And that leads us to... Friday! Again, Nicolas came over (he's a househusband, that's how he was able to come help us during the week!) and picked up Joyce, Alice, and me. We went to the church to make preparations for lunch. Someone from the church always makes lunch for people of the church and people in the community. It was a small group that day, but we sure had plenty of spaghetti and hot tomato sauce to go around! =) And ice cream for dessert. WOW! If I hadn't had my cute little apartment in Old Town to come back to... I would have stayed in Switzerland!
After lunch and clean up, I talked with Holger for a while (the preacher there). He and I had meant to talk more extensively that morning about mission work in Switzerland an elsewhere, but he had an emergency come up that morning and we had to postpone. We did have a good discussion Friday, though. He told me about a website where I can take Bible courses online for free--woohoo! Between that and German lessons, I'll be pretty busy this summer and fall! :)
After lunch, Rosanna (again, from church) took us to the grocery so we could pick up a few things and took us back to the Steinhauers'. Again, I took a nap! There was a minor problem with a leak in Alice's room (coming from the top story of the house, probably from rain), so Rosanna went to investigate and cleaned it up as much as we could--never a dull moment! =)
Ben came to his parents' place that night to stay with us women (he and Chris shared the duty while their parents were away, just in case something went wrong at the house--ahem... rain leak-- or if grandma needed anything Joyce or I couldn't do. He and I stayed up talking for a while, and he let me try on some of his Swiss Army stuff! I meant to get a picture--so sorry I didn't! He let me hold his gun and put on his gas mask and everything. =) hahahaha. I love it!
Saturday was pretty great. Ben and I went to the grocery to pick up ingredients for Rocklette (um, I think that's how you spell it!), which is a Swiss specialty made with potatoes, cheese, pickled vegetables, and seasonsings. It was really good! Made me think of my daddy, actually. It's something he'd really love! =) Mr. Steinhauer (Dan's dad) joined us for lunch, and it was really funny watching him and Alice interact. He knows some English, and he's such a cute little old man! After lunch, Chris took the four of us out for dessert in Leistal, while Ben stayed home to work on his lesson for Sunday. I met back up with the guys that night and went to a movie (Dear John--because it was in English!).
We walked around Basel before the movie started, and the cooles thing happened... All the stores close at 6:00 each evening. The only things that stay open are restaurants and the movie theatre, basically. Chris and Ben told me there was a Gummi Bear store, and while it was already 6:00, I had to go at least look in the window! We started singing the Gummi Bear cartoon theme song, which just tickled me because they knew it! My brother Jared and I used to watch that show every afternoon when we were little! Anyway, the little man inside the store saw us gawking at the window, and he unlocked the door to let us in! So of course we had to get some. I got apricot-flavored gummies! =)
And what did we do after the movie? We got ice cream! =) Whew. Quite the exhausting afternoon, folks! I love it!
Sunday... my last day in Switzerland! Church was great. We all had breakfast together at the church, then had class and the sermon. It was so sad to have to say goodbye to everyone, but Lord willing I'll go back soon! Pina gave me a curtain from her house that she'd embroidered. I had commented that it was pretty when I was at her house for supper that one night, and I was shocked when she gave it to me! Kathrin gave me a t-shirt that says "Switzerland" on it and eidelweiss from her garden! People aren't allowed to pick eidelweiss in the wild, but she knew I'd wanted to see some, so she gave me a couple of blooms out of her own garden! I'm drying them and will hopefully frame them to put in my new apartment! =)
A few of us ate lunch together, and then we went to one of the last places on my list of things to see while in Switzerland... Three Corners! It's the place where Switzerland, France, and German meet, right beside the Rhine river! I got to stand in three places at once! =) Nicki, Chris, Ben, a guy I'd just met named Gabriel, and I went back into downtown Basel then to go up in the tower of the cathedral there. Whew! Talk about some narrow hallways and steep stairs! It's very old (just like everything in Europe!), and it was quite a hike to the top, but what a view! I kept waiting for a Hunchback to come bounding down to ring the big bells! =)
And then came the most difficult part... I had to say "gut nacht" (goonight) and adieu (goodbye) to Joyce and Alice. I'd have to leave early the next morning, before they woke up, so I wanted to make sure I said goodbye the night before. Chris and Ben both said Alice would miss me when I left--and I miss her, too! She and I have a very similar sense of humor--one that totally transcends the language barrier! We could just look at each other and start laughing. I love it! Lord willing I'll see her again soon! =)
So that's that. I left with the guys on Monday morning and they dropped me off at the Zurich airport. I hopped on the plane and landed at Dulles later that afternoon. It's funny that it was June 21--the longest day of the year. It was even longer for those of us in the plane because we gained so many hours coming back! =)
Thanks for stick out the journey with me! Lord willing, there will be more Swiss Adventures to come! =) Love y'all!
Adventure Whit
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Down on the Farm and France!
Well, I am thoroughly ashamed that I'm just now getting around to sending out this last update--so sorry! I hope you had a chance to look at the pictures of you wanted. If not, here's the link again: http://travel.webshots.com/album/578009518UamKkd
So! I think we left off after dinner at Pina's Monday night. Tuesday, it was back to the farm! Jurg picked me up around 9:30 or so that morning, and we made a stop at the hardware store so he could get some stuff for the barn. Once we got home (I can feel totally secure in calling their place "home"!), Vreni gave me a huge hug and made sure I had the coveralls and work boots I needed. =) Back out to the barn! Today's work: cutting rubber flooring for the cows to sleep on. =) The stuff was heavier and harder to cut than I expected! I was the official "oiler" so Jurg could make an easier cut. We had to fit them just right in the space we had to work with.
And then it was lunch time! We ate with Vreni's parents, Bianca (another girl from church about my age), and two or three other neighbor's who'd come to help Jurg with bigger stuff in the barn that afternoon. I will learn German by the time I go again... at least enough to have conversations! It's fun just listening to them, though. :)
After lunch, Bianca and I went out to collect stoat traps. The stoat is like a big weasel, and it's an invasive species for Switzerland. She's studying them for her environmental engineering degree--pretty impressive! Basically, we found and replaced the preliminary traps around the area (we just did the last few--she had put out 100 all together!). When we came to each trap, we looked to see if there were any stoat footprints (pawprints?) or, um, droppings! She and I had a good time. We got to talk for a while, and she told me about her experiences being a Christian in Europe. She's studied in Norway and been to New Zealand for work one summer. She's a very interesting person! We have a lot in common, which is always a nice realization to have in a faraway place! =)
When we finished up with that, I took a much-needed shower and took a nap before supper! I think I briefly woke up to eat, then went right back to bed! I love being on vacation--I sleep a lot more and a lot better on vacation! Whew! Bianca had to take the train back to school (about 3 hours away, on the other side of Switzerland), but we became Facebook friends, so we never have to be out of touch. ;) Haha.
And the next morning (Wednesday), I got up to do two of my favorite things: 1. Eat a Swiss breakfast of homemade bread with homemade jellys and honey and coffee; 2. Help Vreni cook! She had to cook double for Wednesday and Thursday to feed the men helping Jurg in the barn. She works in Basel on Thursdays, so she needed to cook for both days. It was so much fun! Not only did I get to help make bread, I chopped veggies and just did whatever might help. I love cooking with Vreni because we have to use so many hand motions and act things out. Her English is WAY more advanced than my German (at the moment!), but we communicated quite well actually! =) It was fun kneading the bread dough for pizza, and chopping garlic and onions was relaxing... even if I did small like garlic and onions the next few days!
That afternoon I spent time with Kathrin and her kids. She works at a library part-time, so I went with her while she did that. She cooked lasagne for supper, and her kids got to practice their English with me a little bit before Kathrin and I left for church. We picked up Vreni and Jurg and headed to Basel! The big buzz around town was that Switzerland won their match in the World Cup! Woohoo!
Once we got home from church that night (home as in the Steinhauers' house this time!), I tried to help Mrs. Margrit get things done before she and Dan left to go see Kaleb in the States for a couple of weeks. She has a lot on her plate, but she's so funny about it! There's always a lot going on at the Steinhauers' place I have learned, but I'm amazed at how it all gets done and they keep a good attitude about it all! They can laugh when things go wrong instead of get frustrated--which I firmly believe is a much better way of living! Anyway, they got everything packed and accomplished, and headed out with Chris and Ben to the Zurich airport early Thursday morning.
And that left Joyce and me at Grandma (Queen) Alice's mercy! =) I miss them both already! Alice and I had so much fun beating up on each other. She's stronger than she looks and more mischievious than she let's on! She's a fun little lady; the Steinhauers said she was never like this before she became a Christian. They said it's a true testament to the way God can change a life. Amazing.
Moving on! Nicolas came over that day to cook lunch and dinner for Alice and Joyce--and help translate where needed! Simona and Nicki came over to pick me up and go to France for the day! It looked exactly the way I always imagine the French countryside would look! Chalets, vineyards, cute little towns, all of it! We even saw a castle on a hill! We stopped for lunch in Colmar, France, which is a super cute little town! All the towns there remind me of Old Town Alexandria. I love it! Cobblestone streets, ice cream vendors, chocolate shops, bakeries, shops, coffee places, all of it! We ate paninis at a sidewalk cafe and walked around taking pictures of everything. (Well, I was taking pictures of everything!) We also made sure to get some ice cream on our way back to the car (nugat for me! Amazing stuff!)
And then we were back on the road again. Our directions were a little confusing, so we stopped (about three times!) to ask directions. The French were quite nice to us actually! (Probably because Simona and Nicki both speak French and I let them do the talking!) It was so neat driving through French wine country and through the countryside. I love it! =)
Our last stop was Strutthoff, which is a concentration camp in what is now France. (It was Germany at the time of WWII.) Not a fun thing, especially not on an overcast day, but I felt like it was something I needed to see while I was there. It was small compared to what I had expected (I guess I think all the concentration camps are as big and complex as Auschwitz), but knowing what happened there and reading the details was sobering. Sobering is an understatement. It was sickening. It really happened, and it really happened there. And I walked around there.
We headed back to Leistal (where the Steinhauers live) and made it in time for supper! Simona and Nicki stayed to eat with us and helped with clean up, too. Everyone here is one big family. Everyone helps because it's just what you do--not something you have to do. Nicolas is a fantastic cook, and he made sure we had PLENTY--with leftovers! Joyce and I were both pretty beat from our days, so I went to bed as soon as I could, and Joyce took some downtime for herself. =)
That's all I have time for right now, folks! Tune in next time (hopefully today or tomorrow!) for the final installment! Love y'all.
Adventure Whit
So! I think we left off after dinner at Pina's Monday night. Tuesday, it was back to the farm! Jurg picked me up around 9:30 or so that morning, and we made a stop at the hardware store so he could get some stuff for the barn. Once we got home (I can feel totally secure in calling their place "home"!), Vreni gave me a huge hug and made sure I had the coveralls and work boots I needed. =) Back out to the barn! Today's work: cutting rubber flooring for the cows to sleep on. =) The stuff was heavier and harder to cut than I expected! I was the official "oiler" so Jurg could make an easier cut. We had to fit them just right in the space we had to work with.
And then it was lunch time! We ate with Vreni's parents, Bianca (another girl from church about my age), and two or three other neighbor's who'd come to help Jurg with bigger stuff in the barn that afternoon. I will learn German by the time I go again... at least enough to have conversations! It's fun just listening to them, though. :)
After lunch, Bianca and I went out to collect stoat traps. The stoat is like a big weasel, and it's an invasive species for Switzerland. She's studying them for her environmental engineering degree--pretty impressive! Basically, we found and replaced the preliminary traps around the area (we just did the last few--she had put out 100 all together!). When we came to each trap, we looked to see if there were any stoat footprints (pawprints?) or, um, droppings! She and I had a good time. We got to talk for a while, and she told me about her experiences being a Christian in Europe. She's studied in Norway and been to New Zealand for work one summer. She's a very interesting person! We have a lot in common, which is always a nice realization to have in a faraway place! =)
When we finished up with that, I took a much-needed shower and took a nap before supper! I think I briefly woke up to eat, then went right back to bed! I love being on vacation--I sleep a lot more and a lot better on vacation! Whew! Bianca had to take the train back to school (about 3 hours away, on the other side of Switzerland), but we became Facebook friends, so we never have to be out of touch. ;) Haha.
And the next morning (Wednesday), I got up to do two of my favorite things: 1. Eat a Swiss breakfast of homemade bread with homemade jellys and honey and coffee; 2. Help Vreni cook! She had to cook double for Wednesday and Thursday to feed the men helping Jurg in the barn. She works in Basel on Thursdays, so she needed to cook for both days. It was so much fun! Not only did I get to help make bread, I chopped veggies and just did whatever might help. I love cooking with Vreni because we have to use so many hand motions and act things out. Her English is WAY more advanced than my German (at the moment!), but we communicated quite well actually! =) It was fun kneading the bread dough for pizza, and chopping garlic and onions was relaxing... even if I did small like garlic and onions the next few days!
That afternoon I spent time with Kathrin and her kids. She works at a library part-time, so I went with her while she did that. She cooked lasagne for supper, and her kids got to practice their English with me a little bit before Kathrin and I left for church. We picked up Vreni and Jurg and headed to Basel! The big buzz around town was that Switzerland won their match in the World Cup! Woohoo!
Once we got home from church that night (home as in the Steinhauers' house this time!), I tried to help Mrs. Margrit get things done before she and Dan left to go see Kaleb in the States for a couple of weeks. She has a lot on her plate, but she's so funny about it! There's always a lot going on at the Steinhauers' place I have learned, but I'm amazed at how it all gets done and they keep a good attitude about it all! They can laugh when things go wrong instead of get frustrated--which I firmly believe is a much better way of living! Anyway, they got everything packed and accomplished, and headed out with Chris and Ben to the Zurich airport early Thursday morning.
And that left Joyce and me at Grandma (Queen) Alice's mercy! =) I miss them both already! Alice and I had so much fun beating up on each other. She's stronger than she looks and more mischievious than she let's on! She's a fun little lady; the Steinhauers said she was never like this before she became a Christian. They said it's a true testament to the way God can change a life. Amazing.
Moving on! Nicolas came over that day to cook lunch and dinner for Alice and Joyce--and help translate where needed! Simona and Nicki came over to pick me up and go to France for the day! It looked exactly the way I always imagine the French countryside would look! Chalets, vineyards, cute little towns, all of it! We even saw a castle on a hill! We stopped for lunch in Colmar, France, which is a super cute little town! All the towns there remind me of Old Town Alexandria. I love it! Cobblestone streets, ice cream vendors, chocolate shops, bakeries, shops, coffee places, all of it! We ate paninis at a sidewalk cafe and walked around taking pictures of everything. (Well, I was taking pictures of everything!) We also made sure to get some ice cream on our way back to the car (nugat for me! Amazing stuff!)
And then we were back on the road again. Our directions were a little confusing, so we stopped (about three times!) to ask directions. The French were quite nice to us actually! (Probably because Simona and Nicki both speak French and I let them do the talking!) It was so neat driving through French wine country and through the countryside. I love it! =)
Our last stop was Strutthoff, which is a concentration camp in what is now France. (It was Germany at the time of WWII.) Not a fun thing, especially not on an overcast day, but I felt like it was something I needed to see while I was there. It was small compared to what I had expected (I guess I think all the concentration camps are as big and complex as Auschwitz), but knowing what happened there and reading the details was sobering. Sobering is an understatement. It was sickening. It really happened, and it really happened there. And I walked around there.
We headed back to Leistal (where the Steinhauers live) and made it in time for supper! Simona and Nicki stayed to eat with us and helped with clean up, too. Everyone here is one big family. Everyone helps because it's just what you do--not something you have to do. Nicolas is a fantastic cook, and he made sure we had PLENTY--with leftovers! Joyce and I were both pretty beat from our days, so I went to bed as soon as I could, and Joyce took some downtime for herself. =)
That's all I have time for right now, folks! Tune in next time (hopefully today or tomorrow!) for the final installment! Love y'all.
Adventure Whit
Friday, June 25, 2010
Pictures from Switzerland!
http://community.webshots.com/album/578009518UamKkd
Hey there! Please see the pics. =) Will update on the last week soon--hopefully this weekend. Love y'all!
Hey there! Please see the pics. =) Will update on the last week soon--hopefully this weekend. Love y'all!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Swiss Circus, Jodel Festival, and the great Swiss lakes!
Hoi! (Swiss-German for "Hey!" Still playing catch up...
Saturday! We went out to eat for Margrit's birthday, and let me tell you, the Swiss know how to do it right! We went to a beautiful, historic restaurant (with quite a past!) and had the most amazing meal! Curry-coconut soup, fresh bread, turkey with some kind of astounding sauce, rice pilaf, and DESSERT! =) I got the best vanilla ice cream I've ever tasted (three scoops!), fruit compote, and some kind of interesting orange berry fruit I'd never seen, but it tasted good! Topped off with fresh whipped cream--not from a can or a bag!
Impressive, and that was only mine! Grandmother took us all out, and we enjoyed the time together so much. The meal was just a major added bonus. =)
Church time! They had a special class for the kids and for the ladies, and I got to help with the kids activities. Chris (the oldest Steinhauer son) told the story of Dorcas from Acts, and he asked our three students (all girls) some questions--all this was in German, so I followed along in my English Bible as best I could. =) And after our short lesson (I thought I'd be more help than I actually was!) we took a field trip... to the Doll House Museum! (Puppenhaus museum) It was great! There were thousands, possibly millions of dolls, teddy bears, doll houses, itty bitty outfits, etc. from all over the world out on display. I took lots of pictures, of course, but those will have to come later! Not to worry, I'll weed through them as best I can and post the best ones when I get home.
Whew! After that, we went back to the church to have a singing lesson. The church here is small, and none of the men have singing training. While that doesn't stop Americans from butchering up songs a cappella-style (with the best intentions!), the Swiss are a bit more particular. So, they have a singing instructor come in every couple of weeks and have singing lessons where they learn how to sing songs in their songbooks. He's not a Christian, but one never knows what planted seeds will begin to grow. He's a very nice man, and the church here is very grateful that he can come teach them how to sing "correctly". It was a great experience for me to be there, even though I couldn't understand the words. It's encouraging to me to hear them singing in their own language. They want to do it right because it's for God--it's not a show of musical ability, nor is it rote or something they do only because they have to; it's something they are commanded to do and enjoy doing for their Creator.
Another observation from the music lesson... because we sang them slowly, it was easy for me to follow along and try to pronounce the words along with them. I kept thinking how fun it would be to learn Swiss-German through singing praises to God like this. So I pretty much decided to learn German when I get home. =) I want to be able to talk to these people in their own language when I come back!!!!! I was never good at language classes in school (probably because the school part implied too much pressure and stress), but with a real reason to learn it, I am so excited! I've always been interested in traveling and learning about other cultures, but I stunk at language classes for some reason. I think going at my own pace will prove to be much more effective. =) I love it!
And so that was the big revelation of the weekend! Next up: The biggest circus in Switzerland! It just so happened to be in Basel last weekend, and so the young people (about 6 of us) grabbed a quick bite at a Turkish place (like Moby Dick's for you DC folks!), and went to the circus! Everything was in French, Italian, German, or Swiss, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was able to understand a couple of things, and the cat trainer spoke English (hehe), so I understood a minimal amount. =) Despite the language barrier, it was so funny! The Simona explained some of the jokes to me, and while I already thought it was funny (I love non-verbal communication!), the explanations made it even funnier!
Afterward--still going on Saturday!--Simona and the other two girls went back home, but since I was stuck with Chris and Ben Steinhauer, I had to stop with them and get ice cream. =D Yes, two huge ice cream desserts in one day! I'm going crazy over here folks, and I love every minute of it!
So we got home late again--second night in a row for me!--and got up for church the next morning! Simona translated class and the service for me, thank goodness. I have so enjoyed the lessons here. This church is truly trying to do right and go with what the Bible says. I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet and worship with these people. They have humbled and encouraged me, and I keep thinking about Paul's writing in his letters of the New Testament, about thanking God every time he remembers the brethren and being encouraged by their faith. These people have a strong, sincere faith. If they are in the church, they WANT to be. Many of the members are the only Christian in their biological family. Some don't have contact with their family members, others have disapproval, everyone is seen as an outsider to the vast majority of Switzerland and Europe. It's amazing to hear their stories and see their faith being lived out. We complain about America losing its faith, but it's still considered ok to be a Christian. We have no state church, each person can choose their own. Here, if you belong to the state church, you have to pay a tax for that. It's normal to live immorally and widely accepted to have no religion at all. I am encouraged and humbled be the commitment of these people to our God.
Next up... Lunch at Nicolas and Anita's, then on to the Jodel Festival in Laufen! That's right, they spell it with a J. =) Lunch was a special Alpine dish--like macaroni and cheese, but with bacon and cheese from the Alps! Nicolas is a great cook. He's a stay-at-home husband, and he and Anita are two of the sweetest people I think I have ever met. Right along with everyone else here at the church. =)
Alice (grandma) also joined Joyce and me for lunch, along with Katharin, German (not pronounced like the country!), and their two kids. They all had limited English, and Joyce and I have exceptionally limited Swiss-German, but with the help of a German-English dictionary and a good sense of humor, we made it work! It's so fun to be with these people. The language barrier only adds another element of enjoyment!
On to the Jodel (Yodel) festival! Despite the drizzle, we all made the trip to Laufen and secured our spots for the parade! They gave out candies and things like we would do in America, but they also gave out cheese, apple cider, wine, bread, Swiss cookies, etc., etc., etc.! There were, of course, Yodelers of all ages, cows, goats, Swiss dogs, horses, flag throwers, Cow bellers, tractors, old-style farmers, Swiss "cowboys", Alphorn players, and more! (Riiiiiiiiiiicolaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!) Oh, and yes, there is Ricola everywhere around here. =)
People both in the parade and spectators wore traditional clothes, and each area of Switzerland had its own representation in the parade. I loved it! Joyce and I had a great time, and I think the Swiss folk enjoyed it as well! After the parade, we went around the cute little town of Laufen. Everything here is so old! The streets are cobblestone in lots of places, and the buildings are all just beautiful and well-maintained. I wish everyone could see this!
And after that... of course we had to go back to Nicolas and Anita's for dessert! Ice cream with meringue cookies and fresh whipped cream. Oh my goodness, these people know how to do it right! Again with the limited conversation yet unending laughter. These people are wonderful.
Whew! And that was just the weekend!
Next up... Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken! I have probably spelled both of those incorrectly, but they were truly amazing sights to see! Lauterbrunnen is a beautiful area close to the Alps with these gorgeous cliffs and mountainsides with waterfalls inside them! Dan took Joyce and me there, and she and I were both in awe of God's creation. He has made so many beautiful things, and every place is different. I wish I had words to explain it, or that pictures could do it justice. There's this one waterfall that starts way up high inside this mountain, and over the thousands of years it's been here, the water has twisted and flowed through the mountain to make this miraculous sight. Dan and I were able to hike into the mountain and out all around it. It's just amazing. Waterfalls are my favorite God-made wonder, I believe. They're beautiful and powerful and do so many things. Nature is amazing. God made it all work just right for us. Pictures to come soon. =)
Onward to Interlaken! On the way there, Dan took us to this cute little picnic place on a hillside for lunch. Mrs. Margrit had packed us some sandwiches, bread, and cookies, hot tea! What a woman! The picnic area was covered with a log roof, and our table was made of a huge old tree stump!
Once we got to this cute little town of Interlaken, we got some coffee for a quick pick-me-up (the Swiss have their priorities right--coffee after every meal!) and headed to what Margrit rightly claimed is the least expensive souvenir shop in Switzerland. Hooray! The town is called Interlaken because it's between two huge lakes, neither of which I remember the names! Pretty touristy, but the buildings are gorgeous, the views of the mountains around are astounding, and it was a beautiful day! I could sit and look at this country forever and never get tired of it.
Last stop of the day... we picked up Margrit and grandmother and headed over to Urs and Pina's for supper! Simona and Nikki were both there as well--I already love these people and it had been less than two weeks! Supper was amazing. Pina is Italian, and she's a fabulous cook! I'm so thankful I've gotten to know her and her family. It's incredible to think that I didn't know these people just a few weeks ago. They are already like family. They have to be each other's family because most of their biological families don't want to understand or hear about Jesus and God's grace. Amazing. These people are incredible.
Whew! That's all I'll write about for now. Next up... back to the farm! Read next time for the great stoat poop search; yet another new friend and sister in Christ; Struthof concentration camp; Colmar, France; and adventures in Swiss-Italian cooking! Love you all and will write again soon!
Adventure Whit
Saturday! We went out to eat for Margrit's birthday, and let me tell you, the Swiss know how to do it right! We went to a beautiful, historic restaurant (with quite a past!) and had the most amazing meal! Curry-coconut soup, fresh bread, turkey with some kind of astounding sauce, rice pilaf, and DESSERT! =) I got the best vanilla ice cream I've ever tasted (three scoops!), fruit compote, and some kind of interesting orange berry fruit I'd never seen, but it tasted good! Topped off with fresh whipped cream--not from a can or a bag!
Impressive, and that was only mine! Grandmother took us all out, and we enjoyed the time together so much. The meal was just a major added bonus. =)
Church time! They had a special class for the kids and for the ladies, and I got to help with the kids activities. Chris (the oldest Steinhauer son) told the story of Dorcas from Acts, and he asked our three students (all girls) some questions--all this was in German, so I followed along in my English Bible as best I could. =) And after our short lesson (I thought I'd be more help than I actually was!) we took a field trip... to the Doll House Museum! (Puppenhaus museum) It was great! There were thousands, possibly millions of dolls, teddy bears, doll houses, itty bitty outfits, etc. from all over the world out on display. I took lots of pictures, of course, but those will have to come later! Not to worry, I'll weed through them as best I can and post the best ones when I get home.
Whew! After that, we went back to the church to have a singing lesson. The church here is small, and none of the men have singing training. While that doesn't stop Americans from butchering up songs a cappella-style (with the best intentions!), the Swiss are a bit more particular. So, they have a singing instructor come in every couple of weeks and have singing lessons where they learn how to sing songs in their songbooks. He's not a Christian, but one never knows what planted seeds will begin to grow. He's a very nice man, and the church here is very grateful that he can come teach them how to sing "correctly". It was a great experience for me to be there, even though I couldn't understand the words. It's encouraging to me to hear them singing in their own language. They want to do it right because it's for God--it's not a show of musical ability, nor is it rote or something they do only because they have to; it's something they are commanded to do and enjoy doing for their Creator.
Another observation from the music lesson... because we sang them slowly, it was easy for me to follow along and try to pronounce the words along with them. I kept thinking how fun it would be to learn Swiss-German through singing praises to God like this. So I pretty much decided to learn German when I get home. =) I want to be able to talk to these people in their own language when I come back!!!!! I was never good at language classes in school (probably because the school part implied too much pressure and stress), but with a real reason to learn it, I am so excited! I've always been interested in traveling and learning about other cultures, but I stunk at language classes for some reason. I think going at my own pace will prove to be much more effective. =) I love it!
And so that was the big revelation of the weekend! Next up: The biggest circus in Switzerland! It just so happened to be in Basel last weekend, and so the young people (about 6 of us) grabbed a quick bite at a Turkish place (like Moby Dick's for you DC folks!), and went to the circus! Everything was in French, Italian, German, or Swiss, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was able to understand a couple of things, and the cat trainer spoke English (hehe), so I understood a minimal amount. =) Despite the language barrier, it was so funny! The Simona explained some of the jokes to me, and while I already thought it was funny (I love non-verbal communication!), the explanations made it even funnier!
Afterward--still going on Saturday!--Simona and the other two girls went back home, but since I was stuck with Chris and Ben Steinhauer, I had to stop with them and get ice cream. =D Yes, two huge ice cream desserts in one day! I'm going crazy over here folks, and I love every minute of it!
So we got home late again--second night in a row for me!--and got up for church the next morning! Simona translated class and the service for me, thank goodness. I have so enjoyed the lessons here. This church is truly trying to do right and go with what the Bible says. I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet and worship with these people. They have humbled and encouraged me, and I keep thinking about Paul's writing in his letters of the New Testament, about thanking God every time he remembers the brethren and being encouraged by their faith. These people have a strong, sincere faith. If they are in the church, they WANT to be. Many of the members are the only Christian in their biological family. Some don't have contact with their family members, others have disapproval, everyone is seen as an outsider to the vast majority of Switzerland and Europe. It's amazing to hear their stories and see their faith being lived out. We complain about America losing its faith, but it's still considered ok to be a Christian. We have no state church, each person can choose their own. Here, if you belong to the state church, you have to pay a tax for that. It's normal to live immorally and widely accepted to have no religion at all. I am encouraged and humbled be the commitment of these people to our God.
Next up... Lunch at Nicolas and Anita's, then on to the Jodel Festival in Laufen! That's right, they spell it with a J. =) Lunch was a special Alpine dish--like macaroni and cheese, but with bacon and cheese from the Alps! Nicolas is a great cook. He's a stay-at-home husband, and he and Anita are two of the sweetest people I think I have ever met. Right along with everyone else here at the church. =)
Alice (grandma) also joined Joyce and me for lunch, along with Katharin, German (not pronounced like the country!), and their two kids. They all had limited English, and Joyce and I have exceptionally limited Swiss-German, but with the help of a German-English dictionary and a good sense of humor, we made it work! It's so fun to be with these people. The language barrier only adds another element of enjoyment!
On to the Jodel (Yodel) festival! Despite the drizzle, we all made the trip to Laufen and secured our spots for the parade! They gave out candies and things like we would do in America, but they also gave out cheese, apple cider, wine, bread, Swiss cookies, etc., etc., etc.! There were, of course, Yodelers of all ages, cows, goats, Swiss dogs, horses, flag throwers, Cow bellers, tractors, old-style farmers, Swiss "cowboys", Alphorn players, and more! (Riiiiiiiiiiicolaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!) Oh, and yes, there is Ricola everywhere around here. =)
People both in the parade and spectators wore traditional clothes, and each area of Switzerland had its own representation in the parade. I loved it! Joyce and I had a great time, and I think the Swiss folk enjoyed it as well! After the parade, we went around the cute little town of Laufen. Everything here is so old! The streets are cobblestone in lots of places, and the buildings are all just beautiful and well-maintained. I wish everyone could see this!
And after that... of course we had to go back to Nicolas and Anita's for dessert! Ice cream with meringue cookies and fresh whipped cream. Oh my goodness, these people know how to do it right! Again with the limited conversation yet unending laughter. These people are wonderful.
Whew! And that was just the weekend!
Next up... Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken! I have probably spelled both of those incorrectly, but they were truly amazing sights to see! Lauterbrunnen is a beautiful area close to the Alps with these gorgeous cliffs and mountainsides with waterfalls inside them! Dan took Joyce and me there, and she and I were both in awe of God's creation. He has made so many beautiful things, and every place is different. I wish I had words to explain it, or that pictures could do it justice. There's this one waterfall that starts way up high inside this mountain, and over the thousands of years it's been here, the water has twisted and flowed through the mountain to make this miraculous sight. Dan and I were able to hike into the mountain and out all around it. It's just amazing. Waterfalls are my favorite God-made wonder, I believe. They're beautiful and powerful and do so many things. Nature is amazing. God made it all work just right for us. Pictures to come soon. =)
Onward to Interlaken! On the way there, Dan took us to this cute little picnic place on a hillside for lunch. Mrs. Margrit had packed us some sandwiches, bread, and cookies, hot tea! What a woman! The picnic area was covered with a log roof, and our table was made of a huge old tree stump!
Once we got to this cute little town of Interlaken, we got some coffee for a quick pick-me-up (the Swiss have their priorities right--coffee after every meal!) and headed to what Margrit rightly claimed is the least expensive souvenir shop in Switzerland. Hooray! The town is called Interlaken because it's between two huge lakes, neither of which I remember the names! Pretty touristy, but the buildings are gorgeous, the views of the mountains around are astounding, and it was a beautiful day! I could sit and look at this country forever and never get tired of it.
Last stop of the day... we picked up Margrit and grandmother and headed over to Urs and Pina's for supper! Simona and Nikki were both there as well--I already love these people and it had been less than two weeks! Supper was amazing. Pina is Italian, and she's a fabulous cook! I'm so thankful I've gotten to know her and her family. It's incredible to think that I didn't know these people just a few weeks ago. They are already like family. They have to be each other's family because most of their biological families don't want to understand or hear about Jesus and God's grace. Amazing. These people are incredible.
Whew! That's all I'll write about for now. Next up... back to the farm! Read next time for the great stoat poop search; yet another new friend and sister in Christ; Struthof concentration camp; Colmar, France; and adventures in Swiss-Italian cooking! Love you all and will write again soon!
Adventure Whit
Monday, June 14, 2010
Life in Switzerland never stops!
Whew! What an amazing few days! Time to catch up!
Last Thursday, I was in for a real treat... a guided tour of Basel's religious background and historic churches! Hölger, the other preacher at the church here, took me all around and explained why it's so difficult to spread the gospel here. The Swiss people are well-taken care of and self-sufficient. They are an extremely prosperous nation, and they need nothing. Everything they have is double-insured, and no matter what they need, it's provided by the government, non-profit organizations, neighborhood groups, family, etc. Why would they need God, right? Hölger said it's very difficult to make people see they have a need for a Savoir--the greatest need of all. I asked where the Swiss people generally think they'll spend eternity, and he said they generally don't think about it. They live life now. In a way that's good--live in the moment, never miss an opportunity--but it's certainly not the best way to live. Live life now because God gave it to you and provides those opportunities, you know?
Anyway, I thought the whole day was so interesting! The churches around here are mostly Catholic or Reformed churches, and there's a synagogue or two as well because of the large Jewish population. These buildings are literally 700-800 years old. Hölger told me things about the Romans coming in or something, and it just floored me: that stuff really happened! And it happened HERE! WOW.
And after the most elaborate lunch I've ever had (three courses and elegantly arranged on the plates! Home made, too!), I got to spend the afternoon with Margrit (Mrs. Steinhauer). We talked about a lot of things concerning family and church and life, etc. She is so much fun! She'll be completely straight-forward, but is by far one of the sincerest, kindest, funniest people I have ever known! We walked to the little downtown of Leistal, the village where they live just outside of Basel. It's so precious! It reminds me of Old Town Alexandria. I love it!
Anyway, we walked and took her mother for a stroll in the wheelchair while Mrs. Steinhauer did her errands--grocery shopping, stop in at the bakery, stop in at the butcher (yes indeed! A real bakery AND a real butcher shop! They still exist!), etc. She was so excited to show me the little town with its old buildings (like, 900 year old buildings!), and I was excited to see it all! It really is cute, and it's fun to walk through there with someone who appreciates it! I feel the same way about my little Old Town! Hehe.
So after running errands and such with grandmother, we ate a light supper and we probably did something else, too. I don't even remember! I remember having the realization, "Have I really been here nearly a week? Have I really ONLY been here a week?!"
And on to Friday... I made a new friend! Pina, one of the ladies at church, asked me to go with her and her husband Urs to pick up their daughter from the airport in Zürich. She was just getting back from visiting friends in Smyrna, TN, believe it or not! =) She was pooped, but we were fast friends! We have a lot in common, and she's a lot of fun to be around! When Pina and I dropped her off at her apartment, I went to lunch and to the grocery with Pina to talk and spend time with her. These women at church are already part of my family. I am amazed at them and the real difference in the way they live their lives. And the Steinhauers are fabulous--they're nuts but they're so much fun!
When Pina dropped me off that afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. S (Dan and Margrit) had already left for a get-together they'd been invited to several weeks ago. Joyce, Alice (grandmother) and I didn't mind, though. =) Hehe. Ben and I met up in Basel city that night to see Nicki, another girl from church, who works at a really cool restaurant called City Beach. It's like a beach on top of a parking garage! It's such a cool idea... except it rains so much here! It's a great place to see the city, though, and to eat! After supper, Ben and I walked around Basel a little bit and headed home. We were in for a full weekend, which I'll have to go into tomorrow! Right now, it's past my bedtime for the 4th night in a row!!!!! =)
Love y'all!
Adventure Whit
Thursday, June 10, 2010
With or without gas?
The first time someone asked me that, I almost cracked up! (They mean carbonated water or non-carbonated water, by the way!) They never offer ice, and the cups are very small. I love new and different cultures!!!!! =) By the way, I don't know if I would have been able to keep my composure regarding the gas question if someone hadn't told me just before I ordered that they have water "with little bubbles in it". I got a better mental picture with that!
Let's see, since I wrote last, the adventures haven't stopped! I'll just hit the highlights again...
Monday, we ate breakfast together out on the back deck, which is just beautiful! I don't remember if I said before or not there are 5 of us here: Dan and Margaret Steinhauer, Margaret's mother (who is just a pistol--she hits people when she likes them, and she's been relentlessly "beating" me since the first day!), Joyce (an American friend of the Steinhauers), and me. We're quite a lively and interesting bunch! I have to tell you that this family is wonderful. They apparently know no strangers. They study their Bible and enjoy doing God's work. Despite the difficulties of spreading the gospel here, they are doing a marvelous work. They're just an amazing family.
I talked to Dan and Margaret Monday morning about mission work and the reasons why I want to be a missionary. They are so supportive and encouraging! They told me a little about their story and the 25-year history of their church, and they asked me what I wanted to do or not do while I'm here. They said lots of people from the congregation would like to have me to their homes, but only if I'm comfortable with that. Well I said OF COURSE! So the next thing I knew, I was packed again and headed out to Jürg and Vreni Marti's farm!
First things first... they fed us ice cream! (Dan, Joyce, and grandma dropped me off there and visited with them for a little while.) Jürg, the husband, speaks quite a bit of English, and Vreni speaks some, but not a whole lot. I love it! It's so much fun! They have a very large farm with hay, cows, and a garden, and lots of flowers! And the most astounding thing about the whole ordeal was their house--it was built in 1791!!!!!! It looks new and VERY well-taken care of inside, and the outside is just exactly as I always imagined a Swiss house would look!
Jürg and I cleaned out the barn that afternoon because they're about to build a new one. They used to milk their cows, but Jürg had an accident a few years ago and can't do that anymore; now he raises young dairy cows for other dairy farmers, which he seems to enjoy doing. =)
After that, Vreni and I went to a neighbor's house to get some sveebon (I guess that's how you spell it!), which are chives! We planted a few in Vreni's garden, then went in to fix supper--cheese fondue with homemade bread! It was delicious, but I haven't had that much cheese in my entire life, I don't think! After supper I took my shower and got ready for bed, then the three of us prayed together. And then I got a real treat... Vreni made Jürg play his accordion for me! And they let me try it, too! I LOVE CULTURES!!!!!!!!!!!
It's so wonderful getting to know brothers and sisters in Christ from different places. They have different struggles, but it's all an effort to accomplish the same goal--get to Heaven with as many others as possible. I feel so at home here, like the whole church really is a family!
Tuesday! We ate the traditional Swiss breakfast: home made bread with jam, jelly, and honey! The honey they had was thick and light-colored. I've see that kind before, and it's very gut (good)! The strawberry jam was made by Jürg's mother, and Vreni and Jürg made the quince jelly. This is quince: http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekcookingbasics/p/prof_quince.htm
It was all delicious! And we had real cow milk with our coffee, too. =)
Next up: Vreni and I picked up Katrin, another woman from the church, who went with us to clean the church building. I love getting to know new people! Katrin speaks quite a bit of English, so she was able to help Vreni and me. It was so much fun talking with her about how she became a Christian and about her kids. =)
After that we went home for lunch (and I took a short nap--still recovering from jetlag!). There was a pretty big thunderstorm, which was cool to see against the huge hills of Swiss countryside! Since the ground was wet after that, Katrin said she'd take me to a nearby museum--all about music boxes! I had no idea they originated in Switzerland! It was so interesting to learn about the history of them and see all kids of different music players: traditional music boxes, big ones, small ones, HUGE ones, player pianos, early predecessors to juke boxes, etc., etc., etc.! I love it all!
That night, after supper when the ground was dryer than it had been, Jürg and Vreni took me to a very "ordinary" place... Castle ruins! This castle was built in the 1300s, and I was just amazed by it! They said now it's often used for outdoor movies. =) We could see so much from the top! It's up on a huge hillside, and when we looked down at the and farmland and village below, it was exactly as I always picture old Switzerland in my mind!
I was also in for another treat that night... I got to see Jürg and Vreni's wedding pictures! They had a very traditional Swiss wedding, which I found to be incredibly fascinating! These people are amazing. They're just like people everywhere else, but the things that make them different are astounding. Does that make sense? If not, no worries. =)
Wednesday! We took the cows from the barn to a new pasture so builders can start on the new barn! Then Vreni and I cooked in the kitchen. She needed to cook some things for Thursday, when the builders come, so we did that and got that day's lunch ready, too. I love cooking! She and I had a good time and learned a lot about each other, despite the language barrier. =) Her English is WAY better than my German! I had fun learning some of the language, though!
And after lunch, they took me to another special place... we drove to a large hill (mountain to me!), hiked to the top, and on one side we could see France, Germany, and the village of Basel. On the other side, looking off in the distance, mingling with the clouds... there were the snow-covered Alps! Amazing. Awesome. Majestic. All that and more. They're just so BIG! I can,t hardly describe it. The towns and villages in the valley and on hillsides were so cute and quaint. I love it! (Did I mention that already?) We could hear birds singing, the breeze in the trees, and cow bells everywhere. Cow bells! Amazing. It's all just incredible.
And after marveling at God's creation and the beauty of the Swiss countryside, Jürg went back home to work a little before church, and Vreni took me hiking! It's beautiful. I'll try to upload pictures soon. (We're having a little trouble finding a converter for the plug on my computer!) And at the end of the hike, we took the cable car (sky lift, tram, whatever you want to call it) down the side of the mountain! We saw sheep, alpacas, goats, horses, cows, and some of the greenest fields I've ever seen! It was a real treat for me!
And then... after missing the bus by three minutes (it happens here, too--not just in DC!), Jürg came to our rescue and brought us back to the house! Quick shower, quick supper, quick clean up, and we were on our way to church!
We sang from an international songbook last night, which was great because Joyce and I could sing in English what they all sang in German! I love hearing songs in different languages, but I thoroughly enjoyed being able to sing with them, too! Ben had to translate the service for me again, which I greatly appreciated. It's so incredible to me how much I can get out of a lesson in a different language, you know it? Everything here is amazing. =)
And after church, we came home to have a party for Mrs. Steinhauer! It was her birthday, so the boys (men--Chris and Ben) came over and the seven of us all had two different kinds of cake! We sat around talking for a long while, and we were able to get ahold of Kaleb back in the States, too. It's interesting to me how their family can be so close (and so alike!) even though Kaleb lives in America and hasnät been back to Switzerland since he was 15. I think it's great!
And today I'm off to meet up with Hölger (I have probabaly spelled that wrong!) and talk about mission work. He preaches with Dan at the church here, and he's also a foreigner--from Germany! I can't wait to learn more!
Love y'all. E-mail me your address if you want a postcard! whitney_hassell@hotmail.com
Hugs to you!
Adventure Whit
Monday, June 7, 2010
Switzerland is beautiful!
Hey there everyone! I don't have a lot of time to write at the moment, but we've done so much already! I'll try to tell more about it all soon, but the highlights have been...
I was awake for almost 40 hours the first day (days? haha) because I didn't sleep on the plane as I'd hoped I would--but I haven't missed a minute!
Ben Steinhauer (the middle son) came and met me at the airport in Zurich on Saturday morning and bought me Starbucks and sprüngli (what a guy!), then his parents, two grandparents, and a couple of their friends and I went to the Alps for a rose festival in the Chur canton (state)... in the Swiss Alps! Oh my stars, it is SO amazing here!
After marveling at that and thoroughly enjoying some gelato, we went to Heidi's village! I'll upload all the pictures asap, although I'm not sure how soon that will be--I need to get a special outlet converter. =)
We got home late, but I slept SO well! We went to church for a potluck breakfast the next morning (Sunday), and I got to meet some of the nicest people in the world! Ben helped translate the lessons and sermon for me, and I was able to sing along (in English) to a couple of the songs we sang. I love it! Even though I don't speak Swiss German, I couldn't help but love every minute of our time there. Being a Christian is wonderful (wünderbar!--I think!) because you have family everywhere you go. They have to really WANT to be Christians here. Faith is so real to me here. It's the same faith, but it's a different mentality.
After church we had a potluck lunch (yep! It's just like a good ol' Southern church family here!), and I got to meet Chris, Kaleb and Ben's oldest brother. I am amazed at how alike these brothers are--it's so funny!
We walked around Big Basel (the buildings here are from the 1300s and even earlier!), ate some ice cream, had McDonald's (which was so much better than in America!), and went to see The Prince of Persia movie--in English but with German and French subtitles!). I love it all--everything is so different and it's exciting!
Today I think we're going to talk about the work here and how they became Christians. So much to see, so much to learn... and two more weeks to enjoy life in Switzerland!
Love and miss y'all. Wish you could be here, too! E-mail me your address if you want a postcard!
whitney_hassell@hotmail.com
I was awake for almost 40 hours the first day (days? haha) because I didn't sleep on the plane as I'd hoped I would--but I haven't missed a minute!
Ben Steinhauer (the middle son) came and met me at the airport in Zurich on Saturday morning and bought me Starbucks and sprüngli (what a guy!), then his parents, two grandparents, and a couple of their friends and I went to the Alps for a rose festival in the Chur canton (state)... in the Swiss Alps! Oh my stars, it is SO amazing here!
After marveling at that and thoroughly enjoying some gelato, we went to Heidi's village! I'll upload all the pictures asap, although I'm not sure how soon that will be--I need to get a special outlet converter. =)
We got home late, but I slept SO well! We went to church for a potluck breakfast the next morning (Sunday), and I got to meet some of the nicest people in the world! Ben helped translate the lessons and sermon for me, and I was able to sing along (in English) to a couple of the songs we sang. I love it! Even though I don't speak Swiss German, I couldn't help but love every minute of our time there. Being a Christian is wonderful (wünderbar!--I think!) because you have family everywhere you go. They have to really WANT to be Christians here. Faith is so real to me here. It's the same faith, but it's a different mentality.
After church we had a potluck lunch (yep! It's just like a good ol' Southern church family here!), and I got to meet Chris, Kaleb and Ben's oldest brother. I am amazed at how alike these brothers are--it's so funny!
We walked around Big Basel (the buildings here are from the 1300s and even earlier!), ate some ice cream, had McDonald's (which was so much better than in America!), and went to see The Prince of Persia movie--in English but with German and French subtitles!). I love it all--everything is so different and it's exciting!
Today I think we're going to talk about the work here and how they became Christians. So much to see, so much to learn... and two more weeks to enjoy life in Switzerland!
Love and miss y'all. Wish you could be here, too! E-mail me your address if you want a postcard!
whitney_hassell@hotmail.com
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