Let me clarify. After a great Friday out with Maja and Steffi, I woke up feeling really happy. I came downstairs to eat breakfast and await the promised SMS from Toska. My host mom too was breakfasting, and this is when I found out. For reasons unrelated to me, I cannot stay with this host family. I got along fine with everyone, but no, I must leave. and quickly. This put me in a weird mood... It was the last thing I was expecting to hear on a Saturday morning. I got ready to go out with Toska, and when I met her, I felt familiar enough to explain to her my situation. I know that I have a friend here when she offers for me to live with her. We went to Seigburg to visit her Oma and buy presents, but I didn't get anything, because I didn't need to. We were going to go to Subway in Bonn, but decided to go to her house : free food. I met her mom and dad, and her handicapped brother who is four years older than Toska. I explained to them my situation, and the dad was very welcoming to let me stay there for the rest of the year. Toska and I could go to school together; they have a spare room and restroom when their other son is away studying. But I wasn't sure... I knew I would invade so much on her family. Toska and her mom took me to the house where I live now, and then I went to sleep.
Today: The slated day for Tarina and mine preformance in church. I got up around 8:30 and made it out the door by 9:30 to be at church at 10:30 (which makes me really reflect... I used to complain about getting up at 9:30 to be at church at 10.... man, was I lazy!) My host mom wasn't feeling well, so I went alone by bike. I made it earlier, surprisingly, and waited for Tarina to get there so we can practice. This not having a host family situation unnerved me a bit... I confided in Erin (the youth leader) and Tarina about my worries. But there wasn't time to worry.... Tarina and I must practice for our preformance! the quick practice went well, and then I sat with Tarina and family (from South Africa) in the church. Pastor Steve asked fot prayer requests, and I indicated that I had one. the person before me had mentioned a living situation, so my problem tied on directly with that. I stated the problem : I need a host family. After making it known, i felt so much better. Pastor Steve prayed and then Erin spoke. Tarina and mine performance was ok... but I don't think we did the song justice. We sang Feliz Navidad!!! :D in church. that was great. then, Tarina's mom and Chritian's mom spproached me. Christian's mom, Renate, invited me to lunch with them, after I made it clear that I can speak German, and please do so! The whole family was involved in the lunch making process... even I cut my thumb on the cucumber slicer!!! Lunch was yummy pasta and aplesauce and cucumber salad and Plätzchen... I can spell it:D They were completely welcoming, and said no matter what, I was always welcome. It was my deciscion. Ultimately, it's experiement's responsblity, but I love Bonn. It's beautiful. I love my school, and my friends. I don't want to change that. So with this family, the Büttners, it works. The parents drove me home with the bike in the back of the car, and wished me a well time in England. It's so weird... I feel like a guest in this house now... the daunting task of packing and moving everything I've acquired is looming... like a dark cloud... but not uncertainty. I have a direction. Friday, this problem didn't exist for me. And today, it's getting handeled. Isn't God Great? I was thrown this, and I made it known to the people of God, and through their love I am being taken care of.
This weeks agenda: finalize the moving plans, pack for England/new home, bake american cookies, seek more information.
Please keep me in prayer. Erin spoke on this today, and I wish to share it (verses 7 and 8 are set to music in KJV) 1 John 4 : 7-8
7Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love.
9God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.
13And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world.
18Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. 19We love each other[a] as a result of his loving us first.
20If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister,[b] that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? 21And God himself has commanded that we must love not only him but our Christian brothers and sisters, too.
Some people that have been really supportive lately: Kari ( who will always be there!!) and Casey (hee hee... why don't we talk?) My American family? I don't know. the computer's broken at the moment.... but I called from Toska's house Saturday. I hope they check their email!