Friday, August 29, 2008

My Trip to Germany

Germany was amazing.

Where should I start?

The flight over there was long...longer than I had expected. I was anticipating eight hours, though I'm not sure why I thought that, to find out it was twelve. Four hours on a plane can make a difference. A big difference. The way back though seemed much shorter, partly because I was so exhausted I slept the whole way just about and partly because I didn't have that anxiety building inside me of going out of the country.

But, I needn't have worried. We got there and spent the day resting. We stayed in this big boarding house which was great. It was really neat and the family running it are also Christians devoted to spreading the Gospel.

I fell in love with all the children of Paul's (the pastor of CC Berlin) neighborhood. I call them all sweet, though some disagree with me on that one. The kids definitely have a different way of life, and they spend most of their time on the street...it's kinda a mystery where the parents are while the kids are out running around. It was a very rough neighborhood, and had I actually understood the language, I'm sure I would have been shocked at some of the profanity even the young ones were using. One time we asked what the kids were saying, and the translater said we don't want to know. Seeing these kids and the life that they live made my heart cry out for them all. They are all so lost. I asked Paul if these kids don't believe because they don't know about Jesus, or if they are just denying Him. Sadly, Paul said he has shared with them countless times, and they really do understand, they just refuse to make that choice. But I so loved spending time with them. One of the girls especially, we got attached and spent time together. She is one that I often call sweet...Paul was amazed that I saw a sweetness in her, but I told him that I'm sure that deep inside she has a very sweet heart. It's just lost inside this world that she lives in.

It was also very fun getting to know Paul better and his fellow mission workers. One guy, Nari was a total crack up and kept us all entertained. When I first got there I confided in him, telling him that I was scared but I hoped God would use me that week. Nari just said "Don't hope, believe". So from then on I realized the importance of believing that. Not believing that I myself could give anything to these kids, but realizing that God is big enough and strong enough to work through someone as small and weak as me. And believing He would do so.

We also went out evangelizing. I was pretty nervous, having never done anything like that before. I must say that I didn't get on that box and share my testimony or engage in conversation with anyone, but I did stand on the corner and passed out lots of tracks. It was great but also could get a little discouraging when people said no. But I kept thinking that I am not really being a nuisance to them. Maybe in their eyes yes, but really, I am offering to them the greatest gift of all, and who knows, maybe that night was the only night they would hear about Jesus. All I can do is pray that they would come to Christ.

We had a day set aside for sight seeing which was nice. We went to the museum of Babylon which was way cool. Walking through the gate that Daniel most likely walked through was awesome. And it was neat going to the concentration camp. But of course it was also very sobering. It's absolutely crazy how cruel man could've been to actually do the things he did to fellow human beings.
We had to remind ourselves though that really, we all are no different. We all have sinned and in our Father's eyes it's just as bad and cruel. It reminded us of our need for a Savior, and made us thankful to have Jesus.


There was much fun and laughter on the trip. Lots of good natured teasing as well! I am a Beavers fan and Paul is a total Duck so I was constantly telling him how good the beavers are and vice versa. It was fun!



It was tough to say goodbye to everyone. But I so hope to see them all again...soon!

I think what God really placed on my heart this trip was to be in constant prayer for these people. For Paul and his ministry, for the children and their families, for the whole city of Berlin. I have had a few people very heavily on my heart ever since I left, and I know that it is God reminding me to pray without ceasing for them.
Needless to say, I had a wonderful, wonderful time. I am so thankful that God opened up so many doors making it possible for me to go on the trip. He is good.

Next summer: Belize....