Coffee time is serious business in Germany. You don't mess with people's coffee time! Advent Sundays are even more special than regular coffee times, you invite over friends or family and spend time with them, generally on the Advent (4 sundays leading up to Christmas) Sundays.
Yesterday Leipzig hosted their Christmas Coffee. Unfortunately, Pam was sick and was not able to attend, but the Abercrombies, Larry and I were there. We had a great turn out, at least in my opinion, with around 13 people I think! An old contact from the missionaries who used to be in Leipzig came, a few current contacts came, a girl that came during LST this summer and a german who married an american that was in the area for Christmas came with her son! It was great!
I was thinking on the train ride back last night how neat it really is to see the transition going on with the churches here! Chemnitz is such a thriving church that is constantly growing and I would consider it to be a shining star in European churches. Chemnitz is in the process of being a complete church plant success! All of the leadership is now native, there are still Americans here, but not in major positions! In the next year it will be even more with Chemnitz able to stand with out any American missionary help!
At the same time, Leipzig is just beginning! Its neat to see believers coming together each week and others who are visiting to see what it is all about! Its such a blessing to be able to witness both churches taking off in their own ways!
I hope you all have a wonderful week! Be good and do good!
Sarah B
Dum spiro, spero. ~Latin Proverb
December 13, 2010
December 10, 2010
Christmas Party
Less than a week and my parents get here!!!!
Things are starting to slow down a bit now, The Everhearts should be on a plane back to the states as we speak, all of Pam's family is home now. Roy's folks are still here til Tuesday.
Tonight I am hosting our Christmas party. We baked cookies last year and it was a blast! This year, we are starting earlier and baking cookies for those who are in the baking mood, but then we are playing dirty santa and watching a christmas movie of some sort.
Snow is still falling, daily. It warms up enough to start melting and then freezes in the afternoon and evenings and becomes ice and snow!
Thats really all the news here!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh either. ~Golda Meir
December 6, 2010
This Has Got To Be A Good Life
Things have been a whirlwind around here lately! Since I got back from furlough we worked hard to get the sullivans house finished for thanksgiving and all the guests. Thanksgiving has passed and we are halfway through the guests thus far.
The first advent Sunday we had a group over, Marion, one of the young adults at church wanted a coworker over to meet some of the folks from church. It went really well. Last week the snow hit and we got crazy amounts of snow! Last Friday I went to a christmas market in Schneberg with the Everhearts and Karen. That was a blast! Then Friday night we had a great turn out at EBS. Greta, one of the members of the LST team that came the year before I came came through for a weekend visit in Chemnitz.
This week things have slowed down a bit. Next week my parents come in on Thursday! I'm excited!!!
Oh, this weekend I also watched some of the kids from church! We went sledding Saturday with Roy and his folks, that was also my first time to go sledding! It was a bit terrifying, but also fun I do have to admit!
I think thats all the news updates I have for now. Things are going well, Christmas is rapidly approaching!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
If you can't do what you want to, do what you can! ~Lois McMaster Bujold
November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving Blessings
With the thanksgiving holiday here I was thinking about some of my favorite holiday memories. Of course the typical sense rushed to mind: everyone gathered around the table, chatting in the kitchen, playing with the kids outside in the leaves. Those of course always top the list.
My junior year we were planning our friend thanksgiving before we left. It was set up for Monday. Friday I got a call saying that my uncle charlie had been in a really bad accident. He was on his way to a recording (he is a children's minister who travels and does kids rallies google him! Uncle Charlie is his stage name too!). I spent the rest of the time at the OU Medical hospital (the accident was south of ardmore and they flew him to OU for the surgeries). Anyways, Monday rolled around and I went to classes and was up at the hospital when I wasn't in class. Monday night while I was sitting in the ICU room with uncle charlie my mom and my uncles best friend Montie, my phone started to buzz. I looked down and it was my roommate. I went out in the hall to answer and she said they were in the waiting room. I went out to see her and when I walked in there was the entire group of my friends, everyone who was supposed to be at thanksgiving there in the ICU waiting room with all kinds of food. I was nearly in tears. They pushed tables together and not only shared their thanksgiving meal with my family, but also with all the other families there in the ICU.
That is an extreme act of generosity and Christian love. That helped me see what a blessing those around me can be. What a blessing friends and family can be.
Give someone a hug today, or even just a high-five, and tell them you appreciate them being in your life. Trust me, they will appreciate that you did it.
Christmas Markets open tomorrow, look for pictures soon!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. ~Epicurus
My junior year we were planning our friend thanksgiving before we left. It was set up for Monday. Friday I got a call saying that my uncle charlie had been in a really bad accident. He was on his way to a recording (he is a children's minister who travels and does kids rallies google him! Uncle Charlie is his stage name too!). I spent the rest of the time at the OU Medical hospital (the accident was south of ardmore and they flew him to OU for the surgeries). Anyways, Monday rolled around and I went to classes and was up at the hospital when I wasn't in class. Monday night while I was sitting in the ICU room with uncle charlie my mom and my uncles best friend Montie, my phone started to buzz. I looked down and it was my roommate. I went out in the hall to answer and she said they were in the waiting room. I went out to see her and when I walked in there was the entire group of my friends, everyone who was supposed to be at thanksgiving there in the ICU waiting room with all kinds of food. I was nearly in tears. They pushed tables together and not only shared their thanksgiving meal with my family, but also with all the other families there in the ICU.
That is an extreme act of generosity and Christian love. That helped me see what a blessing those around me can be. What a blessing friends and family can be.
Give someone a hug today, or even just a high-five, and tell them you appreciate them being in your life. Trust me, they will appreciate that you did it.
Christmas Markets open tomorrow, look for pictures soon!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. ~Epicurus
November 18, 2010
Prayer and Repentance Day
Wednesday was Prayer and Repentance day here in Saxony, I believe that is one of the holidays that Saxony recognizes and no one else does. That happens a lot. Anyways, it means everyone had the day off wednesday because it was a holiday. Last week was Linda's 30th birthday so to celebrate, she invited everyone out to a nice restaurant for brunch. Brunch in germany means both breakfast and lunch, 2 separate meals at the same time. Just to clarify. Anyways there was a large group of us, 15 maybe.
I had a wonderful time and got to chat with folks which of course was nice! That afternoon I came home and made my first homemade bread! I had the free time and figured why not! They came out delicious in case you were wondering!
Everyone is working hard to get the Sullivans apartment back in functioning condition. Pam's family comes in on Tuesday and Larry and the rest of the guys come back from Bulgaria on Monday night. Everything is almost done, its just a lot of last minute things. Lots of cleaning and getting things back where they are supposed to go!
Today I have Ursula in a little over an hour, and then Isabell this afternoon for coffee. Tonight is English Bible Study and then we are going out to a restaurant around the corner with a group from EBS for supper and to hang out. Tomorrow is low key, nothing really planned other than working around the house(s). Sunday we are meeting with Cindy and Stephan for coffee at the train station again so it will be nice to see them!
Thats all from my side of the world! Have a wonderful weekend! Be good and do good!
Sarah B
For he who sees a need but waits to be asked is already set on a cruel refusal. ~Dante Alighieri
I had a wonderful time and got to chat with folks which of course was nice! That afternoon I came home and made my first homemade bread! I had the free time and figured why not! They came out delicious in case you were wondering!
Everyone is working hard to get the Sullivans apartment back in functioning condition. Pam's family comes in on Tuesday and Larry and the rest of the guys come back from Bulgaria on Monday night. Everything is almost done, its just a lot of last minute things. Lots of cleaning and getting things back where they are supposed to go!
Today I have Ursula in a little over an hour, and then Isabell this afternoon for coffee. Tonight is English Bible Study and then we are going out to a restaurant around the corner with a group from EBS for supper and to hang out. Tomorrow is low key, nothing really planned other than working around the house(s). Sunday we are meeting with Cindy and Stephan for coffee at the train station again so it will be nice to see them!
Thats all from my side of the world! Have a wonderful weekend! Be good and do good!
Sarah B
For he who sees a need but waits to be asked is already set on a cruel refusal. ~Dante Alighieri
November 13, 2010
Pictures
Just some photos of the retreat!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
Don't take life to seriously, you'll never get out of it alive. ~Elbert Hubbard
November 11, 2010
Success!
Let me start off by saying, the family retreat was awesome! There were a few times where it was a bit much for me, but for the most part I had a wonderful time and would do it again! I was able to spend time with a lot of the other folks from Saxony and meet some new ones too!
On another note, we have been trying to plan a retreat for winter vacation for the young adults, something fun that gives some freedom with a lot of options. So we made a couple ski plans, to stay at resorts and what nots. We came up with one all inclusive for about 500 Euro which would be around 700 american, steep I know! Then we had another for 350 euro so about 500 american. A little better, but still a lot! Well, then we heard about a cabin the church owns in the black forest in Austria, and heard it was snow safe and it would be fun! Well guess what!!! The guy who is in charge of it was at the weekend retreat!! I was able to talk to him and it was free the week we needed it and it was by far the cheapest we have found and fit all of the requirements! We were looking at 250 euro, (50 extra added for unexpected expenses) which would be about 350 american! A much more do-able amount!!!! Once we called last night though, they really didn't recommend it because it would be so harsh in the winter. Fail.
Now we are back to square one and not a clue how (or where) to take an affordable winter vacation! We even thought about going to a city and just renting out an apartment for a few days and spending time in the city. Only problem is people think winter vacation and they generally want to do winter sports. uhhh who knows!!
Readers are going well, I got a new reader a few weeks ago, he wasn't to excited about reading from the Bible but seemed opened to it. He came to the english movie night and seemed to like it! Anyways, I say all that to say I left the ball in his court to read. He emailed me to set up a reading date this week!!!! I was really excited to hear back from him!
Isabel and I are about to start a new book, Battlefield of the mind, by Joyce Meyer. I've never read anything from her so it should be interesting!
This weekend will be busy, Friday I have a reader at 10 and then again at 1. The afternoon is free! Friday night we are packing the vans for Bulgaria (the boys leave early Saturday morning!) and then im hosting a movie night. Saturday is saxon singing and then Mark and Sherry Woodward from LST will be coming in town. Sunday is worship in Chemnitz and then again in Leipzig!
I think that was a long enough of an update! The Sullivan's house is coming along very well, they are almost done!!! Painting was all that was left downstairs and the floor was being put in yesterday afternoon in the dining room! Today they should be putting cabinets back in and hooking up pipes and what nots!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. ~James Thurber
On another note, we have been trying to plan a retreat for winter vacation for the young adults, something fun that gives some freedom with a lot of options. So we made a couple ski plans, to stay at resorts and what nots. We came up with one all inclusive for about 500 Euro which would be around 700 american, steep I know! Then we had another for 350 euro so about 500 american. A little better, but still a lot! Well, then we heard about a cabin the church owns in the black forest in Austria, and heard it was snow safe and it would be fun! Well guess what!!! The guy who is in charge of it was at the weekend retreat!! I was able to talk to him and it was free the week we needed it and it was by far the cheapest we have found and fit all of the requirements! We were looking at 250 euro, (50 extra added for unexpected expenses) which would be about 350 american! A much more do-able amount!!!! Once we called last night though, they really didn't recommend it because it would be so harsh in the winter. Fail.
Now we are back to square one and not a clue how (or where) to take an affordable winter vacation! We even thought about going to a city and just renting out an apartment for a few days and spending time in the city. Only problem is people think winter vacation and they generally want to do winter sports. uhhh who knows!!
Readers are going well, I got a new reader a few weeks ago, he wasn't to excited about reading from the Bible but seemed opened to it. He came to the english movie night and seemed to like it! Anyways, I say all that to say I left the ball in his court to read. He emailed me to set up a reading date this week!!!! I was really excited to hear back from him!
Isabel and I are about to start a new book, Battlefield of the mind, by Joyce Meyer. I've never read anything from her so it should be interesting!
This weekend will be busy, Friday I have a reader at 10 and then again at 1. The afternoon is free! Friday night we are packing the vans for Bulgaria (the boys leave early Saturday morning!) and then im hosting a movie night. Saturday is saxon singing and then Mark and Sherry Woodward from LST will be coming in town. Sunday is worship in Chemnitz and then again in Leipzig!
I think that was a long enough of an update! The Sullivan's house is coming along very well, they are almost done!!! Painting was all that was left downstairs and the floor was being put in yesterday afternoon in the dining room! Today they should be putting cabinets back in and hooking up pipes and what nots!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. ~James Thurber
November 4, 2010
Family Retreat
This weekend I am going on the annual family retreat. Not sure what exactly to expect and I am a little worried about the language. I wasn't going to go (who wants to pay for a family retreat when your a single and you can't understand it anyways!), however after some peer pressure from Karen, Sven, and Alex I gave in.
I met with a new reader today. He is a young guy who wants to go to university in the states and study medicine. He is hoping to get a soccer scholarship, but knows he needs to improve his english. His mom used to be the secretary for a missionary in another small village years ago, and so she called the missionary (knowing he was american and still had contacts here) to try and get some english practice! How perfect is that? The meeting went well today, I am looking forward to getting to know him. He wasn't opposed to using the Bible as out text at all (its usually a 50/50 toss up!) which was great!
So with the holidays rapidly approaching I was in the mood for some pumpkin bread. I decided I would go buy a pumpkin on Monday after LST at Karens school, however when I ventured over to the store which held an abundance of pumpkins for the past 3 weeks, there wasn't a pumpkin in site! Sad I know! So I re-directed my holiday baking to fudge! I needed to make something for the retreat this weekend and saw the forecast was rainy for the rest of the week, so I tried tuesday night after bible class. Epic fail. Not only did I have to go to the store 2-3 times, it just didn't work. Pam said she has tried a lot of recipes and never been successful in making fudge. They have been here nearly 20 years. There must be a way! Thats our new feat- to find a fudge recipe that works here. There must be a way!!!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
If you can't get rid of the skeleton, you might as well make it dance. ~George Shaw
I met with a new reader today. He is a young guy who wants to go to university in the states and study medicine. He is hoping to get a soccer scholarship, but knows he needs to improve his english. His mom used to be the secretary for a missionary in another small village years ago, and so she called the missionary (knowing he was american and still had contacts here) to try and get some english practice! How perfect is that? The meeting went well today, I am looking forward to getting to know him. He wasn't opposed to using the Bible as out text at all (its usually a 50/50 toss up!) which was great!
So with the holidays rapidly approaching I was in the mood for some pumpkin bread. I decided I would go buy a pumpkin on Monday after LST at Karens school, however when I ventured over to the store which held an abundance of pumpkins for the past 3 weeks, there wasn't a pumpkin in site! Sad I know! So I re-directed my holiday baking to fudge! I needed to make something for the retreat this weekend and saw the forecast was rainy for the rest of the week, so I tried tuesday night after bible class. Epic fail. Not only did I have to go to the store 2-3 times, it just didn't work. Pam said she has tried a lot of recipes and never been successful in making fudge. They have been here nearly 20 years. There must be a way! Thats our new feat- to find a fudge recipe that works here. There must be a way!!!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
If you can't get rid of the skeleton, you might as well make it dance. ~George Shaw
November 2, 2010
Whoops....
Sorry its been so long since i've updated. I had some free time this morning so I thought I would jot some new things on here.
Things have been going well. Fall is defiantly here, the weather has been getting chilly, however the past 2 weeks have been absolutely amazing! We have had cool brisk air but beautifully sunny days! This of course provides an excellent time to rake leaves, a favori... i mean a fall pass time. But seriously, the weather has been amazing the past few weeks!
Work at the Sullivan's is going well, it is almost at an end!!! The goal is to have their house finished in 2 weeks before the guys leave for Bulgaria.
Readers are going well, I got a new guy, Ralf, who came to english movie night last night. He seems like an interesting fellow, im looking forward to getting to know him.
Sunday I went to leipzig for worship, that of course is always exciting and uplifting! This Sunday there were 10 people there!!! I got to see Inis (pronounced Eeee-Nn-ise) which was great, I really enjoy spending time with her. We would defiantly be friends if we were closer. She is in her late 20's early 30's and works in advertising! How cool is that?
What else what else.... I have started working on German some more. I wont be taking any more german classes, they are just to expensive and take up to much time for the amount of time I have left here. So as a substitute, I am working through my books again and meeting with Sven once a week for some one on one help, and then meeting with one of the older ladies in the congregation, Gesila, for some reading and pronunciation each week.
Oh yea! I went to the volunteer center last week and applied for a position as a volunteer. I think we found a food center not far from me actually where folks can come and pay about 5 euros and get a bag of food for the week. I'm excited about getting started with that! Apparently most folks here dont really volunteer. I had to fill out some major paper work to apply, and they wanted to know all the reasons I wanted to volunteer, if i wanted a certificate when I was done, if I was doing it for work or because it was part of my job. It was kind of weird... I asked Amanda (she was a HIM worker who stayed and is now teaching english and living in chemnitz) if people just volunteered for fun here, and she said not really that its just not something people think about. Of course that was the problem I ran into last time, ever position we looked at, I had to be able to speak german at a better level than I do, or it was a paid position. Free time to do good for others just isn't a concept people really consider here.
Alright well I better get off of here. I just gave Snickers a bath and now I need to clean up before I go see Gesila! I would like to ask for your prayers though, I talked to my mom this weekend and our family friend, Robert, who might as well be our grandpa has now moved in downstairs with mom. He used to live in the apartment we had over our garage, but he has gotten really sick and can't stay up there by himself anymore. Mom said she was looking for some home health care for him, so please keep him in your prayers that he will be as comfortable as possible. It can't be fun having to give up some of your freedoms. And prayers for mom that she can keep her sanity living with a man again lol.
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
It doesn't matter if people are interested. It's about you taking your stuff and shouting out into the void. ~Jadelr & Cristina Cordova
Things have been going well. Fall is defiantly here, the weather has been getting chilly, however the past 2 weeks have been absolutely amazing! We have had cool brisk air but beautifully sunny days! This of course provides an excellent time to rake leaves, a favori... i mean a fall pass time. But seriously, the weather has been amazing the past few weeks!
Work at the Sullivan's is going well, it is almost at an end!!! The goal is to have their house finished in 2 weeks before the guys leave for Bulgaria.
Readers are going well, I got a new guy, Ralf, who came to english movie night last night. He seems like an interesting fellow, im looking forward to getting to know him.
Sunday I went to leipzig for worship, that of course is always exciting and uplifting! This Sunday there were 10 people there!!! I got to see Inis (pronounced Eeee-Nn-ise) which was great, I really enjoy spending time with her. We would defiantly be friends if we were closer. She is in her late 20's early 30's and works in advertising! How cool is that?
What else what else.... I have started working on German some more. I wont be taking any more german classes, they are just to expensive and take up to much time for the amount of time I have left here. So as a substitute, I am working through my books again and meeting with Sven once a week for some one on one help, and then meeting with one of the older ladies in the congregation, Gesila, for some reading and pronunciation each week.
Oh yea! I went to the volunteer center last week and applied for a position as a volunteer. I think we found a food center not far from me actually where folks can come and pay about 5 euros and get a bag of food for the week. I'm excited about getting started with that! Apparently most folks here dont really volunteer. I had to fill out some major paper work to apply, and they wanted to know all the reasons I wanted to volunteer, if i wanted a certificate when I was done, if I was doing it for work or because it was part of my job. It was kind of weird... I asked Amanda (she was a HIM worker who stayed and is now teaching english and living in chemnitz) if people just volunteered for fun here, and she said not really that its just not something people think about. Of course that was the problem I ran into last time, ever position we looked at, I had to be able to speak german at a better level than I do, or it was a paid position. Free time to do good for others just isn't a concept people really consider here.
Alright well I better get off of here. I just gave Snickers a bath and now I need to clean up before I go see Gesila! I would like to ask for your prayers though, I talked to my mom this weekend and our family friend, Robert, who might as well be our grandpa has now moved in downstairs with mom. He used to live in the apartment we had over our garage, but he has gotten really sick and can't stay up there by himself anymore. Mom said she was looking for some home health care for him, so please keep him in your prayers that he will be as comfortable as possible. It can't be fun having to give up some of your freedoms. And prayers for mom that she can keep her sanity living with a man again lol.
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
It doesn't matter if people are interested. It's about you taking your stuff and shouting out into the void. ~Jadelr & Cristina Cordova
October 20, 2010
The Swing is Twisting
Remember the rush of wind as you flew through the air reaching heights no kid had ever been to before? Leaping off at the apex of your momentum? Holding on to the feeling like you were soaring through the air, imagining taking off and floating through the sky. What about the gentle ebb and flow as you chatted with your friend on the swing next to you? You swung in rhythm and then opposite each other. What about sitting there twisting your feet in the rocks or dirt. You know what I'm talking about. You were just taken back to the school yard when you were 8 years old or sneaking into a park with your friend when you were supposed to stay in the yard.
Perhaps that was just me.
What about that moment when you start to twist the chains above your head? Fun right? You spin and spin until your toes cant touch the ground anymore, and then you tuck your feet under you, hold on tight, and get ready to unwind. Its fun. Its a moment of being out of control. But then you can't stop the twisting. You've had your fun, and now your body is lashing around like a toy. You slowly bring yourself to a stop and commence to gentle twisting, just one or two turns, not the whole thing like you did the first time.
In the past 2 days I have lost 3 readers. Not fun. That would be the twisting out of control mode incase you were wondering. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things (pun intended) but its more like being in the last stage where I can't really control the twisting.
Last weekend I was invited to a castle with a family from church. That was a big step for me, I went by myself without anyone else there! Of course my first instinct was to decline the invitation and come up with some sort of excuse, but rather I fought myself and I went, and I had a blast! They were having a medieval festival too, so it was really neat!
Lets see, last weekend I also went to the Chemnitz Niners game with a group, Stephan, Sven, Steffi, and Karen (Karen missed the memo of needing a 'S' name!). I blogged about this a little last year when I went to the game, it was a lot like high-school basketball in the states. The guys play with heart (if that tells you anything about the game itself!). This game was pretty intresting though, we were down nearly 30pts at half time and then they came back and fought and won by 3 pts! It was great! I really enjoyed the game and getting to hang out with the group!
This week is kind of slow, I have been trying to re-contact my readers and get back into a schedule with them. That being said, I've had lots of time around here, so I have been getting caught up on some reading. I got behind on the world religion study while I was in the states so I have been trying to get through that and keep up the same quality of work. I would like the notebook to be something I can keep and use as a reference later which means I need to go through the book accurately and make sure and get it right. I have also been reading the new Max Lucado book, Out Live Your Life as well as another I will be doing as a personal study with Isabell soon.
That is all the news I have from this side of the ocean. Hope all is well with you all. Have a wonderful and blessed week!
Be good and do good!
Sarah B
Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back. ~Harvey MacKay
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