awesome

Gabe and I had an awesome post-Herrnhut/pre-home adventure in Frankfurt last weekend. As some of you may or may not know, in Germany there is an arranged ride-sharing website called mitfahrgelegenheit, and Gabe and I got to use it for the first time to travel from the Hut to Frankfurt. We were (well, I was...) concerned about travel arrangements--train is too long or expensive, housing in the city could be spendy as our arranged ride would get us there a few days too early, language barriers, typical German auto trunk sizes relative to American suitcases... Anyway, our driver told us over the phone that he had an empty flat that wasn't in use, as his kids are away at school--so we are welcome to stay there the night that we drive, because it will be so late when we get in. As it turned out, not only did we get to stay the first night in the city, but both nights with he and his wife, but they also took us to steak dinner, didn't charge us for the drive as a wedding present, and went to work late the morning of our flight so that he could serve us breakfast and drive us to the airport! How awesome is that!?! It was a great way to kick off a good trip home. And now we are busy reconnecting with family and friends in the midst of planning the final details for the wedding :-)

One Week!

In one weeks time Gabe and I are flying to Washington! Needless to say, we are excited and busy. We have all kinds of wrap-up work here in Germany before our two month vacation (woot!) and then we will plunge into the wonderful madness that is final wedding preparation :-) this includes, but is not limited to, building our wedding cake! making tree decorations, figuring out what food to have, enlisting/enslaving labor for the wedding day, and making as many important decisions and personal connections that it's possible to make in the frame of 2 1/2 weeks. whoopie!! Then we are off to CO for a "mini-honeymoon," and Christmas and New Years with Gabes family and friends--the closest trade off for only really being able to get married in one place at one time (although, friends here in Germany have asked if we'd have a live wedding feed, hahah!)
I'm off to try and get some more work done. Please pray for our safe travels, and health as we head into this crazy season! Much Love.

I'm coming home in one month!

Things are going well here in Herrnhut. This last weekend I celebrated at a surprise birthday/going away party for one of the couples on staff, ate Mexican Shabbat dinner, cooked Saturday dinner for the students (for which I get to take a morning off later this week :-) and hung out with Gabe. That's about the extent of excitement around here--we love to have birthday parties (and there are a lot of us so it happens often)-- but there isn't much else to do in our funny tiny town.

The weather got frigid again this weekend, and I heard that it's supposed to snow again. At least this time it really feels like fall out! There are parts of the path to work that are several inches deep in leaves, and they were fun to kick through this morning, but with the afternoon downpour, I doubt I will enjoy them the same way on the way home...

Wedding plans are plugging along. It's a bit hard for me to be so distant from it, and yet it approaches! My biggest helper and wonderful mother is now on a much deserved vacation, leaving my youngest sister to help with the mailing (yeah, we're a bit late) of the invitations :-)

Life is sweet, and I can't wait to connect with as many of you as possible when I am home/at the wedding!!!

Fall update

It is only mid-October and it has snowed! It snowed most of the day yesterday, and is reported to keep snowing off and on through next week. What a wonderful "Welcome Home" to Gabe and Toni, who return from Africa tomorrow :-)
I am (understandably) very excited for tomorrow evening to roll around-I am headed to Löbau to pick Gabe up around 8! The month has gone by quickly and there has been good work and connections for both of us, but I am definitely ready to spend the next months in the same place.
My job in the office at the base has been going well. I am trying to be proactive in a lull, knowing that things will get crazier when we try to organize various teams that will include nearly 100 people... it's nice now to have the freedom to help out in preparing our morning coffee break, organizing files and updating information, and trying to streamline the processes we have so that things run more smoothly. I also have that extra bit of time that I can spend wedding planning when I need to :-)
Gabe and I fly to WA on 1 December!!!! That's only 6 weeks away!!!!

Looking for a Flat..

Yesterday my wonderful flat mate, Jardena, assisted me by calling about two available flats, here in Herrnhut. We were actually able to see a 3 room apt. which is too large and expensive for a newlywed couple -- but perfect for Jardena and the other staff girls who are looking for an alternative to base housing.

So, on Saturday, Jardena and I will go see a studio apartment, and I have two prayer requests concerning this.

1) That I would know if it is the right place and the right time. I don't know what will be available later in the year, but Gabe and I would like to have our flat worked out before we come back to the states.

2) That I would have the finances. The landlord (as with most German landlords) would like proof that I will have the rent money I need each month. The rent for the studio is 270 Euro (or more depending on heat/water...) which is almost $400. Additionally, we will have to furnish our kitchen-counters, sink, stove, fridge...

I don't have the support I need monthly even to pay that rent. I strongly desire to be faithful in my responsibilities and commitments, but I can't do it without your help.

If you can commit to supporting me with any portion of the $1000 (total) I need a month, please let me know! I would love to have you as a part of my ministry.

Recap

I returned to Germany on Saturday night, after a longish and tiring trip home.

My trip to Africa was very adventurous. The first week I spent at a University of the Nations conference, which is the educational side of YWAM. It was fun just to meet new people from all over the place (as per the YWAM usual...) and help Gabe as he was responsible for the event photography. The second week Gabe and I joined a group of DTS students that traveled into the African desert to meet Bedouin people, and work on their arts. In all there were 48 of us from the Music DTS that is just beginning their outreach, and the photo an fine art DTS students, who only spent about a day in Germany before they flew to Africa for this trip! We were able to see God's provision, protection and guidance throughout the hot and hectic week!

It was an exciting week for me personally, as Gabe and I got engaged! I realize that I haven't told many the story of how we met last fall, so read on to hear more about us :-)

Gabe and I met last fall during our Discipleship Training school(DTS), and I very quickly realized that he was the best friend I could ask for, and someone I didn't want to live my life without. We enjoy spending time together, share many things in common, and also have areas that we add to the others life. (For more details about his first impressions of me, or the "fog" story about how God confirmed to Gabe that I was the one for him! we'll have to get Gabe to tell...) During a DTS students are not allowed to begin dating relationships (and for good reason) so Gabe and I spent the fall getting to know one another better and focused on our personal relationships with God. The three month outreach was a challenge, but when I returned to the castle in Germany, the first person I got a huge hug from was Gabe :-) Needless to say, we officially began our dating relationship as soon as the leadership gave us the "okay!"

So, this last week, while we were touring in the Egyptian desert with a group of DTS students, Gabe asked me to marry him, and of course my answer was, "Yes!"
We were laying in the sand looking at the Milky Way (and making sure that the scorpions didn't get our toes!) when he told me how much he loves me. That he loves me when I am all gross and Outreach-ified, and when I am clean and sniffy. That he loves me when I am happy and laughing and when I am grumpy or pouting. The list goes on :-) SO! We are very excited and busily working at the things that are before us! I love you all tons!

Short trip south

Hello friends. Having spent the last week cleaning, training and getting a bit settled in Germany, I am off tomorrow morning on a two week trip to Africa! It will be a very new experience for me, and I am both excited and anxious for what is to come. I am headed home shortly to pack, and pray that I have all the items I will need for a trip to the desert :-)

I may have some internet access this next week, but the following week I will be pretty unreachable, so I'll do my best to let you know about my trip (and safe travels) when I return to the castle on Monday the 21st. I love you all dearly.