We have had a very productive first week in Germany. Despite the snow, cold, damp weather and Carson getting bronchitis- we’ve have several opportunities to get out and explore the city. Since we arrived on the 7th, we’ve found the grocery store, Ikea, bakery, mall, craft store, second hand furniture and clothing stores, bank, and several good restaurants. We were assigned a car- so Marcus, with the help of a GPS, has driven us around different areas of the city a few times. 
We were very thankful to find an English-speaking pediatrician for Carson. We really like her a lot and are thankful to have a doctor in our city just a few minutes away. If you remember- the doctor we saw in East Asia was three hours away by bus. Carson is doing much better- we are still giving him breathing treatments several times a day and we will see the doctor again on Monday for a check-up.
We’ve also had several opportunities to meet with like-minded workers and church planters- some with our Company and others from the States and better yet local church planters. It’s so encouraging to hear how Father has lead people to this city to be about the work of reconciliation. Father is doing incredible things in the city and we are excited to join Him in His work. The people that we’ve met have really encouraged us as we begin our journey here and have really challenged us to be a people of prayer.
We also had a really good conversation with a local who is searching and seeking after God but who has yet to place his faith in Him. This man is at the beginning of his spiritual journey and asks some really good questions. Over dinner we were able to share truth with him and he was open and receptive. His daughter is a believer and it was awesome to hear him recognize and talk of the way God has changed his daughter’s life and given her meaning and purpose.
We think we have found an apartment- we are filling out all the paper work and hopefully will hear something early next week. After we find an apartment we can finish more of the logistical items- getting our visa, driver’s license, car insurance, etc. and then have a few weeks to settle into our new place before we begin language school.
We really like our city- its beautiful and the people have been very friendly to us so far. It still feels a little weird to think that we live here now and are not just visiting because of all the transition we’ve been through during the last year.
Marcus is working on a little video of our city we’ve taken as we drove around our area of the city- we hope to get that up soon.
We made it to Hamburg around noon on Thursday. As we checked in and traveled, we once again felt the prayers lifted up on our behalf. When we first arrived at the airport the line to check in was long--- extending passed the kiosks and almost to the main exit doors. We grabbed our 8 pieces of luggage and got at the back of the line. As we were waiting I decided to pick up a few more luggage tags just incase we forgot a bag… I asked the attendant at the “self-check-in/no baggage” kiosk for luggage tags. She not only gave me tags but said that she would check us in and then we could take our bags to the business class line to receive our baggage tags. So we ended up being the first in line and were checked in within 10 min. The nice lady who checked in our bags overlooked that a few of our bags were overweight (which might have been a $150 charge per bag) and she convinced us to check our car seat and carry on the guitar because the car seat would be free. So for 6 checked bags, a car seat, guitar, and 5 carry-ons we only had to pay $200! What an answer to prayers.
Also, as we went through security we were able to take our time because no one was behind us. The security agents also helped us get our bags on and off the conveyer belt- which is not always an easy task with a baby. Our flights were all on time and passed very quickly. Carson did really well traveling. He was awake and happy the first few hours and then slept the rest of the flight. It was nice to not be “one of those” families with the crying baby. Carson made lots of friends in the airports and on the plane. We were even given German chocolates as a gift because of Carson’s friendly and pleasant personality.
We arrived to a winter-wonderland. Lots of snow is on the ground and it’s snowed everyday since we’ve been here. The days are short right now and it’s COLD! We are all wearing lots and lots of layers when we go out. The city is very quant. I know it’s going to be beautiful this spring and summer and can’t wait to begin exploring when the weather is a tad warmer. Hamburg is made up of several smaller cities that grew together over the years. Even though it’s a city of 3 million, I don’t feel like we are in a huge city because the city is spread out rather than being densely populated with lots of high rises and large apartment complexes in the middle of the city.
We have been staying with our team leader and his family. We have enjoyed our time with them so far. They love to play games- and so do we. We’ve enjoyed playing games and drinking coffee- this has helped us stay up late each night to help get over jet lag. Carson has done well with the time difference and jet lag too- He’s woken up around 1am most night and will be up for 30min-1 hour. After he goes back to sleep, he will sleep until 9-10am… so really we can’t complain.
We have looked at a few apartments and have a few more to look at this week. We are hoping by the end of the week to have narrowed it down and make a move on one of them. We are thankful for the time we have getting to know our new team members but are ready to be out of suitcases- please pray that Father will direct us to exactly the right house, neighborhood, and community he has for us.
We hope to post pictures and video soon. Thank you for praying for us. We feel your prayers.
As much as we love what we do and as much as we are excited to be in Germany- the hardest part of it all is the good-byes. They hurt. We thought that it would get easier as time went on but tears still flow freely each time we have to say good-bye.
Today was our last day in Lubbock. We are all packed up and ready to head to Dallas. We will spend New Year's with Marcus' sisters and their husbands, celebrate Carson's early birthday on Saturday and then leave the USA on Wednesday, Jan. 6th.
As we say good-bye, we can't help but think back upon our time in the States. We've had a wonderful time reconnecting with family. We are so thankful that we've had time to spend with both our families- Carson adores his grand-parents! We've loved that they have had so much time to get to know and love on our Little Man. It's been such a blessing to celebrate the holidays with our family. We've treasured all the memories we've made with our family- we are so blessed to have supportive families who understand why we do what we do- but still miss and love us like crazy.
Our time with our friends has blessed us so much. We've got to spend time with old friends and have been so blessed to have had the chance to make new deep friendships. These relationships have refreshed our souls as we've had great conversations over coffee, laughed with each other, and cried at times too, studied the Scriptures together, and done life together. We've been overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends as they have taken care of us while we've been home and provided for our needs and wants as we prepare for our big move. We missed our American friends so much while we were in East Asia and this time in the States has been so good for us.
As we look back over our last few months, we have been reminded of Father's faithfulness in our lives. As we get ready to enter into a new culture, enter into the all the unknowns, we take great comfort in knowing that God is FAITHFUL and will provide for all our needs... physically, emotionally, relationally.
Honestly- during these last days we ask ourselves several times if it's all worth it? Is the stress up packing up all our bags for the 20th time in a year worth it? Is the pain of leaving parents, grandparents, sisters, in-laws, and cousins worth it? Is knowing that there will only days where we will miss our friends so much worth it?
Did all of heaven cry the day Jesus left heaven and was born as a baby? Did God's father heart ache when he sent his son to the earth to save us from our sins? We take comfort when we remember as we celebrated Christmas that God/Jesus considered a reconciled relationship with him worth it.
So we go to Germany, to the nations, because we believe that the reward will be worth it- we go to speak truth and love and the message of reconciliation.
Will you pray for us as we say good-bye? Pray for our families and the loss we all feel as the distance will soon separate us. Pray that the cost will be worth it.
