Back on British Land.

Today was a first: I've never traveled through 6 countries in one day before!

Yesterday we left Hamburg and spent 11 hours driving the 4 hour drive to our hotel. =)

This morning, we left Germany at 5:30am (Kat and I didn't have an alarm and SPRINTED out of our hotel room to the car this morning! Whoops!) and we just arrived at home. 5:30 in Germany was 4:30 here...so, like 14 hours of travel today. Really wasn't bad at all, actually. Our bus drivers are HEROES! (And an hour and a half of that time was on the Ferry.)

I just realized I left my journal at the hotel- please pray I'll be able to get it back. Or that, if I don't, someone would read it and get saved- seeing that if God forgives me, surely He can forgive them!

What a great trip of building relationally with those in Germany...but also with those on our team as well. The Uni students and teens alike. I got to know people a lot better!

Being "home" so whets my appetite for going home to the States in just over two weeks! Familiar roads, faces, life, and routine.

I plan to move the majority of my things into the Mc Cans in the next week or so while simultaneously packing for Atlanta, Orlando, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and possibly New Jersey. Oh I can't WAIT!!!

Love you all so much- thanks for your prayers for Germany and keeping in touch. Pictures hopefully to come when I can get some more space on my laptop!

Ic nix doich. Sprrrist du anglish?

Right, so that is the phonetic spelling for, "I'm not German. Do you speak English?"

Went canoeing today! Felt like forever. I was in a canoe with Kat and one of our new friends, Anna. (She's the first one I met when we got here- we've spent a lot of time together.) We were one of the last to leave, but when we made it to "the end" there was NO ONE there. We stood around confused for a good five minutes until the next group came around the corner. It then, started to pour. We had no idea where the rest of the group was, or where they could've gone...so ran up to a restaurant and hid under shelter.

Eventually the leaders at the end came and we swapped canoes around because a few of the girls (myself included) were utterly freezing and not looking to go farther away from warmth and dry clothes. Two people canoes are WAY easier to steer than three people canoes!

Becky, my new boat mate, and I were (in the guys' opinion) taking forever, so she hopped in their boat, Peter got in the back of mine, and it felt like we all FLEW back to "home base." (yay for boys!) Must've been a good mile or so. Made me think of canoe breakfasts at Lake Champion. (Thinking of you, Joy, and missing you!)

We came back freezing, wet, and tired. What a fun day.

Taige, Toms, and Rhys managed to get lost for several hours. That was an experience. They are found now. Alive and well. Yay.

Tonight half of us are headed to a water park, and the other half are staying at the church, to watch a film and eat loads of desserts. We have apple pie, swirly bread, chocolate croissants, brownies, chocolate cake...and blueberry muffins. I'll definitely need a new German friend to be a translator in the kitchen with me- all the directions are in German!

Tomorrow is a day in Berlin!

Update from Hamburg

What a wonderful several days we've had. Church on Sunday was excellent! It was all in German, but we had a translator...and they sing a lot of Sovereign Grace songs- in German!What an incredible glimpse of heaven. Every tribe, language, and nation worshipping the same God altogether. Forever.

Our itinerary has changed daily. Several times a day, actually! The weather keeps us on our toes! Yesterday we went to the beach and I had my first German beer. I just love the beach. Anywhere. So looking forward to my time in the States!

Today was another trip into Hamburg that ended in conversations about Bible reading over bad iced coffee at a restaurant. =) I was struck as one of the guys mentioned that "Bible reading" as we know it...hasn't actually been around that long. For thousands of years people didn't have personal Bibles. They would "feed" off of the message from Sunday...with no notes. This puts "communing with God" in a new perspective! And increases my gratefulness for the availability of precious Truth at my fingertips every day! In no way should this minimize the time we spend in the Word, but maybe cast a new light on what "meditating on [His] precepts" looks like. Possibly giving new meaning to "pray continually."

We are tired. All of us. Americans, English, Welsh, Australian and German alike. Shattered. Tomorrow morning we have "off" and Lewis (our leader and a pastoral intern at Christchurch next year) will send us off on our own in a mall or something to read, study, journal, spend time with the LORD...whatever. I can't WAIT. I've stolen several walks and snuck away a few times already, but I'm eager to have some extended time alone with God.

From several I've talked to, it seems like God has been narrowing in on some specific areas of sanctification on this trip; for me, it's many opportunities to TRUST GOD with what next year and beyond looks like. I'm needing faith for future grace in any and all circumstances. Eyes that are set on today and its own trouble as well as a heart that laughs at the time to come.

I am so weak.

Thank you for your prayers!!! Wish you all were here!

Day in Hamburg!

(I'm on a German computer and the keyboard is different...sorry if there's typos!)

We arrived at Arche Church safely! Peter, Jack Slocombe, and Matt Lloyd and I played cards practially all day on the bus yesterday- I went nil in Spades for the first time and that was definitely a memory.

Today we were meant to go to the beach 2 hours away...but the weather forecast called for storms. So instead, we swapped todays itinerary with our day in Hamburg next week. We had our very own German tour guides- our new friends!

I can't wait to show you pictures of what we saw, but mostly of the sweet faces that have already become dear to me in just one day! The language barrier hasn't been too difficult with most conversations, but there are a few that end with nodds and smiles.

We have a youth meeting tonight, and church early in the morning. Time already feels like its flying so fast! I still can't believe I'm in Germany.

Love to all!

Arriving in German-town

Yesterday we met at Christchurch and headed off on our trip!

Unfortunately, one of the buses had some trouble and it looked like we were all turning around (after over an hour headed to Dover, England) to go back to Christchurch to re-evaluate traveling plans.

Thankfully, the LORD had other plans, and I'm not sure exactly HOW, but the other bus was able to be towed, all the passengers transported, and we met them at a Baptist church in Dover to stay overnight. One of the student's grandparents served us sausages, chips, and beans at like midnight (they were so sweet)- and his grandfather is the pastor of the church we slept in. (SO grateful for my home group and the air mattress and sleeping bag they've provided me with!)

This morning we awoke at 5am (after going to bed after 1) to head onto the ferry. The second bus got fixed and took a later ferry and are currently still on their way to join us. (Praise the LORD!)

We docked in France, drove through Belgium, Holland, and are now in Germany at an E-tap Hotel! It is so nice and I can't believe how clean it is and how wonderful it is to be out of a sticky, non-air-conditioned bus trying to catch some zzz's against the window. (By the way, Mommy and Daddy, my body pillow is my favorite birthday present EVER.)

We just ate at an Italian restaurant (yes, in Germany) and are CRASHING for the night. We get to have a lie in tomorrow before making the rest of our way to Arche Church- about four hours from here.

I continue to repeat to myself, "You're in France. You're in Belgium. You're in Germany." This is so unbelievable! I am taken back by God's kindness. I never expected to be all these places in my lifetime- let alone in my early twenties. It brings me joy to know that each border we cross...the Gospel remains the same; rejoice!!!

Each night I'm declaring with the Psalmist that I PRAISE God for His faithfulness...and each morning, for His steadfast love. They are lavish! And rich! And not only undeserved, but ill-deserved. Oh, "the precious blood of Jesus Christ REDEEMS!"

I had a wonderful time reading in 1 Peter today= please pray I would be able to make time every morning to be in the Word. My soul needs it...and when I'm "out of routine"...its so easy to get out of whack.

Love you all!

Oh, and Tall Tree: advertisement in Germany has officially begun for you. Thanks for the t-shirt! =) 

Von nach Deutschland!

Wednesday, we're off to Germany!

Thank you so much for the prayers already invested into this trip- your support is so humbling; I can't believe the number of you that have already asked how you can pray. Thank you, thank you!

I thought I'd give you a little bit of an itinerary so you could keep up with us and what we'll be doing while we're away if you wanted. The trip is a fortnight total- taking two days driving to get there and then two days to return. (Us Americans think that's hilarious- its only 12 hours! Just Orlando to Norfolk, VA. =)

The aim of the trip is building relationally. We would so appreciate your prayers along those lines. (And in case you're wondering, yes, most of them speak English.) The church in Hamburg, from my understanding, is wonderful, very large, and extremely interested in Sovereign Grace Ministries. We've been asked to visit and get to know the young people there in hopes that they'll come visit us and we'll be able to do conferences together, etc. (I say "we" as in "Christchurch" not "The GAP Team.")

Wed. we arrive in Dover and stay overnight at a local church there. (No idea how we know them.)

Thursday we drive to catch the ferry and go through passport control (please pray everything goes smoothly!) and arrive in Calais, France continuing on to West Dortmund where we'll stay in a hotel.

Friday we'll continue on to Arche Church (where we're staying) in Germany and do something that night with the teens/students/young people.

The next ten days we'll be serving at and attending youth meetings, Sunday morning's services, participating in evangelistic opportunities; with some canoeing, a trip to Berlin, and sight seeing around Hamburg thrown in too. Also on the itinerary is "Adventure Pools." No idea what that means.

On the 13th we head back the same way we came- arriving back in Newport late on the 14th.

And for the geographically challenged like myself, here's what that looks like:


View Larger Map

Auf Wiedersehen! Cheers!

Driving for the first time...

This week, Toms gave me my first lesson driving stick...on the left hand side. Apparently, I did ok...but...the lesson ended on a "down" note...

Next week's lesson? 

Parking!