Man trifft sich dreimal im Leben

Hello Readers!

Standing behind a tree sculpture in the Mountains.

I believe in having certain, special places, that can act as place of rest and a catalyst for reflection. After a while these places become such a deep a part of me, that even in my alone time I find myself going back to them. I don’t know if it is the warmth of old memories that wrap around me like a blanket, or the deep sigh once my feet step back to familiar ground that makes these places so spectacular.

View of Freiburg from the Hills

When I reflect on the path, the path that has led me to this crossroad today, I am so thankful for these places. My daily evening walk has become more than a walk in itself, rather a time to gather my thoughts and place them at God’s feet.

There is comfort in repetition. Here is an example. Comfort in repetition is the exact reason that people can drink the same coffee years on end, sit in the same place every day on the bus, or order the same sandwich every day for lunch. But the repetition I have learned, and learned to love plays a deeper role than what we eat.

A typical trip to the German grocery store!!
MMMM! Lecker. Way left you can see white asparagus,
it is extremely tedious to harvest, but taste so fine.

As I explained in my last blog, I took part in a school exchange between my home high school and a Gymnasium (high school) in Germany. Over the four day weekend I went back to visit them. As my seven hour train ride concluded and we pulled into the station, my heart was beating outrageously. Like when I take a final exam, I seemed to have forgotten all of the German I gathered in my eight month stay. Along the train ride there, I reflected how much the path I have walked on this last year, has changed me to the person I am this day. A year ago, I was an outgoing, full of laughter; go with the flow, naive in an international identity sense, and an over all happy person. I am still many of these things, but it feels as though they have been engrained into my being, more than a jacket of personality that I put on when I go out into public. The heavy clouds that covered the sky throughout the late fall and early winter season, seemed to bore my outward joy deep into my heart. Waking up, and loving Jesus, when the sky is covered for days on end, is boot camp for the soul.

Nevertheless, I submitted myself as clay to fulfill God’s purpose, and I know where I am is exactly where I am supposed to be. In boot camp, I was confronted with the most basic questions of my faith. What does God want for me? Who am I according to Him? These questions have been answered at least a hundred times in sermons that I have been to, but it seemed as though God wanted me to search them out myself. Almost every deep revelation that I have had of Christ, has taken place in my room of study. Although everything my home Pastor has preached has aligned with the Bible, Jesus wanted me to search out the answer for myself. He wanted to write the law with His finger upon my heart, rather than follow the words written on a stone.

So, back to the story. My heart was beating like a herd of horses running through a field and I’m pretty sure my hands were shaking from excitement too. We met at the entrance of the Freiburg Bahnhof (train station), packed my stuff in his car, and went into town for coffee. Freiburg is home to one of the top eight prestigious Universities in Germany. The streets are filled with young people of all backgrounds conversing whether in a Café, slowly sauntering through the shops, or laying in the park.

The sunny streets of downtown Freiburg,
hopefully I'll have the opportunity to study there!

The five days I spent with my friend and his family were an absolute dream. The reunion was full of hugs, laughs, tears of joy (me), and finally awesome food. Like the first evening we spent together in June 2011, we had a two hour dinner and shared simple conversation. All in German. In Baden Württemberg there is a slight dialect that hindered my ability to understand like I can in Northern Germany where we speak ‘High German’. They pronounce ‘st’, like ‘shhh  (like the word sheep) rather than ‘stt’ (like the word step). I stayed up late, and (tried to) wake up early so that I wouldn’t miss a moment of time being with them.

Every day we had a set schedule ahead of us, full of beautiful views, family members, pieces of hand/love made cake, small treasured moments and quiet time too. One of my favorite memories was looking for gifts for my family in Freiburg. It seemed every corner I turned there were more small shops, with little bells on the door so when you walked in someone could help right away. The morning that I went was coincidentally the fresh food market. I slowly walked through the labyrinth of fresh strawberries, hand-picked apples, fresh ground coffee, hand-made toys and clothing that all stood precisely laid out on tables. Musicians played on every corner. Once I was finally done snapping pictures of flowers and fresh fruit, I found the cheese stands.

Freiburg Market with the Church in the background.

Freiburg Market

On my way over I bought a bunch of radishes for a $1.30. For cheese I ordered fresh goat cheese, and black pepper parmesan imported from Italy. In Freiburg you can expect to exchange warm words and light conversation with the person trying to sell you something. I have found in comparison to the pressuring sellers in New York that try to hoard you into their stores, the Germans accept when you don’t want a product and don’t try to force you. After my cheese encounter, I set on a search to find some fabric for my Mom. I went into one store and asked if they had fabric with printed trees, the woman answered no and continued to draw a map of all of the fabric stores in the area. Even though she did not have what I needed, her incentive, as with most German workers, was to make sure that I was helped along to the next person that could.

The day after Freiburg up until my departure, we spent a lot of time hiking through the mountains and exploring the ideal quaint towns we all imagine when we think of Germany.

Kaiserstuhl, Germany. Absolutley Breath taking.

My time with them was absolutely wonderful, and I am so blessed, and thankful I had the opportunity to visit again. There is a saying in Germany, ‘man trifft sich dreimal im Leben’, which means you meet someone three times in your life. Without a doubt, I will be visiting them again.

It is always at the end of the journey, that we learn how much we have changed. Blinded by the reality, and sometimes the overwhelming waves that can seem to consume us, we lose sight of our progress. This last year has become essential to my character, but I would not start back at September all over again. Which also goes in hand, that my life here on this earth has also been phenomenal with Christ, but I would not start all over again. Each day, brings me closer to Christ’s second coming, and I am positive the days in between are meant for our enjoyment too. It is a balance. Enjoy the pictures, and start the journey. 

Spiderweb on a 35 year old Mammut tree.
It takes a thousand years for them to grow wide,
a thousand to grow deep, and a thousand to grow high.

Hand-made bread and curry-honey goat cheese,
on the wine hills of Baden Württemberg.

A small French town next to the border of Germany,
I bought a honey hand creme, and a walnut croissant.
Wonderful.

My exchange friend's turtle munching on strawberries!

I was allowed to use the asparagus peeling machine!!
All you do is push the piece of asparagus through,
 like a car wash it washes it, peels it so there is no skin left,
and it is ready to cook!

Giving Thanks and Being Content

Hello Readers!

Excuse my blog for being so short this time, I’m in a jam between too little time and lack of English language skills.

Ludwigslust Castle, I'm the little white fleck next to the left of the
statue. Here is a link to an informational guide:
http://www.stadtludwigslust.de/portal/page?_pageid=74,130112&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Last year I participated in a three week German Exchange program, it partnered my high school with one in Germany. For the first week, a group of students from my home high school traveled throughout Germany with two phenomenal teachers. The last two weeks we stayed with our exchange student and their family. I signed up to take part in this exchange, long before I knew I was accepted into CBYX. Despite the dozens of travel complications, the exchange was absolutely incredible. Our departing flight was delayed for four hours, and then completely cancelled. We ended up staying an extra night in Berlin, then flew out the next morning. We were all tired, and some frustrated because they would be missing out on previously made plans.

I personally, didn’t have anything to do the next day, so it wasn’t a problem for me. In fact, during the waiting time I remembered opening up my suitcase and eating some chocolate goodie gifts meant for my family.  (Only one bar of chocolate made it home after an almost deadly flight). In effort to ease the tense mood, I passed some chocolate around to my friends while waiting. God always seems to lead me the road less traveled, which is why I was never surprised after we encountered complication upon complication. In this trip I learned in great intensity, the crippling effects of complaining and the forever unsatisfied state of complainers. Though there are many sermons taught solely on contentment, I will share with you briefly my personal testimony with parallel scriptures from the Word.

Let’s address contentment first. Here are the scriptures that come to mind:

http://www.catholica.com.au/gc0/ie2/images/PhilippiMap_310x221.jpg

This is Paul and Timothy writing to the church of the Philippi. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11) 

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1Timothy 6:8) 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

Biblically, the word ‘let’ means that it is the reader’s personal choice. In these three verses alone, God tells us to be content in every state. Not only to be content, but not to be jealous of what someone else has. The reason why is mentioned in the verse from Hebrews. When we are not content and specifically jealous of what our neighbor has, it is a direct insult to Him. He said that He would never leave us, or forsake us. He is our Provider. In the verse from Timothy, we learn to be content with clothing and food. Considering, you are reading this it means you probably have one of the follow... a personal computer, running electricity, a functional internet connection and a chair to sit on. All of these far exceed the required ‘content’ level Timothy speaks of, even including the basic items they are all blessings. Which, when you really think about it, what possible reason do I have to be unsatisfied? Or to complain, if my Creator has promised He knows of all my needs?

Camped out at a friends house,
had to check the view from the trees first!

It is His Will that we find contentment in what we have. A catalyst for contentment is thankfulness. Ephesians 5:20 says ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’. Whenever I begin to give thanks in high pressure situations, how I speak and react changes completely. Though the situation may not have changed, it is the God given perspective that allows me to give thanks. As a thanks giver, one becomes super aware of those that aren’t. Along my journey, I have met people who are never content. It is too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, too rainy in spring, and too windy in fall. Whereas a thanks giver would think, that the white snow is the color of our washed away sins, the summer heat brings forth the harvest, the rain in spring nurtures life, and the wind lifts up the eagle’s wings.

Like anyone in the world, I have had my on days and my off days. The difference is I choose not to let them determine my thanks. From the moment we receive the Holy Ghost, our eternity with Him starts immedeatly. There are no bad days.Because the Truth is, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He deserves to be thanked and praised on my off day, just as much as the on day of my life.

Tried to make lemon bars, after trying to make a key lime pie.
None of my recipes here have come out successfully.
But, make lemonade out of lemons!

Tomorrow I will be riding to meet my exchange partner from last year. I already gave a quick phone call, and we conversed completely in German (which was a mega victory for me!). I sit in total amazement when I reflect on what has happened in the last year, and how God has changed my character. The final week countdown has begun, before I fly back to good ol’ America. When people ask if I miss home I say, ‘which one’? I left home with my family in CT, and now have to leave again a home and another family. No matter where the path leads, the road ahead, or the minutes to follow after I’m done writing this blog, I will continue in giving thanks, because it is the will of God and makes this life abundant.

Standing across from the Ludwigslust Castle

God Bless, Genevieve

In ALL Your Ways

Hello Readers!

Woke up like any normal morning..to a moon rise?

I hope all is well. The school curriculum at my high school has finally come to a close, though we have school until June 22^nd. We are starting to begin review for next year. The last year of German high school will mostly be used as a repetition in order to prepare for their type of SAT or ACT. Thoughts about my senior year send my head spinning with excitement, anticipation, and expectation.

Hand-made pizza with Chiara.
First time I ever used fresh yeast!

I came home Sunday and went to www.upcilivestreaming.com, which is a website that shows all the services being aired real-time. I clicked on one in Florida, they sang the song ‘Order My Steps’. This song refers to Psalm 37: 23 – 24. ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand’. Although I didn’t know the words, I happily clapped along as I answered my Mom’s Skype phone call. I stopped watching the first video, to watch Pentecostals of Alexandria with her. It was the graduation ceremony service, where the Pastor was congratulating each student and at the same time exhorting them to submit all their ways before their Lord. Before I got home to watch the services I went for a bike ride to give myself some quiet time. My spirit felt uneasy, and my stomach queasy at the thought of this year. The tasks before me are accomplishable in themselves, but eight or nine all at once is a totally different ball game. I remembered the verse ‘Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah’ Psalm 62:8. So I poured my heart out.

I don’t know the age group of my readers, but if you around the pre-college/college range you can understand me perfectly, when I say that there are a lot of decisions to be made. And naturally, this isn’t only true for freshly graduated college applicants, it is true for every person. We have all made decisions, and thousands of them, but it seems at this age we are making them all at one time. So, my heart needed a rest. It felt heavy. I needed heavenly guidance. The main focus of the sermon was, as young people, it is essential we submit our ways to Him. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:5-10



I never cease to be amazed by
how detailed He made everything.



God is always there to help those standing at crossroads. Proverbs 3:5 is a promise that He will direct our paths. A lot of biblical characters were confronted with trouble when they ‘jumped the gun’, and proceeded with their lives based on their own thoughts. They acknowledged God, then waited a couple hours (days if they were really patient) and proceeded as normal. The problem with living based on our own carnal decision making skills, is everything seems right in our own eyes. Even with the best of intentions and planning, we can order our lives and we would consider it right, when the truth is we are on a totally different path than the one God wants us to be taking. But it seems right in our eyes.

I think this would be a good point to stop and remind you, that I am just as human as you reading this article. I confront situations where I don’t know where to turn. The most natural thing for us to do, is to ‘think it out’. Giving my ways to God is against my human nature, because I’m a list writer. I love writing lists. Whether its for grocery shopping, homework, things to do, order of how I am going to clean my room, or what I want to accomplish in a week's time...I write lists. Do you know the saying, ‘I’ve got a lot of thoughts swimming in my head’? Well, I picture thoughts as fishes and when I write a list I am fishing them out of the sea of my mind. It brings a sense of order, which is important to a human’s life. (Any former German exchange student would be smiling right now, Ordnung!)



Barn house that I always pass on my way to school.

 I seem to bottle up all of my thoughts, until I’m jacked up like a coke bottle that has fallen down three flights of stairs. That is not the way Christ wants me, or you to live. We are to pour our heart out to Him, on a daily basis. When I did, I had the feeling like when you come in the house on a cold winter day, and peel off every scarf, hat, mittens, gloves, socks, fuzzy socks, vest, and jackets. I felt so light! Not only because I was not being burdened anymore, but because I know I had done my part in the promise. I acknowledged God, and I know He will answer me. (Key here, is also to keep listening!)

Caught in a sun-filled rain drizzle.
That kind of sounds like a Dairy Queen dessert...
What's that called again? Sun showers!
Yes, caught in a sun shower.

Sunday was Mother’s Day, which is also my Grandma’s birthday. She turned ninety years young, she doesn’t say ninety years old. After we had the rush of sixty people in our restaurant, I skyped my sister.  To my surprise, the whole family was there! I got to talk with my Uncle’s, Aunt’s, Cousin’s, and both of my Grandparents. When they asked how I was, I whipped out the guitar and played a couple songs for them to share my joy that can only be expressed through song. I guess my Grandpa had been playing on my Macintosh computer with my sister, they were using the photo warp program to take silly pictures. So when it was finally time for him to talk to me on my sister’s iPhone 4, he put the phone up to his nose/ear and strained to listen. He didn’t realize that I could see him, and he could see me! My Grandma also thought it was absolutely crazy, she kept saying ‘and you’re in Germany and I can see you?!’ I talked with my cousins who have grown up so much since I ‘ve been gone. It was absolutely astounding for me too, that with today’s technology, I could be 4,116 miles away from home, and still take such a great part in our family day. I remember a preacher telling me how quickly technology has developed merely in his time, and then he posed the question, ‘Do you think God is behind?’

The last memory that I have time to share is about a cello. I have played cello since kindergarten, it is (selbstverständlich) a part of me. I rented one in November, but as you all know finding lessons here did not work out so I had to bring it back. I had heard back a couple weeks ago, that there would be a cello concert in a nearby village. I figured either of my host parents could bring me, but it turned out to be on Mother’s Day so they were both busy. I knew the way to the village, because I had driven there and back the day before for a school choir practice. It was six miles one way. The funny part about the path is, despite the state I live in, to be considered one of the flattest, all of the hills in Meck-Pom are probably on this road. So, I had driven twelve miles on Saturday, recovered, then had to decide if I wanted to drive again twelve miles to watch an hour long concert.

Though every aching muscle told me to stay home, my heart pulled me to go. So I did, it was exceptionally windy so that I had to bike on first gear the whole time. When I got there, I had to check first in the mirror to make sure my eyebrows were not completely blown off by the wind. Then I went upstairs and talked with the Pastor and the man tuned is FIVE STRING CELLO! Cello’s only have four strings, and some really talented players play with three J (A,D,G,C). A five string cello was outrageous! We all sat down in the cold, candle-lit upper room of the church built in the early 1200’s. The cellist closed his eyes, took a deep breath and played for an hour long without notes. It was phenomenal. Hearing him play was worth the ride through the woods, up the hills, across unpaved sidewalks and dodging through traffic. It was one hundred percent worth it, and even on my most tired day I would do it again. I have noticed a general pattern in my generation that can be summed up in a formula.

Effort I have to put in + time I would be away from what I want to be doing + the possibility of it not being worth it = not doing it.

They don’t realize how much they miss out, because the beauty of the destination is almost always found on the way there. I remember going to a quartet concert with my Mom. We didn’t know the band at all, and they turned out to be awful but we had the greatest time finding the place.

Cow Crossing sign found on my was home from the concert.
I'm kind of tempted to go when all the cows are being herded
across the street... :D

And finally, finding my place to sit on a tree.

Do yourself the favor and pour your soul out to God.
He loves you and is waiting.

God Bless You, Genevieve

P.S. Please excuse me for any formatical imperfections, blogger is giving me a super hard time. 

The Stolen Vine

Hello Readers!!

No one wishes that each tree was identitcal from another.
We have learned to see the beauty in every form of nature,
so why can't we recognize the uniqueness of ourselves and our brethren?

Today is my 38^th blog, which is no special number in itself, but is somehow commemorable because it means I have successfully written for 38 weeks. In more than one way, this blog has helped my exchange experience. 1) It is something that I can count on every week, something that gives me consistency 2) teaches me self-discipline 3) slows the time down a little bit by allowing myself to reflect, rather than get caught up in the flow and 4) share my experience with others. Even now, I look back to entries in December and January and see how much I have learned since then, both linguistically and character wise too. As I was cleaning my computer desktop, I found a document. It was the second day I was situated with my year long host family. Here is a quote of mine from October:

‘When I was told that the exchange experience was going to be difficult, I never took into consideration just how hard it would be. What I realize now, and realize every moment, I’m at a loss of words (because I literally don’t know the German word) is that my communication abilities are about the same as a German toddler. That in itself is a blow to one's ego and willingness to engage in conversation. But that doesn’t stop me, I figure as an exchange student, or as a beginner in anything in life mistakes are always going to be made. They’re inevitable. I would rather make mistakes and make friends then sit quietly alone, but that’s just me. In my Gymnasium (school) there are two other exchange students, one from Italy and the other from Slovakia. So, because I have chosen to switch entirely to the German language (except now as I’m writing this article) I’m in an even more uncomfortable position. Not only is my German awful, so is my English. This transition is not for the weak, every morning you have to make up your mind and come to terms that at some point you will fall on your face.’
WOW my english is bad.

Ahoy! Looking out from a hunters cabin.
These little 'tree houses' are everywhere.

Bellies up! (sorry if that picture grosses out,
I like bugs.)

Let's take a picture with another perspective!

At the end of this article that I wrote for my German teacher, was a small text I had written in German. I laughed with my sister together when I realized how AWEFUL my grammar was. I don’t understand how they could hold a conversation with me! But, as I realized with putting in effort on a constant level, whether its writing a blog once a week or continuing to learn new words, effort always pays off. I can honestly say, that when I look back on this year, I don’t have one regret or wish that my German was any better. As this school year is coming to a close, I have begun to think of the year ahead. In order to receive credit from my high school, I need a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ grade from my teachers. I talked briefly with my class teacher today, and she said that I would get an A+ in all of my classes effort wise. But unfortunately, if my tests were to be graded it would have to be on the same exact standard as my native speaking German friends! I can understand ‘normal’ German, but when we start talking about the world economy and politics, I need to hear everything in sssssslllllllooooooowwwwww motion. I can read the newspaper, books, and understand advertisements. Everyday has  a small victory within it. Which is how I want to live spiritually too, victoriously.

Sitting on the forest ledge,
it felt like the edge of the world!

I signed up for a daily email from the www.biblegateway.com, its called Girlfriends in God. It seems God is revealing to her the same things He is to me. She is talking about the sly devices of the enemy. ‘He can make you believe something is not true when it is and make you believe something is true when it isn't. He speaks in your own voice. The thoughts feel like you, because they are the old you that he has memorized so well. He's not very creative, but he is very effective and he uses the same methods with us he's used since the beginning of time.’ There is a verse in Song of Solomon 2:15 ‘The little foxes that spoil the vines’. Spoil means to rob. I have never thought about foxes too much. I know that there are brown ones and red ones, and that they’re cute in the movie Fox and the Hound but I never considered them more than a part of the animal kingdom. Until today, one fox killed thirteen of our chickens. I woke up this morning to a bed of feathers strung across our back yard. As my host Mom walked by, she said ‘we’re putting on the electric fence tonight’. So she did. But the next night the fox found a hole the size of a clementine, and killed ten more. The problem was, the chickens couldn’t fit through the opening in which he came, so they were all left half dead when we woke up. This makes me now think about foxes, and how they spoil.  

I like to ride my bicycle
through trees of young green,
and valleys sleeping under a yellow blanket.

If any reader is really punctual, and is reading this on Tuesday...don't worry I will have the concluding paragraph tomorrow.

Happy mothers day in advance!
I love you Mom.
God Bless, Genevieve








Understanding Is A Process, and A Funny One If You Let It

Hello Readers!

Horse overlooking our house.

If I were to say in America, ‘She doesn’t have all of her glasses in the cupboard’, I think a lot of people would look at me funny. I would ask myself, 'where are the glasses then?'But in Germany, that means something along the lines of ‘she’s not the brightest light bulb, or a screw is loose’. Only through daily conversation and situation can you find out what small linguistic differences mean. Here are a few examples (I’ll state first our ‘American’ sayings, then theirs).

This is a trash can with a sticker on it. Translated this means 'I eat Hamburgers too'. Someone who lives in Hamburg is called a Hamburger, and not the food like we would think. For example, a German (Deutsch) resident would be called a Deutscher, and a female reisdent would be called a Deutscherin. So that in conversation, if I were to say I met an Amerikanerin, you would know I met a female American. Anyways, this is funny because it is saying 'I eat hamburgers, which in German translated would mean German men'.

So here is the list of sayings:

She stood like a deer in headlights. – She stood like a cow before a mountain.

Cat got your tongue? – Do you have a frog stuck in your throat?

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. – Don’t make an elephant out of a mouse.

No one profits from lying – A lie has little legs.

Follow your gut. – Listen to what your stomach says.

He’s as thin as a beanpole – He is a line in the horizon.

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? – Did you stand up on the wrong foot?

You shot yourself in the foot – You scored in your own goal.

She has two left hands -- He is like an elephant in a porcelain store.

Good luck! -- I'll press my thumb for you!

You can’t imagine how weird my host sister looked at me when I asked if the cat got her tongue. She replied, ‘we don’t have a cat…and what does it have to do with my tongue?’  As you can imagine, all of these little ‘findings’ as an exchange student, has a hysterical story to go with it. There’s almost always a stomach cramp from laughter that comes with these little sayings. These types of things separate you from a tourist, to more of a native speaker. Here’s a funny story.

Missed the train to Hamburg. I felt led to take a walk up the street,
and found this beautiful little park. Praise God for the small moments.

Last week we had a family visitor stay with us, she is the sister from my host father’s mother. But in any case she is very old fashion. One afternoon I was sitting with my host parents and her at the table, enjoying our coffee and cake hour. I only drank coffee. (That morning I had to leave school early because I ate bad strawberries and thought I was going to die from stomach pain, no thanks to cake!) And whenever you refuse cake or cookies, the giver always feels impelled to persist and ask again. My host dad offered me a pig ear (Schweinohr), which is a little vanilla cookie, and I told him no thanks. Then I said, ‘I know what game you’re trying to play! The try to make your exchange student as fat as you can game, huh??’. My host parents broke into HYSTERICAL laughter, and the Aunt’s glasses practically fell off her nose. I thought to myself, ‘hmmm…that wasn’t SO funny?’.

Then my hostmom said to me, ‘you know what you just said right?’ I nodded. Keep in mind I said this to my host dad.Then she laughed and said ‘to make fat, in Germans to impregnate.’ Mid sip I choked on my coffee, and thrust my hands forward and waved ‘no no no!’. Aunty’s eyes were still in ‘deer in headlight’ big until she realized it was a misunderstanding.  I have concluded that I would be the best Taboo player in New England after spending a year in Germany. When you don’t know the exact vocabulary word you need, the only option is to explain or to act it out. I remember fake cutting a steak, to imply that I needed a knife but didn’t know how to ask for one. You have to be open to make mistakes, and willing to laugh about them. Which has taught me a lot about my walk with Christ. Though I may not think some of my mistakes are laughable, I often punish myself more than God would. I refuse to forgive myself, long after God had forgiven me.

Our bunnies and chickies growing up together!
This was actually the last day before we had to separate them,
the bunnies started to bite the birds beaks and wings. 

Psalm 103:11-12 says ‘For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.’ When I open myself to allow God to truly talk to me, I learn a lot about myself. I set very high expectations, and even if I met them I always consider where I could have improved. I have learned that you can’t have this mindset as a soldier to God. Because the Truth is, He doesn’t love us based on our ability or performance, His love is unexplainable. Just like we can’t earn our salvation based on how ‘righteous’ or ‘good’ we are, we also can’t earn His love on how many people we witness too or how many homeless people we help.

It seems as every flowers has begun to bloom, so have revelations in my life. One after the other, more of God’s still peace has come over me, so that even when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, with cloudy weather, hail, shrunken clothes, shampoo that makes my hair dry like the Sahara, bread for breakfast and lunch, only bubbly water, and no umbrella…can I sing praises of joy. That is not just a positive mindset folks.

As I logged into my blog this morning, I noticed that in my last post I had viewers from Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand too. I never imagined this blog to be viewed from anyone else but friends and family back home. Though technology often feels like a breech on one’s personal life, I choose to use it as a vice to spread the testimony of God’s Glory in my life. Everyone should know living with and for Jesus is possible.

Encountered grazing fluffy sheep on the
way to the train station!

In case you have wondered the process of my blogging, or how I choose topics, I flip through my daily log and review what I have learned in scripture. The lessons I learn about myself, the Bible, and Christ often coincide with what happens through the week. Through daily experiences I ask Jesus what He wants me to understand and learn. Last week my Bible verse was Psalm 84:11; For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Since then, the sun has begun to shine from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.. I watch every day as the spinach I planted grows. Physically, the sun has the power to grow and destroy plants. I meditated on this verse for a while and considered the physical to spiritual parallel. God has the power to grow seeds and to also burn them with His intense heat. He can nurture a plant from seed to a full grown tree, or can consume every drop of moisture from the earth. Fast forward five chapters in Psalm to verse 28 through 37, David is seeing a vision from God and receiving a promise from Him as well. This is God speaking;

The difference the sun makes to growth of trees. On a bike ride.

 ‘My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.’

Selah means in Hebrew to value, or to meditate upon. In one revelation I learned the power God has over me, and in another revelation I learned that God’s loving kindness will never fail. It is absolutely paradoxical. For example, when we are at our weakest state, we are at our strongest because God can then work through us.

Yellow flower horizon.

All the Glory to God, Genevieve