After the Heat, Comes the Rainbow

 

It’s hot here.

Yes, folks, it’s hotter than Florida. Doesn’t rain that much either. Just day after day of brutal sunshine from 5:00 in the morning until 9:30 at night.

Bob’s working this Saturday so to pass the time, I decide to walk up to the lake. School starts in about a month and hopefully I will start working again. All my paperwork is in to be a substitute teacher. But until then, I have some time on my hands.

 The Barenloch, which once resembled a cold, Celtic lake on some long-forgotten mountain now looks more like Daytona Beach. Mobs of people flocking down to the green, slimy water’s edge in their too-much-revealing bathing suits.  And most of these people are over fifty.

There is still a slight breeze blowing there which makes it bearable among the leafy branches.  I could go in the water, but I’m used to Florida where we never swam in a lake for fear of being eaten by a gator for lunch. Maybe I will someday. But it’s way too crowded today.

To stay in the shade, I decided to walk the long way up a mountain trail instead of right around the lake. There I saw a boy walking his dog. He was about 10 years old. I tried to give him a tract because I thought the Lord wanted me to. He said “neine” and refused it. He went one way and I the other. Of course, I got a couple of dirty looks like “Who is this religious fanatic?” from some of the half-naked adults walking around so I moved quickly on.

 As I made my way back to the road adoring the flowers, watching huge bumble bees, and smelling the pretty gardens, I noticed that the boy was there with his dog again up ahead of me. I followed him since that was the way home anyway. I zipped past the Catholic Church with its organ blasting the whole neighborhood with music that the Hunchback would have been proud of.  Then, I heard its noon bells ringing up a storm. I stopped and watched him check his mailbox and go into a door. So I left the German tract there in the mailbox; the one he refused earlier.

Like the old saying goes: it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

And then I fled home to the shelter of our apartment and aimed two fans on me and lowered the rolladens even more. A hot day in paradise I guess.

But now I can’t wait for some cool air to return.

However, the next day it rained and got cooler; an answer to prayer. Then God sent a rainbow. Yeah!

Good News from the Middle East

 

We hear a lot of negative news about Muslims and their impact on the world and society. What we are not hearing is how Christ is reaching into that world and changing hearts and lives. In the last 12 years, 65 movements to Christ have occurred throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This is unprecedented in the history of the world!

For more information go to www.30daysprayer.com and click on the 8 minute video on the bottom of the page.

I received a 30 days of prayer booklet to pray for Muslins during July which is the month of Ramadan.

There is a story in there about a guy named Pramana. He felt like his life was in ruins. He went to his local imam and he told him to fast and pray. On the third day, a voice spoke to him saying: “Find Jesus, find the gospel.” Living in a very restrictive Muslin country, Pramana had never heard of Jesus. At this point, He didn’t know if Jesus might be a fruit, a rock or a tree. The voice continued to give him detailed instructions on how to find this Jesus. Pramana walked all night to a city he’d never been to, following the voice’s directions. Pramana’s journey led him to the home of one of the only three believers in his people group of 24 million people. This man shared the gospel with Pramana and he became a follower of Christ that very day.

Wow! I thought this was such a cool story, I wanted to share it with you! It just made my day when I read it and inspired me to give out some Chick tracts and renew my efforts to reach out in love to others! We just have to sow the seed and God does the rest.

God bless all of you and have a great day in Jesus!  Aren’t you glad you know who He is???

I thank Anna Chubb, the missionary to Togo, for sharing this information with me.

"All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive." (Mt 21:22)

A Fourth of July Abroad

I prepared the beans this morning and also some fried eggplant to bring to the church picnic. We got there about noon to a fairly large crowd. An awning was set up with folding chairs and tables under it but we preferred to sit out in the sun. It was a rare sunny day so we didn’t wait to take advantage of it.

We ate our hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill in our large lawn area that just a few months ago had been covered with snow and now was lush and green. It was the perfect day with perfect temperatures for sitting outside; sunny and not too hot nor cool.

 It also was the perfect day for discussing the storm clouds on the horizon that threaten to destroy what little American unity is left.  I had read an article that morning on how we were splitting into red and blue states with very little in common between them. The commentaries on the article showed people were very concerned and alarmed on the path our country is taking. But, like the Bible says: “If the foundations be removed, what can the righteous do?”  (Psalm 11:3)

What can the righteous do? All you can really do is be led by the Lord and trust him every day of your life…one day at a time. That’s all we are guaranteed anyway.

We watched the kids play games and talked until late into the afternoon. Then we left, ran by Aldi, grabbed some groceries and proceeded to our home around the corner in little Kindsbach. I made a light supper and then we called Tommy.

It was great to see him on Skype! He told us all about his plans to make a thriller based on the Everglades. I don’t want to tell you more or give away the plot. You’ll just have to see it when he’s done with it. Meanwhile, he filled our heads with his dreams and hopes to help us someday when he “makes it big” so we wouldn’t have to work any more.  It would be wonderful not to wonder how we would pay our bills each month.

After I got off the phone with Tommy, I went out to water the plants and heard the choir softly singing from the tiny church down the street.

“That’s right!” I thought to myself. “Its Thursday and they always practice on Thursday.”  I starred at the church a few minutes and watched as a nun made her way into the building with a large book under her arm. Was that her hymnal perhaps?

 I went back in to do my dishes piling up in the sink.

Next, I called my Mom. That was almost an hour on the phone hearing about all her struggles and problems. But she was in good spirits and so was I and we both swapped stories of our past week.

Finally, the sun went down around 10:00 and the fireworks began around 10:30 at the Base. You could just barely see them through the trees. I tried to take a picture of it but it didn’t turn out.

That’s it. Our first Fourth of July abroad. It felt different in another country. And I felt like I was celebrating what America USED to be.

The America of today doesn’t need celebrating as much as it needs our prayers!

Happy Independence Day!

My High Tower

Yesterday was rough.

I felt depressed. Why, I don’t know. Sometimes, I just get that way. I ran all over the place to get my paperwork done for substitute teaching in the Fall. It drained me, really, as I thought of the long summer. How would we make it?

Then I heard our house didn’t sell for the third time. The contract fell through.

Quickly, I began to pray and struggle with my emotions. I felt immediate comfort from the Lord so I felt better. But then, I thought about the defeat of DOMA the day before and my heart sunk again. I cried aloud like Jeremiah and read in my Bible: “Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” (Jeremiah 5:9)

Finally, it rained and I felt that God was crying. I felt like crying, too. The news seemed all bad as I scrolled around all the news websites.

I cried for all those who think abortion is okay. I cried for those unborn babies who will never get a chance at life. And I cried for those who have abortions with all the turmoil that having one must bring them.

But then, I opened the back door of my porch to water my plants. I heard a beautiful choir singing in the tiny church down the street. They sounded like angels. It was all in German, so I couldn’t understand it but I felt better. God was in control. He is carrying all our burdens for us.

 Of course, I always remember that when I hear the competing church bells ring up and down the street of the two neighborhood churches.

Well, today I did wake up with a migraine headache. That explained why I felt so depressed yesterday. I always feel that way before one.

So this afternoon, Bob and I took a walk through the woods. We passed by some cliffs (could those be those sandstone ones we were looking for last week?) and hiked higher and higher. We got to the crest of the hill continuing to climb up to the top of the Bismarck Tower.

This is the one they call “Hitler’s Tower” where he gave his speeches. In spite of the headache, I felt wonderfully refreshed. We looked out on all the towns and villages around us. How small it all seems this high up! And how small all our problems seem too!

God is still sovereign and His grace is sufficient for every need. He knows about DOMA, abortions and the state of our country; He knows about our trials and troubles before they ever occur. He strengthens us so we can stay faithful to Him and He loves us no matter what happens.

We have a “great, big wonderful” God who will see us through to the end… No matter what is going on in our own lives, our nation or in the world.

It reminded me of the verse that says:

 

 

 

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength and he in whom I trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.” (Ps 18:2)

 

 

 

Looking for the Sandstone Cliffs

It’s been about a week since my walk to Barenloch. Leah and her son, Anthony now invited me on a journey to look for the sandstone cliffs.  These cliffs, consisting of large white rocks, a friend of theirs, a nun, led them to them once a long time ago but they had always wanted to return. So we hiked up and down the hills around Landstuhl and Kindsbach on the trails looking for them.

We stopped at a plaza for lunch in Landstuhl to watch the fountains splashing in sequence. Then we wound back up the trail singing Christian hymns and enjoying nature. It was a little cool but just right with an occasional splash of sunlight to mark our way. I took picture of everything I could but it was dark in the woods so some of the pictures didn’t come out.

We never did get completely lost but we couldn’t find those mysterious cliffs. My both legs started to hurt after a while so I had to stop and rest a few times. However, I limped along and when one leg felt better, the other hurt. At least, they didn’t hurt at the same time.

 A few times we went the wrong way. We went in a circle and ended up back where we had started right by the hospital. We couldn’t believe that happened and we were very disappointed. Somehow, we had gone in a big circle.

Leah shook her head. “I guess we are not going to find those cliffs today. Do you want to head home?”

“Yes!” I replied. “I’m tired!”

Sometimes life seems that way; one big disappointment after another. Sometimes it feels like we are spinning our wheels or going in the wrong direction. But, if we pray for God’s help, He is right there to help us. He will lead and guide us and aim us in the right direction if we pray for it.

We finally came out of the woods by the traffic circle in Kindsbach and walked home a different way. We crossed the street and took the first lane to our right, but it was a dead end. When we walked around the corner however, we saw a little gate that was partially open.

 

“It’s the cemetery.” Anthony said. “I think we can go through there.”

 

We treaded softly through it. The cemetery was neat and filled with beautiful flowers and plants. Every grave was respectfully taken care of like a miniature garden. After we came out of there, we walked down another narrow path and past a miniature horse that was quite beautiful. I tried to take his picture, but he got right up in my face. Then he saw we had nothing for him to eat so he moved away and started grazing. I quickly took his picture then.

 

We finally came out on Hirtenpfad.  My legs wouldn’t hold up much longer so I was glad the trip was almost over. And I thanked the Lord for bringing me safely home.

 

A Walk to Barenloch

On a sunny afternoon, I decided to walk down to the lake. I had been there Saturday with the grandchildren and wanted to go again and explore it a little more.

I started at the “I Am Risen” fountain on the corner of our street and the main road in front of a little florist shop. (Yes, that was the name of the fountain!) Anyway, I strolled through the lovely streets decorated with bowers of flowers and ivy was growing everywhere. I soon got to the Barenloch and took some pictures of it.

 It was a peaceful scene. I need that because I felt turmoil within. Was I supposed to be a substitute teacher again? My head ached with a migraine and I rubbed my temples but I refused to slow down.  Please, Lord, I prayed, show me what to do.

Then, I heard children playing and I climbed up the hill along one of the hiking trails. When I got to where the children were, I realized they were speaking English so that was odd. I strolled back down the hill and by a guy naked from the waist up sitting in a field of daisies, drinking from a bottle with a towel on his head. I steered clear around him.

Then, I looked up and heard laughter again. I saw the children walking in a line with two women adults with them along the path. I waved and smiled and said hello to the last one. She responded In German and I said: “But I speak English.”

“Oh, I didn’t know! Hi!

“Hi! Are you and these kids on a camping trip?”

“No. I am a sub teacher and these are my students. We are just taking a hike.”

“Like a field trip”

“Yeah, like a field trip.”

As they continued to hike, I followed them around the lake.

“So, I want to be a sub teacher too.”

“Yeah, they need them. I am leaving after this year; getting shipped out to Poland actually.”

“That’s rough, isn’t it? To adjust to another country?”

“Actually, we are excited about it.”

“Wow. I like your attitude! And, what school did you say you are from?”

“Oh, Landstule Elementary. It’s an American military school.”

We rounded the corner and chatted a few more minutes about her and the school.

Then I asked: “Where are you going?”

“Back to the school. We’re hiking there and it may take another hour.”

I gracefully backed out at that point and turned back. Just then I turned around a bend and saw a large crucifix in a grotto and thanked Jesus for dying on the cross not only for the sins of the whole world, but for mine.

Also, I thank Him for giving me direction. I will go for the substitute teacher opening and pray He will make a way for me.

I made my way back down the mountain to the lake and from there headed on back.

Back through the bowers of flowers, the quaint, ivy-bestowed houses to the “I Am Risen” fountain in front of the floral shop.

He really IS risen!

Then I returned home thanking Him for the answer.

Trier Journey and American Cemetery

Bob and I planned to spend the day in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, and at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg for Memorial Day. We found out our pastor, his wife, some kids and young people from our church along with the youth pastor and a visiting pastor were all going to go too. So we all caravanned through wine country again. We strolled through the Porta Nigra or “black gate” that is the entrance to that city built by the Romans in the 2^nd Century BC.

We ate bratwursts on brochens(buns) for lunch and walked all over the place til I was very tired. I wolfed down a cup of coffee and Bob had a coffee ice cream cone made with Italian Ices – really good, (I took a lick or two.) After lunch, we visited a large park which had gardens and ruins of the Romans  after seeing the throne room of Constantine, Emperor of the Romans from 400 AD who also accepted Christianity. The Throne Room is now a church and the history of it is on the walls. I read a little of it before Bob wanted me to go.

Then we headed out to the American Cemetery in Luxemburg. I have posted some of these pictures for you to look at as well.  It was sobering moment to view all the crosses and Star of Davids and realize how many men gave their lives for our country. There are many of these cemeteries all over the world. Some are as far away as Manila in the Philippines. There are 5076 tombstones in this cemetery. There are over 10000 in the one in Manila so you can imagine how many gave their lives.

Many tombstones only said “Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God.”

I read in my Bible this morning: “He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” (Isaiah 57:2)

I wondered as I walked through the blooming azalea bushes if they indeed died in vain seeing the deteriorating moral state our country is in today. But then the Lord reminded me that all this world a will be wiped clean one day when He comes back to rule it. Then we will practice war no more and true peace will come to this troubled world.

Two tombstones had the Congressional Medal of Honor on them. I have a picture here of one of them. Some had gold lettering on them. Bob asked about that and they told him that it was sand rubbed into the stone when relatives requested it to get a picture of them at the tombstone. The sand was from the beaches of Normandy.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev 21:4)

Mother-Daughter Banquet

We glided down the Autobahn at about 90 miles an hour sharing our stories and catching up on news.

It was Maria and I heading towards the Mother-Daughter Banquet at the mission church in Bitburg, Germany. Alexis, my granddaughter, sat quietly in the back seat dressed up in her Sunday best.

We swung up and down mountains and straddled the Moselle River. Everything was greening as spring burst out everywhere. Slanted hillside vineyards glistened through the rain as German villages popped up in the crevices of valleys.

Soon, we arrived and saw the church on a winding cobblestone street of the little town of Bitburg. We entered and I found my name tag at a table and quickly went forward to fill my plate with brunch-style food. When I sat down, sitting next to me was an African-looking lady. She said she was from England, the Isle of Wight, and her name was Abigail. She spoke with a touch of British accent but something else was there too.

“Are you from Africa?” I whispered.

“Yes, from Central Africa originally. I married a man from England.”

“Aaah! I knew it! I just read a book about Africa, “The Leap”, and would love to visit there some day!”

“You would love to visit!” She got all excited. “I could get you there right now! I have friends and family there! They have a big house! They would love to have you!”

“Well, not right now!” I quickly retorted. “Someday!”

“Come to my house for tea and we can talk about it!” She exclaimed.

“There’s only one problem.”

“What?”

I explained to her that I lived an hour and a half away so that would be nearly impossible.  I gave her my email address and phone number and said she was welcomed to call me and we could talk about it further.

“Why did the Lord put me next to her?” I mumbled to myself.

I notice her hand was limp.

“What’s wrong there?” I asked.

“I had a stroke.” She said.

“How did that happen?”

“The devil attacked. He can attack anywhere at any time.”

“Yes, but God gives us grace to make it. “ I replied.

She nodded her head.

We then heard a short devotional by a missionary and afterwards, pictures were taken.

Later, I found Mrs. C the pastor’s wife. I knew she was heading back to the USA due to health problems.

“I’ve had five bypasses since I last saw you four years ago. Now, I can barely walk on this leg and it might have to be amputated. I don’t want to go back. I vowed I would die here first.”

“But you’re going back in two weeks.” I replied.

“That’s right. I still have two weeks.” She smiled through her tears.

I wanted to hug her at that moment, but she carrying a load of stuff. I prayed a silent prayer for her that the Lord would help her to get the strength to return.

Earlier, we had a contest and I won the centerpiece. Abigail could not participate because she was not a mom. I sensed her loneliness and, at the last minute, gave it to her. The Lord told me to do it.

She smiled and thanked me and limped to the door. She too had a bad leg.

And then we headed back home.

To be continued…

Twin Leaps

So now I’m sitting around the house “waiting on the Lord” and enjoying the Germany spring. Praying and listening to a California radio station over the internet, KNVBC, that has excellent, vintage Christian music on it.

We turned in our ID cards last week after a spree of buying stuff at the Commissary and the BX for the last time. Now, in a few days, we’ll be off our work permits and back on tourist visas for 90 days. We were upset with this, of course, and didn’t understand what the Lord was doing.

Meanwhile we took a trip to Simsheim to two huge museums to view the German military might of World War Two that is history now. It great being with the grandkids and we needed a few days away from our struggles to get a little perspective on the situation. God blessed us and the time together was a wonderful one of fun and fellowship that all of us needed.

 The next day, we visited a water-operated polishing mill where they processed gems and saw how hard it was to produce a precious stone. The rock had to be held right next to a strap rotated by gushing water and the friction refined it. Mmmm…sounds like us and our trials. Maybe the Lord was trying to tell us something.

When we returned home, I said a little prayer. “Please, Lord, lead me to read a book on my Kindle. I need something right now to help me through this.”

The Lord guided me to the perfect book and it was by someone I personally knew about 30 years ago. Lon Garber wrote this book called “The Leap” about his journey of faith with his wife Val as they headed to Namibia in Africa. Their story so paralleled ours, I could hardly believe it. We both stepped out in faith as God provided the way for us. When they arrived in Namibia in December (same time of the year as we did), it was the middle of summer there. Of course, with us, it had to be in the middle of a cold winter… However, it was back in 2003 so they had a rough time as Americans with the Iraq war going on. They had trouble with their visas because of it. The government didn’t trust them. We’ve had our status revoked too so we know how that feels. I’m still reading and it is encouraging my heart as I see this couple live out their faith.

In our situation, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Bob went for a job interview arranged by a good brother at our church. It looks promising. The whole mission church has rallied around us. They all want us to stay because they know we love them and will work wherever we are needed. We have to keep believing in God’s guidance.  He’s certainly teaching us to trust Him.

If the Lord wills it, we will stay.

It all depends on Him.

Thank you for all your prayers!

 

 

Merven

Of all the people I met there, I miss Merven the most.

She was this sparkly-eyed petite three-year-old who became my instant friend. I asked her how old she was when I first met her on the cold playground one day and she held out three fingers on each hand.

“Six?” I asked.                                                                                   

“No, silly. Three.”

“Well, then, only hold up three.” I retorted.

She told me also that her little sister was one, her name and her mom’s age and name. She was pretty smart for a three-year-old, I thought.

We played on the logs pretending they were balance beams. She said she loved Dora the Explorer and sang the Dora song. I pushed her around the playground in a wagon and then on a tricycle.

I was sad to say good bye to her that day. I was gone for a whole week playing with other kids at the Child Care Center; this time it was with the two year olds. The weather actually got warm and we enjoyed digging in the sandbox.

When I returned to the older kids the next week, I was delighted to see Merven again. We played together again and I pushed her again in the wagon.

“I love gymnastics!” She exclaimed barely able to pronounce the word.

Then, I saw another day care work put kids on a pole and they twirled down. It looked like fun. He held them as they descended to the ground. He told me it “gave them confidence” so I wanted to try it with Merven.

I held her as she twirled down. She did fine the first two times but with the third attempt my hands slipped off her and she accidentally plummeted to the ground. She cried as her face hit the pavement.

Fortunately, she did not get hurt because the pavement was this soft, plastic material that caved as she hit it. However, it did shake me up badly and I whispered a prayer for God’s help.

We went back to playing again and I felt as carefree as a child. But the sun had gone behind the clouds and the cool wind was blowing so I was glad when we finally went back inside.

Deanna, the main teacher in the room put on some soothing sea sounds. I went to comfort each child by softly rubbing their back and getting them to go to sleep for their naps.

I sat down on a small couch, closed my eyes for a few minutes and thought of the wonderful beaches of Florida.

Suddenly, a lady ran in and accused me of sleeping. Fifteen minutes later I was fired. That was the end of my day care career.

We may be going back to Florida if my husband or I don’t find a job within 3 months; that’s the rule around here though it doesn’t make sense. Then again, none of this makes sense.

 I prayed for the Lord’s will that morning.

I don’t understand why it happened the way it did but it was His will.

His ways are truly mysterious, yet I still praise Him.

And the sun came back out that afternoon.

Hirtenfpad 11

No, this title has nothing to do with a sequel to “Ocean’s 11”. It is the name of a street in Kindsbach, Germany.

Saturday we came back from food shopping and were sitting at the table finishing our lunch. We were still living in the attic of our church, which we have now officially joined, and after two weeks, it felt like an eternity. Bob had a small, local English newspaper in his hand and had circled one of the ads in the Rental section.

“Here is the perfect place for us!” He exclaimed as he took the last bite of his tuna sandwich. “It’s right over in the next village from here!”

“You mean next to Landstuhl?”

“Yeah, it’s in the little village of Kinesbach so it can’t be too far away. It’s got all the features we’ve been looking for and is 130 square meters.”

Now you may wonder what square meters are. It means the same as square yards which is about 1300 square feet.

“Wow!” I said. “That’s a big apartment! What else does it have?”

“It has three bedrooms, living room, one and one half baths and an eat-in kitchen. It also has two balconies.”

“Okay, and is the price right?”

“Yes, it’s reasonable.”

It was about the price of a two bedroom apartment back home.

“Okay, why don’t you call the number and see what happens?”

He called and got a German answering machine and hung up.

“Nobody there! It figures.”

“Try again and leave a message,” I suggested. “Maybe they will call back.”

He did that and, you guessed it, they called back!

He got all the info and we drove there. It was only 2.2 kilometers away or about a mile and a half. The people were prompt to show up and let us look at the place. We liked it a lot and shook hands. In Germany, a handshake still is as bidding as a contract.

The apartment is on the third floor and overlooks the village. Cobbled-roof houses greet you when you look out the bedroom window. There is also a balcony there. From the other balcony, off the kitchen, a mountain looms right in front of you framed in snow.

Of course it has all the modern conveniences except for no closets. You have to buy your own. They’re called shrunks.  Also, it has only a tiny little refrigerator equivalent to the small ones you see in classrooms. You have to buy your own “American-style” freezer because Germans don’t freeze food much.

And the name of the apartment is: Hirtenpfad 11! It is a real answer to prayer! God is so good!

What does Hirtenpad mean? In German, we learned later that it means: path of the shepherd.

And I know what Shepherd that is...

Excommunication and Membership

“We excommunicated TWO members this week!” Bob told the Pastor.

                “Two members?” His left eyebrow rose in curiosity as he paused to listen.

                “Yeah, two church mice are history! One was kicked out of the building from a garbage can and one was found dead on the kitchen floor. I guess the rat poison worked.”

                The Pastor’s frown turned to a smile. “Good, good!” He chuckled.

Yesterday was a great day in the House of the Lord with us joining the church as new members.

Bob also shook the Pastor’s hand and said: “Well, you have gotten four new members this week!”

“How’s that?” he asked.

“We joined and two new baby girls were born too!”

He laughed at that one because it was true. It was a very fruitful week for the little mission church.

Now it’s Monday night. Tomorrow I start my new job and today every painful memory seemed to kick in of all the jobs that I didn’t like and that didn’t like me. I hope that my new job will not be too disappointing. I also hope that I will be fruitful there and like it to a certain degree. My fears and doubts I am sure are all unfounded.

Still, the devil knows my weak points and he attacks me there.

Did I mention our car was in the shop too with a mysterious leak in the suspension somewhere? Bob heard a hissing sound when he filled it up with gas and now it lists to the right side and is so low you feel every bump as you go down the road. So it was dropped off today and we have to borrow a car tomorrow for my first day.

All this has gotten me in a little bit of a blue mood. Our house is being short-sold. The German government wants to speak to us about our intentions of staying here. I need SOFA status and a new ID or we go back. I should get it this week with my new job. Then, should I cancel our return tickets? Yes, because we are living by faith and that means not looking back or at the circumstances but looking to God for help and salvation. He is our rock and our defense no matter how dark the storm…

I guess our backs are against the wall. But like the old hymn says: “Oh for grace to trust Him more…” And another more contemporary song that says: “If we never had a problem, we wouldn’t go to Him to solve ‘em. We wouldn’t know what faith in God can do.”

So, I will “trust in the Lord with all my might and lean not on my own understanding” and believe he is going to see us through…like He always has!

“Lord, help us to trust in You completely no matter what! We know your timetable is perfect and your way is perfect. Help us to walk humbly with You and wait patiently for your help! Thank, you Lord Jesus, for the answer and we love and worship you. Amen.”

And you can’t be negative or have self-pity when you’re living in a church…

 

Another Little Mouse

One day, Bob walked into the house and announced: “We found a place that will fix the car!”

We went down to ACE glass and got the back windshield fixed. Next, I had to drive it for the first time and follow Bob back to Bobby’s place where we have been staying for a while. You see, I was hired for my job but the paper work takes about two months. And without “SOFA” status, the special ID you get, we would not be able to stay in Germany. So we were still waiting.

I had just read in a book about the need for married couples to get away occasionally. I realized  we needed a break and so did Bobby and Maria.

Bob came to me soon after I read this with the solution:

“How ‘bout living for a few weeks in the Church before you get “SOFA’d”? That way, we can sort through our stuff at the Church and at the same time, have some peace and quiet?”

So we moved into an apartment consisting of two rooms and a bathroom. It was quiet at first. However, Bob thought he heard the squeak of a mouse in the ceiling.

Meanwhile, for meals, we had to use the kitchen downstairs. On the first day, I was getting our meal ready when I heard a yell from Bob. I turned just in time to see this mouse scamper across the auditorium just outside the door of the kitchen. It ran into the other side of it where the dishwasher and the large pantry was.

Of course, I screamed now, too.  But that was the last time we saw it that night.

The next morning, I turned into that room to get some dishes and it was quiet at first. All of a sudden, I heard scratching noises coming from the wastebasket. A good sized mouse with no tail was trying to hop out of it! I quickly threw a serving tray on top of it and yelled for Bob. He came running and brought it outside and let it go free.

Right after breakfast, I heard a squeak and another mouse ran out of the cupboard and when it saw me it panicked and ran right into a dark corner and disappeared.

“Church mouse!” I called out. “Be respectful in God’s house!”

We went and told Bro. Mike. He gave us two mousetraps. One was a new-fangled one that when Bob tried to set it, snapped right on his finger. The other one was an old-fashioned one that we put some peanut butter on for bait.

So now it's war! While I’m sitting here in the apartment, I can hear one of them running around in the ceiling over our heads. There must be a whole family of ‘em.

We have plenty of “food and raiment” and I am trying to be content. We don’t know where we will live next. But I’m trusting God to supply our need.

If He provides for the lilies and the sparrows He will provide for us. Even us church mice.

And we whisper to the ceiling: “Go to sleep, Mickey!” and “Be quiet, naughty mouse!” And hope those mouse traps work.

 

A Trip to Globus

“Are we going out, Pappa?” Robert, the ever-precocious 8 year old, looked up at us and smiled.

“Yes, we’re going to visit Globus. Do you want to come? You can be our human GPS.”

“Yeah, Pappa, of course!”

We said good-byes to the rest of the family and headed out to the car.

“Isn’t Globus like a Super Wal-Mart?” I asked.

“The German equivalent of one,” Bob said as we drove up the hill. The street looked icy and snowy. Suddenly, our car was sliding backward instead of forwards!

“Looks like this isn’t going to work!”

Bob began to back up the car and turned downhill instead.

“Slippery out here today,” he mumbled.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized we wouldn’t hit a wall or a gate.

“Well, Bobby, show us where to go.” Bob said as he glanced in the rearview mirror.

“Turn left.”

“No, that’s the wrong way! We should turn right here.”

“But we should go to the Globus that has the Saturn in it!”

“What?” I thought. “The one with a car in it?”

“No,” Bob repeated firmly. “That one is too far away. We are going to the one just before Kaiserslautern.”

Next thing we knew, we had made several wrong turns thanks to Robert. We soon had whizzed past Globus, after going through a military base and had to make a U-turn. A light flashed in our faces.

“We just got our pictures taken!”

“What?” I asked.

“We’ll be getting a ticket in the mail! I’m going too fast for the speed limit. Even if you’re one or two kilometers above you’ll get one. But we won’t pay it and neither will Bobby. We’re not the owner of the car.”

We were silent the rest of the way trying not to lose it with our little guide in the back seat.

Finally we arrived at our destination and we were awed by a humongous store that had at least three restaurants, hair and nail salons, an eye glass place, a large cheese bar and a giant bakery. The rest of the place was filled with all kinds of consumer goods of every type and description. They even had an American aisle with a red, white and blue banner on it that had all our favorite foods: boxed mac and cheese, ketchup, mayonnaise, peanut butter, taco kits etc. We bought a few groceries as we walked down the aisles.

Bob grabbed a bratwurst on brochen which is their equivalent to a hot dog for one euro and I took a sample bite. He then bought a hot pretzel for 50 cents euro for Robert.

Then we left to go home.

“Did you have fun?” I asked Robert.

“Yes, but I’ll pay you 12 dollars to take me to Saturn right now!”

“What is Saturn?” I finally asked.

Bob sounded irritated. “It’s an electronics store. No, son, and you can’t bribe us! Your dad can take you there.”

He kept pleading with us and we both had a good laugh saying no.

We enjoyed our trip but were glad to get back home again.

Who ever said Europe only had sidewalk cafes and small storefronts?

And there’s one in France, too. It’s only a 45 minute drive. We’ll have to go there next time…