Mission Work

I know I have already posted 2 blogs for the day, but I found the following thoughts from a friend's website who has been doing missionary work in Germany for the past 2 years. As I read it, her thoughts are so parallel to mine...I thought I would share them with you...


“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9

The mission field is more than you expect. More everything. No matter how many classes you take, books you read or people you talk to, things will be more in a sometimes overwhelming way. There are more people around. More foreign words that I don’t understand. More awkward social moments, more to keep clean in my apartment, more cheese to choose from in the grocery store—just more foreign things than familiar. No matter how much I assure myself it’s all under control, there’s always a little more than I can handle and I find myself feeling defeat. Not admitting it, no way! But something’s lurking under the surface, some sensitive, frustrated inkling that seems to spring up at the littlest thing.

Where is God in all of this?But somehow under the canopy of doubt I notice a smile from someone on the tram. A smile! Germans (and Dutch, both) aren’t known for their friendliness. And then by the grace of God, I notice more sun and blue sky today, drink more delicious tea, find more opportunities to sing out loud, marvel at more beautiful architecture, and see how a recent friend encourages me more than I ever thought. Aren’t I the one who is supposed to do the encouraging?And quietly and gently, never barging His way in, God speaks, not to my ears but straight to my heart. Regardless of how I feel, it is when I am weak that I am strong. More everything is on the way and I am powerless until I seek more of Him in me.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” -2 Corinthians 9:15

Even though it's hard for me to admit, there are days when I feel defeated by my mission work. She says it all for me. So if you get a chance, or think about it, say a prayer for my time in Eindhoven...that it is all God wants it to be.

Taco Bell

Just for the record...another American girl in the church and I have decided that we want to start a Taco Bell in Europe. Europeans don't know what they're missing!! I don't think I'll ever be able to escape it!!

And just for you literal people...I'm joking. Mostly. :)

My top 10

I thought I would write the 10 things I love most about Holland...maybe Eindhoven, specifically. The small things that aren't so obvious to those who don't live here.

1) I love the shopping carts in Alberthein! You know how in the states, only the two front wheels rotate, while the back two wheels attempt to follow? Well here...all 4 wheels rotate...and don't need grease to make for a smooth ride... :)

2) I love how you don't have to pay for incoming calls on your cell phone. At this point in time in the states, some cell phone plans are now offering a plan that does not require you to pay for incoming calls. But you don't need a plan here! They don't feel the need to charge you for someone else's choice in talking to you!

3) I love that all the stores are closed on Sunday. While sometimes it can be a bit frustrating, it's nice to have Sunday off...from everything!! And not just Chic-fil-a, either!!

4) I love how you don't receive the bill at a restaurant until you ask for it. When you decide to go to a restaurant, there either is...or is not room. There's no waiting line. When you sit down to eat dinner at a restaurant...they expect you to stay until close!!

5) I love how the post office works!! Instead of standing in line, for up to an hour...you take a number, and can browse in the post office, while waiting!! Then you don't feel so claustrophic among those people beside you with 3 huge boxes, when all you want is 20 stamps...

6) I love the fresh bakery on every other corner. Such tasty treats!!

7) I love that you can cook rice in a bag!! Let's see if I can explain this. You buy a box of rice with two separate bags in it, put the bags in a pot of water...and let it cook for 10 minutes. No measuring rice...no measuring water....just put the bags in the pan, and put a timer on for 10 minutes! Genius!!!

8) I love that there are no $.01 coins! Everything rounds off to a factor of 5! Makes things so much easier...not to mention lighter! Don't have all those "pennies" to carry around and get rid of!!

9) I love that you can buy individual, half-liter bottles of ANY drink you would like in the grocery store. Not a 6-pack...not a 2-liter...you can buy just a single bottle (.5 liter) or 2 or 3 or 4!! It's very convenient for when you have company or just want a small little somethin'-somethin'! If you want a Dr. Pepper and he wants an ice tea...go for it!! Then you don't have to carry 2, 2-liters all the way home!! (and yes..i mean carry...by hand...walking back home..)

10) I love that flowers are SOOO gorgeous and extremely cheap here!! You can buy a bouquet of fresh sunflowers for 6,00 euro! And a dozen roses, of any color, for 5,00 to 7,00 euro. Amazing!! Can't get any better than that!!

So there you have it. And if you ignore the fact that half of my list consists of items related to eating...that'd be great. Love you guys!

Yes...I'm in!!!

I JUST received a phone call from my au pair mom, that I got a letter from the city council....awarding me my residence permit until May 11, 2007. How exciting!! I was so afraid that something would go wrong...but God worked it out! I'm glad to have that burden behind me, and now I feel like I really need to be here. You always have doubts and "what ifs"...but I think this year is going to be good for me.

On a side note, I added more pictures to my album on shutterfly....check them out!!

Finally...some pictures!!

Alright...I'm going to solve the problem the easy way! I have created a link where you can see all my pictures, without me having to write about each one! Yay!! If you go to this link... http://travelingwoodenshoes.shutterfly.com/action/ ...there are 5 albums at this point that you can look through...and even order from, if you want!! I will probably continue to add pictures to the Holland album...so check back every now and then to see what else I'm up to. It should be relatively self-explanatory...but if you have difficulty, then let me know. My favorite part is that once you click on an album and view the pictures, you can play them on a slideshow. Makes it so much easier than clicking on each individual picture!

As far as an update goes....I had a pretty rough weekend. I just felt attacked time and time again by people, things...life. I'm both horribly scared and excited about the growing I'm going to HAVE to do while I'm here. It's not the same as it is at home, in the states. And while I'm thankful for that...it gets hard sometimes. I have the opportunity to attend a week-long European lectureship in Brussels, as well as a week-long family camp...in two weeks. I am excited to be a part of these events. It will give me a change of pace.

Anyway...we attended one of the church member's birthday party tonight. he turned 40, so some of us Americans planned an "Over the Hill" gift. He didn't get it. Not at all. I think that was the best part!! We had some good barbeque, and I learned a new card game...which is always exciting for me. I'm going to have to write everything down that I learn, so I don't forget it all by the time I get back to the states.

Speaking of which...I don't know how I'm going to get everything back. I came with my suitcases over the weight limit, and I'm only gaining more while I'm here. I hate making the decision to leave something behind that will remind me of my experience here! Guess I won't have many clothes when I come back, then. Or maybe I can leave all my shoes behind again!!! Hahaha....

Going to heaven

Last week, a new reader, "John", and I were going through one of the lessons...John 14:1-9...and talking about how Jesus went to prepare a place for us in heaven.

Towards the end of the lesson, I said "How do you picture Jesus welcoming us into heaven? Do you think he will greet us with a hug?". John look bewildered that I would ask, and said assuredly, "No. No...I don't think so." Hearing this, I couldn't believe he didn't think Jesus would hug us!! I can't wait to get into heaven to see God and His Son, and be welcomed with open arms! What a wonderful thing that will be!! How sad it is to think that John doesn't believe Jesus will show affection towards us! My heart hurt for him...obviously not knowing how gentle and wonderful and loving Jesus is.

Keeping my surprise hidden, I asked "You don't think He'll hug you? Then what do you think He will do?". Without hesitation, he said "Jesus will pat us on the back" (as he made the hand motion to do so).

I suddenly realized my wrong assumption in his belief, and began laughing out loud. Now thinking differently, I said "You don't like people hugging you, do you?".

"No way!". My hurt for his misunderstanding of Jesus quickly diminished after that.

Excitement!

Alright...it's been an exciting day, and I wanted to share with all!

I got back a while ago from being at a driving class and taking a driving test. A military family just moved to the Netherlands not too long ago, and the wife needed to get her military driver's license. Although I'm obviously not in the military, I asked if I could come to the class just to learn and see how I would do on the test. She called and asked permission, and invited me to come along today! The class was 4 hours long, with the most hysterical english-speaking Dutchman ever!! He had the most random analogies to some of the rules of driving in the Netherlands. For example, the only two categories of moving people are "drivers" and "pedestrians". Drivers include anyone that is in charge of something. Whether it be a car, a moped, a bicycle....or a horse (if they are riding it, they are a driver...and if they are walking it, they are still a "driver"!!). However, to help get that point across...he explained to us that a person whose "horse has run off", and they are "looking" for it...but are not holding on to it...that is a pedestrian. Get it? And the idea of parking does not take time into consideration. You are "parked" if you are not loading and unloading (constantly, not taking a coffie break), or picking up/dropping someone off at the spot. If you have to wait for that person you are picking up, then it is considered "parking" (whether you are in the car or not, whether the engine is still on or not). So you must drive around until the person is ON the curb, ready to jump in as you drive by....otherwise you can get a ticket. Really.

It was a funny class...much more exciting than I had anticipated. Anyway...I passed the test....so I was rather happy about that.

And then, when I got back, I had a box waiting for me from my boss and co-workers back at OC. I was SOO excited! I had bargained for some peanut butter m&m's (as the Europeans have NO concept of chocolate and peanut butter together!)...but I hadn't bargained for all that I got! It was a true American box! Filled with boxes of macaroni & cheese, reese's peanut butter cups, fruit chews, a puzzle magazine, a reader's digest, 3 bags of peanut butter m&m's, and some orbit gum...it was awesome!! But nothing made me as happy as seeing mild, hot, and fire sauces from Taco Bell!!! :) I believe one of them must have filled a bag full...as I have enough for a year's worth of tacos! And not only that, but I was given tortillas and taco bell meat seasoning, as well. How stinkin' awesome is that?? Regardless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to receive some of the most missed, and cherished, American items!! Thanks you guys!!!

Life is good!

United 93

I received an email from one of my readers from last year, asking if Mellisa and I wanted to join him and Levent to see the movie United 93 after our lessons for the day. I hadn't heard much about it, and didn't have any argument in seeing it, so we agreed.

After 2 hours of watching actual footage, as well as reinactments of September 11, 2001, I could not speak. I did not realize, until I looked at Mellisa, that my heart was pounding so hard. She had been, and was, crying...while Pieter and Levent questioned our thoughts on the movie. As I watched people leaving the theater, I realized that Mellisa and I were more than likely the only two people to be so strongly affected by what had just been shown. To the others, it was a piece of American history. To us...it was a day never to be forgotten. A day of fear, panic, and pain. I remember where I was that day. It was the beginning of my third week of freshman year at OC. I walked into my room from class to find my roommate sitting on the bed with the TV on...crying. I didn't understand what I was seeing. In my class, my professor had received an urgent call about his daughter, and had dismissed us early. Come to find out, his daughter was living in New York.

I didn't cry then, and I didn't cry tonight. But my heart is so heavy. After leaving the theater, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to think, and process everything I had just seen. Those men...those murderers...were doing it for God. They believed, with all their heart, that it was the right thing to do. I think that was the hardest thing for me to understand. How can anyone, in their right mind, think that something like that was what God wanted?? Maybe I haven't done my fair share of research on it...but I can't understand it. Not at all.

There's another movie coming out on September 21 (the date in Europe??) showing the events after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. I haven't decided yet if I can handle the reality of what happened afterwards. It seems to be extremely focused on the families of those in the fire and police department that died. The preview I saw was heart-wrenching. I don't even know what to say about it. Any thoughts from you?

Good Grief!

Okay...so I've changed my mind. While I initially started this post to keep people informed on the "exciting" things in my life...it seems as though there aren't enough of those happening to keep my blog alive. So I've resorted to posting, much more frequently, my daily events and thoughts. I'm sure that's all very exciting for you to hear. :)

And the picture thing is frustrating! I don't know is wrong with this thing, but it will only let me post certain pictures. So I'm doing the best I can with its swinging moods! Anyway, allow me to blog about my "exciting" events of the past few weeks. After Daleena left, I had 2 weeks by myself before Mellisa was scheduled to come. Seems I didn't do much those two weeks, as I have no pictures to represent that time! Ha! Oh wait...except it was confirmed that my sister and her husband John are going to be stationed in Germany!! Yay!! I'm soooo excited about it, but no one else is....and they don't appreciate my joy....so I have to keep my mouth shut. Charity is now 17 weeks pregnant with her first child. I'll post a picture when I can...she is just so adorable!! :) :) John is already over here, and she will be joining him as soon as she receives her passport. Yay for foreign countries!!

So my second teammate, Mellisa, got here on June 20. That weekend, I had a scheduled bus tour of Eindhoven, since I have applied for residency, and I took Mellisa and one of my readers along. It was quite a long ride, but we got to see some highlights of the city that we wouldn't have gotten to see otherwise. Then Lucinda (Mellisa's aunt) picked us up and took us to a hot air balloon festival. I loved it for two reasons: I am DYING to go in one (and there was a drawing for a free ride!!) and they had the coolest balloons!! Wanna see?? Okay!! They started with the simple ones first, and saved the "cool" ones for last. Look at these!! A matching boy and girl...and then...the coolest of all...Van Gogh!! Look how huge he is!! This was definitely the hit of the night. Is my life exciting, or what??!! :)

Holland lost against Portugal that following Sunday, so it was a sad, sad day. Comparable to losing a pet...but worse. Friday, the 30th, there was a hootenanny held at the church. It was so fun! About 35 people showed up to eat hotdogs, sing silly songs, and talks for several hours! I have a wonderful family in Eindhoven. I love them tons!!

Then Sunday, it was Finn's birthday. He turned a big 5 years old! His parents invited a few families from the church over for a barbeque and "party". The adults ended up having a water fight, due to the boiling hot weather!! Mellisa, Nadine, and myself chose to hang out in the shade and watch the fun from afar. Nadine is tons of fun! She got to stay the night that night, and I can't tell you how hard we laughed at times. Just to let everyone know...I can still laugh a good 10 minute solid!! I have witnesses!!

This past week, Mellisa and I have been working on painting murals on the classroom walls. I have had SOOO much fun and am so excited about the mural I've been working on. Mellisa is doing a Noah's ark scene in the infant room, while I am doing a scene of the shepherds looking up into the sky at the angel on the night of Jesus' birth in the 3-6 years room. And I'm almost done! One woman cried when she saw it. That's GOT to be a good sign! We have one more scene to paint (although I've already drawn AKA traced it). It's a scene of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. This is for the 12-year old classroom. Hopefully, I'll be able to post the pictures of the finished product on here. I'm so proud!!

Oh...and I got all my holes filled in my teeth from my bicycle, too. Yay for whole teeth! A lot of the Americans from church met at James and Stacy's house for a barbeque and games on the 4th of July. We played "Mexican Train" and had a blast!! I'm going to have to get that one! Then later in the week, our upstairs neighbor, Harold, was supposed to come over for dinner, but found out his sick dad had taken a turn for the worst and could possibly die over the weekend. I was crushed for him. I neither knew what to do or to say to him. So he left pretty quickly to go home, and didn't come back for 4 days (cause he had to work again on Monday). I haven't seen him since he got back...but I pray that his weekend home wasn't the last time he'll see his father. That idea kills me.

Anyway...I think that's a good enough update. From here on out, it's short, simple, and more frequent posts. So I say...