Finding the plus side of every situation

The First week of August has begun and I have officially been in Vienna for one month. After the conference the church settled back into our normal routine. We said farewell to one of the interns as he traveled back home. Now there are two interns left and we are about to get ready for summer Bible Seminar. But, before we can all head out on holiday we have to finish off this week.

On Wednesday my host mother and I got to speak for mid-week service. We settled down on a nice couch and let the congregation see how we live. It was nice being able to speak again, I am getting less and less nervous. This weeks discussion was on difficult people. How do you handle someone who is being difficult? Also, what does the Bible say we should do when we encounter a difficult person. While preparing what we were going to say my host mother and I got to enjoy many of the situations we have encountered and many difficult people we have known over the years.  At the time people who get under your skin may seem to never leave, looking back there is a sense of joy knowing that you made it through and have the stories to prove it. It was a joy being able to give the topic at church and a nice bonding experience.

You may be wondering how I have not shared any horror stories from my trip. Like most people who work overseas, the joys out weigh the hardships. This is not to say that some points haven't been hard or trying - they have. Here is a silly thing that happened just the other day. I scraped my elbow while jumping on a trampoline - jumping on a trampoline with some new friends out weighed the scraped arm!  Also, for those who know me well and those who don't ATM's have never been my strong suit. You may think, "how can someone not know how to work an ATM?" apparently if you forget your password then your credit card will get eaten by one.  Mine did!  Not to fear, it was my fault for pressing the buttons t0o many times. Here is a heads-up, if you ever go out of the country make sure you have some cash tucked away since ATM's can keep your credit cards. On the bright side, I learned something new.

Like I said before, Summer Bible Seminar is coming up and for the next two weeks I will be enjoying a different part of Austria with the church. Our week will be filled with fun, preaching, and food. I will write about those adventures when I return but until then remember to enjoy the scenery for their is someone wishing they could be where you are.

Routine in a foriegn land

Well what can I say, I am starting to settle in. I have my daily routines and my work habits that come and go week from week. I do love routine. Every Monday I know I will be in the kitchen, then youth group, followed by aerobics class with some of the ladies. When we are done my host mother and I walk home talking about our day and then sit and eat chocolate due to the fact that we just worked out and it makes us want sweets. Routine being what wakes me in the morning knowing the essentials of how my day will play out yet still being open for new and surprising things.

One of those surprising things was a visit to Schonbrunn Palace.  I was able to walk around the queens gardens admiring the lush green trees that encase the crimson red and canary yellow roses. All being tended by Austrian men of different ages listening to hip hop music in English. The sounds of languages going by from China, to Russia and back again. Everyone intent on finding the hidden treasures the queen loved so much. The secret bench is encased by bushes for a couple to sit alone, the fountain where fresh water flows, the baby birds chirping overhead, and the trees so large the path is shaded by their branches above. It was glorious stepping into a part of history looking as lovely as when the queen herself road through in her horse drawn carriage. I am sure to return.

This past week I was able to speak at the mid-week service. I never really have liked the sound of my voice behind a microphone, but I was glad to have been asked. With a translator by my side all turned out well. The whole service was meant to represent an art - form from solo songs to paintings done on stage. The fact that some people can learn through art as much as others can learn through the spoken word makes me so glad we were able to combine a few ways of learning into one service.

When I first arrived I landed hearing the sound of a loud bang and seeing a flash of light.  Lightning and thunder continued until this last week when the sun finally decided to show its face.  We had water baptisms on Sunday at the Danube River - with perfect weather.  We also enjoyed an outing to the local pool.

This week we are hosting a conference.  The speaker hails from Texas - which isn't surprising since the pastor loves that state.  We are about to encounter day two and the topic is Jesus loves you. The simplicity in the words captures the depth in the message.

Party not in the USA

Hello people around the world.  I have been in Vienna for two weeks now.  Let's just say this week has been jammed packed with adventures.  My first European bachelorette party was different than in America simply because we all got to parade the "bride to be" around town and do silly things.  I also went to a  few birthday parties outside of Vienna but still in Austria.  Everywhere we go in Austria is so beautiful.

During the party I tried to remember all the German I am learning.  I applaud anyone who knows two or more languages.  It is quite difficult for me.  I am at the point where the Spanish I learned years ago is starting to be remembered instead of the German.  This is extremely hard when ordering a cheeseburger and you have three languages going on in your head.  This becomes even more difficult when people are talking to me in German and I know how to answer in both Spanish and English but cannot for the life of me remember how to answer in German.

Back to what I am doing after church this weekend - we will not only be hosting a wedding but also an engagement party.  It should be fun.  On other notes, if you read last week Cheezy the hamster has made an impression on me.  I was able to do a small photo shoot of him and he is adorable as always.  You can look online at the pictures that I have posted so far.

Goodbye for now.

A hampster named cheesee

What can I say I enjoy Austria just as much as last time. The people are so sweet and friendly. I have been here one week and other than getting lost in the airport nothing to scary has happened. I have made a new friend named Cheese-Choosie (spelling may be off) he is so cute and cuddly. He lives with me, he is the pet hampster. At church I was able to attend the prayer group and it was so nice to see members of the congregation come together and pray for one another. This was my first Sunday at church, Kephas Church to be exact. There was a guest speaker named Jan Erikson. He was a pimp and then converted to christianity and preaches worldwide about it. After the youth all went out to an amusement park, it is more like a carnival that is permanent.

The lady that is housing me is amazing. I am blessed at how well we get along. Well more to come and thanks for catching up with me. Goodbye for now from Vienna.

Europe here I come

Well I am off on another adventure. I will be leaving America in 26 hours. I have a 26 hour flight to look forward to. I can not wait to get going. Europe was amazing the first time and the second time will for sure be even better. I am all packed and ready now I just have to wait. I am sure to miss all of my family and friends. But if you are bored you can always come and visit. Austria is beautiful this time of year. Wish me luck. See you all in two months, and have a wonderful time where ever the wind takes you. Embrace everything I know I will. Also keep checking in on me, I will be keeping you all updated with pictures and stories.

My new chapter

Well I am officially a college graduate. After three and a half years I have a BA in Bible. So where to go from here is the question? In a world filled with options I have found myself out of answers. More school is an option, culinary school would be nice. One day I hope people will pay for me to feed them. Settling down at a church is an option. That brings more questions though. I want to do missions/ community outreach. That brings me to my third option to travel. Do what I have wanted to do all my life, leave America and see the rest of the world. Finding towns people have never heard of and speaking with people just like me. I have chosen the third option. I will be heading to Europe, Vienna Austria to be exact. This will be a time to work at a church with people I enjoy being around. I will be able to not only see the world, do what I love, but also work at a church. After Europe I am planning on going to Peru. Again I will be able to do what I love. In the end I may not have a trade which is what most people think will get you by in life. I have a degree in the Bible which gets me so much more. I can't wait for the next part of my life.

This is my roommate and me right before we walked across the stage.

The things books can teach you

In the book Love Acceptance & Forgiveness the author asks a question I have heard my whole life. Who am I? This is were he says every person should begin when talking about Jesus seen in chapter four of his book (pg 67). It is interesting the first time I heard this question it was asked by a teacher in elementary school. Draw a picture of who you are. I am sure if I found that picture it would be nothing of who I am. The thing is I don't know if there can be an answer to this question. Every person will have a different response and every response will change depending on the situation they find them selves in at that moment. In elementary school I was a shy girl who felt left out due to a reading disability. In high school I was the youth pastors daughter who hung out with the drug kids. In college I have been so many things. Right now as I type this I am lucky to be saved by a God who cares, taken care of by a father who watches over me, and doing what my father has told me to do. I can not tell that to someone and expect them to understand God through it. Who am I is a much simpler question then we have made it out to be. In some parts of Africa it is said they introduce themselves saying hello I am a believer in God... Maybe that is the answer to this question. Maybe groups like AA have gotten the right answer, hello I am an alcoholic. My name is ____ _____ says everything. Jesus simple said His name He is the son of God. In the days of old they would tell there family line, I am (name) son or daughter of (fathers name) from the land of (place of origin).
Maybe next time you come across someone instead of asking the question of how are you, maybe we should ask who are you? This way we can not only get to know the person, we can learn the culture, community, and background of the people that share the same air as us.