so long

Hello my loveys!!! I seem to “journal” every couple of days, but do not use the internet often, so this is my game plan for keeping you all “up to date.” I will keep on writing during the week, but only publish it on the web once a week. Therefore, each posting will then be longer than usual which will mean, get a cup of coffee or tea, a small snack, some days a meal, and then read a bit of a “book” by yours truly if you’d like to know about Austria from my eyes. We are busy leaning and reading and exploring, so spending time on the internet is something I am choosing to keep to a minimum so that I can be open to experiencing Austria, not staring at a computer screen. I love you all, think of you daily multiple times, and know that God has me here and is doing great things!!


September 23, 2008
Day three I think… yes. We have had our lectures this morn and our afternoon freedoms. Now I sit at the little table in my room as my mates read the daily scripture assignment and I stare out the window at the smoke chugging out of two chimneys on the tarnished tin roof of a pale peach colored house. I actually might live there one day! Plenty of windows, all framed with brown shudders which are actually used, an apple tree, fireplaces, oh, and views of snowcapped mountains… the life of living in a fairytale land.

This arvo three other girls and I hiked up along the stream and waterfalls. I could have gone for longer but they wished to come back. My new boots and socks were ready to be broken in and my longing to keep on, taking in every mountainous breath were however only allowed an hour of freedom today. Hiking has become a new passion of mine, yet I am unable to do in solo for safety reasons. Maybe God will send me a hiking partner soon?! Despite the brevity, I was able to see a slight top view of the town and the snow clouds capturing the tops of the peaking Alps in the distance. As we were walking, I caught myself comparing the similarities of this place to Boone, or better, Blowing Rock. How often I took and take for granted the landscape I have been so blessed to live in for most of my life.

Now let me just give you one more confirmation of how good God is. We all have “duties” here that we daily are accountable for completing. My duty was a mystery until today when I and 6 other students were taken to the “Starhof” area of the building. This “Starhof” has couches and a sunroom with chairs and small tables and of course, a coffinette. New coined term, coffinette, meaning a kitchenette used for making coffee beverages. Yes, as God would have it, my barista talents are being put to use in the Austrian coffinette, Starhof here at Tauernhof. Ha! I know my mother is laughing out loud (remember the conversation we had on the way to airport about my new love for baristahood and my hope to maybe use it abroad? I even had her quizzing me on how to make certain drinks.) Julie, I would like to thank you for the crash course which fully trained me for the duties I now have here at school. Jesus sure has a sense of humor, now doesn’t He?!

Who knows where I will be, what work, exploring, or shenanigans I will be partaking in after school. All I know is I am being richly blessed by scripture teaching thus far and know the spirit is moving here.

Liebü Grueü (‘my love’ in German)


September 25, 2008
Yesterday was beautiful! Early in the morning I went for a solo run along the river and through the town. It was a bit chilly but sure woke me up. In the arvo, the sun was shinning and I was blessed with the ability and time to hike with some classmates up past waterfalls, apple trees, and into rolling green fields that I am sure the Van Trap family probably spent some holidays frolicking in! At the top across the valley, huggggeee mountains that are dryer were capped in snow and clouds. We walked under a few sky lifts, and by lifts, I mean enclosed little booth things that move up the wire to the tip top of the mountains where we didn’t even climb to. And when the snow comes and skiers actually occupy this place, the slopes are the mountains that are now filled with houses, sheep and cows. You ski right through the residence areas!!! I was blown away. They utilize the space unlike our massive, set aside resorts. And you can ski down one mountain to the valley you jump on another lift that takes you to the next adjacent mountain. WOW!

Then a new friend and I walked around the town for another hour and a half getting better acquainted with the area. We strolled upon the most picturesque moment: An old, Austrian woman with a handkerchief tied around her head, a bun of silver hair hidden beneath, her long skirt, buttoned cardigan and little grandma shoes sweeping the sidewalk where ducks were waddling around her, quacking and pecking for feed. Ryan and I both stopped, mouths dropped, smiles wide, and were filled with that moment of, “This is a storybook moment we read about!” To our dismay, neither of us had a camera. On the topic of ducks, there are soo many that swim in the river. Hundreds and hundreds, and I am sure their little buns get frost bitten because that glacier water is frigid!

September 26, 2008
Last night our lecture was about dealing with the burdens we carry. The ones we often disguise because we are ashamed of the guilt and negative feelings we bear within, so sharing them is unthought-of because people might judge us. Often times though, “the heart of our problem is the problem of our heart.” The Lord can and will heal because His power is bigger than those that long for us to continue to carry hopeless and weakness. However it is in this darkness where the Light is needed most…Light that exposes and can lead us out into the abundance of life (John 10). Christ has given us brothers and sisters to share with and confide in. Let us be Christians that cover sin with Love rather than expose the sins of others. I have found personally that when revealing happens, healing follows.

Today our lesson was about the fall of man, freedom of choice because of God’s love, and how Satan works to trick man. There is so much about the scripture I am learning through the picking apart of verses. Today we spoke of the power of Satan and the battle of principalities that is being fought on the earth. Never have I been so confronted with and taught about the power of darkness. I am searching for CS Lewis’ book, “The Screwtape Letters” here, and in English rather than German. The subject is frightening to me because of the power Satan has and that it is has been loosed here on earth through demons, false prophets, and deception. However, our God is Almighty, all powerful! Alleluia!! I pray for each of you that reads this that you protect yourself from evil, guard your heart with the Truth of God and Jesus Christ. May we not be ignorant to the fact that good and evil both exist, but that we remember who has saved us from the battle that has already been won, our Lord and Savior, protector and provider, our strength, and King of Kings. Praises be to God our Father.

September 28, 2008
Earlier I had written about my hike with friends not being as long as I had hoped, well God sure does have a sense of humor. He is chuckling now as I write because yesterday we hiked for 6 hours!! Yes, and not just simple little hiking, I am talking up a mountain that was covered in rocks, small streams and waterfalls, from dry ground to the top where snow blankets the earth. We are offered Saturday activities to help us see the area, so a large group of us hiked to this beautiful lake, then those who wanted more of a challenge went up, up, up to the top of a snow capped mountain. At the top was a “hut.” That’s a small cottage with drinks and classic Austrian dishes to eat. My favorite is Kiezershact (pretty much crumbled up pieces of pancake with applesauce!). I need to have some apple strudel because its all the rave here. When we got back to town my new friend Nick who did upward bound with Jessie H. this summer took me to his favorite ice cream spot where a cone is only one euro! He got a kebab too, another food to eat on my list, which brought back fond memories of Australian cuisine.

Hiking with Nick as my “partner,” we were able to share about the journeys we have traveled through life. Our stories became similar at many points, but one in particular—the recent way God had sent convictions to our hearts when we were in situations that were unfulfilling and worldly. His specific instance and mine too happened after Nick’s Upward Bound experience and my Rockmont one. In both experiences, we were surrounded by God’s natural beauty (mountains and valleys, lakes, camping, outdoor activities, and the worshiping of God). I think that in such places, God can genuinely work in hearts, speaking to us through his natural beauty and the childlike enjoyment of these places while praising His name. Dan Davis emphasized the summer at Rockmont to allow God to speak in the silence; to be quiet, rest in Him, in our stillness, as our words decrease and His increase. It’s beautiful to see how this has become so important to me in my walk with Jesus. Nick was able to experience the same truths at Upward Bound too. With our “conviction” stories, we both were able to recognize the unsatisfying situations we had put ourselves in more obviously because we could compare those situations to those feelings of the goodness of God in places that were given by Christ (i.e. hiking). Something I now cherish even more so than ever is using the physical abilities the Lord has blessed me with in nature. I have seen and felt how he changes hearts when we are in those places, making us more aware of His purity and simplicity when we return to “ways of the world.” I pray that you can find time to go and picnic, hike, sleep, climb, swim, just get away from manmade distractions and become apart of nature wherever you live. In that place, be quiet and let the Lord’s words change your heart where you become nothing and let Him be everything in you.

Two nights ago, we had “girl” time where all of us went to the RA, Julie’s, room to have tea, chex mix and share about ourselves. It was there that one of my roommates, Miriam from Germany, talked about her future dreams. Miriam expressed her desire to study medicine and become a missionary doctor in the Himalayan Mountains, but to do so as single woman. Not just single for her time of mission work, but single for the rest of her life. She said God has placed on her heart contentment with being married to Him alone and never wanting to marry. Miriam’s steadfast commitment to the Lord’s calling and not having the dream of marrying like most young woman brought me to tears. I recently have let who I am going to marry become a central thought of mine. In prayer the other night, I asked to the Lord to take away this constant searching and dreaming for “the one” that occurs in my head. It was a couple days later when God answered this prayer through my roommates sweet sharing of her heart. It is amazing how much freer I feel from the silly thoughts of my future with my husband whom I might not have even met yet. There is

In the evening, I researched a bit about different places in Europe pondering where I might end up after this semester. Miriam sat with me for a bit and we discussed where she had been, what you liked and did not, where she thinks I would like best for travel and then for work, etc. At the end, we prayed with each other. How beautiful is God that he has given me a sister in Christ that is so encouraging, honest, and such a lovely spirit. Miriam prayed for where the Lord will place me, and then prayed for my future husband. My eyes were welling up with tears, her knowing that even though it is not her desire, one day I hope to share my life with another and her genuinely lifting that up to the Lord. The words of her prayer penetrated my heart deeply and meant so much, having another loving soul lift my future before God our Father and praying for my contentment and patience.

This morning, we just worshiped at our “church.” Today was the first day we sang together as a community and it was fundeshund (wonderful)!! Our sermon was about contentment or our lack there of in our circumstances. We find ourselves praying, “God, show me Your plan for my life,” because we are not happy or satisfied in the present moment. We anticipate the future, but in the midst neglect the here and now. The fact is, God’s plan IS what you are doing at this moment, so we must accept and allow the Lord opportunity to work out His completion in us for today first, then tomorrow when and even if it comes. God sure has been speaking loudly to me. He constantly searches my heart and when I surrender all that I am, there He reveals and heals. My prayer for you my beloved (as well as myself) comes from Psalm 139:23-24, one of my daddy’s fav chapters:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thought; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”

I have been running a good bit while being here. My favorite time though is in the early morning before the house is awake. I run down my the river and follow it through the city to its outskirts, past pastures and train tracks, cows and sheep. The other morn, the cold air made my breath look like smoke, I was suited up in long sleeves and tights, my Boston cap to represent the States and keep the heat in my head, and ipod fastened to my arm (an obvious American). The point though was that with trucks driving past on the road, the train on the rails, and all other morning bustle sounds, the one sound that could not be drowned out by my music was the river. I said earlier that it is quick moving, and the morning runs have revealed to me its power. My prayer for God’s Almighty power in my life has been inspired by the river here…May God be a force that cannot be drown out by rather amplified when we let other earthy matters push Him aside. May His forces in our lives be intense, motivating, and fill us with a rush of spirit. May it cleanse and be clear, fresh, and constant like the Austrian glacier runoff.