It’s July 15 - exactly 365 days since I left Germany! 1 day more and I have fulfilled the legal Totalization requirements in order to return, and let me tell you: I’m thrilled. My bags are (somewhat) packed as I prepare to return on Monday. Reaching this longed-for milestone is causing me to look back over the past 12 months of Home Assignment and get all mushy. God’s goodness is evident in the many miles, relationships, and explorations I got to travel despite it being a COVID-Home-Assignment. Below I’ve selected personal highlights by month. (This may be more for myself so that I have a record in the coming weeks when people ask “how America was”).
driving to Colorado with Ellen, being with the parents, attending a Debrief with Barnabas Ministries, hiking Black Canyon, starting to teach my online History class, seeing extended family in Nebraska, settling into routine
15 Sep - 15 Oct, 2020
Wednesday zoom calls for Grace Kids ministry, meeting with friends and supporters in Minnesota, making the decision to join ACSI’s Paths to School Improvement Team AND return to BFA, designing new prayer cards, hiking in Duluth with Ellen, volunteering for Walk for Water
10-day road trip through Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan with Ellen to see many friends, BFA students, and supporters, volunteering for Pumpkin Carving Night, Amanda’s cancer diagnosis, driving the niece/nephew to Colorado, starting regular PSI Zoom calls, getting Cardigan donuts for Amanda’s post-surgery
routine of seeing people I love, weekly zoom calls with kids and colleagues, volunteering for Thanksgiving distribution, watching Huskers games with Kristin, Thanksgiving with Amanda and family, computer problems start, decorate for Christmas, limousine tour to see lights, Christmas Around the World at Grace
stocking up on German goods from Aldi, falling love with my Small Group, driving to Colorado, Christmas with the family, visiting family and supporters, New Year’s, speaking on two panels for WorldVenture training, going to the dentist, solving computer problems, exploring Colorado parks
driving to Texas to see family and supporters, leading first PSI trainings on our App, fun memories with niece/nephew, hot springs, second-semester teaching and Grace Kids ministry, driving to Arizona, speaking at Palmcroft Church, car break down, fly to Hawaii, WorldVenture Debrief on Zoom
exploring Oahu, time with Scott/Fiona and nieces, weekly zoom calls at early times of the day, Amanda and Lizzie visit, celebrating 40, chasing sunsets, learned to boogie board, in love with hammocks, vacation on the Big Island, Manuela’s visit, luau, making new friends at International Church
special flight around Molokai for Scott’s birthday, Becca’s visit, hiking Oahu, fly to Arizona, car troubles, drive to California, visits with friends, BFA peeps, and supporters, Easter with Jim/Lori hike through Yosemite National Park, drive to Oregon
speaking at Treasure Valley Baptist Church, wrapping up online history class, visits in Portland and Seattle, new BFA staff, hike through Glacier National Park with Ellen, 4-day drive back to Minnesota, more connecting with friends and supporters, Grace Kids in person, vaccine, loss of car due to catalytic converter theft
prayer weekend in Hibbing, meeting my Small Group people in person, new pastor at Grace, puzzling, fly to Colorado for Custer reunion, weekend at The Barn, tea party with the nieces, time with Grandpa and Nana, becoming IT person for PSI
Up North cabin time, fly to Chicago for 24 hours to see Rachel and fiancé, hear Andi speak at camp, fireworks for July 4th, Shakespeare in the Park with Kristin, adjusting KLM flight, many many good-byes, 40th Anniversary celebration at Grace Church with bouncy slide, kayaking
Wow, if you're still reading, I'm impressed. Thanks be to God for all the safety and fun that was had this Home Assignment year and also for the hard the lessons learned. I wouldn't have chosen COVID, cancer, or catalytic converter theft, but I'm grateful for generosity and goodness I experienced because of it.
Germany - here I come!
1 comment:
So sad I missed you at the 40th Grace celebration! Praying for blessings on your return to Germany!! Love your travelogue!!
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