My Trip To Hungary That Wasn't Meant To Be...

So I was supposed to go with some friends of mine and a group from their church in Heidelberg to serve at an orphanage in Hungary over Thanksgiving. I went. But I didn't get past the Hungarian border. I lost my passport a few weeks ago (I don't know how). I am waiting for my new one, but in the meantime, I have a temporary one. Evidently that wasn't good enough for the Hungarians, so after spending two hours at the border, I started a very long train ride (on Thanksgiving Day) back to Germany. :)

Of course, nothing in my life is ever simple. I had left some of my stuff in Heidelberg, so I headed there instead of back to Kandern.

Oh and get this - after January, there won't even be border guards evidently.

I didn’t travel back to Germany alone. Two military guys on the bus also were refused - they evidently don't have passports and normally military orders are good enough. Two different group leaders had called the US Embassy in Hungary before the trip and been told those two guys would be okay. Well, they weren’t. So the three of us set off on an adventure back to Heidelbeg - which was an adventure. :) It took us a while to figure out how to get out of the little town on the border that we were dropped off at. We had food at a hotel (see picture at right) - the lady was very nice and helped point us in the right direction. I had some Viennese coffee (yum!) and some cake (chocolate with cherries, etc.) Not a very good breakfast, I know, but at that point I didn't really care. (After being on a bus all night and then facing a long day traveling back to Germany.) It sounded good so I had it.

Here is a summary of our adventurous journey back to Germany:
- The bus dropped us off at a train stop (not worthy of being called a station) in a small town in eastern Austria called Neusiedl am See.
- We then walked (after “breakfast” at the hotel) a couple of miles to the real train station on the other end of the village.
- From there, we took the train to the Vienna South train station. (See picture at right)
- Oh, but trains to Germany don’t leave from the south station – they leave from the West train station. So we took the tram to the West train station.
- From the Vienna West station, we took the train to Frankfurt, Germany.
- From there, we took another train to Heidelberg.
- I then took the S-bahn (another train) to the town outside of Heidelberg that my friends live in. I arrived at their house around 11:30 Thursday evening. (I had been travelling almost constantly since I left Kandern at noon on Wednesday.)

Side note: I have a CU friend who lives in Vienna (See picture at left), but I didn't have a phone number for her with me, and it was Thanksgiving Day, so I didn't try to contact her. I had the thought that I should make the most of being stuck in Vienna, but at the same time I just wanted to be home, you know?

After hanging out with their cat, exploring their town, and otherwise relaxing and resting, I headed back to Kandern on Saturday (which involved trains and a bus).

So that is how Kari spent Thanksgiving 2007. Oh, but I did have a lovely Thanksgiving meal on Sunday with some wonderful friends here.

I know this post is getting long, but allow me to share with you some reflections, now that I’ve had some time to process all of this:

* I have added Austria to the list of countries I’ve been to. But I do hope to go back.

* I have mastered public transportation in Europe. I can get wherever I need to go.

* Am I on a blacklist and won’t be able to get into Hungary? I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. I’m going to try to find out.

* At first, I was beating myself up over this. I feel some personal responsibility in this. Not just in that I lost my passport, but that I should have known it (the temp passport) would not have been good enough. Had I known this would happen, I wouldn’t have gone. But as someone reminded me, that’s pretty obvious. More so, I am reminded that God has a reason for everything that happens in our lives. For some reason, He didn’t want me in Hungary. I don’t know if He was protecting me from something, or what reason He had. I just need to trust His sovereignty.

* I have learned more about which countries are EU and which aren’t. And that it is not just being EU that matters. There’s evidently this treaty known as the “Schengen Agreement.” This agreement evidently allows people to travel freely between the countries that have signed this treaty. Note: Not all EU countries have signed this treaty, but more are. That’s important to know.

* Money is money. As much as we’re supposed to be wise stewards of our finances, sometimes you just have to spent money. Like on train tickets to get from the Hungarian border back to Germany.

* So the moral of the story is to always travel with a valid passport and never lose it. I’m trying to decide what to do once I get my new passport so that I won’t lose it. EVER. I think I might sew it to myself. Anybody have a better idea?

Another Year Gone By....

A few random thoughts with Kari:

*This past Saturday I went to Titisee - a small town in the Black Forest - with a friend. I had been there after English Camp in 2004. While I thought it was a beautiful place, it wasn't my favorite place because I thought of it as a bit of a "tourist trap." (And probably because I was tired after two sessions of camp:). Well, on Saturday I was refreshed by the beautiful snow-covered scenery (see above picture:). There were people milling around, but it was not crowded. As we perused the shops and admired the buildings, Black Forest culture abounded.

*Yesterday was my birthday (my 26th, in case you're wondering). I've been thinking about why we celebrate birthdays - I mean, isn't it kind of selfish and egocentric? Perhaps. But maybe moreso it's a day to celebrate who God created us to be and to remind each other why we appreciate each other. But shouldn't we be doing that everyday? Yes. (I think there are a few Bible verses that talk about that.:)

*Yesterday I learned that I have been a very bad German. It's amazing that my apartment isn't falling apart and rotting away due to mold. Evidently because of the way German houses are built and the way the heating systems work (neither of which I can explain to you), you need to open the windows every day for a little bit. Don't worry - I opened them this morning for the necessary amount of time.

*Tomorrow I leave to spend the next several days in Heidelberg and Hungary. I'm going with some friends (who live in Heidelberg) and a group from their church to serve at an orphanage in Hungary over Thanksgiving. So that's how I'm spending my first Thanksgiving away from home. And I'm excited about it!

*My trip back to the States is quickly approaching (I fly the 12th of December), which I am excited about. I am a bit anxious about all of the details that still need to fall into place, but I know that God will cause all things to fall into place in the way He wants them to.

I am praying that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving however or whereever you're celebrating with family and friends! Take some time to stop, step back, and remember all you have to be thankful for. God is good!

Snow is in the air....

On Wednesday, I saw my first snow of the season while driving to the embassy in Bern, Switzerland (That in and of itself could be a post, but I won't bore you. Suffice it to say that I lost my passport, don't have a clue what happened to it, and needed to get it replaced. God has been good and provided in many small ways through that adventure.) By the end of Wednesday, it was snowing here in Kandern. Thursday morning, the scene above of snow-dusted rooftops is what I awoke to. I LOVE the peacefulness that a fresh snowfall brings.

As I walk around town (with my cold hands shoved in my pockets:), I notice the contrast of the hills surrounding Kandern. The hills closest to Kandern are covered with the last remnants of fall colors. The hills further away, which are at a higher elevation, are covered with snow-laden evergreens. Ah. How beautiful!

Thursday as I walked to work (all bundled up in my winter coat...I have finally broken down and started wearing it), I was refreshed by the snow. In some ways, it reminded me of home. Having spent the past 8 winters not in NNY, I have come to appreciate life without the inconvenience of a spontaneous foot (or 10:) of snow. However, to me, winter is not winter without snow. I'd much rather have the beauty of a layer of the "white stuff" than look at the browns of dead trees and grass all winter. So, I'll pay the price of bundling up to enjoy life in a winter climate. :)

Contentment

"...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

This is the end of Philippians 4:11. Earlier this week, I was reading through Philippians (more on that in a bit) and this verse took me back to the beginning of my freshmen year at CU. You see, that verse was hanging on the wall of the lounge in my unit (suite). My roommate's Mom pointed out to me (an almost 18 year old who probably refused to admit how scary it was to be starting college 600+ miles from home) the humorous truth of that verse - she said "whatever STATE - Ohio, NY, etc." It's true - God asks me to be content wherever He places me geographically, whatever He calls me to do, and whatever circumstances I'm in. I am thankful that the last few days I have been blessed with the peace of contentment - that I know I'm where I'm supposed to be, doing what God has called me to do.

Back to why I was reading through Philippians. Recently, I've started helping to co-lead a small group of BFA 10th grade girls (an AWESOME group of girls, by the way!), and they are studying Philippians, which is why I was reading through that book. (I've been reading a lot of Paul's writings lately and am very encouraged and challenged by them....perhaps because I can currently relate to his relationship with his supporters and those he was ministering to?)

While I was considering whether or not I should agree to co-lead this group, I had some times of good reflection and confirmation. During this time, God confirmed to me three of the main passions He has given me: youth, cross-cultural ministry, and short-term missions. Co-leading this small group definitely fits within those parameters. These girls are TCKs (Third Culture Kids) who have experienced more places and cultures than I ever dreamed of at their age! I have a feeling I am going to learn a lot from them and that they are going to bless my socks off! (They are already!)

Praise God for all He has done and continues to do in my time here!

The Beauty of Fall

Note: The picture above does not do justice to the beauty I am currently witnessing.

As my alarm clock goes off, my eyes suddenly open. Out the window, I see the grayish white sky of early morning. Five minutes later, the sky is a brillant blue and speckled with a few dainty clouds. As I stand up, I see that the trees surrounding The Monument are tinged with orange and gold. The hills around Kandern are covered with the beautiful colors of fall. Soon - too soon - these leaves will be gone. Until then, I will enjoy their beauty and the majesty of their Creator.

Tag der Deutschen Einheit

Yesterday was German Unification Day, so I had the day off. This day commemorates the two Germanies (East and West) becoming one on October 3, 1990. (The Berlin Wall "fell" in 1989.) I think to most Americans my age, communism is something we read about in our high school history books. However, it becomes more and more evident to me that there are still are communist(ic) governments in the world, and its legacy lives on in many other countries, affecting many people's lives. I think many of us tend to think of Western Europe and Eastern Europe. However, the other day someone referred to Western Europe (countries that never were communistic), Central Europe (countries that were communistic and no longer are, but still feel the effects of it), and Eastern Europe (countries that still are communistic or otherwise very controlling).

God has given me a heart for Europe. I know I don't understand the history of this region and how that history affects the people as much as I should - may God deepen my understanding and make me more sensitive to the spiritual needs of the people in Europe.

Dreiländereck

The area I live in is known in German as the "Dreiländereck" ("three country region" or something like that). It's the area where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. Nearby is the Alsace region, which the German and French fought over for centuries. It is interesting to have such a mix of cultures nearby! In Cincinnati, you cross the (Ohio) river and you're in Kentucky. Here, you cross the (Rhein) river and you're in another country - either Switzerland or France, depending on where you are!

A few weekends ago, I went with some of my new friends to Weil am Rhein. In the picture below, we are standing in France, and looking back across the Rhein (which we had just walked across...on the bridge, obviously:) toward Weil am Rhein. BEAU-TI-FUL!!!!!!!! I love seeing God's majesty in creation!

(I have to give credit where credit is due - Meghan took this picture, not me. Thanks, Meghan!)