Extra Days in Germany

We felt really blessed when the young couple who lent us their car while we were in Germany invited us to stay a couple extra days with them before coming home to England.

As we left the Refresher Course site, we took our time driving to their town, trying to take in all the beautiful scenery and stopping in a couple of villages along the way, just to walk around. I never got tired of admiring all the old buildings and just love the way the streets are laid out.

We pulled up to their house around 3:00 p.m. and soon were learning lots about Russian/German culture. After being there for just a few moments, we found ourselves sitting down to a scrumptious meal - roasted potatoes, chicken Kiev and salad. Oh dear, why did we bother with that German Bratwurst at noon time? There wasn’t much room in our tummies, but we did manage to allow our taste buds the opportunity to experience those savory dishes.
Our meal the following day - another typical Russian/German dish.

Just a few hours later we joined another group of friends for more yummy food. 2 young men whom we got to know quite well while they did their social year in the Philippines, lived in a town about ½ hr. away. They are both married now, with families, have finished their education and plan to come for further study at North Cotes this year. It was great to see them again, and meet their families as we are excited about being their neighbours again this coming school year.

2 young ladies who just graduated from North Cotes were also part of the hosting team.

The following evening our hosts took us on a tour of their town - we saw 'Herman the German', had coffee in a unique spot, walked around the Princely Castle and later went out for a good old fashioned German meal.

'Eisbein mit Sauerkraut'

Pork knuckles, served with sauerkraut. It was a favourite when most people still worked hard in the fields.

The next day we continued to learn even more of German history as we walked around The Detmold Open-air Museum with friends we have known for several years. Over 100 historic, rural buildings were transported and reconstructed there, including schools, farmhouses, thatched cottages, and windmills. More than 200 acres of rustic fields and paths are available for horse-drawn carriage rides, walking tours, and picnicking.

We were sitting in the kitchen area of this huge building. Right in front of us were stables for the horses. While the men were out working the fields, the women were cooking and watching the animals.

We followed our noses to the bakery - no wonder we could smell it so far away.

Our meal at the museum.

In some ways it reminded me of Sherbrooke Village (where I worked for a few summers to put myself thru school) yet this dated back much father, was alot bigger and more spread out. You could spend several days there.

In the evening we went on to enjoy a scrumptious barbecue. What great hosts! Those few extra days were so enjoyable and relaxing. It is always good to get caught up with friends - and we have many scattered all over Germany.

Refresher Course '11

Each summer Ragnar helps organize a week long ‘Refresher Course' for all of our European missionaries on Home Assignment. The last 2 years we hosted it on our campus here in England, but this year it was in Germany.

The Refresher Course was held at a lovely spacious Retreat Center, in beautiful country surroundings - yet basically within walking distance to a small town in either direction. Coworkers ran a well organized children’s program which allowed parents to attend meetings in the mornings.

We were happy to have met a few new families, get reacquainted with others and catch up with 2 families from the Philippines. As always when you are busy and having a good time the days just fly by so quickly.

Enjoying coffee with friends who were leaving the next week for their first Overseas Assignment. We were surprised to see money both from the Faroe Islands and the Philippines in this collection in the coffee shop. A VW collection we passed by in the town - couldn't help taking note of the orange one with a snow plow. One evening 3 other ladies and I shared a few lessons that the Lord has taught us over the past few years. Did we have to go all the way to Germany to have time to sit down and have a chat with our door neighbour in England?!?! On our 'off day' we all drove about 1/2 hr. to a lake, where we had a relaxing day of canoe racing, walking, a picnic lunch and more chatting.
Reminiscing the good old days in the Philippines.

Since we were in a ski resort area, there was a cable ride up the mountain and then an elevator up the tower where there was a beautiful view for miles around in every direction.
When one of the German students heard that we were planing to drive to the mainland, he offered us the use of his car while we were in Germany. What a treat - not only we were given the use of a convertible BMW, but it was so much easier and cheaper to fly from Manchester to Cologne, than to drive. My turn! So great to see Erlend and Anne again, even though they could only come for one day. Great catching up with Manfred and Nadine's ministry in the Philippines.
One afternoon we also tried something new for us - a 'summer sleigh ride' - basically a loooong, winding slide. Lots of fun, but I’ll have to try it again someday. When we got to the bottom, I found out I used my brakes much more than the guys. Even though our main purpose in going was not so much to be refreshed ourselves, but to help create an atmosphere where others could be refreshed, we sure came home very encouraged and thankful for a rejuvenating week.

Nova Scotian Friends

Some things seem like a dream - when you hear that it is going to happen - while you are experiencing it and even after it is over. That is how I felt about George and Sheryl Bergman's recent visit. It couldn't really be true, could it? Were they really here? Did we actually spend a week together here in England? After meeting them at the Heathrow airport in London and taking our suitcases to the Hotel, we walked around the city some, chatted over an early dinner, and then let them go to bed early to get a good start on changing their days and nights around. And they did an amazing job at that. Outside Buckingham Palace
The following day we did a day tour of London, hoping on and off the double-decker bus, which included Buckingham palace (which is only open to the public 6 weeks a year, so that timing was good), Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral and London Bridge (on a short Boat tour on the Thames river).

We couldn't take pictures inside the Palace, but these were in the back garden.

On the Thames River The next day after taking the train to Birmingham, where we had left our car, we stopped in to see Craig, Claire and the girls for a few hours. Craig and Claire showed George and Sheryl various parts of the work they are involved in, while we stayed with Ellie, Bekah and Lydia. Later in the afternoon we continued our journey to North Cotes. The rest of the week literally flew by, and soon we were saying sad good byes as we saw them get on the train on their way to the airport to continue their trip in Ireland. We are so thankful for the many great memories that we were left with though.

- nice long talks into the evenings along with table games

- George's help around our house with various 'odds and ends'

- being able to show them our campus, where we work and how close we live to the North Sea

- a visit to the castle and cathedral in Lincoln

- our church in Louth, followed by a picnic in Hubbard Hills - just to name a few Castle in Lincoln

Prisoners sitting in the church pews.

Enjoying a good cup of English tea between visiting the Castle and the Cathedral.

Viewing the city of Lincoln from the Cathedral's Balcony.

Sheryl in the attic of the Cathedral

Can you see see George and Ragnar waiting patiently for us near the gate, while we are getting a tour of the Cathedral?

George helping in our back yard.

One more cup of coffee before we have to take them to the train station.

Sometimes I still wonder if that fantastic week with our good friends from Nova Scotia was for real or was it just something I had hoped would happen for a long time. I guess the pictures are proof though that it really was a wonderful dream come true!!

Graduation

Since graduation for the Biblical Studies and Cross Culture Communication students was scheduled to begin about 2 hours after we were due to arrive home, we were thankful the trip back to England went smoothly. The airplane left on schedule, we caught the train on time and were met by a friend on the other end to take us those last few miles.
The original aircraft we should have been on was not ready on time, so was substituted for a larger one. I had the blessing of being able to lie down across the 4 middle seats soon after we were airborne. I didn't get up again until we began our decent. Wow - one of my best flights ever!!
We were glad for the time the train ride across the country gave us to write graduation notes. We arrived home feeling quite prepared for this big event. Later, as we walked into the room for graduation we noticed a couple empty seats by a group of friends from our church who had come to celebrate with us. It was also great to see them again so soon.

2 German couples from BS who plan to come back for the 2nd year.
We knew when we left for Canada that our time with the students was basically up, but we were glad that we could at least be at their graduation and have a few minutes with each of them before they would be on their way all over Europe.

Watching the students who had worked so hard all year long receive their diplomas, enjoying graduation cake together after the program, gathering around a huge bonfire late into the night, coffee together the next morning and lots of them popping over to our home for last minute good byes, all helped to make that possible.

We are thankful for each student, for being able to be involved with them here, and for their desire of moving on and being a part of helping to reach the unreached. Those thoughts help cushion those sad good byes. They were a fantastic group of young people this year - and they will be missed.