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. :]