Germany: The Next Adventure!

Yesterday I came to a surprising realization.  In one month's time, I would be boarding a plane to Germany!  And today?  One month from today, I'll be arriving to my destination!  

So, why am I going to Germany, and how did I get the opportunity to go?  A little over a year ago, while I was still living in London, a friend of mine forwarded me an email from a family that shared their desire to host an American nanny for a couple of months.  My friend wrote to me, "...since you are quite the world traveler. Any interest in living in Germany for a couple months this fall?"

Before I responded, I prayed about it and talked to my parents about the possibility.  While I am an adult who can make my own decisions, it is still very important to me to have my parent's "okay" in doing something like this - and I am blessed to be able to go to them for input and advice.  They gave me their "okay" and told me, "If we were your age and the opportunity came up -  we would probably do it too."

After that, I emailed with the family and we traded questions and answers that we had for one another.  Shortly after, they told me that I was welcome to join their family and I told them that I was interested in coming.  It was just a matter of finding a date and time period that worked for all of us.  A little over a year later of receiving the first email, I have my ticket and departure date.  I'll be leaving June 9th, and will be staying until December 18th.

While I am going as a nanny, a bigger part of what I'll be doing is teaching the children English.  In fact, I've already sent some books on ahead to the family.  (Thank you, once again, to those of you who gave books for me to take!!  You rock!)   The children are two little boys, one being almost 3-years-old, and the brother is younger.  Their mom teaches English to other children in Germany, so she has already been teaching them English too.  However, she also wants someone that she can practice her English with as well.

Most of my traveling has been with a mission organization and "official" mission trips.  This going to be a different experience in comparison to what I have done in the past.  I've never lived in a country where the native language is completely foreign to my own.  I've never lived with another family - only with flat-mates and college roommates.

While this isn't an "official" mission trip with a specific organization that requires fundraising, I still believe that God has opened this door for me to go....and no matter where I go, no matter where any Christian goes, we are all suppose to be "missionaries" - no matter our surroundings....Whether we are surrounded in our native cultures or one of which we find to be unfamiliar; if we're at our workplace, on a bus, or on a plane...It is our job to show others through our actions and words that there is a God who cares and loves the people we meet...or even the people we may not officially meet, but see us in a bookstore or doctor's office. 

I believe - and know - that God has a purpose for this upcoming adventure, although I don't really know what it is.  Maybe I can make friends with someone there who needs to know of God's love, or what it is to have a true friend who cares about them.  Maybe I'm suppose to share of past mission trip experiences with people who might have a passion to do something different for God...and maybe they can catch the flame of my passion to reach those locally and abroad.  Maybe I'm suppose to impact someone who will go out an make a difference in their neighborhood, or a difference that can impact the world.  

Again - I don't know why I'm meant to go to Germany.  (In fact, I never know why I'm suppose to go anywhere that I've ever gone.)  What I do know - the doors have opened and I've seen God in every step of the journey in preparing to go.

I hope that you'll travel with me me during this journey, as I have every intention to write blog updates while I am there.

If you would like to pray for me - that would be greatly appreciated!!  Here are some current prayer requests for the upcoming adventure:

• Please pray for my family, friends, and I as we start saying our goodbye and "see you later".  Some of these farewells will be easier than others, but this is always the hardest part for me.
• Pray for good health and safety!  Pray for my health and safety, but also my family's as well.
• Language!  I don't speak Germany...At all.  I've been listening to "German for Dummies" (provided by my dad) to get use to the sound of the language.  Please pray my brain can pick up the language easily and quickly.
• Another request about language...I've been taking American Sign Language courses during the last two semesters.  When I return to the USA and to college, I plan to continue learning the language.  While I plan to take my text book, watch ASL videos, and Skype with classmates, my big concern is that I might lose what I've already learnt because I won't be in any ASL settings, such as a class.  Please pray I can retain what I have learned during the last year and can jump back in with ease when I return.  This is very important to me, as I am planning to do a double major with journalism and ASL.
• Pray for good relationships to be built between the family I'll be living with.  We've emailed, Skyped, and have many mutual friends, but have never met in person.  The family has already accepted me as a family member and friend, and for this I am grateful!
• While I am there I would also like to make other friends that I can connect with.  I'd really like to make the most of my experience, and I feel as though friendships are a big part of this!
• Last but not least - Pray for my relationship with my little cousin, Rayna.  She'll be turning 3-years-old in September.  When I was in London, we were able to maintain our good relationship via Skype.  Our close relationship is something I also don't want to lose.  Please pray that we can keep as much closeness that we already have - even thousands of miles away from one another.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and for reading my blog in the past, present, and future!  I hope you continue to read my blog and travel with me through my writing and photos.

The Travelin' Chick,

Crystal

Grumpy

Where have the last two weeks gone?  It never ceases to amaze me how fast time goes by here in London.

Before I get into some of details of the last two weeks I want to share this story with you.  If your sense of humor is similar to mine in anyway, prepare yourself for a moment of laughter...

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The joys of living in an international community!  In our flat lives seven girls (formerly 8, but my German friend was only here for 7 weeks.)  Only two of us are native English speakers.  Last night we went for a prayer meeting with another group here in England and we got back late last night at half past 11 p.m.  The following basic conversation took place between three of us girls:

English Speaker: I'm tired and grumpy.

Korean: Grumpy?  What does that mean?

Me: Grouchy.  Unhappy.  Or, like when you wake up and haven't had your coffee yet.  Grumpy.

English Speaker: Have you seen "Snow White and the 7 Dwarves?" 

Korean: No...What means 'dwarves'?

English Speakers: Ummm...Dwarves are like little people.

Korean: Oh, like smurfs??!?

English Speaker: No...Not exactly...

Needless to say, I was laughing really hard towards the end of the conversation.  I knew exactly where my English speaking friend was going with the movie, "Snow White and the 7 Dwarves" - and eventually she did get to explain that there were some by the name of Happy, Grumpy, Dopey, etc, etc...Sometimes it's pretty much impossible to keep a straight face during moments like this. 

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During the last two weeks I've been keeping busy with many things.  Our work of having a book table and distributing free Christian literature to people we meet on the streets, with my communications internship, living with 7-10 people (depending on who is here, who isn't...), taking classes, etc, etc...The list is never ending.  While it has been crazy busy I am still learning a lot and soaking everything in to the best of my ability.

Recently as we distributed the free Christian literature, within an hour I had at least 3 or 4 people walk by the table telling me and my friends/coworkers, "You're young! One day when you're my age and you see all the rubbish that goes on in this world, you'll know that there is no God!!"

To be honest, my first reaction (internally) was frustration.  It drives me insane when people look down upon others because of their age...Not to mention before getting to know a person and their story.  When the first person looked down on us for our age I was okay...but after the third and fourth one, that's when the frustration came.  (It also didn't help that it would be said by people who walk by the table without stopping, not giving us a chance to talk with them to learn more about them.)  In my mind I couldn't help but think, "Who's to say we haven't seen 'rubbish' in our own personal lives or in the lives of others?  Why are they judging our lives because of our age?  They don't know us!"

Then I realized, after my frustration calmed down (as I am not perfect by any means!), the sadness that came over my heart for them and their lives.  What had these people been through to make them disregard God?  What's happened in their lives?  What is their story??  What are their struggles and heartaches??

It's really saddening to think about the hopelessness their lives must hold.  Sure, I have heart aches.  I have struggles.  But one thing remains the same through all the different circumstances: I still have hope in God.  It's like what I recently posted on my Facebook account.  Often I'm reminded that it's not about showing people that I'm stronger than anyone else, but just as broken as they are. The difference between myself and some of the people that I meet? In the midst of my brokenness I still have hope in God...and that makes all the difference. And even though I am still healing from brokenness from my year of 2011, and healing can be a painful process in itself, I also remember that God has a purpose for my life and my unique testimony.   What are the people that I meet on a regular base putting their hopes in??  Do they even have hope of any kind???  (And if they do, I cannot imagine how little hope they truly get from something other then God.)

1 Timothy 4:12 also came to my mind:
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

Yes, I might be younger then many of the people that I meet on the street.  Yes, it's true that my story might be different then those that I meet, but I still understand what it's like to go through the rubbish of life through illnesses, death, fear, and anger.  I may be young, but I'm not living in a bubble protected from the storms that life brings. (As, if you read my blog on a regular basis, I don't need to tell you that!)

Instead of letting my frustration take ahold of my mind, next time I hope and pray that the people who say these kind of statements will slow down and talk with us.  I want them to see that we truly care about them and who they are and the struggles that they face.   I want a chance to hear their stories and to share my own in return...To share my testimony and what God has done and been doing in my life...To set an example. 

We always try and set goals before heading out.  Wheither it to be that we pass out a certain amount of literature, to use a certain Bible verse in the day, to get into a good conversation, etc...Sometimes the goals are met, sometimes they are not.  But often, God has something incredible to show each of us who go out for the day regardless of if they were met or not.  My next goal?  To have a chance to get into a good conversation with someone.  I really want want to be able to share my testimony and what God has done in my life and what He continues to do....I want my testimony to be used for His glory, to help make a difference in someone's life for God...I want to connect with someone and to show God's love to them.

Soon I'll be sending out my next newsletter.  If you didn't get the last one and you would like to be included on this upcoming one, please send me an email and let me know.  I've only done one so far, but I do go into a little more detail of the work I am doing here through the newsletter verses on my blog postings and Facebook posts.

Oh yeah!  After praying about it and thinking about it for the last few months being away, I've extended my time to work here until June 26th instead of leaving in late May.  This adds one month to my time here.  I feel as though this is where God has called me to be for this period of my life and that I am meant to be here through the additional month.  Please be in prayer for funding to come in quickly and easily.  Where God guides, God provides - and I firmly believe this!

The Travelin' Chick,
Crystal

"You're SO cute...So adorable!"

Living in an international community is quite interesting and at times very entertaining.  In our one flat alone we have eight girls people from four different countries...And, again, this is just in our one flat.

Being a native English speaker, those who don't use English as their mother tongue often ask me questions such as, "How do you say that?  What does that mean?  Did I say that right?  What is the word for...?"  Since English is my first language I have automatically become an English teacher to aid those who are trying their best to learn all that they can so that they can understand and speak the language better.  (Although, sometimes I jokingly say, "Don't ask me - I'm American!" ---  That's usually my way of admitting that I don't know the answer.  Sometimes that answer even works if it ends up being British English that they are referring to.  In this case, this is also helps me learn my British English words and phrases.)

Dinner time is often a time of laughter.  Why?  This is usually when our funny language lessons take place.  We will talk about our cultures, homes, foods, our cultures.   This would include things like the other night when we taught each other what different sounds animals make in different countries.  For example, Americans say a cow will "moo".  In Korea they say that the cows "Maa".

One day I realized that my Korean friends often used the word "cute".  Actually, it wasn't often.  It was more than often - it was a very frequent!  Everyday they say things like, "You're voice is so cute!  You're so cute!"  Jolly Ranchers and the noodles for American Craft Mac and Cheese?  Yeah, they're cute too.

Noticing they used the word cute a lot (aka: for everything), I decided to teach them a new word so they would have more options in their word choice.  To go along with cute, I taught them the word "adorable".  

The other morning I was really sick and I slept a lot.  At one point, though, when waking up I saw two of the Korean girls standing over my bedside looking at me saying multiple times, "She's so cute...so adorable!"  (At least I know I still look good when I feel my worst??)  I'm starting to think it's time to teach them a third option for more variety.

For the last two weeks (at least) everyday, at least once (if not twice), I am still told, "Your voice is SO cute...SO adorable!"  After leaving here any girl should have wonderful self esteem and confidence.  ;-)

I really enjoy helping them with their English.  Not only are they learning, but I am as well.  When they ask me, "What does that mean?" sometimes I realize, "You know, I've never actually thought about the meaning and why we say that word or phrase..."  This has helped me come to realize that in America, we use some really odd phrases for some things in life!  I've also come to realize how many American idioms and slang I sometimes use.  My British English vocabulary is also expanding.

It's also remarkable to see how hard they are working to learn to speak another language.  I know they have their days of frustration and discouragement, but they leave me impressed everyday.  Here they are, from different countries and languages, speaking a foreign language (my language) all day, seven days a week.  They work so hard.  I cannot even imagine how exhausting that would be to listen and to speak an unfamiliar language all day, everyday, translating everything in their mind to process what is being said.

What American/English phrases do you recommend we teach our international friends?

The Travelin' Chick,
Crystal

PS: Another phrase we have tried to work on is with the word "deserve".  One girl was telling someone, "You deserve to be my roommate."  We understood what she meant but had to help her find a better English way of phrasing her feelings about her excitement of being roommates together.  Now that is a joke in our flat.  "You deserve to be my partner", or, "you deserve to be my friend."