M-Trip Finale

As one parent described it to me, today was the spring break mission trip "finale" so to speak.  The morning service at Black Forest Christian Fellowship was a celebration of God's work around the world through six short-term mission teams of BFA staff and students.  How exciting to tell the church body about our time in Italy, as well as hear other teams share about what they did and learned in Belarus, Romania, Slovenia, Tanzania, and Central Asia!

With a limited amount of time to share about a week full of ministry and growth -- and lessons we've been processing since our return to Germany -- each team found it difficult to sum it all up in just a few minutes. I shared my personal connection with this church from when I participated in two short-term trips to Italy as a high school student.  Now, as a leader, I worked alongside several of the same Italians I'd met back in 2005 as teenagers.  It was really neat to see this come full-circle!  Two of the students also shared with the congregation about how the trip had personally impacted them -- the blessing of new relationships, the power of commitment to spiritual growth, and the importance of connection among believers.  Check out our team video, too!

Thank you again for your prayers for our trip!  Please pray with me that the Lord would continue to use the experiences of our week in Italy to challenge me personally, impact the lives of the BFA students, and encourage our Italian friends.

Gearing Up Again...

This break has been wonderful -- some relaxation, some time spent with friends, some traveling, some serving in another country.  God has taught me a lot about myself, Himself, and who I am in Him.  Somehow school has felt like a distant dream...

Reality check.  I sat in my classroom a bit dazed this afternoon.  With a bad headache and a long to-do list, I prepared myself for an afternoon of getting the classroom ready for "the home stretch."  With only about 30 more days of class, the end is definitely in sight.  Whether that is thrilling or terrifying, I haven't decided yet!

Believe it or not, a new student is joining my class tomorrow for the remainder of the year.  She has had a discouraging experience in German school this year, so she is transitioning now to BFA to get on track for learning in English.  There will be a lot of firsts for her tomorrow and in the coming weeks -- English instruction, new teachers, new friends, new routines.  I'm praying that her first day tomorrow will be a positive experience and that the other fourth graders will welcome her warmly.

Tomorrow won't be easy.  And not just because of all of the changes in my classroom.  During our spring break, a well-loved BFA staff member passed away.  Although I did not know her very well, Mari Ellen has been extremely influential in the lives of countless staff and students during her 20+ years of service here in Germany.  She was BFA's only school counselor this year and also worked in Member Care with my sending organization, TeachBeyond.  Tomorrow evening, the BFA community will join together to remember Mari Ellen in a memorial service.  Please pray for God's peace as many are processing and grieving this loss.

It's hard to believe that the school year is nearly finished.  Rather than count down the days, I pray that I would make the most of every opportunity.  May we live each day to the fullest, glorifying God with every breath!

Birthday Blessings!

I am so blessed by the community here at BFA, as well as connections with friends and family around the world!  This week I felt extra special as birthday cards arrived in the mailbox and my awesome roommates took me away for a few days to celebrate my 24th birthday.

My birthday seemed to sneak up on me this year.  Maybe it's because I was in Italy the previous week.  Maybe it's because this whole school year seems to have gone by at lightning speed.  Oh, maybe it's because I'm getting old?! :)  Nevertheless, I always enjoy celebrations, so I was thrilled to be able to have a bunch of friends over yesterday afternoon to celebrate my birthday with me.  We enjoyed tea and treats, played a few games, and had a homemade "photo booth" (pictures below).  Most of all, it was great to just reconnect and share conversations with dear friends.

Brittany and me

My mentor, Candy, and her beautiful daughters

Megan and me

It was also so special to hear from many of you via Facebook posts, cards in the mail, and encouraging e-mails.  Thanks for making my day special from across the miles!

During our Skype conversation yesterday, my mom read part of her journal entry from April 14, 1988.  When she flipped the page to April 15, today's date, she found something that she didn't remember at all: "I got a roommate this evening - a wonderful gal who's a missionary to Germany.  What a delight to share a room with a fellow believer!" Only God knew where I'd be 24 years later!  In Germany as a missionary.

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."  Psalm 16:6

Il Viaggio: M-Trip to Italy!

What a privilege it was to co-lead a team of 10 students on a BFA mission trip to Lago Patria, Italy, this past week.  While it's good to be back in my apartment in Germany, I'll undoubtedly miss counting heads and acting as team mom!  :)

For me personally, this trip was like a dream come true.  Some of the youth leaders now were the first members of the Jars youth group back in 2005 and 2006 when I came on a short-term trip with my home church.  It's really neat to see things come full circle since we are now leaders of the youth.  I absolutely love deepening relationships, and this trip was definitely one that helped me to reestablish connections with this wonderful community of believers in southern Italy.

Italy 2006 - we look so young!

 Italy 2012 - Fabrizio, Marica, me, Sara, Claudia, Vincenzo - reunion!

Last night, after goodbyes were said and Italian kisses given, our team met together for the last time in Italy.  We shared some highs and lows from the week and laughed a lot as Jon recapped some of the best quotes from the week.  Many of us commented on what an interesting mix of people we are, but how we have been unified this week.  We have laughed together, worked together, traveled together, grown together.  It was so encouraging to me to see how our team has bonded, despite our own cultural differences, and that the students so thoroughly enjoyed their time in Italy.  You can read more about our adventures on our team blog:  http://bfainitaly.blogspot.com.

Goodbyes and transitions can be difficult.  But in a way, that's a good thing.  That means that we've invested something in this week.  It means that we care, we've shared our hearts, we've connected.  Thank you for your prayers for our team.  Please pray that relationships continue among our team members, as well as with our new friends in southern Italy.  Most importantly, please pray that God receives glory as we share with friends and family about our trip!