Friends, Old and New
So we've been in Germany for six weeks today. And we haven't blogged... Hoofta - its been awhile.
Before anything else, let me just say that Linda Enns is getting married in 24 hours from right now. In Portage la Prairie... and I am in Kandern. WHAT AM I DOING HERE??? If ever there was a need for the "beem me up"technologies that are only fictional - now would be the time.
My memories not exactly great.... so I'll tell you where things are at now. My brother Reuben and 3 of his friends left yesterday morning. They were here for a week, cuz they've been traveling around Europe. We had a lot of fun with a bunch of crazies in the house - and because we're right on the borders of France and Switzerland we were able to take them to visit both, briefly. And we spent a day at Europapark which was one of the coolest things I've done recently. All 4 guys were sporting new tattoos, and they sure eat alot. Plus, they never stop talking!! Of course, that was mostly entertaining, and our house seems soooo quiet now. Kevin and I are both sick with colds too, parting gifts from the boys, I guess! Here they are.
Yep, I also got to visit "my" part of Switzerland. Oct 14 & 15 Kevin and I drove to Luzern and stayed with Elias (in picture) in Gunzwil. I can't even possibly describe how incredible it was to be back there and see some old friends. For those of you who know me well enough to know who these people are - I also saw Thomas (Luthi - in other picture), Zucku, Mario, Lukas, Isabelle, & family - as well as friends from my church, Nicole & Rahel. 
Of course there are so many that are living away from home now, and I am hoping to get to go back soon to see many 
more, and hopefully to have them visit us out here, too... but the crowning jewel of a surprise was when the Estermanns got back from Miami earlier than I'd known they would be. And I got to see Ursi, Michael and my not-so-little Patrick and Stephanie again!! Let me tell you, that was indescribable. Absolutely wonderful. Our visit was painfully short, cuz I was hosting and leading my first small group that night at home in Germany, and we had to get back. It went pretty well, by the way. And then that night after I'd gone to bed - I cried like never before. Actually, I think the last time I cried that hard was probably when I left in the first place. 
The one "bad" outcome of that visit is that it makes it harder for me to be here - as in, one hour away from them. I'm so close and yet so far, and sometimes I can't stand it. I don't know that there would be many people on earth who identify with exactly this sort of thing - maybe Sarah Duthie? But to have raised and loved children as if they were your own. And then to leave them. Its rediculously painful. And now to have seen them again - and realize how much they have grown and changed and that I wasn't even there to see it... anyway, I'm hoping to start making up for lost time this year.
Today is her birthday!
Rachel, here with her fiancee, Andreas.
Simone is also in the small group, and that's Maggie in the middle.
Before anything else, let me just say that Linda Enns is getting married in 24 hours from right now. In Portage la Prairie... and I am in Kandern. WHAT AM I DOING HERE??? If ever there was a need for the "beem me up"technologies that are only fictional - now would be the time.
My memories not exactly great.... so I'll tell you where things are at now. My brother Reuben and 3 of his friends left yesterday morning. They were here for a week, cuz they've been traveling around Europe. We had a lot of fun with a bunch of crazies in the house - and because we're right on the borders of France and Switzerland we were able to take them to visit both, briefly. And we spent a day at Europapark which was one of the coolest things I've done recently. All 4 guys were sporting new tattoos, and they sure eat alot. Plus, they never stop talking!! Of course, that was mostly entertaining, and our house seems soooo quiet now. Kevin and I are both sick with colds too, parting gifts from the boys, I guess! Here they are.
Yep, I also got to visit "my" part of Switzerland. Oct 14 & 15 Kevin and I drove to Luzern and stayed with Elias (in picture) in Gunzwil. I can't even possibly describe how incredible it was to be back there and see some old friends. For those of you who know me well enough to know who these people are - I also saw Thomas (Luthi - in other picture), Zucku, Mario, Lukas, Isabelle, & family - as well as friends from my church, Nicole & Rahel. 
Of course there are so many that are living away from home now, and I am hoping to get to go back soon to see many 
more, and hopefully to have them visit us out here, too... but the crowning jewel of a surprise was when the Estermanns got back from Miami earlier than I'd known they would be. And I got to see Ursi, Michael and my not-so-little Patrick and Stephanie again!! Let me tell you, that was indescribable. Absolutely wonderful. Our visit was painfully short, cuz I was hosting and leading my first small group that night at home in Germany, and we had to get back. It went pretty well, by the way. And then that night after I'd gone to bed - I cried like never before. Actually, I think the last time I cried that hard was probably when I left in the first place. The one "bad" outcome of that visit is that it makes it harder for me to be here - as in, one hour away from them. I'm so close and yet so far, and sometimes I can't stand it. I don't know that there would be many people on earth who identify with exactly this sort of thing - maybe Sarah Duthie? But to have raised and loved children as if they were your own. And then to leave them. Its rediculously painful. And now to have seen them again - and realize how much they have grown and changed and that I wasn't even there to see it... anyway, I'm hoping to start making up for lost time this year.You'll be seeing our newsletter any minute here, and hopefully that'll fill in some of the blanks. 
In the meantime, here are some pictures of some of the girls I have been getting closest to.
Today is her birthday!Rachel, here with her fiancee, Andreas.
Simone is also in the small group, and that's Maggie in the middle.
posted by K.A.L.M. at 4:06 p.m.
2 Comments:
hi guys! i was doing dishes and complaining about not having heard anything about you two when dara proceeded to give me the links to your blog and newsletter. i guess she'd been hiding them from me.
i hope you're doing even half as good as we are. i've had my classes praying for all my european siblings during devos.
Mindy, Thank you so much for calling me today! It was so good to hear from you. it sounds like you and kevin are accomplishing really wonderful things while you are there. enjoy your time, and i hope to talk to you again soon.
ps- can you send me a copy of the picture with you and the kids?
love sarah
Post a Comment
<< Home