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!