This month, we've been so blessed to have Miriam Drehsel accompanying us on the trip. Miriam is a graduate of ACU, and ACU have hired her to be our "cultural guide" while in Germany. She has given us "survival German" lessons (with the help of the lovely Miss Lindsey Winegeart), answered endless question about the German culture, translated everything for us wherever we may be, gotten us directions, and so much more. She is Jenny and I's "Germany Mom." The three of us are roommates, and she takes care of us.
Miriam and Nancy at church on Sunday.
Miriam was raised in Heidelberg, Germany, but her mother is from the US, so she has traveled back and forth between the US and Germany most of her life. Needless to say, she is a very cultured person and understands both the American and German cultures very well. I actually know Miriam from home - her grandparents attended my home church in Houston, but I have been so blessed in getting to know her better on this trip! We have had a great time reminiscing about the old days at Southwest Central. :)
Miriam is in the process of beginning an amazing ministry in Bulgaria helping mistreated women. Here is her website - it isn't completed yet, but put this in your bookmarks and keep up with her. I'm calling it now.... Its only a matter of time before this girl is on Oprah!
Thank you Miriam for being a constant source of encouragement and for all that you've taught us! We're so glad that you're with us on this trip.
Kebabs! Yum!
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Today was a very long day. We met in our groups this morning and continued to work on our individual group projects. We met all together this evening and shared what we've been working on. We're really excited and confident that our work will truly benefit this team. We have a lot more to do. Stay posted for continued updates.
Chocolate croissants make the best break from working. Rebecca and I were going to split one, but they brought us two instead. Bummer, right?
Our internet has been going in and out in our apartment, so our group's new favorite hang out is the Back and Snack, a local restaurant/bakery/coffeeshop. Dangerous... my wallet seems to be lighter each time I leave there!
Jenny and I took our lunch break at the local Hong Kong Bistro.... we'll just say that German Chinese food is not quite the same as it is in Abilene. I think we'll stick to brats from now on....
After a long day of hard work, we celebrated the birthdays of two of the people in our group. Rebecca Patterson turned 21, and Brandon Smith (one of Austin Winegeart's buddies along for the trip) turned 16! Happy birthday to you both. We enjoyed gorgeous (and yummy) cake topped with fruit made by Nancy, Lindsey, and Miriam.
Before the cake though, we celebrated birthdays with a German tradition that Miriam taught us. Turn up your volume!
We are all singing "Hoch" in the background, which means "high." This brings a whole new meaning to the Birthday Chair!
Now, happy belated birthday to Lindsey! I only have a picture sorry! Apparently, you can only have one video per post.
After the birthday party, me, Jenny, Sterling, Branson, Grant, and Collin walked around downtown for awhile. We were trying to find one of the oldest coffee shops in Leipzig, but got lost and just settled for the first open outdoor seating we could find at a restaurant. We had a great night, laughing and telling stories!
Jenny and I relaxing on a porch swing at our table in the City Center. This is just another part of the relaxed atmosphere that I love so much in Germany.
We leave tomorrow morning at 6:50am for Austria! I was humming the Sound of Music soundtrack all day yesterday, and cannot wait to visit. The Sound of Music is my absolute favorite movie in the world, and it honestly never occured to me that I might someday be able to visit the place where it was filmed. This will be the trip of a lifetime for me.
Unfortunately, we will not have Internet access this weekend. So our next post will be Sunday night. So aufwiedersehen for now, but get ready! Sunday will most likely be our longest and most picture-filled post yet.
Thank you to all of our many followers. Not only are people in Abilene reading this blog, but there are people across Texas as well as the US reading, and even some faithful German followers. Keep on reading!
This is for you Touchette,
Sylv
**If you didn't notice already, we've added a Picasa photo stream to the top of the blog.
Click there to see even more photos!
Have a great time in FräuleinMariaLand! Climb Every Mountain and enjoy your Favorite Things. Have Confidence. Do Something Good.
ReplyDeleteLet the only Problems you have be those like Maria!
Love Dad
The hills are alive with the sounds of ACU's COBA in Germany group. Oh my! How nostalgic you are making me as you walk in some of my beloved nearly 40 year old footprints.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Today one of my favorite contemplative prayer images is visualizing being on the Austrican hillside near Berchesgarten with arms outstretched in awe before The Sound of Music had been released! Your trip of a lifetime will be presented to you in unimaginable and mysterious ways the rest of your life.
ReplyDeleteSylvia, my parents went to the oldest café in Leipzig and said it was OK, but not very special(and they KNOW coffee!), so I think the swing thingi sounds much better. But I have a map of where the café is. So, let`s go there together. Maybe someting along the lines of girls day/afternoon/evening out?
ReplyDelete