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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!