Practicing my German

We have found that one of the hardest things to do is finding different ways to practice our German language skills. We get up and go to class but then we have to force ourselves to go out into the world to use our German. Well, today the opportunity came to me. When our door buzzer rang, I thought for sure that it was the mailman saying he had a package for our neighbor (who must be on a mail ordering kick because she has received a lot of packages lately). Then through our intercom I heard the voice of a woman who started speaking German very quickly but I knew she wasn’t talking about a package or any other parcel delivery. After about 20 seconds I finally interrupted and said in my limited German that I speak only a little German and asked if she spoke English. She quickly replied that she did not but continued her discourse in German. I then realized that this was a great opportunity to practice my German but its much easier if we were face to face so I went down to the front of our building to speak with her.

When I opened the door, there wasn’t just one woman but two. Now I had a gut idea that I knew why these two ladies were here to speak with me but I was determined not to miss this chance to speak real German (not the practice German I do with other students). We went through the normal conversation of introductions where they asked me if I was from England (I guess my German pronunciation is getting better if they are having a hard time figuring out my origins) and how long I have been in Germany. Then they pulled out a pamphlet which they then began to show me different things in. I was astonished at how many of the words I actually knew but there was something vaguely familiar about the subject matter and how it was progressing. I’ve heard this same talk before but in English. I finally asked them if they were Jehovah’s Witness to which they gave an excited “Ja”. As I listened to them some more, I was really frustrated as I didn’t know how I could respond to them. I didn’t want them to walk away not knowing the Truth. That while they believe in the Bible, the additional “scriptures” and texts they have has distorted the true message of Jesus. But I didn’t have the words to be able to speak it with them.

After they left, leaving me with their literature to read, my heart hung low. Now I am even more determined to learn German as opportunities likes this are God made. He knows that it is a passion for Krista and I to seize these times and be used by Him to reveal His Truth. While I know God could have made a miracle happen and I could have spoken in German if that is what God had desired. But I believe God provided this opportunity as a way to motivate us and reveal the “why” He has us in language school. Pray with us that these ladies will return once we have acquired more of the language and we can have a discussion about what the Truth really is.

Where’s my Chili’s!!!!!

Today it dawned on me that we have been in Germany for almost two months now. That means that I have not had Chilis (my favorite restaurant in the States) for over two months. Withdrawal is consuming me, I can close my eyes and taste the Buffalo Wings or the Bleu Cheese Bacon Cheeseburger. And then there’s the fries with just the right seasoning dipped in a nice Ranch dressing. (I know, you use ketchup but try the Ranch sometime). While we miss many things from the States (like movie theaters that play movies in English that we can somewhat afford), we are also embracing many of the nice things that are here like a freshly baked pretzel (see previous post about the adventures in ordering these), the quietness that is here on Sundays (only restaurants are allowed to be open) or the grandeur of walking past a building and seeing that is was built before Christopher Columbus discovered America.

So while I miss the things that are familiar, I am able to still see the awe and wonder that is before us here.

Thank you to those of you that are a part of all this through prayers, encouragement and gifts.

Please pray with us:

• that we will continue to pick up the German language so that we can integrate into the local culture
• that as we look for opportunties to have a personal ministry locally, that we will be bold and that we will see what God has purposed for us to be a part of
• as we are looking to the summer months which will be after language school, we are already looking at many ministry trips. Right now it looks as though by November, I will be traveling to Austria, Hungary, Switzerland (and not just for language school), a couple of trips to Ukraine, and possibily Poland. That’s just for starters. Luckily, Krista will be with me on a few of these adventures and even Alex will be on the Switzerland retreat.

Thank you so much. God bless.

I just want to be understood

This morning as Krista was walking Alex over to the kindergarten, Alex asked her, “Do you know how to say ‘OK’ in German?”

Krista responded, “OK.” Which is true as nobody really knows what OK stands for because its an acronym, right? Anyway, Krista then asked him, “Do you know how to say ‘Come here!’ in German?” Alex then shook his head and Krista said, “Komm heir!” which sounds just like the English saying.

Alex then responded, “Well, do you know how to say ‘You’re crazy’ in German?” Krista didn’t know so Alex replyed, “It’s ‘You’re crazy in German’!”. Smart kid.

Language school is wonderful. We are learning so much and just feel the confidence building as we are able to answer our teacher, talk with her and other students using our small German skills, and just feel like we are grasping what we are being taught. That is until we go out into the “real world”.

This afternoon, Krista and I went into a bakery to just get a snack while Alex was in a special thing for kids. We were so ready to use our German to order and pay for a couple of quarkballs (kinda like a round doughnut but with a kind of cheese intermixed into the batter), a Sprite, and a pretzel. However all of my confidence was crushed after I ordered the pretzel as she said in German that she didn’t have any pretzels and then gave me two choices of which I had no clue as to what they were. I just stood there like a deer caught in the headlights. I didn’t know what to say. I could see the pretzels right behind the clerk. How could she say she didn’t have any? I just wanted to point and grunt like an ape at what I wanted. After a moment of panic, an older German lady who was staying next to me made a comment to the clerk (my gut tells me she was questioning my intelligence level) to which the clerk just responded “Ja!” (Which is German for “yes” for those of you, which I think there’s only two, who know less German than I)

Finally, I realized what she was saying. Not because of the words she had used but because I actually looked at the basket of pretzels (and because Krista was prodding me to pick the first choice – I think she might have known what the lady meant) She was right; she had no pretzels as we would think of them. Ya know, in that heart shape with the criss-cross in the middle. She had preztel material that was shaped like a gigantic knot and some material that was braided like a rope. And that’s when it dawned on me that she had said the German word “Knoten” (guess which one that is). So I said “Knoten, bitte” (Knot, please) and she promptly turned around and retreived one for me. After I paid (which is easier since the cash register has a display telling you the amount), Krista and I moved to sit down at a table. Well, that when it happened again. The clerk asked if we were eating here and I replied, “Ja” (see above for translation) and then she asked another question. I again stopped dead in my tracks and my eyes got real big (and I was real thankful the older German lady had already left). Finally, the clerk pulled out a plate and offered it to me. The German word for plate is “Platte”.

Standing in a bakery with food ready to go, I felt so lacking. How am I suppose to be used by God to reach the lost when I can’t even get a pretzel ordered properly? But then I know I can relax and know that God is the One with the plan and not I. He was the One that made miracles happen so that we could make the move here. He was the One that had found us the perfect place to live and made it so that we are having a smooth transistion to the German culture. He is the One who is providing us time to go to language classes and He is the One that is going to get German into our heads.

He is also the One that is going to reach lost and has invited us to be along for the ride. What’s the ride God has invited you to be on?

See our town – Kandern

Alex and I had a wonderful time today hiking up the hill behind us to a gazebo and taking a few photos. It was truly beautiful. Above is a panorama view of the city of Kandern (where we live). There’s about 4000 people who live in this town with about another 4000 living in the villages around it. Click on the photo to go to much larger version and I’ve labeled it with where we live and some other places of interest. You can see some of the other photos in the Photo Album

Updated Photo Album

I have just reorganized and updated the Photo Album so be sure to check it out. It includes a photo set of our latest journey which was a two day trip to Schloss Neuschwanstein und Hohenschwangau (where are castles near the German and Austrian border). To get there, we got to go through three countries (Switzerland, Austria, and of course, Germany).

It was interesting as these are “newer” castles that were constructing in the 19th century. You may look at Schloss Neuschwantstein and think it looks familar. Well, if you like Walt Disney World, then you probably can guess that this was the castle that inspired the design of Cinderella’s castle. Unfortunately, the do not allow photos of the inside of the castles (but you could probably find plenty online) but they were both absolutely fabulous. A must see if you come this way.

Oh, if you want to see this latest photo set directly, just click here

Tschuess!!