Church Bells and Dress-Up

Before I share about my time in Switzerland, I want to clear something up. I did have a good time in Paris. I suppose when you live in Europe and there is a centuries old building on every street corner, you kinda get used to it. And I've been told that it is an entirely different experience when you see it with a special someone. So, I plan on coming back later.

Amy and I did sample some of the best food I have had in Europe, so far, and I finally bought a decent painting! A beautifully colorful peice of a street in Paris. I can't wait to get it framed and on the wall.

That being said, Switzerland was great. I would love to go back there and see more of the country someday. I will post some pictures when I get them off my friend's camera. It was a three-day retreat with some of the bible studies in the area. I met some really great people. How encouraging to find people all the way across the world who are of a like mind and heart. The first day we got settled in our rooms-we all had single rooms with down bedding and a gorgeous view of the Alps. Nice. After that we went on a long hike to see the area. About half of the group went skiing on the second day but I opted for another hike. We ended up taking a gondola ride up to the top of a peak and then hiked further up the mountain. The view from the top of a Alpine peak was unreal. It really reminded me of home in Washington. Pine trees and mountains. Except all the sings were in three different languages. None of which were English. I'm used to that by now, though.

In fact, on the bus ride down this weekend I saw a sign in English and nearly jumped out of my seat. Sure, you see English on some labels and stuff, but not a big ol' sign naming a store. It was exciting.

There was one moment that I wish I could have bottled up. This morning we had some time between breakfast and our first seminar so I found a great vantage point to enjoy the landscape. I dangled my legs over a ten-foot drop off that sloped in lush green grasses down to another drop off to meet the lake. Ahead of me I was surrounded by mountains as far as the eye could see. They rose out of the lake like they had always been there. I just basked in the beauty of it and sang songs to Jesus. I thought it couldn't get better until I heard church bells begin to ring from a three-hudred year old church in the town below. They filled the air like the fog that was beginning to roll in over the lake. I wish I could have put it in a bottle to take home with me.

This weekend was a great opportunity to connect with the members in my bible study. It is hard to really make good friends with people when you know that you are going to be leaving in just a few months. In fact, I've kind of been dragging my feet on the whole business for that very reason. But, this weekend God finally broke through to me and I realized that I was only hurting myself. The church's logo reads, "Roots for your soul, friends for your journey." How true. God has placed people here in Heidelburg for me in my journey and me here for them. When I close myself off to relationship because I am afraid of saying goodbye, then I could be missing out on things that God has planned. I need to trust Him.

Sigh. I love it here. I will miss it when I leave. But, I am also getting excited to come back home. So, save a seat at the next party, I'll be home soon. Beginning of May, just in time to graduate and move on with that thing we call "being an adult." Does that mean I can't play dress-up anymore?=) I love you all. God bless you as you carry on your own journeys. Chaus. ("see ya'" in German)