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27th January

Before I forget, I must mention a few things. First, thank you for all the emails! It is way too much fun to sign in and see scores of notes. (Makes me wish it would happen when I am at home!) I miss all of you, and pray for you a lot. Second, a few people have mentioned that I should try and post just highlights first, and the journal beneath because they are long. I agree, it is a good idea, but I just can’t. (I am happy to even get this journal written and posted, much less figuring out more things.) I was overjoyed we finally figured out a way to post some pictures. I will do it again, however, because the connection is slow I have to post them one at a time, and that takes a lot of my internet time. Thank you, Pa, for the flash card…or drive, or whatever it is. Also, I am going to turn off the comments. I had the moderation on so that I could view what was being posted on my blog, but I do not have the time to go through them all and approve them, so you can just email me about it, or tell me when I am home again. Thank you for all your love and prayers and support, it means so much.

Now, in answer to some questions…I am 7 hours ahead of Wisconsin time, so if you want to call, it would be best for you to try about 1:30pm your time because that is when the evening service usually ends, and I have the rest of the evening free. Contact my family for the number, or the address here. Also, I do hope that my descriptions of people are OK. I love everyone a lot, I just write about them as it comes into my head when I meet or see them, and as I would tell my family.

Cornelia called us on Friday night, asking if we would like to go up to Hasliberg for special meetings. That was an honor because it is a treat for the staff here to be able to go up there! On Saturday night right after we had supper we set off: Anne-lise, another Tabea, Jana, Herr Jegge, Studious Simon, Shy Simon, and we picked up Grandpa Lippuner! :] It was fun, all gaily riding together through the mountains chattering in 2 different languages. When we arrived we went right into the kitchen to see Thea and Nicola and Simone, it was like seeing old friends again! We arrived just before the evening service, there was a special program that evening with lots of singing and instruments and the Bible School young people put on a skit. Simon Stucki was our translator for the weekend, and we sat in the farrrr back so as not to disturb anyone. I do not know how they keep one ear open while the speaking is going on constantly and at the same time process and translate it in their minds and speak it aloud to us! I always make a point of thanking our translators because I know it is a real stretch for them.

Hannah and I stayed in the same room as last time, with the view over the mountains, and sleeping in felt so good the next morning! From where I was lying, you could see the mountains turning lovely pastels as the sun rose and the moon was still shining brightly over them. I heard my first alpine horn! It was so neat to hear it echoing over the mountains! It was strange to be treated as a guest there, because last time we were in the kitchen! But we got the special treatment this time…fresh bread, butter, desserts! We did help the students as much as we could, though, to make it easier for them. They were serving about 100 guests! After breakfast Peter Lippuner preached a message called “Only those who fight will gain the victory”, it was very good. We had a short break and Hannah and Tabea and I walked around the hotel outside in the sunshine, and then Ruedi Herrman spoke on running the race with endurance.

We had a nice lunch break, and took a long walk with Anne-lise. Then the last message was called “The promise of victory stands fast!” - another great encouragement. After a wonderful coffee break with fancy desserts, we packed up and headed out. I was so glad to be traveling when it was still light out. Those guys just zoom down these twisty mountainous roads, it’s quite fun!

After supper that night, we had a “family evening” here at Guetli. (About 50 of us.) Cornelia had asked if I would share my testimony. Also, now that they know that Hannah and I are singers, they always want us to sing, so she asked if we would teach them a new song. The evening was fun and full of variety: from slideshows to games, devotionals, singing and testimonies, I really enjoyed it. Hannah and I decided to teach them “In Christ Alone” and you would not believe how fast they learned it! I shared my testimony then for about 10 minutes, and Cornelia translated for me. (I got a fiendish delight from hearing the late laughter about some things when it was translated into German. The folks that knew English laughed first, then the others. That’s what always happens to me!)

When I finished, Peter Lippuner calls out, “Rebecca stay up there! Hannah, come back up!” and then he grabbed his son’s guitar and started rattling off in German to the crowd. Poor Hannah turned beet red and I just laughed because I had no idea what he was saying and about to do. Here he was all excited because he had started the chorus of an English hymn earlier in the van on the way home, and Hannah and I had gone right into the verses. He had been longing to learn the rest of the song, and was so ecstatic that we knew it and could teach it to him. So he told us that he would play guitar, and we were to sing “Higher Ground” to the crowd, and he would join in on the chorus. It was a lot of fun, he is a great tenor, but played so fast I could barely take breaths in time! Then we finished with prayer, and he prayed for me that God would heal me completely. It was so special.

My sisters asked me to list the people here once again because they have forgotten from the previous posts and want to know the people I am coming to know and love.

Peter and Edith Lippuner. Founders of Guetli, missionaries, and the cutest Swiss grandpa you will ever meet! He has a soft spot for Hannah and I because we always laugh at him, even when he isn’t trying to be funny. It reminds me of Zvi - he is happy to have new people to hear all his stories and jokes, which he tells quite frequently! He always sits by us, and loves to sing with us, and tonight he was yodeling for me!

Emmanuel and Cornelia 43, Lydia 15 and Tabiththa 14 Lippuner. Manuel is his son, and he and his wife are sort of in charge here. They are a gentle and handsome family. Lydia is such a little lady for her age, just like her mama. Tabitha is the character.

Thomas and Daniela Mori. I work with Daniela in the greenhouse, and she and Thomas have been married for 5 years, and are in their late 30’s. Daniela is so powerful, like my sister Martha. The other day in the greenhouse, when I was talking to someone, they got a funny look on their face, and suddenly I was lifted in the air. Daniela will come right up behind me, and lift me, chair and all, up in the air, and then drop me. She loves to tease and is always happy, and whenever she tells me to do something, she ends with, “Yes, please.” Thomas has a beautiful countenance.

Rahel 29 and Simon 28 Stucki. I work with Rahel every day, and she is such a beautiful person. I have never met a girl who felt more like a big sister. She loves me, and sometimes wraps her arms around me and tells me so. You can tell she is a nurse, she has that competent-care-for-you way about her. She sometimes talks through her nose when she is speaking German across the greenhouse to Daniela, and has the best laugh ever. She is tall and blonde and healthy and strong, and I know if we knew each other’s language better, we would be very good friends. Simon is very gentle, soft spoken, and incredibly intelligent. Whenever he translates, he uses more precise words than we do! He speaks English about the best here. He is tall and thin, has intense eyes, and a great smile; and is tirelessly patient with me when I am tired and frustrated from trying to figure the German computer out. I knew God would prepare a computer person here for me to replace Alan and Peter! It’s because of him you can read the blog and see the pictures!

Shy Simon 28 I really can’t tell you much about. He is always very quiet and smiling, and I work with him about 3 days a week. He can speak English, but not a lot. He reminds me of a Hutterite and Heather would think he is cute.

Marcel 38 is the single man that was saved through the witness of the mission. He is often in charge of meetings, and organizing things. I had almost made up my mind the other day that I didn’t like him, because I know he speaks English, and he never talks with me! Or smiles, for that matter. Then, I saw he was on the kitchen schedule with me, and I thought, “Aha! I will make him talk with me by asking questions!” Then he was so nice and friendly, and told me that he knows a bit about grammar, and doesn’t like to say things wrong, so he just doesn’t speak English much. I told him I didn’t think men cared much about grammar, and he said to Heinz, “Did you hear what she said?” and repeated it. Heinz repeats it back slowly, then ends with, “What is grammar?” I laughed. So now I like Marcel. He almost reminds me a bit of my brother.

Herr Juge Jette “Yet-kay” 40s (not sure about the spelling) is always full of energy and life, and has a hoarse voice. He makes Hannah and I laugh a lot, too. Even when he is praying, it is just funny! He often teases the girls, and loves to try out English phrases. He blows his nose really really loud, and it took us some time to not smile when he would. He works out in the greenhouse area with all the fruit and veggies to take to the market. He has a lovely family that I am still getting to know.

Sabina is a friend of Aunt Martha’s, and is a beam of sunshine. She always bustles in a room full of smiles, and serves people a lot. She is also single, and about in her late 40’s.

Elisabeth (whom I thought was Elisa before) also has had Lyme Disease. She is gentle, and looks tired, and dresses very classy for the flower shop. I think she is 33. We were talking about our illness the other day, and I look forward to speaking more with her.

Mirjam 32 is married to another Simon 32 (who is now in the mandatory army time) and she is as cute as a button! She is tiny and sweet, and works tirelessly in the kitchen. I do not know her Simon much. They will have been married one year this coming March.

Rebecca Kaufman 28 also works in the kitchen, and stays in our house. She has a very resonant voice for such a tiny person, and is very sweet. She does not know a lot of English or I would be able to tell you more!! She knows a lot about horses.

Rebecca Siegfried 28 is the third tiny lady here, the sister of Thea in Hasliberg. She always has her hair perfect, and is somewhat sober, but smiles easily when you talk with her. She is another flower shop lady. I really like her family! We have gotten pretty close, they are a lot like us.

Jana 28 is from Slovakia and she speaks German to us, and we speak English back, and we can communicate well! (“Together we make a considerable man!”) She works soooo hard in the kitchen, and is small and Russian looking and is getting to be good friends with Hannah.

There are 3 of the cutest grandpas here that come to work in the greenhouse. They look just like they should be framed on the wall of Ciciones Restaurant! They have the leather vests, thick white hair, and they come about 3 days a week. One of them grunts and talks to himself all time, and goes back and forth from washing pots to cracking nuts. It is so cute, I have to take a picture of it, but the three of them sit there, all lined up with hammers and bricks, and crack walnuts open. Every afternoon, two of them come hobbling in the kitchen when we are cleaning up lunch, and take the bread slicer out. But the funny thing about it is, that only one person is needed. And yet the second man walks right behind the first over to the counter, one picks it up, and then after an occasional glass of milk, out they go again. Hannah and I always laugh at that!

There are a few things we have noticed as being different than the States. It’s actually polite to stack your dishes, even at the hotel. And they all scrap their bowls! When Hannah and I were in Hasliberg, they served a slightly sweet butterscotch pudding, and suddenly we heard a clinking like a wedding where they want the groom and bride to kiss! We looked around and the entire room was scraping up the pudding to the last drop!

January 29th

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV

God has given those verses to me over and over and over in the last week. I begin to smile whenever I hear it yet again! Sometimes I feel like I am at the ends of the earth, and it reminds me of how BIG God is. It reminds me that He knows exactly where I am, and will guide and care for me in His wisdom. I have often been sick lately, and so I fit in with the youths that have no strength. He will give me HIS! Being away does not erase pain and existing trials in the heart, so I am glad that through Him I can continue to walk (or run!) and not faint, because He is my support.

5:06 I have just returned from the most glorious walk. The ladies in the greenhouse let me off 2 hours early because I have had so much pain today, and they were headed somewhere anyway. I had tzfirie with 7 men this afternoon, (I was thinking it’s a good thing I am used to working with men at Menards all the time) and after I cleaned up, I headed out walking for an hour. I wish I could somehow bundle up the experience and mail it home to you. I was gazing at snow capped mountains and green fields, passing grazing sheep, standing for a moment in the crystal clear brook, watching men fencing on a steep hillside, while the sun sunk lower and lower and the sky changed color. And of course there are all the smells, and then to top it off, the bells started chiming in the village chapel nearby. I just kept thanking God for another travel dream coming true.

Yesterday afternoon most of the ladies from Guetli went shopping together near Zurich, and they left Hannah and I in charge of the kitchen, and supper for 50 people. (With a German list, of course.) It was so fun working together, and we decided to make some real American chocolate chip cookies for them. Two of the guys that wandered in while we were cooking acted very surprised that they trusted us with such a responsibility after only 2 weeks here. Nathaniel 27 was home from the army for the weekend (Naughty Nattie) and when he was picking at things I jokingly said that if he wanted, we could put him to work. He jumped on the idea and helped us for about an hour! I think he was getting a bang out of us Americans. (I guess Hannah is Canadian.) He is one of our favorites here. He is tall, thin and dark, buzzes his hair, and has a high voice. But he is very personable and real, and comfortable to visit with. His dad, Herr Gehrig is SO funny! I will tell you more about him later.

We did not have all the correct ingredients for the cookies, and I think they turned out rather flat, but we got a lot of good feedback about them. (One night next week we are making an all American meal for them.) Later that evening Ulrich came up to me, pulled himself up to his full height, and put on a stern face. “Ah Rebecca, you are my teef!” I’m your what?!” “My Teef! You ate my cookie!” Earlier when I was baking, he came in the kitchen and I gave him a hot cookie. He ate part of it and then left, and I figured he didn’t like it or want it, so I finished it. Hannah said he came back in the kitchen later looking for it! So I was his thief. I told him to eat the last ones on the plate.

Did I tell you the name of the building that we live in? It’s called the “Sch-took-lee”, but I do not know how it is spelled! I keep thinking of random things to write about. I have caught myself interrupting at times, because when they are speaking in German, you tune it out because it doesn’t make sense. Then you think of something and have to catch yourself! Inge’s daughters told me I started a new tradition by asking Inge for a hug and kiss each morning. Now she hugs her daughters every morning! Every Saturday the men here sweep all the pavement. They all get out these brooms, and for a few hours, sweep it everything. I don’t get it. Also, we have certain questions that everyone asks us. For instance: “What is your profession?” “Are you from Bob Jones University?” “How did you meet, you live so far apart?” I try and drive Hannah nuts as much as possible, and play Neil Diamond’s “Porcupine Pie” at least once a day.

OK, I am closing for now so I can send this after the evening service. I am sorry it is so long between posts!

22nd January

“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chrn. 2:16

When you are on the other side of the world from those you love, verses like that make your heart be at rest to think that no distance is too great for our God. He loves and cares for us, and will show Himself strong on our behalf! Think of it!

I have often thought during work times how this kind of ministry or tithing is very different from slipping money in an offering plate, or writing a check. It is a hands on, with your whole heart and body kind of offering to God. I often have to remind myself when I am tired or in pain, that whatever I do, it should be heartily, unto the Lord! I am in an obscure greenhouse in a little village in Switzerland because God led me here to bless these people, and I need to stay focused on God. Of course I feel the benefits as well, enjoying the country, experiencing the culture, and meeting dear people. But it has not all be fun and games, and I would appreciate your prayers that I do not lose sight of God and what His purposes might be for me in it. And I remember too, a plane ride doesn’t make a missionary, God can use you anywhere!

I spent the morning in the greenhouse today. It is gray and rainy and cold, so it was a cozy place to work and listen to the rain on the roof. I filled 20 flats with potting soil, which can take some time because I really have to fill them tight. Then I transplanted 20 geraniums before lunch. It was funny, the man they order plants from came for a meeting, and was he ever a fast talking businessman. I did not need to understand to know what all he was getting at! It reminded me of hearing all the business meetings that go on over coffee in Menards!

Ah, I miss my work at home. I would love to pester Shirley or work with Mal for a day, or see some of my regular customers. The only thing I don’t miss is the Menards jingle! And I would love, absolutely LOVE a good cup of coffee. I can make do with this stuff, and do not take it for granted, but I would feel better if I knew someone enjoyed a 12oz triple shot mocha breve for me! So please order one today, and think of me… :]

Yesterday in the greenhouse I got Shy Simon laughing! Rahel took me to a back greenhouse and as she opened the door, she said, “We thought you could be responsible for the watering in this greenhouse“. I smothered a laugh because back there were all the “reject” plants. You know, the ones that have burned leaves, or no flowers, or have been over watered. I will love my plants, and nurse them back to health!

Anyway, they have water spouts in pipes about waist high in various places and you can carry your short hose to it, and hook it up. Rahel showed me how to carefully connect it by pushing up with the hose end (the kind you screw on in the States) and then pull a metal ring down over it. Effortless. So I thought. She left me on my own, and I watered until I could reach no farther. Then I unhooked the hose, carried it to a new point, and proceeded to copy Rahel’s movements. Then, just before I turned the water on, I gave it a little tug for safety. Off it came! I tried again, and as it seemed secure, I turned the water on. It went everywhere. So for the next 5 minutes I repeated the above procedure. Finally I sheepishly came around the corner where Shy Simon was quietly trimming Geraniums and asked for help. He smiled sweetly, came with me, jammed it up, saying, “Do su, und su”. It went right into place! (“Reach up and mash on it!”) Again, I watered as far as I could, and unhooked the hose.

I carried it to the next point, and once again had troubles!! I was determined to do it myself and not be the corny damsel in distress, but I could not! I think I must have been silhouetted (being sprayed) by the sun in the greenhouse, or else the sounds effects reached him, because 10 minutes later when I appeared dripping around the corner, Simon was laughing, and came and hooked the hose for me again. This time, I moved plants by hand to get them watered instead of getting him again. :]

9:16 Hannah and I just came back from a moonlit walk, and was it ever a treat! We had been unable to go walking earlier, and since the moon was so bright and we had energy after the evening service, we bundled up and went! It was simply heavenly. I kept taking huge breaths because the air was a combination of smells that I love: damp earth, silage, chimney smoke and of course the clean mountain air. The sky above was clear with all the same stars as home, and the moon was reflecting off of the brook. It was so cool to see it rippling over the stones in the dim light. The tops of the mountains were twinkling with lights of villages we didn’t even know were there! It was as romantic as it could get.

In the afternoon yesterday after our run I worked in the kitchen with Hannah because my greenhouse friends had some other plans, and they didn’t want to me to have to work alone. We had fun chattering away in our own language, not being understood by the others, and teasing like sisters. We “de-mothed” the pantry, which was quite the task.

Today during our break time Mirjam took Hannah and I to Afffoltern to get a few supplies, and I spent money for the first time since I landed! Wow, that is when I am grateful to be at Guetli because life is expensive here! I was scouting out gifts for everyone. I am hoping to buy some when I am in Bern again with Martha too. When I get home I want to have a Swiss evening, and make you authentic food, drink, and show my pictures.

The architecture here is so unique. How do countries manage to keep a certain look? I think my brother Christian should build a Swiss house for his next Parade Home. The style is usually just a square house, like you would scribble on a paper for a child. Then the roof is brown or reddish tile. There are lots of windows with the crisscross inside, and the house is usually weathered wood, or a stucco painted warm browns and tans, pink or terra cotta, yellow/cream, or white. Sometimes there are wooden beams in the stucco. All of the windows have shutters and window boxes painted a bright or coordinating color. And dormers are the key; but not pointed ones, square dormers, if that makes sense. (I have carefully observed, as you can see. I want to build one!)

And another interesting thing, they do not have many stop signs, mostly yield signs. It makes the traffic flow constantly, you rarely stop between the yield signs and roundabouts! The traffic lights blink orange before they turn green again, just like in Israel. They drive like MN people here! Everyone is in a hurry. All the ladies at Guetli can drive stick, I am jealous.

There is a tree here that intrigues me, it looks like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be an aspen or a weeping willow, and stopped somewhere in between. I will take a picture of one. They also have a tree called a “Mammoth” which is an evergreen like those poky shrubs we have at the end of our drive (I’ve forgotten the name) with an enormous fat trunk. “Other than that, it’s the image of her!…”

Yesterday was my first transgression. Or at least I hope it was my first! I wore my outside shoes in to eat, and Hannah said that both Emmanuel and Cornelia spied it, and were discussing it during lunch! They asked someone else to ask Hannah to ask me to please change my shoes before I come in. It was gracious and they were kind about it, but I felt bad! I wish I would have brought one more pair. (It’s not like I have scores and scores to choose from.) Those have been perfect for my work, they are waterproof, have traction, and good support for running or standing all day. Anyway, I had just been thinking that things have been going well, and there have been no problems. Oh dear. We both are trying to do everything right and adhere to their policies as much as possible.

I must to bed for now, and will write more tomorrow.

23rd January

It is another perfect spring day here! After the breakfast of Rosti, “Roosh-tee” which we know as hash browns, Daniela told me to be at the greenhouse at 8:15, and to bring my camera. When I arrived, there she was in a car with Rahel and Jana and Hannah! They would not tell us where they were taking us, and off she drove wildly. I soon caught on as we entered Mettmenstetten and started winding up a hill. There was a lovely view as we drove ever higher, and then…the mountains! The lighting was a photographer’s dream, and I snapped a lot of pictures. It was a frosty morning, and all the grass was dusted white. Then combining that with the morning light and smoke from the chalets below and sunshine on the snowy mountains… :] Ah. You could see they were as pleased as punch that I was so happy about my pictures.

Then I watered most of a greenhouse after making Snoonie, and arranged plants until lunch. Hannah and I are going exploring again for our break time.

25th January

My sister’s villainous hearts will get a charge out of what I am about to write. Yesterday as I was cleaning in the kitchen Sarah came up to me and said, “So Cornelia told me you would love to care for the chickens while I am gone to visit my family”. I stared at her blankly, hoping I had heard wrong. “Excuse me?” “Oh,” she said, “I guess you didn’t hear! I am going to see my family for a few days and I need you to care for the chickens and rabbits while I am gone!” Now, I love horses, cows, goats, cats, rabbits, sheep, whatever. But I hate chickens! It’s like someone asking me, “Do you mind watching my snakes for me for the weekend?” Ah well. I guess it is good for me! I don’t really like it, but it’s Ok. At least I do not have to enter the pen with the rooster.

Another thing that has been something to remember that I should do “with your whole heart unto the Lord” is the kitchen cleaning! Normally I would be off for a break right after lunch, (and only have to clean up about twice a week) but Hannah’s responsibilities keep her in the kitchen for another hour. In order that we can have a break together, I have been assigned to clean up the dishes every day. And I would 100 times rather cook a huge meal from scratch than clean up dishes. Ugh. So now I pray and hum while I sweep and wash and slide around the kitchen. (I can’t wear my shoes with traction, so I only have dress boots!) I must be honest about my humanity. I don’t just have this perfect attitude and think it’s fun just ‘cuz it’s Switzerland. (I said “just cuz?” to someone today, and they stared at me blankly. I had to explain the American slang!)

5:53 I just returned from putting the chickens to bed, and checking up on Rahel and Daniela. I got stuck by the lambs on the way back in - they are so cute and soft and sweet and gentle and I think my sister Martha should get one. I had the afternoon off today, and I planned on writing and writing, but then I called home instead and really talked with my sisters. I told the greenhouse crew that I would come out and help with fencing, but by the time I got off of the phone, it really was too late to get all muddy. So I stood there and entertained them. I actually was quite embarrassed, because I came bounding up all cheerfully at 5:15 (supper is at 6) and chirp, “OK, here I am, better late than never, what can I do?!!” and who should look up from the trench but Emmanuel (head of this mission, who probably didn’t even know I had the afternoon off)! Then 4 or 5 heads raised from the trench, and stared at me blankly, and I knew I had spoken English way too fast for them once again!

I have loved my work. It’s so nice to be outside all the time. It really is spring here, all the fields are really green, and it is usually sweatshirt weather. (Or “jumper” weather, as they call them.) Yesterday I watered over 2,000 primroses. I had lots of time to think and pray! It’s nice to have a combination of sitting down and working hard. Today for instance, I seeded many flats of flowers. I thank the Lord all the time for where I was placed!

We are headed to supper for now. I told Hannah if they could just discover protein they could cut the amount of mealtimes in half! The other night we ate all starches and carbs! Let me think, there were potatoes, rice, beans, noodles, fruit, and bread! Yup, I pray I don’t get fat here!

Aunt Martha came to visit us, so she was in and out as we worked the past couple of days. In the evening yesterday, Hannah and I went with Rahel and Daniela and Jana to Zug (“Tzu-gg”) to do some shopping. I spent about 100 Francs on gifts! It was so fun to walk around the city at night. I spied several coffee shops! :] We wandered around and laughed and crossed streets and took in every new thing, from street lights, to brand names that we have never seen before on store fronts, and of course the look of the people. Guys here are so greasy and creepy looking in the towns. Not at all the clean cut look like in the States. Women and their styles are the same, though, except for glasses. Very odd styles here. It was fun to check out all the natural toiletries and perfumes from France. I was very happy with the gifts I got, everything was practical and usable, as well as fun. No, I didn’t get you anything. :]

When we got back, Daniela fried up some eggs for us. (After I told them that Americans eat a lot of eggs, and yes, miss them, I found out that eggs here can be up to .60 a piece!) Then we sat in a little Snoonie room and talked and laughed until late. Aunt Martha appeared from the service downstairs and we took tea up to her room, as well as some croissants that I purchased in Zug. There we sang with her autoharp, read the Word, and prayed together before bed. Hannah and I talked until late. We always have so much catching up to do when we see each other at the end of the day!

After lunch today we were asked to sing for the guests and co-workers. (Eva heard us last week, and told the head honchos we should.) So while Martha played her auto harp, all three of us sang “Here is Love” and “Amazing Grace”. I loved being able to sing with all my heart again. Many people joined in on Amazing Grace. So many people here have heard the Bob Jones University choir, and wonder if we know them, or are a part of it.

So for our afternoon off we 3 went biking. I just LOVE the trails around here! We zig zagged up and down the neighboring hills, taking in the lovely scenery. You could hear the bells on the sheep ringing across the valley. We biked into Mettmenstetten (the closest village, about 1 ½ -2 miles away) and found the bake shoppe and a little store. Just as we passed under the quaint little church the bells began to chime. It was just like being in a Heidi storybook! Sometimes I practically have to pinch myself to believe that I am actually here! It is such a dream come true. Martha said the church is almost always in the center of the village.

Well, it is the evening service soon, and we have plans to visit the Hges right afterwards. (That is Heinz and Inge’s family.) Hannah and I were hoping to email beforehand, and Simon was going to help me send pictures, but we could not find anyone to unlock the office and enter the password for the computer! So hopefully we quickly can just after the service, and then I will send this too. This time it will not be as long as the past few have been! I just have not had the time to write. I think and pray for you all often, and love you.

So I had a long post...

And I did not save it to my card correctly. And here I am connected, and I do not have it! I will have to send it again soon. Hannah and I are headed to Hasliberg again until tomorrow. Scroll down a few pages, Simon helped me post lots of pics! You are all in my prayers and I miss you.

Of Snoonies and Tzfiries...

17th January

Tonight I am so tired! Hannah and I got to bed at a good time last night after we called and emailed our families, and slept as late as we could before breakfast, and it is a good thing I did, because I had a full day! It was lovely here, about 45F. I worked for the first part of the day with Daniela’s husband Thomas. He is a big dark German man like Matthias Marx, only maybe not quite so gentle, but still very kind.

We went to an old chalet shed (built probably 100 years ago) and while I was in the attic, Thomas handed up to me all the beekeeper paraphernalia to stack neatly. It took us a good hour to empty the little room, and then I swept it with a broom that looked like something a witch would use in an old fairytale. It really was rustic! Then for the next several hours I carried these huge empty casks (for apple cider) in their own little wooden crate over from a basement where he handed them up, to the little shed we cleaned, and stacked them 3 high. Thomas said the casks would hold about 25 liters, and I would guess we moved about 100 of them. It was a gorgeous day, and I was glad to be outside, especially with such a view of the mountains. I was grateful for the thorough workout as well! I had a good tired feeling when we finished, but I was also ready to stop. He was very sensitive to me, and kept asking me; “This work, it is not too much for you?” and he would tell me I do not need to hurry to keep up with him “because you are still a little bit sick”. He is twice my size, and was having fun teaching me High German. I am glad I learned so much low German from the Hutterites, but I am realizing how sloppy of a language it is! I can often get a general idea of what they are saying, and I am surprised how much the Hutterish comes back to me.

I was glad for Snoonie today! I worked some more with Thomas after the break, and Daniela had to call him to send me back to the greenhouse. She goes, “My husband likes to work with you. I had to call - send her back!!” I guess I am doing well because she and Rahel have commented several times how fast of a worker I am and how they have to rush to get things prepared for me. We three have so much fun in the greenhouses. Daniela is a real stinker and is always teasing, so I tease her back and then she threatens, “Ah, you wait. Tomorrow in the greenhouse, yes!” She came up to me today and asked if I had met Henry yet, then she began massaging my back with one of those palm massagers. I told her I really like Henry, before I even turned around! :] I was transplanting the rest of the day, and wore gloves since the rooting powder is so poisonous. Then she would feed me this wafer that Olga brought from Slovakia. It was from 1990. :P I guess that might be just as bad for me as the rooting powder? :] The grandpa (Grossfati) who works with us held up a little geranium to me this afternoon and said, “Ah! Americana!”

I have my little sparkly “HOPE” sign that I bought in the Christmas clearance at Menards hanging on my closet door. It is cheery, does not match the room, and always lifts my spirits. For as I told Cheryl (from lighting) when I held it up while buying it, “There is always hope with God!”.

Tonight Hannah and I are washing our laundry, Inge helped us figure out the machines with German instructions. We laughed and laughed in our room because as we were gathering our laundry I suddenly grabbed a skirt and covered all our clothing, saying, “Just in case she sees something that “needs to be washed in a certain Swiss way”. It was so true we could not stop laughing. They are SO definite how things should be done. And there is only ONE way to do it!

I have found out that speaking another language does not inhibit boys from teasing. They tease all over the world. :] When Hannah and I were cleaning up after lunch today, we were discussing the fact that they were making pizza for supper that evening. I told her, “Ah! You can learn to make Swiss pizza! I wonder if it is different than ours, I suppose it is authentic since they are close to Italy”. Simon (brother) was in the kitchen eating his lunch since he came back late from school and overheard us. He began: “Yes, it will have Swiss cheese, some China tomatoes, Spanish chicken, and Italian vegetables….” :] All of the cheese here is white, so it is difficult to distinguish from the other. Inge makes fresh cheese, and I am going to see if I can come in from the greenhouse and see how she makes it. It is soft and spread able like cream cheese, very delicate. I really like it for spreading on the bread that is forever served around here. Mom, I love your wheat bread.

In our free time this afternoon, Hannah and I took our Bibles and journals and walked up to a little bench on a hidden path that overlooks the mountains. It was warm and sunny, a sweatshirt was enough to keep us warm. It was simply lovely, and we talked for quite while before reading and writing. I was reading 1 Corinthians 13, and sitting and looking up at the mountains looming in front of me made this verse hit home: “…If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Love is patient and kind…it does not insist on it’s own way…Love bears all things, believes all things, HOPES (my sign!) all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” ESV

8:30 As fate would have it, we DID have problems with the washer and had to get Inge involved again. She was very nice about it, and helped us clean up the leaking water everywhere. :] We did nothing wrong, the only thing we can figure is that someone else tried opening the door. I love having Inge as my contact. She is so German. I told her that if she is going to be my German mama (as she tells everyone she is) she will have to hug and kiss me in the morning. I miss hugs here! Hannah’s contact is Mirjam, a young woman my age who is married and gentle and dark and tiny and has a sweet smile. Hannah works with her in the kitchen. Tonight I met a lady at our table named Elizabeth. She is older and single, warm, friendly and direct, and has strong features, and I hit it off with her right away. She has lived in Spain for 30 years and speaks a minimum of 5 languages. I feel so dense. Elizabeth will be on holiday here for 6 weeks, so I look forward to getting to know her better.

Tonight I was almost wishing I did not have to go to the evening service because I was so tired, but we decided to anyway. And who should walk in the door but one of my favorite people: Peter Lippuner! Remember the grandpa who stuffs whipped cream in his mouth? (I have a soft spot for people who like whipped cream…) He always has a twinkle in his eye, and he looked directly at me for most of his message. I felt a bit dimwitted, laughing a ½ minute later when the translation had come through and sunk in my brain. (Hannah said it was really loud, even with her earphones in. :D) He taught a really good message on Psalm 43. So many of the things he shared were just for my heart, and I thanked the Lord again for His incredible love for me.

I have panpipe music playing in our room this evening, I am SO glad for my music. I listen to music all the time at home, and if I did not have it, I do not know what I would do! I also brought back some snipped daisies from the greenhouse (they were throwing them out, “because it’s too early for daisies”) so those are all cheerful on our dresser. We have decorated our room with all sorts of things, and it is quite homey! We have those in wall bookcases I love, and I have pictures, perfume, candles, and postcards on them now. Hannah’s shelf was bare, so I decorated that, too. :] We have our window opened wide for mountain air, and are just relishing our rest and time together. I tell you, I have never loved sleep so much. Our days are crammed FULL, and there is nothing like coming home completely tired, and just unwinding with quiet time, music, prayer and fresh air. :]

18th January

I try to remember during the day all the little things that are different here from the US. They really decorate the food, at lunchtime today, they had a heart cut out of red beet laid on top of the pan of fish. Yesterday they had carrot peels curled on top of some veggies. Hannah said that the plates have to be spotless before they lay the food on and decorate it.

The weather is lovely today! We have our wash out on the balcony. I am planning on going for a run just as soon as Hannah gets back from the kitchen. We try to take our breaks together. Today I have had a variety of projects in the greenhouse. I am always preparing and planting little cuttings in big flats, and this afternoon I will be working with Ivy. I have to make 600 cuts, and then plant them. It’s a fairly easy job, I am working alone in a warm greenhouse with a stool, Swiss knife, the plants, and my thoughts.

I have officially be put in charge of Snoonie and Zfirie. (Those are our 10 and 4 o’clock feedings.) I have to boil the water, get the table ready and cleaned up, and run to the kitchen for our snack food.

Our English is so very full of slang! I only realize it when they ask the direct translation of a word, or what would be the best way to phrase a sentence. Then I have to speak properly! Pia asked us what is the difference between envy and jealousy, and how would we use the words in what ways. It makes you think! I am always teaching them new words, they remember the English much faster than I do the German!

There is a person here that I feel very much like Anne Shirley and Catherine Brook with! There are amazing similarities, and I feel sorry for them. They do not have to be the way they are! I have made it my goal to win them over, and be a friend to them, and am praying towards that as well. People are people, no matter where you are!

Hannah and I did run, it felt so good! There is a youth weekend going on right now, several young people from about 2 hours away and closer have to come help out. So after supper we had our usual gathering, and then some games. It was fun, I had to do a lot of guessing what to do because no one near me could translate well. We numbered off and then stood in two lines facing the same direction. Simon Stucki had different ideas how to pass the tennis ball behind us, racing the other team. (Like over the head, under the foot, a funny twist, under the legs.) A lot of adults got involved too, and they were all shrieking with laughter. Then Grandma Lippuner (whose parents started Bellevue) shared how she and her husband started Guetli. She was just the cutest little thing! She sat all smiling on a chair, dressed in cream and white linen with a scarf wrapped around her neck. Her hair was twisted up in a French twist the way they do, and she just looked so angelic. I heard that she travels a lot to many countries to share their story and the gospel. It was an interesting story, although I was very tired. We did not get to bed until midnight.

19th January

I am so tired. We worked very hard all day. At breakfast after my morning hug and kiss, :] Inge told me that she asked Daniela for me, so I could work with her for one day. She is so cute, and likes me so well, which is a good thing. I don’t know what I ever did to merit her love, but since we are attached until the end of my stay, I’m glad. :] We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned all day. There are many guest rooms here that needed to be thoroughly scrubbed and prepared, and then there was all the Saturday cleaning. We have three large main buildings here on the compound, and they have long halls and flights and flights of stairs to be washed and tons of décor that needs to be dusted, so that was my duty today. The guest rooms are incredible! I also washed many windows. It’s a good thing for me that Ursula taught me to clean so well. What would I ever have done the rest of my life, had I not known how to clean a shower Swiss style? :] I miss her, she and her husband are on a holiday.

After Tsfirie, I went back to the greenhouse, and we scrubbed the glass covers that you put on the outside beds for protection and sunshine. It has been some time since that was done! I was feeling myself beginning to crash, and prayed God would help me finish. I know if I would have told them I wasn’t doing well they would have let me off, but I didn’t want to. I suppose it is pride, but I hate the fact that I am not completely healthy. I want to work as long as they do, they are all so big and healthy and strong, and just go and go! But I do have physical limitations, and need to work with it, and remember and thank the Lord that I am so much better than I was last year at this time! At supper, however, I was simply staring into space, and decided to skip the evening service, and opted for my bedroom. I took a hot shower, and after I am done writing here I am going to hit the sack.

OK, speaking of supper, I have something funny to tell you. A few days ago in the greenhouse Rahel asked me if I ever eat tacos. I described what they are, what they consist of, and how you eat them. (Soft, hard, as a burrito, or as a haystack.) Well, tonight when we all sat down to eat, Marcel (he is a man in his 30’s, was saved through their witness, and is one of the youth leaders….he works out in the greenhouse sphere) announced to the group that “tonight we have something very special to eat…Tacos!” He then asked Naughty Nattie to come up and demonstrate how to assemble one. Then, in German, Nattie walked us through how to make a taco. Hannah and I were stifling laughter, however, because the ingredients on the buffet table were as far from tacos as I have ever seen! It was more like a conglomeration you would find in a falafel in Israel! Other than tortillas that Hannah made in the kitchen (completely authentic), and some shredded lettuce and a tomato sauce, nothing was the usual. :] We had applesauce, corn salad, soup, red beets, plums, dried pears, shredded parmesan cheese, quark, and jam. Oh yeah! And egg salad. :] I just chuckled and chuckled while I assembled my “taco”. And everyone was so into it and talking about it, and getting helping after helping. :] Quark is something I never had before I came here, it is a dairy product along the lines of yogurt or Kefir. I would place it in a taste between yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, and cream cheese. It is heavier than yogurt, and grainy, and very very sour. I love my yogurt tart, but this is inedible if you do not add fruit. I do love the good bacteria, and eat it whenever it is out. I wonder if we can get the starter in the States.

It’s so nice to have my last name pronounced correctly. I don’t have to say, “Gawin, the “w” is pronounced like a “v”. They start out saying it right!

Today after lunch I went to sit in the sun for a bit with Inge and her 3 daughters Mirjam (21) , Julia (14) and Christina (12). As I poured myself a cup of coffee to take out with me, Rahel came up and wrapped her arms around me, laughing, “Where coffee is, there is Rrrebecca!!” They have gotten to know me already! I think that is why I am in charge of the coffee/tea time. It is OK with me! Cornelia was talking to me last night, and telling me how she would love to open a coffee house, and knows just the place. There is a lovely abandoned building on a lake facing the mountains that she thinks would be perfect. Perhaps I will have to come back and help them start one?

And another thing…they found out that I am seamstress, and about 6 of the girls and ladies want me to teach them how to sew. We have to plan a day to go into the village and get some fabric. They have about 5 machines, 2 sergers, and 2 industrial irons. It should be fun. Can’t you just see me trying to explain everything very simply, and hearing it translated into something totally different? :] Sometimes I get so frustrated inside and just want to be understood! I feel like an idiot, acting everything out! :]

I want a backrub.

I should describe some more of the people to you. You know Grandpa Lippuner, (whipped cream man) and his wife (the angel that shared last night) and their son is Emmanuel. He has a twinkle in his eye like his father and is smiley and gentle. He and his wife Cornelia are always in demand, and very busy. Cornelia is adorable. She is very thin and lanky, yet has a turned up nose and is a little spacey. I think it is because there is always so much on her mind. She dresses in elegant European clothing and wears flowers in her twisted up hair and always has an exotic scarf around her neck. They have two daughters, Lydia (17) is studying law in a nearby village, and is pink cheeked, sensible, and sweet. Tabitha (14) is the intense one, and gets on her mom’s nerves a lot, much to our amusement. It’s funny how much you know without understanding the words. :] Tabitha is…well, she has lots of personality, and sometimes doesn’t know when to stop. :]

Inge’s daughters are beautiful. She and her husband Heinz both have wide sets eyes and high cheek bones, and their girls inherited it. I think Mirjam looks like a model, and she is very nice too!

Sarah (20) is another beauty, and as sweet as Letha Wurtz. She is simple, wears dreadful clothing, and has a dark complexion. I can’t imagine what she would look like all fixed up. She reminds me very much of a Jewish girl, her eyes are dark, lined with black lashes, and her cheeks are rosy. She often translates for us, and is very good at it! I really really like her - such a sweet and sincere person you rarely meet.

Ulrich (28) reminds me of a wolf. He is Romanian looking, has very dark skin, and keen gray eyes. And he has a smile that’s like the sun finally peeking over the horizon. It just suddenly lights up his face. I like him because he always visits with me at a table where everyone else is speaking German. His fiancée is in Ethiopia, and he is waiting for his Visa so he can be a missionary in Tanzania. Then they will marry and work there together. He said he fell in love with her the first time he saw her. The men wear rings here if they are engaged, I really like that.

Rahel’s (29) brother Simon (28) looks pretty Swiss, but also reminds me of a Russian ice skater. He just has that European look. He loves languages, and studies and teaches school in German, French or English at any given time. Their last name is Stucki, and when I told them how American’s would say it, they really laughed. Try “Sch-took-ch-ee”. I really like Rahel. She is mature without being old maid-ish, and has a great laugh. She feels like a big sister.

There are two more 28 year old Rebecca’s here! One is Rebecca Seigfried, Thea’s sister. She is small and sweet and quiet and works in the flower shop. She always dresses very nice and wears lovely scarves. And Rebecca Kaufman is also very tiny and dark with enormous brown eyes and works in the kitchen. For the life of me, I have no idea why they are single. So if any of you men speak German and want a good wife, I know of a few…

Then there is Esther, who always has her eyebrows pinched, I have grown to really like her, and we can connect although she doesn't speak any English, and Annaliese. She has lovely hair and dresses nice, and really is a nice person, but totally spinster. She understands a lot, but does not speak English.

The kitchen women work so hard! I feel bad for Hannah. It is just non-stop work, I do not know how they do it. I thank the Lord over and over again for putting me in the gardens. Not only do I love the people I work with, but the work is good for me; a combo of gentle things and good exercise. Hannah and I took a brisk walk today, and tried to catch up on each other’s lives. I feel like I hardly see her!

21st January

I have only a short time to be able to write now, but I want to tell you about yesterday! We went to a conference about The Mission on the Nile that was held in Suhr. We rode with Eva (the cheerful interpreter) and her good friend of 21 years, Rita. (Marguerita.) I asked them, “how long have you been friends, 22 years?” and as Rita corrected me and told me it was 21, Eva mumbled under her breath, “22 would be one too many!” They made Hannah and I laugh all the day long. They both are so opinionated and you can tell that they have been through thick and thin together. Rita was driving her car (and was she whizzing along!) and Eva had the map. You didn’t need to understand German to know when they were being sassy or arguing! Finally Rita says in English, “OK, you’re the boss… and I’ll do what I want!”

The drive was lovely, it was the first I have been out of the Guetli since we went to Hasliberg. As Eva saw me trying to photograph out the window, she and Ritz decided that on the way home we would take a scenic route so I could get good pictures. She likes photography as well, and she said it broke her heart to look at me. Thank God for kindred spirits! Most people just don’t get it about needing a good picture! :]

Aunt Martha met us there, and for most of the day she translated all the messages for us. She cracks me up. Right in the middle of a sermon when she was interpreting she pauses and says in her forthright way, “You’re thin, Hannah. A bit too thin”. I started laughing, and then she poked me. (I told her I am a bit too soft, and she disagreed and kept translating.) About 6 different people shared (including Ulrich and Grandma Lippuner) about the different places in Africa they are working in, and several of them showed some slide shows. It was very interesting.

Regula Thyssen sat with us, she is a single lady that works in the offices for the mission just down the road from Guetli. She was telling us that she is a Obstetrics and Gynecology doctor, she had been studying for over 10 years, and not long before she was done, she felt the Lord leading her to missions and left it all to work in the office as a secretary! That just blew my mind. She said it is helpful to know about medicine in her work, because she often has to order medical things for the mission, and she knows just what they need. Regula is often here at Guetli and is small and shy like Carolyn Sykora and usually looks a little startled.

They had an afternoon break for coffee and desserts, and you should have seen all the dozens of desserts they had out! Hannah and I made an agreement that we each should get several different kinds so we could try them all. When we came back to the table we started laughing because we had been quite zealous. Hannah told me to “eat it quick, so there is not so much on our plates!!” Aunt Martha in her practical way explained to Regula, “We just want to try many of these delicious Swiss desserts” and Regula nodded seriously as she took a bite from her one piece and eyed our three plates, “I see.” It was so embarrassing. Hannah leaned over to me and said, “Since we never get dessert at Guetli, we really live it up here when we can!” I felt so sick afterwards, it has been a while since I had any refined sugar like that! We took a short walk down the street then, it was a perfect day, and many people were walking, running or biking. There was a small brook that ran along the roadside. I tried to get some pics of the homes so you could see a typical Swiss village.

The drive home was wonderful. We took Martha back to Bern which was more than an hour out of our way, and we had a race against the sun to find a good spot to take pictures of the Alps. You should have seen those two in the front chattering away and driving and navigating quickly up and down these windy back roads. So much of the territory here is so much like Wisconsin! We saw two castles on our excursion, and many amazing homes. We finally found a spot in Emmenthal where we could just take in the sunset over the mountains. The moon is almost full, and smoke was coming out the chimneys below. I took as many pictures as possible before it got too dark. I am amazed at how that camera can take such good low light pictures! Thanks, Pa.

After it was dark Martha, Hannah and I sang our hearts out the rest of the way to Bern. It has been so long since I have been able to sing in English, and loudly. It felt good. :] When we got to the home where Martha works, she gave us a quick tour, and then took us to her tiny room and in 5 minutes flat had whipped up a soup and served that with bread. The rest of the ride home Rita and Eva had us laughing, and when they stopped for fuel, Hannah and I ran into the gas station to look around. We were like children, gazing in wonder at it all!! Rita came in and barged her way in front of us and purchased the Rivella that we were going to buy! She is too sweet.

On the way back we saw a large IKEA store, and a Mammut store as well!

When we got home, Hannah and I got tea and some cups in the kitchen, then went to our room, opened the window wide, lit a candle, put on some music, and ate the little snacks that Martha sent home with us as well as our Rivella. It felt so good to have our own little party and talk and laugh together.

I should be very good at the game Taboo when I get home. :] For almost everything I say, I have to think of at least two more ways to get it said so I am understood. I can’t just say, “I’m going to say good morning to the flowers!” I have to break it down. I am glad to have Hannah here so I can just be understood if I need to be, and also to talk as fast as I want under my breath. She has been such a blessing to me!!

I must close this now so I can get Simon to help me with my flash card, but I will write about today in the next post. I feel like I am having a one sided conversation when I post. I usually tell my sisters everything in person, and we sit in gales of laughter and discuss it. But on here, I just put it out there for all to see, and unless you happen to comment on something, I feel like I am doing all the talking. :]

A Sunday in Switzerland...and maybe a Mon-Wed too!

Sunday, 13th January

“Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, a great High Priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart, I know that while in heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me every guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Saviour died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the Just is satisfied, to look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the Risen Lamb, our perfect spotless Righteousness! The great unchangeable I AM, the King of Glory and of Grace. One with Himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood, my life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my Saviour and my God.”

That song has been on my heart this morning. I am amazed that you can be in another country, with different trees, different music, different food, different styles, different everything, and the bond in Christ is so strong that you feel like family because of mutual love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I really enjoyed the church service this morning. There is a large meeting room in the basement of the main building called “The Zurichhaus”. That is the same building as the kitchen, dining area, laundry, offices, phone booths, store, and many guest rooms. (I have yet to learn the long and complicated name of our building!)

There is a lady here named Eva that is in charge of always making sure we understand what is going on. Hannah always laughs when I call her our “cheerful interpreter”. She is tall and plump and jolly and always full of energy and smiles, and just the sort of Swiss mama you could just run and hug at any time. She is graying, and has her hair swept up in a French twist all the time, and is often covered in white paint, since she helps with the renovations. This morning she sat in another room, and we wore earphones so we could hear her interpretation. Several of the girls in our row are trying to learn English better, so they wore them along with us, because you can hear the German pretty well too. I knew the tunes to many of the songs we sang, and stumbled along with the German words. We sang “God Himself is present”, and that Russian song we sing; I can’t recall the name right now.

Breakfast was very light and refreshing, and I had my first cup of coffee! I was SO happy for it, and while I think it was just a strong cup of Nescafe, it was very welcome. They heat up milk (from our own cows here) in a metal pitcher with a steam wand as there is on an espresso machine. We ate yogurt, and there are oats and fresh fruit and honey available to mix in if wanted. On the tables we had brown bread and challah like Mom makes! These Swiss eat ALL the time!! I’m serious, you think they would all be roly-poly. (If our guests think WE feed them a lot, they should come to Switzerland!) Breakfast is normally at 7:15, then they eat tea and snacks at 10, (called Snoonie) lunch is at 12:15, and snack and tea again at 4, then dinner at 6. Snacks consist of tough bread and cheese, delicious butter (in a Mackenzie tone) and nuts or unknown pastries. We are going away to the Alps today through Tuesday, so we will not be in the normal schedule until next week. When I know it better I will send it.

I would appreciate your prayers, I have had a lot of pain. I wish with all of my heart I had made it a priority to go to my doctor in MO to get a new prescription of my meds. I have been on antibiotics for 17 months, and just was weaning myself off of them in the end of December. Since I have not been down to MO for a year, (and have only had phone check ups,) Dr. Crist could not refill them. He recommended I try a natural product called Lauricidin, which I brought with me. I think I may be having a Herxheimer (a reaction that Lymes patients get from meds) because I feel like the old days! Last night I had such pains in my legs and lower back that it woke me up and I laid awake for over 2 hours trying to ignore the pain and fall back to sleep. I wanted to call Mom so badly! :] Instead I prayed myself to sleep, and in the morning when I told Hannah, she pulled out some Advil for me! I am so grateful she brought some along, because of all the stuff I remembered, pain pills were not one of them. It has been so long since I have needed them, I am so much healthier than I used to be!

Hannah and I are going to take a long hike after lunch before we leave for the mountains. I hope to take a number of pictures then. Up until now, my time has been so filled I have not had a chance. Everyone works so hard here, it is humbling to sit down to a fancy meal I have not prepared, and just enjoy it! I am not used to that. We will have kitchen duty about twice a week now, and I keep telling them to let me know when I need to help, because I cannot decipher the German schedule. :] I am not sure if I will be able to send pictures until maybe we are at the Toblers, because I cannot connect with my computer! That is a huge frustration because if I could, I would be able to upload them quite easily and email a lot more. Last night Simon (who is the brother of Rahel - the girl I live and work with) helped me be able to post on my blog. Thankfully he speaks English quite well, and had a flash card, so he saved my file, and then transferred it to the German computer, a feat that would have taken me hours. :] I kept telling him how relieved I was, and would he PLEASE promise to be at Guetli for as long as we are here so he can help me. :] Hannah is always making me laugh at myself. He didn’t understand me, and thought I wanted him to sit next to me while I emailed, which made us laugh all the more. Sometimes the miscommunications can be quite hilarious! Rahel and Simon have been my favorites so far.

Hannah and I have always been just a tad late at meals, so this morning we decided to be about 10 minutes early. Unfortunately the Zurichhaus was locked when we arrived without our jackets, so we had to knock. Zita opened the door for us, and called us very friendly girls. Zita is SO funny, I really like her and her husband. She looks all tired and worn out like someone who has been a missionary in Africa too many years, or maybe would act the part of Miriam in a movie about Moses. Her skin is olive and her hair gray, and she looks sober, but has such a spunky personality. She often interprets for us, and teases us too. Her husband reminds me of Toby Nelson, and is always all smiles. He has a twinkle in his eye, and was one of the first to come up and greet us when we arrived.

8:21pm

I have Ein Straussfest playing as I write this. Oh my, just when I think I have caught up, a million and one things happen all over again, and I have so much to tell you. First of all, I have to describe my current surroundings to you. Imagine a lovely resort in the top of snow capped mountains, a chalet style hotel all white with dark red trim. We are in Hasliberg, at the Bellevue Hotel. It is a sister place to Guetli, and only a one hour drive away. This is where the ministry began many years ago…

OH! I just remembered something! Remember when I said that Zita looked like a tired missionary from Africa? I found out today that she was a missionary in Ethiopia for 14 years!!!!! I laughed so hard when I heard that, but could not let on why. (Hannah was in on the joke.) That same incident happened with a lady I met in Israel once. I told Anna the same thing about her, and we found out she had been a missionary as well. Lord, keep me fresh if I am a missionary overseas. :]

Anyway, back to Bellevue. This weekend the mission is hosting a retreat for the staff of Guetli. (They call themselves co-workers.) They brought Hannah and I along so we could see it, and help in the kitchen for a few days. The drive up here was amazing, it simply took my breath away. There is something about the Alps that is holy. Really, you just look at them, and feel a stillness inside. They are so huge and old and grand and wise and timeless, and you feel so little and insignificant when they loom down at you. It makes you want to shout for joy and weep all at once, and as I stood on one of the balconies this afternoon, unbidden, came to my mind: “I will lift my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth.” Psalm 121:1,2.

As we rode along the road, 6 women packed in a steamy car, I attempted to take pictures. It reminds me of taking pictures at a wedding, you miss the real event because you are recording it behind a viewfinder. Every turn of the road was more incredible than the last, and I was so frustrated to be taking them out a WINDOW! Pa would have had a fit. There are absolutely no turnoffs on these roads as they wind thinly through the mountains. And Pia was not acting like it was anything amazing, or at least not worth stopping for. Hannah and I kept gasping, and all I could do was GRIN, realizing that I am truly in Switzerland, seeing these Alps, another dream come true. The lakes are the most incredible color, an unusual combination of green and blue. As we came up the mountains, it was so fun to see the snow start sticking to the trees and ground, and then suddenly, the sun broke through the clouds, and glistened off of the highest peaks. I think God did it just for us, because even the Swiss pointed and commented on how unusual it was. It was a fairy wonderland, the narrow road winding ever upwards, tall pines on each side, mist shrouding the mountains, and little chalets tucked in here and there. Then the air turned an amazing color. It was an ethereal blue fog, like something from CS Lewis or Tolkien’s books. It glowed all alive, and I am SURE that heaven will have that hue somewhere. I really have no words to describe what happened. It was breathtaking.

When we finally pulled in, and hopped out of the car, I snapped as many pictures as I dared before turning to help the others carry our luggage in. (I am so glad I brought that small empty duffle.) As soon as we arrived, it was Zfirdie, the four o’clock eating time. Of course, even if you are not hungry, you would never dream of missing Zfirdie, so we had coffee and Linzer Torte, a classic from this country. :] Then we were put to work cleaning the hotel for all the guests. All the usual housework, scrubbing bathrooms, dusting, changing sheets on the down comforters, and vacuuming. Or as they call it, “Hoovering”. :] I just had to throw back my head and laugh, thinking if only Kevin could see where I am now, he would be soooo jealous! I mean, right out the window of this classy hotel, decorated all beautifully with Swiss décor, are these amazing mountains that you only see in picture books! I feel like I went back in time, or am in a Heidi storybook.

I was quite exhausted when we stopped for supper, and ate in the staff dining room in the basement. The guests were in the lovely glassed in dining room upstairs facing the mountains. They are really into centerpieces here. Even in on our little snack table in the greenhouse, they light a candle and spread greenery around it. For the dining rooms, they make fancy ones out of things from the florist shop. Hannah and I commented later on how we could not believe we only met those people today, we really felt like we have known them for a long time. They would speak a mixture of German and English to us, and so many have told us that they were so excited when they heard we were coming, so that we could teach them more English. (Hannah is dying laughing at my old French music. She says it is corny. I had nothing else fitting, now that my Strauss ended!) Some of the words we get mixed up make us laugh and laugh. I have to tell you about Ursula. She pronounces it “Ooo-sell-ah”. She is so very funny, and makes us laugh all the time. She is older and married, but somehow is very childlike and asks forthright questions in impossible ways. She teases us, and is always instructing us about Swiss ways and culture, and wants to learn English better. She is a character to say the least, and so I have begun teasing her back. She thinks it is so funny. She wanted Hannah and I to go in and make the beds look nice, and as she was searching for her words, we said in unison: “make the beds all fluffy?” and she got a look of horror on her face. Here she thought we said that we were going to make them dusty. :] She was wearing a traditional Swiss costume today, and always wears her hair in a sideways twist/bun. She gave me step by step instructions how to clean a shower Swiss style this evening. (Like I have never cleaned a shower before. I can assure you, we do it the same in the States.)

I have something else very special to tell you - earlier at Guetli we took a walk with another Tabea “Tuh-bay-ah“ (who is here on weekends) because I was dying to just get outside, and she showed us an amazing trail. I am SO excited, it is perfect for going on a run, and is all secluded, framed by trees on one side, fields on the other, and a brook running alongside most of it. It looks just like the brook in The Sound of Music. You can also see the snow capped mountains in the distance. I asked several people, there are no wild animals or strange men to worry about, so Pa and Mom can rest in peace. I did see three dogs, though, a mixture of Chow Chow and St. Bernard. :P Hannah and I have an agreement: I protect her from cats, and she protects me from dogs. Mom, I saw one of those dreadful German shepherds you think so beautiful. Anyway, this trail is right beside Guetli, so I do not have to worry about exercising on the roads. They are not very pedestrian friendly here, weaving quite fast around bikers and walkers. It will be ideal for me, and I think I will have free time in the afternoons right after lunch. (Who wants to run after lunch?)

Guetli is pronounced “Goo-it-lee” by the way. Do I write too many details? Ah well, this is really as much my journal as anything else, no matter to me if you do not read it. :] I will not be able to always write so much. I am on page 4 since my last post! I have to tell you about Dorothea. She is the sister (here in Bellvue) of Rebecca Siegfried in Guetli, and is a real character. She has tons of personality, and is always cracking jokes, and loves to play pranks. She wants us all to play a prank on the guests tomorrow. They pronounce her name “Dora-tay-ah” and call her Thea. We also met a Nathaniel, whom they call “Naughty Nattie” (looks just like Roman Troyer) and a boy named Damian from the Black Forest. He is another real personality. All the young people are so friendly. Education is huge in Switzerland, and it is not unusual for them to be single into their 30’s. When I told them that most of my circle at home is married with at least 2-4 kids, they were amazed.

I have a huge day tomorrow, cooking all day for many people, so I must close. I feel pretty adjusted to the time change, and am very ready for bed. I hope I will have more time to write tomorrow, and to take many more pictures.

14th January 8:24pm

I am so very tired, we had a full day. I am not fully used to the time change, so I laid awake until 2am last night. I knew I would have a long day today, and willed myself to sleep. Ah well. I kept getting up and looking out the window because we have a fabulous view of the mountains, and they were framed in the dim moonlight last night. The stars were brilliant! The air is so crisp and clean up here, it has been no adjustment. :] We have one of those little chalet balconies…uh huh. :]

We met in the kitchen at 7am, and cooked and cooked and cooked all day. Simone (“Sim-moan-aye”) and Thea (“Tay-ahh”) and Nicola (“Nick-coal-ahh”) were the girls we worked with. There are many guests staying in the Bellevue Hotel besides all of the Guetli staff, and because they eat 5 times a day, that makes for many many dishes, food, and constant clean up. We made all kinds of Swiss food, I will have to make some for you when I get home. Pa would like the industrial dish washer - it cleans the dishes in about 2 minutes flat. Perhaps next year? :] There is a man here who came to Bible School here 30 years ago, and is a farmer. He is sorta a dude and has fluffy hair that stands straight up and I think he is married but does not have a ring. Anyway, he will just chatter away to me in German (usually I have no idea what he is saying ) and I chatter back happily (and he doesn‘t know what I am saying). It’s funny. But anyway, I have to state this: The Swiss are SO particular how things should be done. If Pa thinks I am picky about things, he should see these people! This guy in particular - I can’t remember his name because it is complicated and I have been faced with about 50 new ones in the past 4 days - makes me feel so incompetent in the kitchen. Somehow I never dry the dishes quite right, or stack them weird, or something. It’s so strange to see men be so particular about how things should be done, especially inside. And if anyone is familiar with a kitchen, it is me! But I do like the way the men pitch in and help at different times, even the dads.

I think I am catching on to the way they think here: When in doubt, eat bread and cheese! Those are their main staples here, especially in the mountains. We had it for all 5 meals today. I love all the little creamy spreads. Tonight for dinner we made Raculette and cheese Fondue! Then we got to eat in the dining room with all the guests and the girl next to me named Elisa showed me step by step instructions how the Swiss do it. :] It was the Gerber fondue cheese, very winy and rich and salty, and that combined with the warm room, made Hannah and I glad to go back down to the cool kitchen. It was so nice to see those amazing mountains out of the windows all day as we worked. I am glad I do not have to always be in the kitchen while I am here, too many days of that would drain me so fast. The water from the faucet is icy cold, right from the glacier. I had to use a scoop to get the lettuce out of the sink I was soaking it in.

Auntie Martha came to see us today. It was so nice to have her here, and we decided to go sledding (or tobogganing as they call it) during our break. I know, it’s not the most relaxing way to recover from our 10 hour shift of being on our feet, but it was sooo fun! We found these cute little sleds in one of the chalets, and Tabea showed us a good trail. It was right next to a wonderful mountain stream. I have never heard that sound while sledding before! Martha went on and on about what an excellent sledder I am, and wondered how I could steer. You see, on one side of the trail were trees, and the other was the brook. Then we had to be sure to stop in time, or we would have gone right off of the cliff at the bottom. (I know Mom is loving this.) But it was the most amazing view I have ever gone sledding by! Right in front of us is a Glacier, and the crystal blue just shines in the sunshine. The mist in the mountains suddenly boils up from the valley below, and can completely hide the mountain, and then a moment later, it is gone. I am taking lots of pictures. Anyway, Martha gets down on a sled in her skirt and tights, asks how to steer, and as off she goes, she sighs, “Ah well, praise God”. She makes me laugh so hard! We took a walk when we were done, and she convinced a little old man to have us in his barn to see the Brown Swiss. :] It was adorable to say the least. On our way back to our room to change, some of the staff began throwing snowballs at us. I feel like I have been here for soooo long! I have not talked to anyone from home, I have not been able to email, and our days are so full that it really feels like I have been here a month. I mean it! I told Inge I like her voice, and she said that I better, because she is practically my mother right now! (She is my “contact”.) She is very German. Strong, tall, sober, and with intense eyes. I like her a lot.

I have loved working with Thea. She has such a servants heart, and works tirelessly. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met! She is always happy and smiling, optimistic and a servant. I would love to have her and Rebecca come and visit our family someday.

Just a random observation. A roomful of people chattering over a meal in German sounds just the same as a roomful of American’s chattering. Profound, I know.

Tomorrow we work in the kitchen again, probably the same as today, and then we go back to Guetli in the afternoon. I am hoping to be able to email then! Perhaps I will write more tomorrow. For now I am headed to bed and to have some quiet time.

15th January

I want to write something quick before I go down to the office to (hopefully) send this. It has been another long day. The people here work quite hard, so we do too! I told Hannah there is no worry that we will live life to the full while here. If we don’t know how, they will fill our lives for us! :] I feel so very far away from Gloria Jeans and Menards right now. I miss talking to my family too. I guess they would have called me if they had wanted to hear my voice by now, though. :]

We started the day early again, and today we cooked for 80 people. Because it is a restaurant, everything has to be perfect. I have never felt so incompetent in a kitchen! Americans are very “whatever”, I have found. What a neat experience, though, to be cooking in a hotel in the Swiss Alps! I feel like I have arrived and been thrown right into life here. I am getting to know the people much better, and remembering a lot of names. We had one ½ hour break today, the rest of the time we were cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. On our break we took a walk. I love the clean mountain air.

Thea and I had a talk as we scooped ice cream into 80 dishes. :] We were discussing the difference in our cultures. While the Swiss are friendly and warm, they are not as “open and happy and laughing and friendly” as Thea described me. (She thinks I laugh funny.) Sometimes I have felt foolish as Hannah and I dissolve into laugher over some misinterpreted word, or something that happened, but Thea said they like it, they are just not that way like we are. She did say, though, that once you have made a friend here, you have it for life. They are not very affectionate, either. I have had difficulty telling who is married to whom, because the husband and wives never touch or hold hands, and do not necessarily sit together. Americans are very different in that way.

The young people we worked with wanted to sing a German song for all the staff after Zfirdie, and we sang with them after a few practices. Then Hannah and I sat at the table with the founder (Peter Lippuner) of this mission. He is the cutest Grandpa ever, and is retired now. He was stuffing desserts piled high with whipped cream in his mouth in such a way that made Hannah and I laugh at him. He sensed it, and performed even more, and then told us jokes until our sides ached with laughing. Pia came up to us and told us we were leaving then, and as we had not packed yet, we high tailed it to our room. We rode home in a 15 passenger bus with about 10 other ladies. The guy that was driving was just racing down the mountainside on this narrow wet road singing loudly in German. It was funny until we hit the fog and then I started to get carsick. :P :] But before that point, it was the most charming drive! It was dusk, and as we came down the mountain you could see all the lights in the village below, and the mist over the lake. I practically had to pinch myself that I was in such a circumstance. All of them were chattering away around me, occasionally giving me a geography and history lesson of the area we were in.

After we came back to our cozy little room, I saved all my pictures, emptied my card, (and suitcase) and began writing on here to be able to catch up before I go and email! You should all be very grateful for the ease of internet access in the States. I feel very far away. Life is so simple here. It feels in many ways like we have stepped back in time. This weekend is a youth weekend, many young people are coming here to work for 2 days, and have meetings. I think we are going to jump back into work life here, so I would appreciate your prayers that I can physically keep up. I feel like such a wimp compared to these strong German woman! I slept much better last night. I miss you all, and would love to hear from you. Have a wonderful day there in the States. :]

16th January

Last night I was able to talk to Pa for a while, we finally connected! Once I am here longer perhaps I can figure out better when I can call and email and such.

This is our first real day here! Breakfast is at 7:15, and after that is a short devotional time. Then I have about 15-20 minutes until I have to be at the greenhouse, and some days of the week I will have dishes to do. But on the days I do not I can come back to my room and change into grungy clothing, read my Bible, and maybe type a little. We have a time to discuss the day’s work with prayer in the greenhouse. Daniela was a little freaked out that she had to try and explain it all in English! Rahel helps to translate, though. I work with those two, mainly, which I am very glad for, because I like them a lot. Simon (not Rahel’s brother) works there several days a week, and also a little Grandpa from the village comes and helps from about Snoonie on. I love being in the greenhouse! It’s hard to dress for, though, because at times you are on your knees on concrete in one of the cold greenhouses, and other times you are standing up in the hot one! I layer a lot, but wish I had more cuddle duds or could wear pants. They don’t, though, and I do not want to offend, so I just save those for exercise.

I am slowly learning the ropes now, and am feeling more at home. This afternoon I knelt and picked the dead leaves and nice flowers off of a long row of pansies with Simon. It was fun to figure out ways to communicate. Hannah and I were noticing that because we have to break down the complexity of a lot of words in order to be understood we talk to each other like preschoolers! :] So if my letters home go downhill in literacy, that is why! (I am feeling very American right now listening to Simon and Garfunkel.) Lunch is at 12:15, and after that I have a break until 2:15. Hannah and I are going to go exercise when she returns to our room. Down that lovely path…:]

Right now, I miss Mom and Mallory and Caleb the most. I don’t know why, and it’s rather a random group, but there you have it. :] And I would give all my Swiss chocolate for one of Leah or Keith’s hugs right now. Or maybe a backrub? These are not very touchy people! (We keep getting chocolate for welcome gifts and as thanks.)

I need to tell you about Tabitha. (“Debb-ita”) She is Emmanuel and Cornelia’s daughter, and has a LOT of personality. German does not inhibit her ability to communicate! :] She attached herself to me the first night, inviting herself to my room and ooing and ahhing over all my pictures and stuff. She is 14, very lanky, and is intense. (I would say like my sister Martha, but she would not like that, so I will not say it.) :] Today she spied me entering the dining room, and insisted I sit with her. Then I had to keep reminding her to translate for me. She is very distracted. She thinks my age is so funny and unfitting and informs it to everyone. :]

It is gray and rainy today, but clear enough that I can see the mountains. I love the way the snow just suddenly starts, boom, it’s there. I am so very sorry that this will be so long. I think I have nine pages here. Hmm, what else can I tell you about how it is different? The TP here is brown and rough, and they don’t seem to believe in tissues or napkins. I guess they are neat eaters and their noses never run. The weather makes my hair quite curly.

In a few moments, Simon is coming to save this for me to the computer, so I will type until he arrives, then it will end abruptly. This afternoon a cute old grandpa from the village came to help in the greenhouse. He comes a few times a week to help with transplanting, and has been coming for 20 years! He told me (in German, but I understood) that he speaks Italian and French as well, but no English. :] There was also a little boy who is 5 who helped us too. I am so glad for children, I really miss my nephews! (And niece.) :] I just want to grab these kids up and just kiss them! But they do not speak my language, so I will have to befriend them first. All afternoon I was preparing flats and then transplanting. It was slow and tedious work, but quite fun. I love working with Rahel. We have a lot in common. One time, I accidentally dropped a geranium, and when I took it over to Daniela, she put on a fake stern face and said, “You now have to around the greenhouse run, a few times!” She is a real tease. I was still laughing at it when a few moments later I was passing with a large tray through a small doorway and knocked something metal down. She yells over to me: “Our poor greenhouse!” Now I know how my sister Hannah feels. :]

Hannah and I took a walk again today during our free time. The mountains were clear, and I took pictures all along the walk so you could see what it looks like as we go. We had a visit with Cornelia tonight, and discussed our schedules. It looks like we will travel in March, it is warmer and prettier, and also when you travel all at once it is much cheaper. So now I have to contact the Toblers when I connect. They will also look into train tickets for us, and perhaps some people we can visit in France and Italy. I must close, Simon is here now. Please email as you can. Much love!