Neuschwanstein, Garmisch, St. Anton

My grandparents and brother arrived here this week and we have been going going going. I’ll start with Neuschwanstein.

Beautiful, majestic, fairy tale-like (literally, ever wonder where Walt Disney’s castle in Sleeping Beauty and Disney World came from?). It is located in Bavaria high above the Alps, built by a King (Ludwig II to be exact) who was obsessed with drama and “diagnosed” as medically insane. This was the first place I took my family. It is one of Germany’s treasures. We toured the castle on a beautiful sunny Spring day. I imagined I was a princess the entire time. I mean, they are still monarch’s around, not unrealistic.

Garmisch.

The home of the 1936 Winter Olympics and a candidate city (well Munich is, but the ski stuff would happen here) for the 2018 Winter Olympics. It is home to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain peak (2962 meters).

“Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord…” (Micah 4:2). So if this passage were not talking about Mount Zion it would be talking about the Zugspitze (or quite possibly Ligonier Camp and Conference Center). We ascended about 2000 meters and dropped 40 degrees in a ten minute cable car and arrived at a 360 degree view of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Alps. I will never be able to describe in detail the beauty saw and seeing my pictures won’t even give you a glimpse.

“The heavens declare the glory of the God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour fourth speech; night after night they display knowledge, They have no speech, they use no words, yet, their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to ends of the world.”  (Psalm 19:1-4) I have been out west and to Canada and seen mountains, but I have never seen such beauty in my life. We had clear blue skies and amazing visibility. We ate at a restaurant at top with panorama view. Like, I want to keep writing about it, because I want you, my dear reader, to see it to, but no words (especially of mine) could ever do it justice.

However, one of the best part s of the day came afterwards as my grandparents and I sat drinking wine in the sunny valley staring up at the beauty from below and they talked and I listened. And they talked about everything and shared so much about their life. We should listen more.

St. Anton, Austria

I purposely left Thursday blank. I wanted to see what my grandparents and brother wanted to do before we head to my resort on Friday night. Andy is a huge skier and has skied everywhere. Apparently when he was in 8^th grade he saw a special in a magazine about St. Anton, Austria, one of the top ski resorts in the world. Well lucky for him it was about two hours away. Today my brother and I spent some good quality time skiing one of the world’s most amazing mountains in beautiful spring weather.

My first ski trip outside of the east coast should most definitely NOT have been St. Anton. I have skied forever, but was in no way prepared for the beauty and difficulty of today. (Nor did Andy and I have the proper equipment – total Gaper look, na ja). I am no where good enough to enjoy or appreciate the opportunity I had today, but it was still amazing. I only crashed twice (and well the one time I wasn’t actually moving…), I got sunburned, and I saw the most insane views slash got to partake in the creation.

I feel like my life is a fairy tale? From St. Anton we headed back to Germany and are currently settled in wine country in a small village off the Bodensee (Germany’s largest lake).

A quick little note...

I just wanted to share some more business-y related activity. Today I leave my internship after two months here (CRAZY) to meet my brother in Munich. Tomorrow my grandparents are coming and then it is off for ten days of exploring Europe. I'll end my trip in Jena and begin part two of this crazy abroad experience. (I will probably not be super great at responding to emails...)

My address here is no longer good, but once I get my new one I will post it here.

Also, here are two links for photo albums I have posted. I hope you enjoy them!

Photos from Bryan's visit!

Photos from my internship!

They are public links, so don't worry about not having a facebook.

I am sorry March has been a quieter blogging month... In total I am doing 17 days of travel in this month. Once April hits I'll be back with full force. Many thanks to all those who read this :)

It is well, with my soul.

I have started writing this post, deleted and then started again about three times. Trying to capture and write down what is going on in my mind and heart as I finish up my internship, get ready to travel with my grandparents and brother, and start over in a new city at a university is apparently impossible for me. Lots of thoughts, lessons, and refelctions that are seemingly too hard to get out.

So I will leave you with this. Yesterday evening Bryan sent the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns to me in an email telling me about church that morning.

I love how God uses him. These words are exactly what I cannot express.

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

Frankfurt.

This past week I had the most excellent of weeks. Mr. Bryan Layman came all the way from America to visit for Spring Break and it was a wonderful six days. We met in Frankfurt and stayed in that area for the whole week. Frankfurt is the largest financial center in Europe after London. There is a stark contrast between the huge skyliners of downtown and the Roemer Platz where the Rathaus is located in the Altstadt. I wish I could have taken him to Koenigsfeld, but it was just too pricey.

Our trip included:
-going to a zoo and laughing at the monkeys for a good 30 minutes
-climbing to the top of a cathedral
-watchings a parade for Mardi Gras (Fasching here). You should ask Bryan to do his German parade impression.
-visiting a castle
-drinking 8 dollar water and various other over priced drinks (including awful Apfelwein - which apparently Frankfurt is known for?)
-seeing Goethe's house (couldn't help myself. I actually saw the table at which Faust was written!)
-going to a Bundesliga Frankfurt soccer game
-sitting by rivers and talking about everything we haven't been able to talk about
-and many other boring things that probably aren't as interesting

I wasn't quite sure what to expect leaving Bryan again... Many friends had advised me not have a visitor till after my half way point because it can be pretty hard to watch them leave and stay behind. But, it was so much easier than expected. Don't get me wrong, I miss him and my friends and family so much. I couldn't help but think at this point most students are half way done with their study abroad experience and here I have been here for almost two months and haven't even started school yet. However, I am so at peace about being here. On the train back to Koenigsfeld I had the chance to think and reflect about my time spent here. As hard as it is to be on my own, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.

I am realizing what it is to have God meet my every need. One thing that I have learned from my relationship with Bryan and different friendships is that when you go to another person or thing to meet your needs you will be endlessly disappointed in them and your relationship. Satisfaction just won't happen. So often we think "If I could just get that one grade, or date that one person, or get that one job, then life will be good."

Why?

Being alone in a foreign country is driving this point home. My friends aren't a phone call away, my mom isn't just one state over to fix my problems, fellowship is essentially nonexistent (I am hoping that will change once I get to my university). I am removed from it all; yet, at the same time, my heart is more full and satisfied than it has been in ages.

I am in a really good place right now, which is necessary because this week is one of transition for me. Next week is my last week at my internship. On the 21st, I travel to Munich to meet up with my brother and grandparents for a good week or so of vacationing, then it is off to school. I can't wait to see God's goodness flow out into another city and another part of this semester.

So much goodness, so much to be thankful for.