Simply Trusting

Dear Reader, I’d like to give you a taste of one day of dorm life at Sonne. Every dorm has different staff, students, needs, and skill sets. This is a glimpse into ours: 7:30am – It’s my turn to drive for early van. Each day we offer an early ride down to school for students who have sports practice, homework, or need to work with a teacher. This is usually a pretty quiet ride because everyone is still waking up. 8:15am – Time to catch the bus! As the students make their way to the bus stop, everybody gets a hug. 8:35am – Staff meeting. We discuss the goings on in the dorm, and solve the problems of the world before going on with our day J . 11:30am – After a quick piano warm up, I leave for school for some rehearsals. More on that later. During the afternoon, we have some free time for rest, activities, or basically whatever helps us to maintain the level of sanity which allows us to be ourselves. 11:40-3:45pm – Lots of piano playing! I love that I get to do what I love! Piano i...

             February has been a month full of lots of different weather. It started with snow still covering the ground, but recently we’ve been experiencing some beautiful spring-like temperatures. In an area which is covered in clouds and fog much of the time, I am loving the blue skies and sunshine. We’ve had a lot of special events happening here lately. Last weekend we had home basketball games and the week before that we had our first home wrestling tournament. Three guys from our dorm are on the wrestling team, and they made us so proud! It’s exciting to watch them learn to compete well, as well as learning to be teachable. Home sporting events are really unique. In high school, I enjoyed attending soccer and basketball games, but they weren’t a priority, because I lived with my family so naturally I followed their schedule. Here however, since so many of the students live in the dorms, the community is very closely knit. One of the most exciti...

We are almost finished with our 3 week break for Christmas and New Year’s, and the past days have been filled with much-needed rest and relaxation. I spent the majority of the break with a friend who lives in Kandern, and it’s been fun to get out and enjoy and get to know some more of the fantastic members of the BFA and BFCF communities. Those who have been wondering if I would be able to use my music here will be pleased to know that I was honored to participate in BFCF’s Christmas Eve service. The service was a beautiful rendering of gifts of music and Scripture, and a blessing to share in. Christmas Day, though much quieter than I’m accustomed to, was also well spent, with dinner being shared with other members of my new-found ResLife family. We laughed and talked and shared some great food. New Year’s in Kandern is like New Year’s nowhere else. Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, people gather in the Blumenplatz, or town square and as the bells ring in the new year, firecracke...

With the holidays that come with this time of year, the pace of life has definitely picked up. We’ve had several different exciting events already, with more to come. To start, we had an exciting Thanksgiving meal for the dorm the week before American Thanksgiving. Lots of yummy dishes, like green bean casserole, stuffing, turkey, and sweet potatoes were included. As we enjoyed the food and fellowship, and reflected on what we are thankful for, one of the biggest things on my mind was the fact that I feel more at home here than I ever thought I would this soon. To be able to sit at the table and talk and laugh with those around me after knowing them for less than two months; to feel like I’m fitting into the ways of the dorm; and most of all to find reassurance every day knowing that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I truly have much to be thankful for. I know that this post comes a bit after the fact, but I also want to say how much I am thankful for my family. Many parents h...

The thoughts in this post may seem a bit scattered, but this can of increased activity in the dorm which, in this case, is a good thing. Gradually, I’m learning my place here, among the staff, and with the students. One good word that describes my goals in being here is “Balance.” Balance in relationships, developing new ones in the community here, and trying to maintain those from the states. Balance in getting to know my students, trying to help guide and discipline, but also learning when to come alongside and just be a friend. Learning how to balance time, giving sufficient time to meal preparation and other necessary activities in addition to rest time and sleep. For experienced parents who may be reading this, you are probably thinking “Wait til you have your own kids!” I just count myself blessed to have a chance to learn from the students here. I’m learning that all of life is learning, and I’m grateful for a patient Teacher, and fellow students. I’d like to give you occasiona...

Funny how when you’re young, Christmas seems to take forever to come. Then once you get older, you blink and another holiday, month, etc.   is upon you. I’m very excited to be starting my third week at Sonne. Getting acclimated here has included getting to know a very special and unique fellowship of believers. They are open and accepting, and passionate about their part of the ministry here. I have also had some great opportunities to get to know the guys. This has gone a lot faster than I had expected. Whether it’s a little conversation here, a game there (I learned to play Risk this week), helping with homework, or whatever the situation, getting to know these people better is a continual joy. At dinner the other night I had a flash-back to my first meal here, and while it’s a good memory, I was relieved to find that I have become 100% more comfortable here. I’m really enjoying getting to know the dorm-staff here as well. While there is a definite variance in personality, the di...

As I sit at the desk in my room in Sonne, I can hardly believe that I’m here. The last weekend at home flew by, and before I knew it I was saying goodbye to mom, dad, and the boys, and boarding a plane for London, then Basel. The flight to London was not as long as I remembered which is always nice for a transatlantic flight. When I arrived at London-Heathrow, I was a little confused because its huge, and it was also 6 o’clock in the morning. My flight to Basel left a little late because French pilots and other flight staff had gone on strike that morning, but we still made it to Basel in good time. I was very relieved when I had pulled all four of my bags off the luggage belt. It seems that the only time I have trouble with my luggage is when flying domestic in the US. Ironic. Marty Shilling, our dorm dad, met me at the airport after customs, and we loaded my luggage into the car. Thankfully, all of it fit! They have lots of great culturally rich traditions here, and I was introduced ...