Hard to leave, Excited to come!

 

Transition can bring a lot of complicated emotions. I would like to take some space to share people and places that are hard to leave here in Germany. And then, share what I am excited for as I come to spend a year in the US! Several hopes that I have for this next year. 

As you will see in the photo above, I have dear friends here in Germany that I have either met through teaching at BFA, my woman's Bible study group, and the church I attend nearby in Neuenburg. 

I met Becky as she came the year after I did and we forged a sweet friendship almost immediately. We have had many adventures with hiking, travels, cooking, and even some bike rides! I have watched as she met her husband, Christian, and as they are raising their daughter, A who calls me "Tuna!" Maybe that sounds a little like "Aunty Karen?!" I will miss mostly our conversations about life and our shared faith as we listen to godly podcasts together. 

I met Jesse as she and her husband came the same year that I did. They left for a few years then a couple of years ago, have come back. They are also raising their family of two kiddos. Jesse and Becky are in the same Bible study with me and we have also grown close through movie nights, dinners, runs, and walks where we talk over how we live and follow Jesus in the world we live in. They are such an encouragement in my relationship with Christ. 

I will miss getting ready to teach with my colleagues! I will miss my students and the classroom this next year! I know that last time, it felt so strange as I saw posts of BFA's beginning ceremonies as I was so far away! I love the excitement of meeting new staff, hearing their testimonies, prepping the classroom and beginning activities for the year! 

I will miss my church here in Germany, Neuenburg International Church. I will miss Sunday mornings as I come in and prepare my heart to hear God's Word. I will miss the preaching of Pastor Stephen and Pastor Brian. I will miss conversations and connections with those in the church; both English and German!

There are other things that I will miss as well like bike rides and hikes in the Black Forest, other friendships that I have made while serving here at BFA, walking my kitty outside, hosting friends in my apartment for Bible studies and dinners and movie nights. 

There is a tension as I find it hard to leave my German home yet I am looking forward to what this next year may hold. I am excited to live with my brother, Daniel, for a year in Loveland, CO. In the past, we have loved to share books with each other, cook delicious food, and have silly conversations. We've done hikes, bike rides, and runs together as well. I am looking forward to renewing my relationship and enjoying all of these activities with Daniel. 

I am looking forward to re-connecting with my supporters in Colorado and in the Midwest, and other places in the US as well. You are all such a vital part of my being able to live here in Germany and continue to serve students at BFA. I am excited to share with you my classroom experiences, fun stories, and new things coming! I will be sharing in my newsletter about a new dorm to be purchased!

I am looking forward to spending time with family in the Midwest and perhaps in other areas of the US as well. My brothers and I (along with several people from Nathan and Jen's church), worked really hard on the house last summer. I will enjoy returning to SD to spend time with Nathan and Jen, Josh, my aunt Joanie, and other friends and supporters in the area. My favorite thing is sharing sweet memories of my parents and when we were kids. 

Besides what I have mentioned, I am also excited to see how my relationship with Christ will deepen and grow during this next year. I am excited that I get to bring my kitty, Messerschmitt with me for the year. I am excited to share about Black Forest Academy with more people and see who God brings into my life as new supporters. I am aware that there could be hard things as well as there were last time I went on my Home Assignment. While I don't necessarily look forward to the hard things, I do know that God is good and that He is with me in all things. He knows the good and the bad that are coming my way and He will be with me through it all. I can trust Him with this next chapter of my story. As my principal says, "Onward and Upward!" Or my friend, Katrina says, "Ultreya and Suseya" meaning, further and higher referring to the Camino.