GERMANY WEEK #1

Gutten Tag from Deutschland. I arrived early January 4th on a Luthansia flight. I sat next to a German physical therapist who helped me learn about German culture and study for my German Driver's exam. As I descended from the clouds and saw this sunset in the air before we fell below the clouds. "for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens." Job 28:24.





My stomach sank as we sank closer and closer to Germany. I thought, "What am I doing here?!" "I have such a wonderful family and friends- why am I leaving them! I was comforted by the sun's rising and reminded that God still rises and sets the sun here, so HE must be in control. I was soon connected with the USO (after wheeling all my luggage around for awhile). There I signed in and reported for duty! It was comforting to see some familiar faces at the airport.



My body felt OUT of whack as we got on and off buses and then eventually met our sponsors at Landstuhl. My sponsor I like to compare to my fairy godmother. She is a blessing from above and one of the continual stream of the BEST people God puts in my life to help me along the way.



We hit the ground running trying to get ahead of the "in processing game." It truly is a game getting your endless checklist complete. In the first week I in- processed, started a cell phone, got a bank account, opened a mailbox, took a driver's course, looked at apartments, and passed my driver's test.

The biggest accomplishment of the week was finding this beauty:



It is my apartment. A two bedroom 1 1/2 bathroom house with a little backyard and patio. My landlord is a lady with two children. It is in the town of Quidersbach that I knew before coming to Germany I wanted to live in. It is a 15 minute drive to work, but it is my favorite town I visited. Schmitt bakery is right around the corner along with the grocer, cafe, and gas station. It snowed two feet last night and children took their wooden sleighs down the hills in Quidersbach. So quaint and exactly where I wanted to live. Now, it is my time to make it into a home. This will be a labor of love, money, and time. I look forward to the challenge and hopefully it will be very cute by the time my family comes to visit (or friends- I have a room just for you!) :)

I pick up my car next week on Monday and I get my "wings" as the veterans say. I can't wait to start settling into an apartment and eventually traveling!

I miss YOU if you are reading this. I carry my family and friends close to my heart always. Your love gives me my wings to fly! Auf Wiedersehen!