sometimes i don't write because i don't have anything to say... nothing tasty enough to put words to for the rest of the world...
othertimes it is because there is too much to devour and not enough time to give a taste of any of it to the rest...
this time is about the latter of the two.
christmas obviously happened. really regardless of whether we would want or not.
and with this certain family date, time is spend eating, talking and trying to rest.
new years was very special for us this time around. we visited some friends of mine in freiburg.
it was almost more spontanious than not and was such a good time!!!
among our time there, we could hear some of ywam freiburg, catch up with old friends, drink starbucks and learn of new dreams. all in all it was a very well spent celebration.
the following weekend was busy for kathy as she worked the whole time. i can't really remember what i did in that time... probably a whole lot of nottin ;)
but during that weekend and since the time of christmas and new years, my heart was aching more and more for home. the original plan was to visit the states for the holidays, but becuase of the wrist, it didn't nor couldn't happen.
at this point, (second week of january) i had some really rough times inside and needed to escape the bavarian/german life.
i packed my bag, cleared things up with kathy, and hit the road aiming for berlin. since the lack of money, i decided hitchin would be the right thing.
i left on wednesday hoping to spend some good 4 days in berlin and at the end of the first day found myself in stuttgart. for all those who don't have a map handy, that is not really so far and rather in the wrong direction. needless to expand on my frustrations of that time, i bought a train ticket, some starbucks and after a walk around the city, headed home again with my head low. it was not an easy day but at the same time i was excited to see kathy again for my unexpected return home.
we ate out. drank some wine and chilled.
later that night, i found a rideshare up that way and booked it. got up early the next day and enjoyed a ride up to berlin at 180km.
the weekend was good. it was good to be back somewhere familiar seeing those i once spend much more time with. i stayed there 3 days and took part hanging out at old places, seeing new faces and kindling the fire in my heart that still burns for that city.
the way home was to be hitchin though the man i rode up with was heading back at the same desired time. but me lacking funds again, and this time even more since paying the train ticket back home and the ride up to berlin. but then God tickled my faith once again and i was given 50 € for the trip back. i not only enjoyed the way back but a pizza and club mate (tea soda) on the last day in berlin.
the following weekend kathy and i were in a cabin near stuttgart for a friends 30th birthday. we spent two nights and three days chillin, drinking coffee, snow, a giant bonfire and cold snowing weather outside with lots of new people. a blessing of a weekend to say the least.
the next weekend, kathy was due to join a church retreat to play worship. it was for 12-13 year olds for their confirmation from the church. since kathy works some with cvjm (ymca- it is much different here in germany. they do lots of social work with the church), she was invited to come with. she in turn invited me to join and help any way i could.. but i turned it down from instinct and shyness. stupid huh?!
i have times when i shy away from good opportunities because of embarrassment or the language or other random cognative distortions. i decided spending time in the mountains somehow would be much better time spent. well... i tried, but couldn't find anyone to join me. at first, there would have been no room for me to join with on the retreat, but then a spot opened up. so, i did the math, fought my fears and asked God for His will in it... and went with.
i now am helping with the boys group on fridays with the ymca (again, it is very much more Christ oriented here in germany). it was a really good thing.
last weekend was my sister-in-laws b-day. i spent some of saturday alone on the border of austria playing in snow and mountains.
regarding some other things....
the debt is now at about $1,300 (1,000€). Praise God for His grace.
i borrowed 1,000€ from a friend here in germany, transferred it to my american account and paid off the debt in america. now i just have to pay him back what he borrowed me and it is finished!
my wrist is blocked somehow inside. we are still working on flexibility at the therapy and it is going too slow. i head up to the doctor on thursday for a check-up and we are all anxious to hear what it blocking or what has to be done to get it going again. (when i bend my hand backwards-fingers towards face-it goes so far, then not any more... not a milimeter. it seems that the piece inside that was repaired is blocked or caught up on another bone... :) we'll see in a day or so.)
we are looking to coming back to the states this summer. originally we thought may, but are looking at the options with work and may end up coming in july instead. if it be so, then we could stay the whole month instead of 3 weeks. we still need an auto to commute to family and friends elsewhere outside of s.dakota. the tickets are more expensive at that time but i figure they'll come down.
i am not working yet and at the same time am getting more opportunities to work in the future. we'll see how some of that works out before i satisfy your curious lil wonders.
outside it snows, the sun shines, rains a little, then snows some more... the whole time being windy.
i spend the days learning about mountaineering (reading) and practicing french and spanish.
kathy and i are now seeing a couple for counciling for our marriage. who ever said these things would be easy....
God has been providing funds for living and friends for chatting. i only hope to spend more conversations with american friends either in person or on the phone soon.
thank you all for prayers, thoughts and following this (at the moment seems sometimes boring) life of ours.
we are anxious to see what God is doing through these little/short teadious times in hardships or learning new things... supposingly getting us ready for the next steps of learning how to love ;)
much love,
israel
still missing granite spires, dancing like who cares after work, meeting with dear ones, making american jokes and having people understand them, my home culture, good cheeseburgers and real suv's. :)
love you all!
