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Why?

Why are you moving to Germany?

As Paul and I share about our plans to move overseas in the upcoming months, there is always a single question which is inevitably asked: Why?

It’s a logical question, we are doing something out of the ordinary and people want to account for it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make it any more comfortable. It feels a little bit like when I was a child and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, they would smile at my response and then proceed with the follow up, Why?.

It makes me feel a little bit smaller, like I need to find a reason to justify what I am doing and the reasons I currently have aren’t good enough.

I guess to our culture they aren’t.

We’re not moving for jobs.

We’re not moving for security.

We’re not moving because of family ties.

So why are we moving?

There is a small church in Dusseldorf which is trying to introduce Germany to Jesus. Not to a state run church. Not to a culture of faith. To Jesus. 

And they need help.

So we’re going. 

I’m not sure what we will do about jobs. I have a few ideas but nothing in the way of a tangible income.

They only security we have is God’s promise to provide and our Bingo fund. In avionics when you hit the point where you have just enough fuel to get home, you declare bingo and head back. We have a small savings account with enough money to get us home.

I do have family in Germany, and I am excited to get to spend more time with them but the reality is they are just a few who I have met a handful of times. Our immediate family will all still be in California. We are leaving behind much more than we are going to greet.

So please pray for us as we continue to prepare for this transition. Pray that we would be bold in telling people that we are going to Germany to live in a community which loves Jesus and invites others to love Him too.

 

I feel like my life has a few areas in which I have had some false starts. 

I’m crouched at the starting line, waiting for the toll to sound, anticipation building and some movement out of the corner of my eye makes me think it’s time to go, so I dive in and start swimming for all my life. I’m halfway down the pool when I finally hear it, some referree is yelling at me to get back to the starting line. All that effort just to get wet and tired.

This adventure to Germany has been full of false starts. So much so, that even now when the evidence of God’s direct action surrounds us, and Paul is taking decided and dedicated measures to get us there, I don’t want to climb up on the podium again.

I don’t want to stand up exposed and jump in the water only to be called back again, embarresed and shivering again.

So I start making up conditions. I’ll say things to mayself, “I better have a stinking amazing suit” or maybe “I’ll wait to see what the other swimmers are doing.” Or maybe I’ll get up on the podium, but I won’t take on the posture of a competitor. I’ll be cautious.

The problem is, caution doesn’t win the race. Caution may guard your heart but it can defeat your purpose.

So please pray for the start of our journey, please pray as we are currently preparing to take on this new adventure, pray that I would be fully invested and willing to jump in with my whole heart.

 

 

September to December; that is the slot of time which we have alloted for our departure for Germany. Since I know the time until we leave will fly by. Here is the first project I have completed for our anticipated departure.

September bis Dezember; das ist die Zeit wir werden nach Deutschland abfahren. Heir ist die erst Projekt, das ich für unser Umzug fertig gemacht hatte.

This old apothacary’s case was mine from childhood. It used to carry my treasured dolls and their pinafores. Now it will be used to carry my treasure making tools and pliers. 

Die alter Medizinkiste hat mir von Kinderzeit gehören. Die hat meine liebevoll Puppen une ihre Kleider enthalten. Jetzt werde sie meine liebevolle Werkzeuge enthalten.

The interior was in pretty sad shape and I thought it could use some color. So I pulled out the previous interior and scraped away as much of the cardboard as I could. Then I spray painted it bright green. 

Die Inneseite war schelcht gewesen. Ich habe gedacht, die ein bißchen Farbe brauchen. Ich hatte die alte Inneseite abgemacht und hatte alles gut geputzt. Laste, male ich die Inneseite mit helle grüner Farbe.

 

There was an old plastic belt which was installed in the base. I salvaged it and reattached it to the top, it is a perfect place for my scissors!

Es gibt ein alte plastik Band, das in die Kiste installiert würdet. Ich verwerte es und es im Deckel anhangen. Es ist das perfekt Platz für meine Schere zu hangen!

I think this traveling art studio will serve me quite well as I prepare for this new adventure, and it is good to be able to bring an old friend along.

Ich glaube diese Reise Kunsstudio werde mir sehr gute passen weil ich bereite diese neues Abenteur auf. Ich finde es schöne, ich kann diese alten Freund mitbringen. 

So, in preparation for moving to Germany (ps. If you didn’t know, come 12/31/11 Paul and I are outta here!) I have been working on developing a few new sites. I’ll be sharing more about those later, for now, I want to share the headers I made for all of them tonight! I’m very proud of myself, as gimpshop and I usually fight…alot. But I’m starting to get the knack of it and think these are pretty cool for a beginner.