green harvested

I was apolled today as I listened to a doctor describe the way our plants even considered "vine ripened" are grown. picked green, sprayed and kept to suffocate in a plastic bag, while they change color then to be sold, is what they term "green harvesting."

I was disgusted as an all too deeply involved health freak, but then also observed the parallel of what that also looks like in our lives when we appear to be "vine ripened," (spiritually speaking) but are really snipped off of the true living source. We may have an attached vine and pretend to be living, but when we are only stubs representing what was once there, we can only live healthy so long, or should I say short. Our nutrients flow from the original source, as Jesus said "I am the vine and you are the branches," and much like our poor produce today, sometimes we are lacking many necessary nutrients.

Our desire for the righteousness comes from reading the Word and other spiritual resources. When we cut off our life line of reading and being taught and encouraged in these resources, we become dry. We must not set aside this source of life which gives us only what appears to be a healthy lifestyle, but was only made so by an instant or inefficient method. It takes time to reap true and healthy fruit, but when it is done, it's the best quality of life we can find!

Away but Home

Today is the first time Julia and I have ever been without one or the other’s family during Christmas. It is also the first time we have been in Germany for Christmas. I was thinking it would be a very sad occasion. I can truly say that God has really given us grace from being depressed and lonely. I will say the opposite has happened and we are having a great time! God has richly blessed us with people here who seem like family, so last night we had a great time eating, talking, and playing games with the Landolls and others. That is the beauty of the church, even when you might be away from your “blood” family, you are still able to have a family atmosphere when real Christian brotherly love is there. The bond we have in the church is through Christ, who is the Head of the Church. He came into this world over 2000 years ago and a verse that has become radioactive to me regarding Christ and His birth and death is, Col 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. When you read scripture through the lens of God’s sovereign plan unfolding, you can really see how he put them to open shame and has triumphed through all Scripture. We are beneficiaries of Christ work on the Cross in our lives, and one of the benefits is having family where ever the church is. We thank God for His Church this Christmas season as we celebrate with our spiritual family.

we love display baby Jesus

This Christmas season Julia and I have had a great opportunity to visit many different Christmas Markets. Each one is unique from the other and they all are very beautiful, each are lit up at night with lights and have either bands or choirs singing out Christmas songs. As you walk through the markets you get the smell of roasting nuts, deep fried food, and wurst. You walk through each row and look at each booth to see what unnecessary good they are trying to sell and by the end of the night realize you have no more money. While walking through this last one in Stuttgart, I saw a booth that was selling all of their baby Jesus’ and “religious things”. As a Christmas song was sung in the background a thought stuck to my mind that had been resonating this whole Christmas season, everyone loves the idea of “display baby Jesus” because he doesn’t say much and we can do what we want with him, but not too many people likes the “real Jesus” that is talked about in Scripture. People don’t love Bible Jesus because he changes your life and says hard things to stomach like deny yourself and live for His glory even through the good times and hardships. We sometimes like to fit Jesus into our own man made profiles and not scriptures profile. It breaks my heart for those who may know everything about Christmas and Easter Jesus, but do not know Him for their salvation and life transformation. What a kind shepherd He is, who laid down his life that we may have life in Him. I can easily forget about what He has taken me from and what grace He has put me into. May we see Jesus through scripture and not some man made ideas.

"half of my heart.."

Isn't this just how it is- we are half hearted in what we do many times, yet we can't admit it most of the time:/

A few lyrics from the artist John Mayer have stuck out in my mind as very real. He sings "Half of my heart has a grip on the situation,..." and then goes on to sing that half of it does not, as we too are often conflicted between our emotions and the truth.

Another song he sings "belief is the heaviest armor" and truthfully states that it is so, as we all believe something, and it truely affects us either strongly, or else we are mocked by it.

Does what you believe always show? If we say we believe we must live it wholeheartedly, as when not,we only hurt ourselves, the potential of the belief's of the world around us, and we just glide through life neither making a great difference nor exceeding our own expectations for what Christ has to offer.

It is sometimes hard for us to be in a country where we don't sing our own heart language at church, and are not uplifted the same way as a tongue which reaches the depths of your soul with just the right words to sweep out any lingering unnecessary objects of affection. You are not penetrated from the pulpit with sharp words which also knock down walls that should not be there, and you don't get the same face to face confrontation of discipleship that could come from someone who knows you well enough to pick apart your weakness and ask the hard questions.

So though not alone in the journey, it is a stretch and preparation for the times when we have to live with mostly the strength of Christ alone in our relationship. In this case it is easy to feel half hearted at times. But one of the most important things I've continued to learn, is that we do NOT go by what our heart in it's momentary affliction or selfish desires wants, as strong as it may be at times.

We must pray that half our hearts are not only involved when we set out to accomplish life, but the whole heart in it's entirety, as we will then make a greater difference in the world. We must be real before Christ and God our Father as we repent from our daily sins- He has forgiven yes, but we must be up front and know our place before His Holiness.

It's the people who are whole hearted that make a difference and stand out. Sometimes our weary bodies get in the way- and we can only do as much as they allow. Our tanks run low, our needs run high, and we just can't do it all- but if we can make it our aim to fight with vigor, our affect in this world will be much greater.

Our first snow!

It was an awesome view Saturday morninng to Baumholder's "Jingle bell jog." The hills that we enter from our city in the lower valley, was dusted upon with the first snow as in a movie that shows transition from fall into winter. There is a major altitude change, and a not so slight variation in the climate when climbing these hills and upon entering the city they chose to place this army base, for clever reasons while it sits in an area that reaches points of extreme fog even, causing then a sort of disappearing for any enemy's eye.

It was a perfect backdrop to the 5k holiday race as well, as it was the only beauty in sight, while the roads themselves were only lined with stereotypical baracks and cement building hiding the secrecies of warfare preparation. Such a depressing place these bases can be, and adding that alongside the PTSD that beguiles many a soldier homes, we can only pray that God would use the light and glory of Christ to light up these dark places of the world.

The world is huge, and God's placed us here at this time to work on the army base as a byproduct of our initial intention just as a place enabling us to do our "real" mission. But pray that in the lives of those whose hope could be destitute for joy in an evil, violent, and ever so greedy, nation manipulating world, we might help be a beacon of hope and light as Christ is allowed to shine through us by the love He only so mercifully gives.

He calls us to love all people, and especially in the more lovingly resistant places where only His love is made evident. It takes His power to do this, and we pray that it is done so.

After running this race, I felt it necessary to purchase a "poor mans" eggnog latte from the only Starbucks within too many miles of where we live. Thank God for their bringing THIS taste of America to the army base; for it too brings a particular beacon of hope and light to our little city:)

Things better aged

There are a few things that get better with time. Besides wine and cheese, on a more serious note, marriage and our relationship with Christ. Now I say this hesitatingly, as likely just after I write, I will get into what may not be a huge fight, but some sort of disagreement, with Rich. Nevertheless I write that however altogether, I thank God for His love and friendship, more each day (most days:) and this thought came to me as I thought of other things that grow richer and better tasting with time, and as we all know that supposedly "good things come to those who wait."

So we've been married 2 plus years, and it is true that when done right, marriage gets better with time. I laugh as one friend once told us that nobody else could be married likewise to both Rich or I, as we were uniquely made for one another. Although that notion isn't true because we are all bound to not work perfectly with any other human being, at least we know as our relationship with Christ and understanding of His love AND forgiveness abounds in us, it is possible to grow together into a deeper love- contrary to the frivolent falling in and out of love theories. I write slightly from response to the book my Dad has pleaded with us to read " Family driven Faith," as the author writes with joy of the marraige that God has given Him, not due to His perfection but through what God has brought them to understand what marriage should be about.
Yesterday Rich told me, as He has many times before, that he has "fallen more in love with me today than yesterday." This is something I could unfortunately get too used to hearing, but currently, remain so thankful that it is not the opposite. I know not everyone has the best of marrital bliss, and on the contrary, many have completley opposite. I know we don't always, but that the work we put into it brings back much more gain that if we lived out our short lived bursts of frustration or whatever else. Thank God He never gives us more than we can handle- and that dosn't mean almost more than we can handle, just probably right to the point where we think we can no longer make it.

I don't say this to brag, as it is one thing in life that we can enjoy speaking of and still appear humble, as it is one of God's favorite institutions. I also say this because it is awesome to see the silly parallels in life, such as cheese and wine, in which God brings to us the lessons He wants us to understand most. Many things truely get better with time. :)

"Because I said so"

It's amazing how much we inherit the methods or traits we were raised with. One thing I find myself saying all too often at work with the ever disobedient little children, is "because I said do." I hated this phrase when I was growing up, simply told to me just because my parents could, when I always desired an explanation for it. These kids are just like I was, actually still am at times. I know I always want to know "why" even from God, whom shouldn't have to be demanded for an explanation, and yet these questions still linger sometimes. He has told us that "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. For we did not receive the spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of adoption..He bears witness that we are children of God, and then so heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." We are not bound to live a life of fear of anything, as we've been given something greater than we know.


This inheritance is a great treasure, and yet we are now responsible to answer to our God. As Job went through trials, he threw a fit of anguish yet praised the Lord through His pain and quandry; this must also be our answer. And as Romans says "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the Potter have the power over the clay..?"


We were adopted as sons, as many kids in this world need so badly, with the lack of necessary guidance. As it is with God, we need this greater authority, while we are much better off with it, and lead much straighter lives. So then, we accept the implications of His rule.

Tim Keller said in a message I recently heard, that when Christ leads our life, there are two implications; He always demands more from us than we expected, and yet also always returns much more than we ever expected. This is how we grow. In almost anything we strive for we must give of ourselves to reap positive return. This world is a paradoxical place; pain is gain, giving is more blessed than to receive, etc.

At work I constantly break up fights and fits of rage, take fists in the face, and separate buddies from provoking one another to disregard my word; (keep in mind these are preschoolers). And although they don't like me for the moment, I do what I do because I do know better than them, can simply tell them "because I said so," and they have to learn to trust my authority.

Hopefully we too, will learn to accept this discipline in life when it comes from God our authority who is much more adequate to deliver it:) God disciplines those He loves, His Word says, and another thing I heard from Kellar I believe resonates with all; that the real Jesus should, and will disturb you. He pushes us beyonds limits we never knew were there.

Does Jesus disturb you? Because He should:)

No nonsense

I am going through Jesus specific words in Matthew right now, that evidence the faith necessary for the salvation that we so thankfully are given; as opposed to the works that many in the world only hope to obtain. I know we still get caught up in the thought of these too, however, and want to keep my soul resting in the truth that eliminates any fears that it is up to me to be a ‘good’ person, as I’ve discovered by now that there is no hope in that area.

Christ calls us to follow Him, no matter what the cost is. Many of his disciples initially did this; when He called them, they just got up and went. Following Him produces perseverance when we are brought through things we don’t chose beforehand to accept when He calls us to Himself. We live on the edge of faith when we can’t see, and we step into a dirty world full of disbelief. When the Pharisees (who did all supposedly “right”) and were bewildered that Jesus spent time with those of “second rate” social status, He responded that “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…’I desire mercy, not sacrifice;’ for I’ve come not to call the righteous, but sinners.” He always brings up thought provoking, facilitative, no nonsense and in your face answers. So able to knock our senses to the ground when they should be, yet wise enough and able to do so, because He is God, and we dare not oppose His omniscience.

I pray we not think ourselves ‘above’ those who need Christ, or cease to embrace relationships with those outside of our own comfortable realm or sphere of choice influence.
Jesus also often gives what clearly seems to me to be a ‘duh’ factor type response. I see this also when others asked him why His disciples did not fast at the time He was with them. He said “Why fast while I am here, for I will soon be taken away, and then they can fast.” So fitting and obvious an answer, as to only fast because they “should,” would just be considered a ‘duty.’ So then we also must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our own hearts to give us wisdom for each decision and how it is fitting for our life and the context it is lived in. We will be all things to all men, as Paul proclaimed, and are held no longer by the power of the law but by grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ and the freedom to know that He will lead us to truth to live by; not necessarily by the commands of every other man’s personal consciousness.’
There are many misnomers about Christianity, and the “chains” people want to think it enslaves us into. But there are also these many lies that the world can sow into our minds when we are not led by the truth. Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Also “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:31-36).

Thank you Jesus for the truth that we are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness only by your name and the freedom you give us to lives worthy of something greater than ourselves!
I am not a theologian, so if you can give greater feedback on any Scriptures mentioned, I’m always up for reproof. :)

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving and is the first time I have ever celebrated either Thanksgiving or Christmas without one of our families in America. It does not feel like a real holiday because everything is open and there are no parades and no football game to digest food to. On our way to Berlin Julia told the flight attendant that we are going to Berlin to “ wir essen und danken”, we both looked at her as it sounded weird in German to say “we eat and thank”. These are the times I think we go through “missionary growing pains” when we have to be without family for this special time of eating and going around the table to say things we are thankful for, which in the Rudolph home ends with people in tears and hugging. It is a true blessing to be able to have other friends to celebrate with though in Berlin, as you are all pursing the same goal, to bring the nations to worship God through Jesus Christ. It has already been a joy to spend a little time in Berlin with Kristi, who we are able to share and exchange funny stories about our time in Germany. We were also able to sympathize with each other after going to the grocery store and laughing about the frustrations we have there, as you must race against the clerk to put away all your groceries into your bag before she is done so you do not hold up the line and get dirty looks from the Germans. There is not the same feeling of Thanksgiving here as it does in the states, but there is a feeling of friendship and our thankfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who I do not thank enough for the grace He bestows upon us abundantly through the Gospel.

What are Germans like?

So many people have asked me what is missions in Germany like...so I made a video about Germany


My pastor is guy driving the truck at the end...He looooves his schnitzel

are you listening?

On Wednesday night we watched a film that was made in Germany called “Jesus Liebt Dich”. It was filmed by unbelievers about Christians coming to Germany during the 2006 world cup to witness to people. The people coming on the missions trip let these filmmakers follow them from before they went all the way until they left Germany. I laughed in amazement in the movie when they share the Gospel with others they don’t listen to the people they are trying to tell about Christ, nor do they really share the Gospel. Time and time again in this film they seemed to have little concern about what the people had to say, but insisted to pile “christianeze” on them. That night I laid in bed and thought about when I share the Gospel do I really know what I am saying and do I listen to the people’s questions. I know to the world the Gospel is foolish, but we need to be able to share it understandably. I also thought how many times we add religion into it instead of just the Gospel. I have prayed for opportunities to really share it and today I able to. I was talking with 3 of my co-workers on a break when the topic of religion came up. It was my turn and they asked me what my religion was. I shared what the difference was between religion and a relationship with Jesus Christ is, and shared scripture and the Gospel with them. We had a great discussion for 30 minutes if not longer. At the end of the day one co-worker talked to me more about it and I told them to read the book of John and I would bring them some good sermons too. I thank God for his Gospel and letting it be by grace through faith in Christ and not in myself or anything I can do. Here is a clip of the movie on youtube, I would recommend you buy this dvd, it is very interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIABeXhB84&feature=related

only hope

What would I do without a living hope? Today when I was at work getting hit in the face with a basketball and restraining kids from killing each other, I wondered how aimless and hopeless my life would be without an infinite living hope in Christ. I have to continually check my heart about what it is I am living for. If we make our hope a finite object it will sooner or later bring no joy and disappoint us, like a new car, a relationship, vocational success, a vacation that is around the corner, money and ect. As a Christian, I would agree with that factually, and say Amen in a sermon, but do I really believe that? It’s easy to voice agreement, but our actions will lead us to what we really believe. My flesh wants to stay away from any sort of suffering and bail out when it seems unbearable. The beauty of the Christian life is that our suffering, sorrow, and tribulations drive us into our hope and bring us joy in a greater way, this is unfathomable to anyone who does not know Christ. I have been feasting on I Peter and enjoying a great sermon by Timothy Keller on I Peter. They focus on how our sorrow and suffering, that will happen in this life, will actually drive us into joy and love for Jesus. Our suffering is what brightens our hope and makes it precious to us. What is the object of that hope? It is Jesus Christ, who not seeing we love and with a joy inexpressible we live life for. Are there times I need a hope adjustment? Definitely, but this hope drives me to wake up, go to work, and do everything we do for God’s glory and pray to see many saved and churches planted. We must all be faithful to pray that many will go into the harvest to live out the living hope and bring it to those in need, because the harvest is ripe and ready.
Here is a link to the Tim Keller message, http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/born-hope

Welche sprechen sprichts du?

Friday we had our first meeting with our 20+ age group. We met for dinner at our apartment, at 8 30 which ended up being the earliest possible, but really perfect while getting off of work at 6, and needing a little time between. We had only given a late notice to the few at our church who fit this age group, and to our sister church in Kaiserslautern, where Rich made his announcement previously written about. We had belated the visit to the “K-town” church due to schedule detours, and God clearly planned out our ways. We made our announcement just over a week ago now, which happened to be the week our friend now, Anne, was attending for just the second time. She is a student at a local university, and had been searching for a church to call her own. She came Friday and brought her friend Simon, both of whom are originally from Freiburg, Germany. We spent two plus hours over dinner AND speaking mostly German. Granted ours is far from correct, it was so encouraging to spend an evening like that, able to communicate with our minimal language, and able to enjoy it with these girls who are excited to be part of a group and grown in the knowledge of Jesus Christ with those who are likeminded.
We may begin with choppy prayers, and broken “D-English,” but regardless it is encouraging to gather with fellow believers, with like mindedness and age too, as God’s Word exhorts us to “increase and abound in love to one another so He may establish our hearts blameless in holiness before God.” We feel a whole other sense of “our” God here in a country where we often don’t even hear prayers uttered in our own language. God is not English, He is multi-ethnically reigning, and it is powerful to hear prayers offered up, of which all of, He understands.
We are excited to see this group grow, as there are only a few from each church even in our age group. It is a missing piece in the churches, but we are determined to help change that! Thanks for your prayers, we have faith in our God for greater things to come!

comforters

I have just had a birthday and I think the older I get the more boring my gifts get. I have seen the progression in my life that started out with toys, then video games, then clothes, and now I am at the stage where I buy house hold items. This year, my choice of gift was affected by living in Germany. For some odd reason in Germany nobody has a big comforter nor sells them. A bed for 2 people will consist of 2 small comforters. You might find this odd, but let me explain this to you. Each person is given a little slat of comforter and is to thin to cover you when you turn and is to short to cover your feet if you are over 6 feet tall. I had to get 2 extra blankets to sleep at night to cover my back and my feet, there is nothing worse than being uncomfortable at night. I wonder how they sleep and have for years with this discomfort. I am not sure why they have their comforters like this but maybe either to make them tougher or for some eco reason, I don’t think anyone has a real answer. So for my birthday I asked for a real king size comforter from my parents and they got me one. I am wondering if I can bring a revolution of big comforters to Germany, by setting them free form sleeping hardships to sleeping joy.

Hold the Applause Please

Today Julia and I had the opportunity to go to another church to invite their 20-30 year olds to join our 20-30 year olds group here at church. The ministries that we are involved in are all in German, so I had to make this announcement in German. I speak some German, but not enough to make a coherent announcement. I asked Michael to help us write it all in German. I did not want to chance splitting their church by something I might say wrong. We arrived at the church and were greeted by the man in charge of the service and asked when I would give my announcement. He told us that it would be during testimony time. The hard thing is sometimes it is a time of prayer request and sometimes it is time of testimonies, so I had to make sure that I picked the right time. The service started and half way through people started sharing prayer request so I waited, then decided this might be the time to make the announcement, because it seemed to shift to testimonies. I whispered to the leader and he told me it was a good time. I waited for some silence and had my statement all prepared in perfect German. I read through the announcement and at the end said, “I had to read it because I am learning German”. After I was all done, the church applauded me. I was somewhat surprised that they would applaud an announcement but didn’t think much about it till I got home. Immediately after the service a lady came up to me and asked how much I understood and I told her things here and there, but understood what was going on, she seemed surprised. She then said she was very impressed at how perfect my German was in the announcement. I just said, “thank you” and carried on to another conversation. Then another lady told me how great my German was especially the written part and then another comment came from another guy. It was not till I got home that it dawned on me that these people thought I, Richard Rudolph had written this, not a German translating it from English to German. I had a good laugh about it later, and thought that I have set a pretty high standard if ever make another announcement in that church again, which means next time Julia will make the announcement.

Life is harder than it looks

You name it, almost anything in life is easy to talk about or watch, but much harder to practice.

God gives us gifts which thankfully come easier than others, but then there are the times of proving what we can do, whether through marriage, school work, jobs, sports, music, etc. I've found that by working in a day care- it's easy to say I will persevere in this atmosphere where weeping and gnashing of teeth are a daily occurance, but when my spirits are low, I'm hungry, alone with ten wild ones, and my voice seems to be heard by none, my body wants to give up. Thank God He gives us strength to endure these times of weakness.



I also attempted to defeat the temptation to keep the same hair style I've so much enjoyed for the last ten years, and after braving the purchase, was surprised to come out with an evenly distributed reddish brown hair color. I began to doubt, as Peter did in the Bible when he stepped onto the water; as I squeezed the bottle filled with dye that contrasted very greatly the highlights that have become my usual thick head of hair, fear arose that had before reared itself during the first few disasters of this long lasting highlighting trend. The thought once again came to mind, that things are always harder than they look.



Happiness begets an accomplished choleric, but we must not readily accept this as a constant state, because once we get comfortable "acheiving" we should know all too well, that there will be yet something else to stump our abilities.

Man or Chicken

Julia and I have just gotten back from a great time in Vienna spent with my parents and some dear friends of ours. We flew back to Frankfurt and were taken from there to a huge mall in Frankfurt. We decided to eat dinner in the food court after we did some shopping. In the food court was a place called “greatest wurst in town”. Our young friend Micha was with us, he loves this place because they have the hottest wurst you will ever eat. They range from A heat to F heat and you’re unable to buy anything past a C until you are over 18. Micha is only 17, but has had everything up to a C, but was dying to try something a little hotter. I decided that I wanted to try “F” and show my manhood. Micha was very giddy as I went up to the counter to order the “F” wurst, and he coached me with what to say, in fear that I might order something wrong. I got up to the counter and asked for the wurst type “F”. After I said that it was as if, I just said a curse word or mentioned a word that was illegal to be spoken. Both of the men working behind the counter looked at each other and then at me and could not believe their ears. They said something to each other, and then said something to me that I could not quite understand. I asked Micha what they were saying, and the one who knew English asked me if I had ever had the “F”. I was a little nervous at this inquire because usually people give you your food that you order without questioning you. I answered and told them no, and they said, “you want ‘F’, we’ll let you taste a little ‘F’ before you eat it. They were telling me these ridiculous stats on the F as they were putting just a little bit on a plastic fork. They handed me the fork and I licked it off, not knowing what would happen next. This was the hottest hot thing I have ever had in my mouth in my life, and I believe Micha thought the same as he tasted the fork as well. As it was burning its way down my throat, my head was sweating and my eyes were watering. They asked if I still wanted “F” and as I could barely talk, I told them I would just take the “D”. I asked for a cup of ice and they said no sorry…but gave me some extra bread. I brought the “D” back to the table and chanted with Micha “man or chicken” at everyone at the table till they ate it and had tears in their eyes. On the ride home, I was in a little pain and I can say, when It came out of my system it did not feel the greatest either. This is just another great thing to offer our guest when you come to visit…the hottest wurst in town!

How to end up in a German prison

I have been taken a missions class on; how to handle them, how to communicated, how to build relationships with those around you. I do live in a Westernize culture, but it is still different from my roots in some ways. There are similarities, but something’s will make you scratch your head as an “auslander”. I have decided to share the things that would put you on a most wanted list in Germany.
1. Start your car to warm it up for a while, without you in it. Let those fumes fill the air, and let the inside get really toasty. Then after 10 minutes go get in it and ride away.
2. Turn your heat on all day and night during the winter
3. Over light your house. Have more than a couple of lamps on at the same time.
4. Do not separate your trash accordingly…throw plastic in with the compost (that might get you put in prison)
5. Take a really hot shower
6. Tell them that global warming is a myth
7. In the Cashier line take your time, pay the cashier, and then load groceries slowly in the bags you brought.
8. Try to substitute your choice of a side on the menu for the one that is already given by the restaurant

Das geht ab

I was able to go to another fair, but this time I had learned to avoid the rides that spun around for 10 minutes straight. Growing up we never really went to big fairs and now that I think of it I have never been to a circus. I think the reasoning was because my dad is very nervous around big crowds because he doesn’t want to get in trouble or do something wrong and my mom always thought the fair people who put together the rides were irresponsible and not to be trusted. If we ever did go to a fair or something with games and food we were only given enough for half a hot dog, so it was never a really fun experience.
We were able to go with some people from our church who are in our age group. We walked around the whole fair grounds and while doing so I picked up some different snacks and was able to try some horse. It is a food that you must try before you die. The pastor we work with enjoys digesting his horse with a good “high ho silver” at the end of his meal. At first I found it a little strange that we were eating every little girls dream animal, but then I realized I have probably eaten dog or cat in my life, so horse had to be better.
During our loop around the fair ground we saw a huge tent with a band. We decided to go back because it seemed to be where the majority of the people were going. This place was packed with huge picnic tables with almost every seat taken. We found a table and I noticed that there was a great dance floor. I could not pass up this opportunity to dance with Julia, while listening to some great 80’s and early 90’s music. While we were up on the dance floor, I noticed while we were dancing that there was a man all by himself. He was a pretty old bald guy dancing like Michael Jackson trying to bust a move. At one point during the night I noticed he was attempting the moon walk. These were not common songs that you would break dance to, it was “Ache Breaky Heart”, sung by a guy in a cowboy hat with a half painted white face like the mask from Phantom of the Opera.
Later while we were there, we were able to hear some classic German songs, to which all of the people sing and dance to. The ages were from very young to very old. We joined in and acted like we knew the songs and what to do, the key is to mumble in the same tone as everyone else and no one knows. At the end of the night I thought what a need there is for all of these people to hear the Gospel and the need for churches to do it. We assume that everyone knows the Gospel story and the truth the Jesus has died on the Cross to take away sin to anyone who believe in him. The problem is that those assumptions can kill the fervor for missions. I pray that God will send laborers into the harvest because the fields are white, that truth is continually displayed to me each and every time I see a large gathering of people.

Harvest Time

This season of “Harvest” is one of my favorite. I appreciate the smells, sights, and tastes of all that come from it. We’ve already carved pumpkins, gone to a harvest “fair” like the rest of the fairs in the world really, with cheap toys you wouldn’t even want for free, and body-rotting-delicious, sugar-coated EVERYthing; and we’ve even been given riper than ripe grapes right on the vine from a lady in our church whose parents own a vineyard.

I was reading in John 15 when Jesus says that He is the true vine and His Father God is the vinedresser. Every branch that doesn’t bear fruit He takes away; and those that do, He prunes to bear even more fruit!
He tells us “abide in Me, and I in you,” as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself. He says without Him we can do nothing, and if we don’t abide in Him we wither and are thrown out. We may wonder “really nothing?” As a self driven society we must remember that truly all that we have and do is from and for Him.

I’m trying to create for myself an all inclusive picture of what being a “disciple” looks like, as we see much alluding in the Bible to what we are to “do.” Many of us know it is nothing we can do, but that once we receive full belief through Jesus’ mercy poured out on our lives, we show changes that evidence a difference. Our fleshly desires war against our new desires, but when we abide in Him and His Word, we bear fruit. God relieves us through His Word which only makes sense when we actually read it, after trying to reason with things that cannot be reasoned with alone in own sin infiltrated thoughts.

It’s only when we abide in Him and His Word, we may ask and receive, bear more fruit, and can glorify Him as His disciples. Disciples produce more disciples, so in our pruning process we must help one another stand firm to prove that which is truly His!

Let us drink with one another

Today I was able to partake in communion for the first time since being here. The thought did not occur to me that in Germany communion is a little bit different that what I am used to in the states. No, it was not with wine, we still had grape juice. I mean the way in which we partook as a “body of Christ”. I think I understand “being one body” a little bit better after today as well. They started the service, we read and sang together, then it was time to pass out the elements. We started just like it would start in the states with passing out the bread and we partook. After the bread the part came that would bind us together as a congregation, the drink. Julia and I are sitting in the back and realize they only have 2 cups. One was for one side of the room and the other for our side. Our side seemed to have a larger population of people. I saw Wilhms partake and then handed the cup to another elderly lady, at that moment Julia and I turn to each other and started giggling like little girls together. Then the thought crossed my mind if I could fake drink it or just drink it without putting my lips on it, to which my wife said, you can’t do that. For sanitation purposes they wipe it with a cloth at the mouth part, to try and ease your mind that it’s not germy. I don’t think if you sprayed the lip part with anti-bacterial spray it would make much of a difference, because we are all backwashing in one way shape or form. As the Elder passed it from row to row, it came time for me to partake. I was very nervous, it was show time, so I took it and thought, while in Rome do as the Romans do, and gulped it back. While I was drinking, I thought what would they do if I downed the whole thing? The thought made me laugh to myself and I knew I had to bury my head before Julia saw me laugh and had the juice go through her nose. When we were done, I thought how easy someone could say “they don’t have communion right”. I am guilty of that at times, posing American ideas of church on church. I continue to enjoy being in a foreign land that I am making home. It helps tear away “American ideas” and just truly following the Bible and what the Gospel truly is. It’s refreshing and very fun, the joy of missions. I would never trade these experiences in life for anything else. I can’t express how much fun Julia and I are having!

First week of Work

Well I have completed my first week of work. I am working with children in a before and after school program that ranges from 1st grade to 6th grade. This week they had me go to training sessions in the morning and in the afternoon went to the school age center to work with kids. The last training videos they had me watch were mostly made during the Ronald Reagan president term in office. You can usually date the videos because the men’s and women’s lenses in the glasses were so large, when they were done using them you were able to send them to a 3rd world country and use them for house building materials. Another hint was that the jeans were stone washed and rolled on the bottom, and more perms than the eye can see. I could also date the videos because the high tech graphics. At the time it was pretty sweet to rewind everything really fast and put some fast piano music to it.
When doing CPR training, I told my instructor my manikin was ok and didn’t need attention or it was to unsafe and I am unable to give him CPR. That didn’t fly and I had to perform CPR on Adult, Child, and infant manikins a couple of times. Now I am CPR certified and First Aid trained!
A couple of my training course that I had to take, were also attended by Germans. The beginning of one of the classes the teacher made us do some Yoga like stretches and breathing. She wanted us all to get into a zone and close our eyes. I had to peak around the class to see what the German thought of this and she had a very dumb founded look on her face. She was half heartedly doing the stretches and had her eyes opened and with a look that seemed as if she was wondering why the teacher for food handling was making us “reach for the sky and breathe in and out slowly”. I took this class with all women about food prep and handling and at the end they all decided to do the next class at a buffet, you can only imagine how side track they got talking about recipes of their favorite dishes.
The Afternoons that I had with the kids was very fun and encouraging. It is great when you play basketball with little kids and they ask you if you played professional and are compared to an NBA player because I can bounce a ball between my legs. I just simply reply “No, I had to give it up early in life, so I could come here”. The kids are also amazed at my Lego building experience. I tell them it took time and some practice, but they can build like me some day as well. I have also had the great opportunity to share why Julia and I are here and have been able to have some great conversations. Please continue to pray for us as we work our Jobs and continue to work within the church. It’s great to see God continue to provide and bring people into our lives that we may be a light to and share the Gospel with.

Detour

So as far as yesterday went, I hadn’t yet the opportunity to get lost in my new surroundings. I’ve always had ONE really frustrating experience each time I’ve moved, to discover roads that I’d rarely have taken on my own accord. Yesterday I made the notion that I’d wait to use the autobahn, and now day two of holding a new license, there was actually no way around it. After dropping Rich off for work, and thinking I had the whole morning to accomplish “my” agenda, I was thoroughly enjoying the breathtaking scenery of roads that are only suited for car commercials exposing the luxurious facets of the cars only our idolatrous eyes may gaze upon.

Well lo and behold, I had my first opportunity to encounter the new signs I now had to remember, and discuss the ‘Umleitung’ options with my fellow German roadmen. Whether I’m the new and ignorant American, or these Germans played a prank on me, I spent another involuntary hour in the car finding my way back to where I came from, and going in a huge circle until after three more people giving me directions for this detour, made my way more clear. Rich later said it sounded like a child’s storybook, as before I made it home I had come into contact with a construction worker, a store clerk, a taxi driver, and a ‘polizei.’ He also comforted that only this would happen to me, of which I believe is true. As I listened to the only CD we have in our little five gear auto, the words were quite ironic coming from the lips of David Crowder “just you and I,” referring to God and myself. It was true, a time to spend with Him that was unexpected, and the glory He’s adorned Himself with reflected in His creation of this beautiful country was the only redeeming factor to my madness.

I was able to observe the fall leaves that colored together reminded me of the frozen combination of peas and corn that I hated so much as a child. Random humorous circumstances can all too often turn out for our betterment, should we choose to see them that way. I must DAILY drop my agenda, not let the devil win in my anxious heart which fights for my own way or the highway, and let what comes, come as it may. I only feared my hubbie’s awe struck face were to tell him of the gas I wasted, but then again as our dear friend Michael here always remarks with a smirk; “Rich, what is the main point of ‘Calvinism?’ and to which Rich responds, “God’s sovereignty.” I told Rich if one of the greatest things we learn, relearn, and or remember from this internship with Michael is this ongoing reminder of God’s hand in our life, then we will look back with a smile and be all the more better for it:)

Autobahn..- not so fast;/

Today I passed my German driver's license test. I learned something very inciteful; to study more than one time proves to be a good thing. I humbly admit I failed the first time, but only by two I have to disclaim. I feel a little more official as one who holds a new license in a new land, lets just hope I remember all the new rules! And as far as the autobahn goes, I think it's good if I avoid the passing lane there these first few months.

We went to our first mid week Bible study of which turned out to be cancelled due to the 'herbstfeiren' or fall break detaining many members. What was going to be our first 'hauskreis' ended up being a spontaneous movie night we imposed on our friends holding the what was going to be this 'hauskreis.' We watched "Marley and Me" for the second time; yet the first time 'auf Deutch.' They say this is good to do, to watch movies you know in the language you're learning, which supposively helps you much. Although very sad, I have to admit there is a lack of emotion emitted from a language that is not your own. It will be sometime, I believe, before we receive the eloquence that dresses communication when it is ordered just so. But the relationships we build in the process and the bit by bit we learn are all part of the road that leads to "Rome."
It will be built; we will learn this language:)

The greatest thing

The greatest thing about the call to follow Christ is taking the love that we've been given around the world. We love the family and friends he's given us, but can't imagine not testing the waters of foreign missions, as the world is an exciting place full of people in need; both physically and spiritually. We desire to fill a need where it is most needed, but the problem with that is that there is not necessarily one need that is greater than another in terms of which "place" or "people" to reach out to.

While heart strings are pulled when distance is a factor, nothing can stop a heart with a passion to do what it's been set on. While the spiritual need is the most present in a land like western Europe, we see ongoing news reports of those without homes who could probably live a lifetime on the money that we only hope to pay of the rest of our loans with. So then the question is in mind, "should we go where we know our help would be so gladly recieved first for the physical, and then spiritual? For Jesus said " when you fed the poor, you also fed me; and gave the thirsty a drink, you did also me." The poor are in need of help and love, and are more recieving to the Gospel for their souls because they see the destruction that is able in this world. When rich eyes can't get past what's in front of them, they see little need to draw upon a spiritual need and future that they believe is likely years away for them.

Well the beauty of the body of Christ is that when move away from loved ones, we still keep their contact and prayers with us. We are more empowered by those who are lifting us up in prayer, and we reciprocate that cooperation through communication with them and for them through prayer.

We can continue our life where we believe best, and still take up opportunities to take the church we now congregate with and meet the needs of those in the countries that they too can reach out to both physically and spiritually. We are all one body, and we are more empowered by the work that we can now as two different nations, bring together to serve a third wherever that is. We pray the Lord will use us here to continue the passion for missions that has taken us here, and use it to serve alongside them, the other nations who are in need.

This is eloquently put in Psalms 96 "Sing to the Lord all the earth. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples!"

Saving my hair...

Today I started my job which was huge! It is awesome to see how God worked out everything and continues to place us where He wants us. Yesterday before I started my job I figured I should go get a haircut. I went to a German place that is owned by a member of our church. This would be my first hair cut here in Kusel and my 2nd one I have ever had in German. For some odd reason there is a theme in my life when it comes to haircuts by people that do not speak English. When we lived in St. Pete, I found a place right by my neighborhood that was a yellow building that said, “hair and nails”. It was a cheap ($7 a cut) Korean haircutting place, that oddly enough sold random pieces of jewelry, dvds, and electronic equipment that looked like it was ripped from people’s houses or car’s. The only words they knew in English were, money, numbers, shorter, or longer, and a couple more that were random. I received one of the worst haircuts of my life there from a man by the name of “Uncle”. He shaved my head and only left the bangs and seemed enthralled at how wonderful it looked. I ended up shaving my head after that one and had to another time when I lived in Scranton (a country of its own). Those times in my past I would feel nervous when I would get my hair cut because I didn’t want to have to “lose” what I had worked so hard for. I was frightened to lose something that would grow back, kinda like Uncle Jesse from Full House, loving my hair. I have since that time in my life cared far less if they mess up or something goes wrong where I have to lose it all again, because I know it will come back, and if it doesn’t its only hair. Now we look at that idea of protecting our precious hair as silly in over all view of life, because we know it is very temporal. That thought brought me to think about our lives here on earth. If we look at our lives in history they are a mere vapor. This body is temporal and this life time on this earth during your 80 years or however it is, is only temporal. As a Christian we have the hope of eternity spent with Jesus and should continue to think, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Why do we make such a big deal about our physical lives on this earth? If it is only temporary why are we not taking our lives and using them and as resources to reach the world for Christ? These thoughts continue to burn in my mind as I read the book, “the Costly Call”. It’s about people reaching the unreached with the Gospel. Some were brutally beaten, forsaken by family, and scared for life. They would say, It was worth it because they wanted to lay hold of the eternal, Jesus Christ. When they had a relationship with Christ their lives changed and they used every resource they had materially and physically to reach the unreached. The song of one of my friends continues to play in my mind when I read the book, “What are you saving your life for”. We have one life here, why not use it for Christ to do something out of the ordinary? (no that is a old haircut I had in the summer)

Budgie-

Have you ever heard of a budgie?

Today my tutor-ee learned the British word "budgie." As we read through his vocab list, I came upon this word and to my knowledge believed it was not in our American vocab. So asking a fellow pastor here, he directed me online, believing it was the word for 'parakeet,' and sure enough it was. So then as we proceeded with our lesson, each time the word "budgie" came up, I'm pretty sure Nick wasn't quite sure why I was laughing, but I just could not help but find these random and few British words so different and so humorous. I still don't know if I pronounced it right, but regardless, we both learned a new word today:)

What we have done in a month

A month ago we left…
We first just want to thank everyone for praying for our journey here in Germany. We have seen God do so many amazing things already. Our major prayer request was for Julia and I to get jobs and to get our visas. Both of those things happened very quickly and we are amazed how quick God moved. We have not worked yet, but I am hoping to start on Friday after I get my finger printing done. Julia and I will both be working with children in a before and after school program. I can not tell you how many times we have been to the military base that we are working at. It seems like every couple of days we have been there to do paper work or to wait in a waiting room for medical clearances. We have had plenty to do as we have been waiting to start our jobs. I have a full load of seminary that I continue to work on and Julia is tutoring a boy in English 3 times a week. On top of that we are trying to learn German, which we will rev up when we get a routine schedule. We have made so many great connections with people inside and outside the church. We don’t lack things to do during the week, we are lacking time to fit it all in. Here is what we have done in our first month and is how you can continue to pray for us…

1. Received our visas
2. Received jobs that enable us to work at night with the churches events
3. I have gotten my German drivers license (Julia is going for hers tomorrow, pray!)
4. Massive piles of paper work that drive you crazy
5. I fined tuned my stick shifting skills (Julia already knew how)
6. Fixed the car we were given
7. Made many connections with people that Lord willing will only grow!
8. Painted our apartment
9. Went to IKEA
10. Drove to France for fun one day (we live only 30 minutes from there)
11. Told the glories of a horse sausage and was rebuked for not eating one yet
12. Disco slides
13. Fussball game

Prayer Request

1. Learn the language
2. For our group that we will be trying to start here in the near future
3. Spiritual wisdom
4. Job’s will be fun!
5. More people to be missionaries

We are in awe of the work that God continues to do here in Germany. Please continue to pray to where he might lead us in the future here! Thank you again for your prayers, they are felt and are coveted.

waterloo

Last night I had the great opportunity to go to the “schwimm bad” or the indoor swimming pool. Julia was invited to go to a girls house for a tupper ware party and her husband was going to the pool. He invited me to go to the pool with him and his son. He speaks only German so this was a great opportunity for me to practice. The problem with my German is that I can only have small conversation if someone usually asks me questions, and I can essentially repeat them back like a parrot. I have a hard time forming questions that merit more than a one word or short phrase response. We arrived at the pool and I end up following this man around because I am not sure what the customs are in Germany for pool educate. Finally after some confusion about whether or not I already had my swimming suit on, I went to the showers. As I tried turning the shower knob for a while, nothing came out and I had to ask for help. He showed me that they were motion sensors and then it comes out. I had the temperature set to freezing cold so it was a nice present when I turned the shower, as let out a shreek as it hit my nice warm exposed skin. Then we made our way to the pool area. I went and dove in and swam some laps and then got out and sat next to him and some other people. They then asked me to go down this huge slide with them. This slide was like a huge water park slide. Not only was it huge, but for some reasons the German culture loves disco tech music and disco tech lights. This slide had speakers as you go down and disco lights that changed colors that made you want to dance as you slid down. I had never seen anything like this. The slide was so fun and fast, I felt like Napoleon from the movie “Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure”. I acted like I had never gone on a slide before. I was running up the stairs and was tempted to push the slow walkers aside. After I had gone down the slide about 13 times, no joke it burned a little hole in my swimming trunks because of the speed and number of times. I decided it was time for the hot tub. As I was sitting in there with some of the people we were with, I noticed the plethora of Speedos; every shape, size, and color. If there was ever a shortage and there was need for Speedos in another country, I think we could send the relief aid. My eye’s needed to be washed after we were in the hot tub and a very old rather large man, with a very selfish and small black Speedo decided to join us. I had a great time swimming and getting to know the people and they invited me to go next week again with them. No one I was with, wore a Speedo, but there is peer pressure to get one….so you never know, maybe I will have to put on one, because as Paul was all things to all men, I must be all things to all men, even if that means Speedo wearing.

Throw me over board

I would call myself the Jonah of sports. It was because of Jonah that a beautiful day for sailing turned into a horrible storm. When they realized that it was Jonah who brought these troubles to their ship they threw him over board. The reason I call myself the Jonah of sports, is not the fact that since I have started being interested in sports at a young age, I have never seen any team I like win a championship or have a successful winning percentage. The reason I deem myself the Jonah of sports, is because my effect on the fussball club team we live by. I went to one game and we won, which put us in first place. It was after that game that I became more interested and to paid closer attention. Today they had a game against the worst team in their league. It would be like UNC playing North Carolina technical school. It was supposed to be a very easy win. We decided to go to the local doner kebab place to watch it. They have a great sign out front that is made out of cardboard that says, “every goal, every game” written in black magic marker. We knew we could count on a place like this to catch our beloved Kaiserslautern. As we strolled in, the regulars one by one followed in and sat in their usual seats. They ordered what they probably always order and started smoking their cigarettes so that we could take away 3 months of our lives from the second hand smoke. The game started and I kid you not within the first 17 seconds the other team scored a goal. We were in shock and at that point, I knew it was me. This city had never seen something like this, so I stood up and shouted for them to throw me out of the restaurant and into the river because it was my fault! They picked me up and did as I asked. I’m just kidding, but seriously they did. The team came back and tied the game. It ended in a tie, but the curse of Rich’s teams lives on. It was a great experience to enjoy a game with Micha, Lukas, Janna, and Julia. I am just hoping the German national team does not suffer because of my residency in the country. (and yes that is a picture of my brother in law Luke who use to be a Redskins fan)

Contagious

Julia and I like to watch tv as we walked around our house and get ready in the morning or if we are getting prepared for something. We watch it not because we have a favorite show or can understand the shows, but to try and help us learn German. In Germany they will take an American comedy and dub over with German voices. Usually when we watch one of these shows you will hear one us yell out words that are familiar to us like this morning, Julia yelled out, “butcher!” This morning we saw the show “The Nanny”. If you have never seen the show you aren’t missing anything. The ladies voice makes you want to be at a 6th grade flute recital for beginners instead of listening to her. I do not know if it was because I couldn’t understand what was going on because of the language, but I noticed that in this comedy at the end of every sentence there was a laugh track that went off. I kid you not, at the end of every sentence there was a laugh track, even when she said, “hello” as she entered the room. The reason why they add these laugh tracks to these awful comedies is because they are hoping that this laughter will be contagious. It will make you think it’s funny and maybe make you laugh at it. The thought of being a contagious came to mind. I think of the life of Paul in Acts 16. He was put in prison and had everything going against him. He was just beat and his response was to sing and praise God. It said that the whole jail heard him and Silas and after the Lord freed them, the jailor ran in and asked what he might to do be saved. Paul’s love for Jesus gave him a joy that was different from other people. The Gospel should change our lives to the point where our lives look different to the outside world. We have a hope in Jesus Christ, we have an eternal joy that is ever lasting! I am convicted because many times when I should be exemplifying Gospel joy, I exemplify a bad attitude. Julia and I have been in many waiting rooms and have had a lot of paper work to do here in Germany, and I will admit I have not always had the greatest attitude. What is great is that we are continually given opportunities to take up our Cross and follow Jesus daily. I hope that we as Christians live a life that makes the watching world, ask of the hope that is in us that we may give an answer for that hope.

Already Dead

Today as I was walking by a cemetery, I prayed that I might find a Rudolph grave stone in there. I thought it would be pretty cool, since my roots are from Germany. I have tried finding other ancestors in other cemeteries and I can’t say it was a success, another story for another time. I came up to the stone wall fence and looked across and saw someone with the Rudolph last name! Not only was his last name Rudolph but his first name was Richard! He died the same year I was born, just 2 months before my birthday. It was very strange and exciting to see your own grave stone. Many thoughts came to my mind, one in a spooky way I thought that it’s a sign that I will die in a couple of days, but better thoughts came as well. I thought right away about what Christ said when we are to take up our cross and follow him. We must die to self. That is the way we are to look at our lives, dead to self, but alive to God! We must see our own grave stone and follow Jesus to where ever and to whomever he chooses. I have been reading a book about the persecuted believers who were at one time Muslim in the book “The Costly Call”. At one point in the book a man is being beat day after day by the police and they told him that if he renounces Jesus that he will not die. His response was “I am already dead”, referring to picking up his cross and following Jesus. At this point they let him go because he was unbreakable. What an amazing testimony we can be to the watching world, for the glory of God, when we suffer or die for the sake of the Gospel. Christ died that we can glorify and live for him. We have one life to live on this earth, so what are you doing with it?

Getting our German drivers License

Today I took my German Drivers license test. It is one of the things on my check list that I am able to check off so I can move to the next thing. In order for me to get my license I first had to take a 2 and half hour class. On our way to class Julia wanted to take my picture with my book in hand. I did not want her to take a picture before I walked in, as she insisted, because I felt like it was my mother taking the classic first day of school picture with your lunch box and book bag in hand.

If you know German culture, you know that Germans don’t mess around with the rules. When there is a rule, you must follow it to a T. Julia and I went to our class room and I look at a sign that said, “no eating or drinking allowed in class room.” As I am reading the sign Julia is taking out her bag of almonds to snack on, and I quickly told her to put them away and showed her the sign. She did and then moved on to her classic water bottle that she carries with her. Julia then said something along the lines of “it’s probably ok to have water,” she then placed her water bottle on top of her purse. Class then started at 8 o’clock and in came the teacher of our class. A German gentleman, who’s English sounded like the classic German scientist from the movies that pronounce their English like, “zing instead of thing”. He looked as if he just woke up to make it to class with his beer belly hanging out of his shirt, which had the front untucked and his hair as if he just got out bed. When he came in he saw that someone had a water bottle on their desk and told her the rules and made her put the bottle outside the classroom. Then as he looked back he saw someone who was slouching on his desk and told the man, that if he wants to sleep, he does not have to take the class and can leave. At this point Julia and I looked at each other and she ushered her water bottle away in her purse so that she was not the next person to get yelled and deemed a rule breaker. We then had to fill out some paper work, as usual, and our teacher didn’t want anybody to fill out anything on the sheet ahead of him. Some girl had disregard his request and then was scolded by our teacher. She seemed to irritate him, because he would find something wrong with her paper work throughout our time of filling things out. Then came the great video of European driving rules we had to watch. It was hosted, not by David Hasselhof, but by the head of the German police force. The man seemed as natural of a public speaking as a Junior High boy who realized that his mom bought him girls jeans instead of boys jeans for back to school shopping, both very awkward. The music that was behind him when he was talking in very stiff English was music that you would find in a dance club or a rave someplace. I am not sure if this was supposed to inspire us to break out some German dance moves, or to make us think that Euro driving was best. Class was over and then I took my test 3 hours later and passed! Julia will take her test as soon as she gets her visa (waiting on our marriage license), but it was a great experience to have and to share with each other. We are loving every day and enjoying every moment. I can’t believe it has only been 3 week here!

Wie heist du? "How do you say?"

I had my first tutoring lesson yesterday, and it went great! Or so I think. I meet with Nick, an eleven year old whose mother insisted we study together three days a week, for one and a half hours. It sounds long, but really goes pretty quickly. Although our language is a tough one, and really has some inexplainable terms, it is an awesome opportunity to help teach language, as I seek to learn another one myself. I learn a bit of German while with him, as he knows barely any English. You have to give it to the boy; he comes from a Russian home, which speaks German, and he just transfered from a school that taught him French! I only wish that was my weak point- so many languages to decipher between!

I am constantly amazed at the barrier that stands between two people of different languages. You can want to communicate all you possibly can, but without the language, there is an end point that you just undoubtedly hit when neither of you can get your point acrossed. It can be very frustrating, yet is an awesome task that in itself shows me just another wonder of our Lord. His omnipotence to create such a diverse world, with so many beautiful people, places, and languages.

It inspired me to look back into His word to study the origin of all this confusion, and it was at the tower of Babel that it all began as the people came together to build what they said would "make a name for themselves," or else they would "be scattered across the face of the entire earth." As the Lord oversaw what was taking place, He saw that with one language, "nothing these people do will be beyond them." He then confused their language so they couldn't understand one another, and scattered them across the face of the earth."

Interesting isn't it, that just as we often desire to stick together in our comfortable common places and do "great things" that we miss the point of going outside of where we "belong" to accomplish purposes outside ourselves. In this case the people would have become so self absorbed and not accomplish what He desired. And so in the times we sit under the confusion of a language that is beyond us, we seek God for the strength that He created everything with, and ask that He accomplish through us, something outside of ourselves.

Seen as so amazing through creation and its counterparts, our God has a way of making His omni-potence, science, and presence,coincide so that nothing is impossible- even the transformation of our minds which He created.

US vs Germany

There are many things we love about Germany, and there are a few we are getting used to. Today we went to Ramstein AF base. I knew I was in some sort of US territory when I had a heater IN my bathroom stall. We are lucky if the heat is actually ON inside sometimes here:) As Americans, our conservancy is much lower than Germans in that we heat whole houses, turn lights on, and don't recyle quite as much. I understand this way of life, it sure saves money- but I can't say I was too disappointed to find a surprise heater in the bathroom.

One thing they sure beat the US on though is cleanliness; and preparation. When in doubt, the toilet paper will never run out. They usually stock it several rolls high behind or to the side. A pet peave of mine is to not check before I choose my stall and get stuck with no tp, and yet in Germany you are secret safe even when you don't check! Thank God for the German mindset- fully prepared, and ready for anything!

*We've even got a florescent vest in our car we are borrowing- in case we get stuck on the road at night. Fashion statement or not, we WILL be safe:)

First Fussball (soccer) Game

Today was a day that I will never forget. I went to my first German soccer game. There were 39,747 fans making their way into the Kaiserslautern Stadium, when it dawned on me that I had never in my whole life seen this many police dressed in riot control gear in my life. I then asked the people I was with, “why are there were so many police in swat gear.” By their tone their response was supposed to bring a comforting answer, they said, “because last time these two teams played there was about a 1,000 or more people fighting each other.” I responded with, “oh ok”, but my thought in my mind was, “great first game I pick to go to, I end up being beat by 10 opposing fans who hate me because I am wearing red, and end up in the hospital.” Of course the worst possibility goes through a Rudolph’s mind whenever we enter a new situation. As soon as I entered the stadium I got chills. The fans were going crazy; chanting cheers for their teams, waving flags, and holding up their scarves in their teams honor. I got caught up in all the cheering that I started chanting whatever it was they were, but with no real words, just sounds as if I fell down a flight of stairs. Then a thought hit me and went through my mind the whole game; what am I using my energy and life for? I love to watch my favorite sports teams, and get very into the games. I give all this emotion and energy for something I am really not even a part of, I am only a spectator watching others play. The thing I am apart of is the church. I am Christian and I am a participant in life. I am to live my life for Jesus Christ and count the cost to follow him wherever he asks me to go and do whatever he asks me to do. The question then is; what do I give all my energy for the thing I am actually a part of or the things that I am just a spectator in? I thank the Lord for the Gospel, and for making it possible for us to give our lives back to him as a spiritual sacrifice, so that we can give it all, because He gave it all.

Time with family

We just enjoyed the last several days with Jinner and Ken- Rich's parents. They flew in to continue travels for conferences and school speaking engagments acrossed Europe, and started out with us! Many times there were tight moments between train schedules while running to and from each train- many times a common denominator in our stories.

I met Rich with his parents the first morning after riding with the senior group from our church to the start of our tour on the Rhein river. It was a blast being snugly fit between these jolly elderly friends, whom were quite delighted to help heighten my understanding of their language. Grabbing me closely and speaking loud and clear, I learned a few new things, I think, and we spent much time that day conversing with those there who were diligent in persevering through our language skills, or lack thereof. We saw more beautiful castles than we could ever ask for, such an awesome sight, just like the fairy tales:)

We've also blessed to borrow a smart car sized vehicle for transportation for now, and have become accustomed to driving it on the ginormous hills that we must brave on our trek to work and back. Michael took us to practice with our new ride way up past herds of sheep and deer who stared at us as we practiced first gear time and again on the 45 degree incline. Thank God I've had the experience driving stick for a few years; and Rich has now got it down also, despite the ridiculous angles we have to get around, and the non fluidity the clutch can seem to give us:)

It was great to have Ken and Jinner zip around with us in our little "death trap" as Rich would say. After Ken spoke to our partner church in Kaiserslautern, we drove just over the border into France just so we could say we've been:) We enjoyed that church and their fellowship, as well as that of our own church team here in Kusel as Ken and Jinner hope to be a help to their ministry through this new mobilzation position they've taken with their mission board. We pray God may allow us to take part in His plan to let the nations know Him, and particularly through us here in Europe for this time.

What is God preparing you for?

God has a purpose for your life and is preparing you to do His work for His glory. We as Christians should never look at our lives as our own, but know that we were bought with a price. We also find joy in living for him, wherever and however He chooses. When we look at men and women God used in the Bible or in the history of this world, it is evident that he was preparing them before they were ever “used” for a specific task. We look at Moses’ life and it was at the young age of 80 before he was sent to free the children of Israel for the glory of God. His life up to that point was preparation for that great work that God was preparing for him. The same is with David, and not till later in his life that he was the king, but many events had occurred in his life to prepare him for that time.

Now I stop and think about my life as a Christian being in a foreign land that I did not grow up in, how did God prepare me for this? This thought hit me pretty hard last night, when I went to a men’s Bible study. The Bible study consisted of men that were well above my age and all of them spoke German besides the 2 people I went with. As soon as I arrived I thought I had found a time machine to my past. I grew up in a very German family, where you have a strong German last names like; Rudolph, Klotzbach, Schlogenhof, Bullwinkel, Deininger, Kopp, just to name a few. When I arrived I felt like I was at a Klotzbach or Rudolph family reunion. During the Bible study one of the men was dozing off in a lazy boy, which is a regular occurrence for my grandfather while we are in the living room at night. Then after we got done with the Bible study, this guy ended up talking about his job, which often happens around the Rudolph dinner table. Then the real flashbacks started, as soon as we got done talking in a circle, we headed to the dinner table. There were 2 different kinds of potato salads, 2 different types of wurst, a salad, and a melon. Potato salad and wurst are staples at every family get together we have ever had in my life! As I was eating I thought and laughed to myself, wow God prepared me for how the Germans eat by putting me in the Rudolph family. I don’t know many other families in which potato salad, kraut, wurst, and pickles are a staple.
It was a great time with the men at the Bible study, even though I know enough German to say a couple of things, make random odd statements, as well as incline my ear to the occasional understanding of pieces of conversations. We are loving it, and I know God continues to prepare us for the mission field…so what is God preparing you for?

Das gross Hugel

So we both agreed that we love the terrain here that is much like where we lived in PA. It is cold already like in PA as well, although we hope that may change before the winter actually comes! Kusel is in a valley between steep hills like the little town of Clarks Summit where the summit is like here, and over looks our little city. It is beautiful to see all the streets, church steeples, etc.

The dialect here is actually going to be a bit of a "hill" itself to get over, as it is different than the hoch Deutch that we've learned most of from the north. We've been told to ask people to speak this hoch or "high" German with us, so that we don't learn what they may not be able to understand, in the whole of Germany. To add to that twist, my friend I went shopping with last night actually speaks mostly fluent Russian and then knows German also, so we taught one another as we shopped because neither of us speaks even close to fluent of one another's language- it was so much fun! I applaud her for teaching me a language she dosn't even speak much, and told her I'm going to be speaking Russian on accident if I learn some of that from her as well!

I was a little curious how this shopping trip would go, but we got around great! Whenever we could not get our point acrossed, she laughed as I always resort to a shrug and the reply, "Ich weiss nicht?" Half the difficulty in shopping for me is not finding what I need, but also trying to read the nutrition labels, a whole other story in a foreign language!

Rich and I were both pretty tired sunday, and so the message at church was a little tough to retain, BUT we enjoyed the fellowship and then also a delicious lunch at one of the elders' homes. We also helped serve coffee, cake, and wursten at a soccer gathering for a local soccer tournament, very much the typical German cuisine on a day to day basis.

Das gross Hugel means "the big hill," and I am not sure how to say it in plural form, so those of you who know it can correct me. I just thought I'd take the opportunity to teach you some German along with us as we learn it!

Making progression!

We are highly encouraged after just four quick days here in Kusel. With a driver mentality, I love this!:)
We have completely painted three of our fours walls ORANGE, moved our furniture, applied to and just about clinched two great jobs. We have yet to finalize those, but the opportunities were very widely open for us, which was not necessarily expected.

We have learned a bit more of this beautiful area, which is always a mind easing activity. We love it more here day after day, as Kusel is a big town/small city feel altogether. Everything you need right at your foot, yet a drive one mile outside brings you to the hilltop overlooking the villages and as I said before, even a castle! We've got great running/biking/walking trails that go for miles, and very safe!
Rich points out Im so easily excited by these little things, but come on we're from the US where it seems much less exciting. Sorry friends, you'll just have to visit us to see this! Although I know the goal in life is not to be ultimately satisfied in your own comfort and enjoyments, I do believe the Lord changes the desires of your heart to become like his- so likely where He puts us when we are seeking Him we WILL enjoy- not matter what or where.

One of the greatest things about being here in a German church and less English speaking area, is our daily communication which turns into much laughing. It's like playing one of those games when you can't use the word you are describing, because you literally don't know what that word means, or visa versa. We have to use our descriptive abilities with those who know English yet still don't know all words, and with those who don't know much at all, we are stretched very much to think through all our vocab to paste together something to make sense. It helps to have those who speak both fluently help us translate when we must, and when they speak together we are able to listen as though skimming the page of a book, while catching several words and getting the gist of it all.
Many times Rich and I smile and nod as we try to think through what just happened. It keeps our attention in check for sure, as if you zone out you will really lose it. But we really encouraged, and love the laugh it brings when figuring out new things.

Our friend Adrian took us to discuss our jobs with the Army base today and spoke mostly German with us, which was awesome. We just went to drop off our applications but had to return so we stayed awhile at an eis cafe (ice cream shop), read, and translated the German newspaper with Adrian while Rich took notes in his new little notebook he now carries everywhere with him, and I got rescued from the bathroom from the man I ordered coffee from. He expressed in his broken English that he thinks I am a girl, and I agreed after realizing this and turning around myself. I'm not sure if his comment was actually "broken" English, or if he was just being sarcastic in stating "I think you are a girl." I'm not too worried about my misttaking people of this however.

Adrian also spent most of the day with us painting our apt this week. My favorite conversation that day was asking him for a hose, of which after him not understanding this word we went into describe it as "a long tube/rope with "sshh" water coming out?" He was so confused. This is just one small example of how silly it all sounds- but we love it. Glad we can laugh!