellow believers in order to make it happen. Like, I'm still processing how to walk in that and how exactly to honor the obedience of other people while figuring out how to do this thing that God has asked us to do here.So... bear with me as I have to remind myself that we've only been here for 22 days. While I'm aching to truly invest in the lives of students and to affect change in this global movement of the Gospel, He gently reminds me that the type of investment and love and discipleship that He desires to take place, takes time. I LOVE how He is constantly reminding me that He is absolutely in charge and that my job is to be in sync with Him and continue putting one foot in front of the other.That being said, I am pretty giddy about the fact that there just weren't enough High School small group leaders to volunteer, so the chaplain's wife gets to lead a group of Freshman girls each week in her home, starting on Tuesday!! And Lance gets to lead a group of Freshman boys at the same time. I'm so excited and really looking forward to the divine relationships in this group of girls that I KNOW God has orchestrated already.I also started attending a weekly Ladies Bible Study at a German church this week. Don't worry, there is English translation AND small group break out time with English speakers. So, I'm also really looking forward to how God is going to use that time each week as well.Here's our German life the last couple of weeks:The boys had to choose a performing arts elective. Boston chose choir and Dash chose...
Magnolia and I get to do a bit of exploring the surrounding area as we search for groceries and bedding and lunch bags and all the things ;) One day, we got to explore with a sweet mom and daughter that we met in New York at our orientation:
Speaking of lunch bags... There is no such thing as forgetting to pack your kids lunch and Miss Marie taking care of them with an extra hot lunch from the line or a PB&J!! You absolutely must send your kids a lunch every day, or they'll have nothing - because there is no hot lunch!! Well... I am pleased to report that neither of my children have had to go without lunch (granted, I do live about a 7 minute walk away so I could easily take them a lunch if it was forgotten). However, I did receive this picture from my husband one day, whom I also pack a lunch for each day:
Don't feel too sorry for him - I also got this picture from him:
Boston, Magnolia, and myself did catch a bit of a cold. You can't get medicine outside of the pharmacy. Like, nowhere can you buy any kind of medicine unless it's from a pharmacy. Our local pharmacy closes at noon on Wednesdays, and everyday from noon-2:30. Then, it's closed for the day at 5:00. Ask me how many days it took me to actually get TO the pharmacy during opening hours?! Too many! And when you have a cold and a cough and stuffy nose, and 2 children with the same symptoms - it's a bit frustrating to say the least.
And BudenFest happened. This is an annual festival that happens in Kandern each September. It's literally a festival of booths. All the different clubs around town set up food booths for people to come and enjoy, and it's their main fundraiser to run their specific club - it's open from Saturday afternoon through Monday late at night. The food was pretty awesome. The crowds were kind of crazy. And it all happens literally right outside our door (and our windows that must remain open at all times to let the cool air in due to the absence of air conditioning)! We were blocked from our parking spot and front door from Tuesday afternoon until the following Tuesday afternoon! People warned us about it, and honestly it was not too bad. It was fun to be in the middle of the action.
Budenfest was definitely all about traditional German food (and cotton candy), we have made time for an old American favorite ...
And we finally got our very own washer and dryer:
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Lance got to sing and speak at chapel this week - I cannot believe he forgot to remind me about it, so I missed it. But, his wonderful admin assistant sent me this clip:[wpvideo rKNWAB3u] And, I've saved the best for last. Okay, it's not the best at all - it's actually the worst. However, my reaction when it happened was nothing short of the Lords protection. While I was certainly embarrassed and remorseful, I did not freak out or cry or get upset really at all. I just sort of thought - well, that stinks but not a lot I can do about it now, so life goes on.This is our rental from the school until our visas come through and we can purchase our own vehicle. In my defense, it's not a small vehicle and our parking spot is SUPER tight and takes even experienced drivers at least 3 or 4 back up and go forward moves to get into and out of the spot. So, I scraped a cement pillar. Whoops. So, hopefully an update soon about Boston's first cross country meet in Germany tomorrow, and Dash's part in the middle school play, our first high school small group meetings, intramural sports, my German church Bible Study, and all the things!!