Basel

Last week, the RAs at BFA got to cross the border into Switzerland and see Basel which is about a 25-30 minute drive from Kandern. We got to get coffee from Starbucks, take a ferry across the Rhine, and walk through Basel.

Jessica, me, and my white chocolate mocha.

The Rhine

On the ferry crossing the Rhine

Basel and the Rhine. If you look closely you can see someone swimming in the Rhine. The day we went was one of a few days that people are allowed to swim, canoe, and float down the river.

As I take off on Thursday of this week, I am going to do my best to keep everyone updated on things while I am gone. My goal for this blog is going to post stories, and lots of pictures. The story here is that God is awesome and faithful, and I am going to Germany. This has been a very exciting week for me. Here is a quick recap:

Monday: I realized I had unofficially reached 90% of my financial goal which is the amount required for me to be able to go to Germany. I began emailing with TeachBeyond to get a plane ticket.

Tuesday: The above statement began to sink in.

Wednesday: I officially got a plane ticket.

Thursday-Friday: I began compiling and doing the items on my list of things to do before I leave including but limited to cleaning out my closet, going through my clothes, making a pile of things to pack, etc.

Saturday: I got my most recent statement, and discovered that I had not only reached 90% financially, but officially had about 2% over my financial goals.


Thank you so much for helping me get to that 100% this summer. Thank you for your encouragement, for your prayers, for your financial gifts, for your monthly pledges, and for support as I serve at BFA. I could not being going without your support!

 Going through winter clothes. This just feels a little strange when it is close to 100 degrees outside.

My current pile of things to pack. Rest at ease, I am taking my ukulele and a pair of clogging shoes.

And this is the other bed I am using to throw stuff on that I still need to go through 

and decide what to do with.

 Despite using up two beds to pack, progress has been made elsewhere. My closet has been cleaned out, and my extra stuff properly stored.

My next post will be from Germany. Until then, I will be going through all of my stuff.

So, there are only 34 more days left until I get on a plane for Germany. I am in the final few weeks of fundraising, and even during this last week there have been ups and downs. It is usually during a low moment, that I tell God (not for the first time) that I can’t do this anymore.

As Americans, we live in a culture where there is no such thing as “I can’t.” We are taught at a young age that we can do anything we want to do and be anyone we want to be if we work hard enough. While I can appreciate the emphasis on setting goals and working hard to achieve those goals, what I have been learning for the last several months is that sometimes God calls us to do things that we cannot do ourselves. This has been a frustrating lesson for me to learn – after all, it just seems mean to ask someone to do something, knowing fully well they aren’t capable of getting the job done. But God isn’t calling us to do these impossible tasks all on our own, and that changes everything.

Through the last several months, God has been reminding me that He is on my team, He can do anything, and because of those two things I know “I can do all things through Christ.” I think that God likes it when I am in a place where I finally realize just how much I need Him and how His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

So, right now, I have about 41% of my financial support which is incredibly exciting! I’ve been amazed and moved by the generosity of so many different people. In order for me to be allowed to buy a plane ticket for Germany, I still need pledges for about $850 per month. With less than 34 days, it IS going to take an act of God for this to happen; instead of stressing out about this, I’ve decided that I’m going to keep on doing my part, and I am going to watch as God works. I’m excited that I get to see how He pulls this one off.

Hello, everyone!

I have now been a college graduate for almost a month, and it is still kind of hard to believe. My time as a student is over, but I am incredibly excited to see what God has in store for me in these next couple of years.

In less than three months, I will be getting on an airplane to move to Kandern, Germany. I will have the privilege of working with missionary kids from all over as a residential staff at the Black Forest Academy. I am looking forward to giving updates and sharing prayer requests as I start working there in August.

Until then, I am on a mission to talk to at least another 50 people or more about what I am going to be doing, and to find people willing to help get me to Germany both with their finances and with their prayers. The task seems daunting at times, but God has continually been reminding me that He is Jehovah Jireh and that He will provide for my needs. I am excited for the day when I get to post that God has provided me with 100% of my financial goal through the love and generosity of His people. In the meantime, thank you for your love, encouragement, prayer, and support this summer.