Friday, May 29, 2009

Germany updates

So I've been slackin on updating this site so here's the past several updates...
#1
Hey guys! I made it to Germany and all is really good here! Ther people here are really cool and since they found out that i speak some german, they have been using me to translate and are telling me that them speaking english to me will never help me--though alot of the tie i have trouble understanding what they are saying! haha Other than that today is a pretty chill day. The girl i'm rooming with for the weekend is very nice. She and her friend are headed to Albania on Sunday. Tomorrow we're gong to go Schwabishhall to do some sight seeing and fight the onset of jet lag. Which hasn't really hit me full force yet but it also haven't been here very long. Anyway, i'll have internet access till Sunday then I do not know if I'll be able to get back online often. Sunday I head to Jena for my internship. That's about it folks! Hope everyone is having a great summer!

#2
Today was pretty awesome. The group that I've been with this week went to this really old town Schwäbish hall....It was pretty cool! We walked around for hours and went to the Church of St. Micheal. Which was neat...I'm not really big on old churches like that, but teh paintings and history was really neat to get to see. WE also saw the spot where the Nazis burned all the Jewish stuff from the synagouge....it was right outside the church. Later, Micha and I went on a trip for some icecream and coffee (he got coffee, i got afelsaft....its like apple juice) and I got to order my first almost meal in german! The lady who took our order was very nice and loved that i was trying to speak german. She apparently has relatives in Chicago which I thought was pretty cool. We--all 60 of us- just got out of our first meeting for the weekend. It was neat getting to sing and worship in german. Two of the songs--open teh eyes of our hearts and here i am to worship--i reconiyed and sang in english because that's how i learned and know them best. It was very cool. Um....i think that's about it! Hopefully I'll be able to get on tomorrow!!

#3
Yesterday was all seminars. Kinda like what I'll be doing later today. It was neat, but I had learned most of it in class. WE went over culture shock and a few other topics. It was cool hearing it in a different language. Later that day...ok...night...Micha, Ashley, Sam, Heather and I went to the Havanna bar in teh town. It was cool! I got a whirlwind...which is non alcoholic. I was the only one who didnät order something iwth alcohol in it, but that was ok cause I did get to taste two different german beers (both gross) and a wine (very good!). It was fun. Then Micha and I played tischekickaka with some random german guy and lost. Badly. we had one point by the time they got to 10. Today there's another seminar in a few. Then lunch and then Sam, Ashley and I leave for the airport to drop them off. David is going to drop me off at a McD's so I can catch a ride with some guy up to Jena. Its about a 5 hour drive and I'm told the scenery will change rapidly from green and calm like it is here to grey and communist like. Its kinda cool getting to go ride with some random people across the country. Apparently its very normal here and you don't get stolen or anything. Which I'm cool with haha. I mostly plan on reading. My german is getting a little better I think. At least I'm told often it is getting better. I've learned a lot of new words and am randomly puttin ghtem into converstaion. OH! I met a lady yesterday that worked in Isreal till they kicked her out. Shes very cool. Any way...Iäve got to go grab my bags and load them before the next session. Peace out yo!

#4
Today is the second day in Jena...at least I think its the second day and that's what my journal says. ITs a pretty neat little town. Has a ton of history. Luther was here and there's the oldest planetarium and stuff. My host mom and I went down to the square adn she showed me where the local college peeps hang and where the mall is (!!) so I can go and hang out there when ever. Last night Rocco (host dad) adn I went to a (n?) English Stämmisch...its like a group that meets to speak only english. IT was pretty neat and the peeps there are pretty cool. Hopefully nest week I'll be able to go again....but its a holiday here. Pentecost (yeah...I didn't know it was a holiday..) Um yeah. OH! The ride up to Jena was interesting. The random person and I couldn't talk very much so it was a very very quite ride. I did see a deer here and pigs, sheep, cows and horses....which you can imagine I got very excited over...haha. Other than that it was ok. Apparently its very normal to do that ere...tis almost like a taxi service but they don't charge by the mile or something like that. There's a lot of walking here...um...I found a place to get chocolate stuffs :D yay! I think that's about it right now...yup. peace.

#5
Yesterday was pretty eventful. I got to go shopping with the host mom at an Aldi's like store. I was excited that it was something that I could reconize. After that Rocco took me to a homedeopt mets sams club meets food court store...which was pretty cool. I got a watch so now I know what time it is and don't feel so out of it when I want to do something. And then there's what happened in the afternoon. I was supposed to meet Julia for lunch (girl who goes to church here) at the Menza. I had been there before and thought I could make it there on may own so I walked from the house. Bad decision #1. I got to the place where I knw it was, but wasn't sure if I should turn left or right so I chose left. Bad decision #2. Ended up walking for 20 mins lost in Jena and had to ask 5 people where the menya was because the only people I could find to ask were old and either didn't know enligsh or didn't feel like speaking it. So I finally get back to the place where I started adn found out that I was basically in the Menza the entire time. By then it was a quarter to one and I figured she had left. Which sucked, but hey! I know where the menza is now! Anyway, found a mcd's because that was the only place I could go to to eat and not have to decipher the signs...btw it does taste different over here. Managed to find a bookstore and got a book on Jena...not that I can really read it, but it does have pretty pictures and an ice cream shop. Pretty eventful. Then I was planning on going to the planatarizum to catch a show. I spent so long translating the signs that I missed the show. But now I know what 'Spargel' means. It was a eventful afternoon. Later that night Joel )host bro) tok me to watch the soccer game at Cheers (like the tv show, but less funny and more beer). It was pretty neat, Barcelona won and the waitresses thought it was just awesome I was from america. Apparently its a novelty. We got nback, found I had walked the equvalint of about 10 miles today and am feeling pretty ok about that. Woo! In a few I'm supposed to go people visiting I think and then try to meet Julia again at the menza then rest. Here its up around 8\8:30 bed around 12. With no naps :( Tomorrow I will b helping with the youth group and saturday night is club night. :) :D

#6
The weather here is insane! We went from nice sunny, hot but not too hot day to chilly, rain not rain days. Imsanity!! Right now I'm waiting to see if it'll rain in teh am so I can go hang out at the library in the pm. Yesterday was a pretty calm day. Went on a home visit-this time I could understand most of what was said because it was half in english, quarter in african pidgen and quarter in german. Which was sweet. Then I went up to the menza again...couldn't find Julia but that's cool cause I'll se her sunday at church. Instead I went to Cheers which is that 'American' sports bar. IT was funny to me cause the menu had a lot of misspellings and when I ordered a BLT the guy didn't know what that was so I had to order it in full german...which was weird. Ordering an american dish in a americanish place in german. Yup. Then it was down to wander in a few shops and check out the sports store. The lady was very nice and was amazed i was learning German and wanted to speal to her. Not that this relates in any remote way, but my nails are getting long and its bothering me lol. Umm then there was the Kids' club for the church ladies and kids. IT was a good bye party for the Nigerian family here that is moving to Utah. They asked alot of questions about the states and wether the mormons will bother them and what's taboo and so on.It was really fun getting to talk to them cause they don't speak much german but can speak english very well. Yeah...not alot is happening today till youth group. Its pretty laid back. Found out that I am addicted to the ice cream here and can order that like nobody's business. um...badabadabada....kinda

excited about going to the dance club tomorrow and finding it ironic that it took me going to another country to go to one. almost out of books to read!! Moved on to the german skateboarding mags. i think that's about it...yup. ok. chat laters!!

that's all there is so far!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Day Before

Right now there's a list at least a good quarter mile long that I need to complete before i leave tomorrow to Germany. One of which is fiquring out a way to call back to the states after arriving. I found out today that texting will still charge a awesome international fee so that won't work. Also, the notebook (laptop) I was planning to get fell through due to unforseen circumstances. Which is cool, it'll be a nice little lent from the internet...oh how sad life will be with out twitter! (haha) Fortuently, I'm not too concerned about all of that because I have a wonderful new camera that will do videos and stuff that I'll upload when I'm back in the states.
Another little obstacle I have is finding the insurance company I'm supposed to go through. Unfortuently, I didn't transfer the e-mails from my school account to my private account so that info is lost somewhere in cyberspace. But fortuently, my mission agency is really nice and are sending it to me sometime today. So that's not a big worry, just a annoyance.
The major thing right now is figuring out how to pack everything and get it under the weight limit. Luckily, I'm am expert packer and have the majority of it done already. Now I just have to get to town and pick up the last few items I need to survive a thirteen hour flight.
Other than all that, everything is shaping up pretty nicely! Hopefully the rest of the day and tomorrow morning will follow suit. I'll be able to update all the way till I leave Detroit, then hopefully I'll get to type some in a internet cafe! That's all for now! Peace!

Flickr

This is a test post from flickr, a fancy photo sharing thing.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Prayer for other missionaries!

Hey! So I talk about my mission a lot and I would like to take the time to point out a couple of missions that I know about. The people who are going on these trips are some of the coolest people I know. So if you could take the time to read about them and pray for them that would be pretty stellar!

Rachel will be going to Enscenada, Mexico this summer to build houses. She's a cross-cultural major at MACU and is a really sweet person. She's spending all summer there building for the people who do not have homes to live in. She'll also be helping with a camp, Vacation Bible school and a feeding program. She actually just left today for her trip :)

Jessica is working with Team Expansion this summer. In a little while she'll be leaving to Spain, along with Tiffany, to work among the people there. They'll be helping the missionaries that live there with the different things that they need and will help in the evagelizing of the local people. She's working on some more fundraising because she's also going to be working full time with Team Expansion! If you're like to help her, please contact Team Expansion at http://www.teamexpansion.org They are a really great orginazation.

Also, a little shout out to the mission agency I'll be going with-- Kontaktmission. They are a amazing group of people who do some really wonderful work all over Eurpoe. Please check out their site! http://www.kontaktmission.de/home+M52087573ab0.html the link is for the page in english :)

Sunday, May 17, 2009

kansas

I just got back from Kansas and visiting my mom and that side of my family. It was really great to catch up with them and spend some time with my mom. Yard saleing and Cozy inn and everything was really great! :)

There's two days left till I go to Germany! I'm starting to pack and get everything ready. :)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Short little update

Hey Guys! So if you haven't gotten the notice yet, I've made it back to Missouri! Only about nine days left till I head to Germany! And I just got the update on my passport...it has been delivered to school and should arrive here any day now. Super excited about that! And I have met the basic goal for my fundraising--which is really exciting. Now all that's left is packing and getting a ride in line.

Since I've gotten back to Mo, I've already been in one show. It was a pretty good one, not as big as what I'm used to but it was pretty decent. Took the top places in the classes I showed in, always exciting. The judge was a lady that I used to show with back when I started showing. It was pretty nice getting to see her again and catch up with what everyone is doing now. All in all it was an exhausting but rewarding show weekend. But the fun has just started. There's an entire herd of animals that need to be clipped, tattooed, and seperated for the show season. When I get back from Germany, I'm looking at two big shows and a couple little shows I think...which will be fun :)

Well, that's the short update I have for everyone. Germany is coming along pretty fast, shows are going good and school is out till August. Sometime this week I'm thinking of heading out to Kansas to visit the relatives on that side of my family. Been missing Forefront and my Gel Group back there a fair bit along with my friends from school. That's about it folks! I'll keep updating while I'm in Germany and will hopefully be able to send out a letter during or shortly after that time! Let me know if you want on the list!

Oh and a great big thank you to everyone who has made this trip to Germany possible! You all are amazing! Thank you so much!!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Tickets!

Today I received the information about my flight...in other words, I have my tickets to Germany! Its an extremely exciting day just because of that. I am to leave May 20th at 3:30 pm. Super cool! And come back June 19th! Its really awesome!

Today is also my last day at MACU/RBC. That's kinda sad, but has to be done for the summer months. No rest for the college student haha. I'll be leaving for Missouri tomorrow and will get there thursday if all goes as planned :)

Monday, May 4, 2009

You're going where?

Today is River Day here at Mid-Atlantic Christian University. What's that? You didn't know that Roanoke Bible college has had a name change? Well, it has and now you know. Now that that's out of the way, its river day. which is a day of sports and fun and everything. Unfortuently its also supposed to be my last day here. Which for me is kinda sad. I mean...I'd love to be able to spend another day just chilling out and not worrying about driving. spend more time with friends before I don't get to see them again for several months. Living so far away sucks sometimes. But that's what I chose. Coulda gone to a school much closer, but I didn't. Right now I'm supposed to be working on a couple papers and/or packing....instead I'm blogging... Really I'm hoping to get the chance to play soccer later today.
Yesterday my gel group had a cookout....which was flippin sweet. It was a great day ang I really am going to miss all of them over the long summer months. I keep telling myself there's only three till I get back here. Just three to make it through and it'll pass by in no time. Sunday was also my last time at Forefront for the summer. It sucks leaving such a great church and group of people. I'd love to spend all summer there and watch as the campus grows and as the youth get stronger in the bible and everything. Oh the joys of being a college student.
As far as the mission trip goes, only $263 left to raise! Kinda super excited about that. My passport still hasnt' arrived yet, which I'm really hoping it will today. Its should have been in last week, but who knows. I recieved a few e-mails from one of the missionaries I'll be staying with while over there and here's what he said about the city he lives in and I'll be working in ...
"Jena is a very intellectual city -- we have a little over 100,000 inhabitants -- and approx. 25,000 university students. The majority of these students come from the former East Germany and therefore have an atheistic background. There is such a need for more ministry to them. Jena is also the city with the highest percenatge of people with doctor titles (PhD) in Germany. Lots of scientific research institutes with researchers from all over the world. Although most of the cities in former East Germany are shrinking and deteriorating, due to lack of jobs and perspective -- really discouraging -- but Jena is one of the few exceptions, where things are booming -- with lots of young people and families. So, it's an influential city and from our experiences we estimate that about 80% of the population profess to be atheists. "
So there's a little bit about Jena. Its going to be pretty cool I think! :)