What I Have to Look Forward Too!

So, I was reading this blog about "10 Things that I Miss About Germany." Needless to say, I'm excited about it all!

10 Things I Miss About Germany

By wanderlust78 | Location: Germany | 07/19/09

10 Things I Miss About Germany 1. Cobblestone streets - In Freiburg, the streets had a cobblestone design in front of each shop usually depicting what service the store offered. It's so sweet seeing a German man in orange overalls laying in, by hand, stone paths. 2. European Architecture - The cathedral in Cologne took 600 years to build and absolutely demands attention and adoration. But really, everywhere you turn, the architecture romances you. 3. Lifestyle - It's something of another world. I hear that the Germans are stressed but I don't see it. I see them outside riding their bikes, laying on the grass along the river, drinking beer with friends in the park, socializing at outdoor restaurants and generally leading a life that I am envious of. 4. Cars in Germany actually stop for pedestrians! - Don't try this stunt in America. Although it is the law in both countries, if you try to cross a street in Houston trucks will purposely speed up to let you know - bubba got a truck and that truck owns the road - not you. Germany is refreshingly different. It takes time and courage to convince yourself that it's ok to cross, they will stop. Just keep walking, otherwise they will know you're American! 5. Fresh Air - Coming from Houston, where the weather knocks you down through slow brutal suffocation by heat and air thicker than mashed potatoes, it's heaven just to be able to spend the day outside... without the fear of sudden death by sunshine. 6. Small cars - I guess in Germany they use cars to get around. In America, cars are an accessory, extension of -lack of- manhood, means to show off wealth/debt, and a vulgar display of power. Most of these cars max out at 10+ mpg. Definitely not designed to get around. I tried asking what the miles per gallon were on cars in Germany but they started talking in liters and things just got lost from there. 7. Genuine friendliness - People in Germany are not nice for no reason. If you are wrong they will tell you. But if you meet someone on the streets or in a train and talk to them, they are genuinely friendly. They don't fill the air with small talk but instead offer a real conversation. Germans also don't walk around just smiling. I was wondering why so many guys were hitting on me in Cologne. It's because I smile too much! By American standards I don't smile enough, but in Germany I think they took it as a flirt. 8. Freedom of expression - It was really common to see people outside doing tricks on skateboards, bikes and rollerblades. I saw a group of guys who tied a rope from one tree to another and to see who could walk on it the longest without falling off. I saw a man playing a grand piano on wheels in front of the cathedral and a student who spent two days drawing a chalk picture of tigers on the ground, also next to the cathedral. Along a bridge I saw an extravagant display of locks that were meant to symbolize love. They lock the engraved lock along metal wall and throw the key over the bridge. I saw a drum circle along the Rhine river and countless other displays of creative expression that would otherwise end in a lawsuit or at least a ticket in America. 9. German - I miss hearing German everywhere I turn. I miss speaking it too. I miss the accent and I miss discovering new words. 10. Detachable shower heads - Hell yeah

Mmm Bop...

I don't understand. I just don't understand.

Going on any missions trip costs money. A lot of money. Especially going to Europe. While support letters cover much of the costs, it still isn't quite enough. That's where fundraisers come in.

Fundraisers like Stop the Bop. Stop the Bop is a fundraiser that my missions team decided to do to help raise funds. We understand that college students are unable to help support our teams, but we felt that our fundraiser was a great idea for two reasons. One, it was creative. Two, it was a way for students to support us without having to spend a lot of money.

The first was great. People were singing the song, getting annoyed, and we even gained a few dollars! Life was great. Then we got a hurtful letter. A letter addressing the three of us as con artists and televangelists. A letter saying that what we were doing was wrong.

I just don't understand how something so harmless turned into this huge drama war. We were trying to have a cheap, creative, fundraiser to gain a few bucks. The cafeteria approved it, Simpson approved it. What's the problem?

Why does Satan hate me so much? Never mind, I know the answer. Well, Satan can suck it! Because my God is faithful God, and HE is the one who gives me strength.

A Godly Mediation by Thomas More

Give me thy grace, good Lord,

To set the world at nought,

To set me mind fast upon thee.

And not to hang upon the Blast of men's mouths.

To be content to be solitary,

Not to long for worldly company,

Little and little utterly to cast off the world,

And rid my mind of all the business thereof.

Not to long to hear of any worldly things,

But that the hearing of worldly phantasies may be to me displeasant.

Gladly to be thinking of God,

Piteously to call for his help,

To lean unto the comfort of God,

Busily to labour to love him.

To know mine own vilety and wretchedness,

To humble and meeken myself under the might hand of God,

To bewail my sins passed,

For the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity.

Gladly to bear my purgatory here,

To be joyful of tribulations,

To walk the narrow way that leadeth to life.

To bear the cross with Christ,

To have the last thing in remembrance,

To have ever afore mine eye to death that is ever at hand,

To make death no stranger to me,

To forsee and consider the everlasting fire of hell,

To pray for pardon before the judge come.

To have continually in mind the passion that

Christ suffered for me,

For his benefits uncessantly to give him thanks.

To buy the time again that I before have lost.

To abstain from vain confabulations,

to eschew light foolish mirth and gladness,

Recreations not necessary to cut off.

Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all, to set the loss at right nought,

for the winning of Christ.

To think my enemies my best friends,

For the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favour as they did him with the malice and hatred.

These minds are to be desired of every man, than all the treasure of all the princes and kings, Christ and heathen, were it gathered and laid together all upon one heap.

This was in one my books for Spiritual Formation, and all I have to say is right on! May this be an inspiration to you in some way during this week.

AAAAGGGHHHH!!!!!!

After months and months of prayer and frustration, I have my answer.

This summer, I will be serving in Germany! Youth ministry!

God is fantastic. He answers our prayers in the oddest ways.

Thank you Jesus!

Dear World,

I miss you. Being stuck in my room with no one to talk to and no fresh air has gotten to my mind.  If I have to stay in this room all day tomorrow, someone is going to get hurt.

I know that I sound like a little boy going through puberty, but trust me, I feel sssooo much better. The swine has left my body and all that remains is a nasty, nasty cold. 

I promise world that once I am free from this room, I'll take our relationship a little more slow. Well, at least in the beginning. But there is so much to do you see. There is so to you, and there is only one of me. So please, be kind for the rest of the year. I can only handle so many colds, infected bug bites, and swine. 

 I will see you soon world...most likely tomorrow! And when we reunite, everyone will know. 

Love,

A Disgruntled Megan

The Time is Now

Today I listened to probably the most influential sermon in my entire life. And I mean ever. It was not the most profound. It did not leave me thinking and thinking about it for hours on end. And I don't exactly feel convicted. However, I feel like I am a changed woman. 

For once, the church actually talked about singleness and it's gift. 

For the past year or so I've had this yearning for a boyfriend. I've never had a boyfriend in my life...well...besides kindergarten. But anyway, while I love Simpson, being stuck for 8 months out of the year around Simpson couples left me thinking that I was missing something. So, for the past year I've had this huge longing for someone to spend my time with.

Last year was a huge mess in this department. There was a lot of boy drama in my life, and none of it ended well. Actually, it ended pretty awkwardly with God cracking up. I made a lot of mistakes...anyway, it was all bad.

But the entire time, I never realized that God has blessed me with the gift of singleness. The gift of being able to be devoted to God fully without having to worry about a man in my life. But never did I once praise God in my loneliness last year. Not once. 

But after today's sermon, after hearing Travis' encouraging words, I finally feel at peace. See, I've got to work on being Ms. Right before I can find my Mr. Right. And part of that is seeing that I have this chance to be devoted to God. And honestly, I'm tired of missing it. 

So now, I will praise God through the tears and the loneliness. I will stand with my arms in the air, praising God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I will praise God through my gift of singleness.

So Travis, I want to say thanks. Thanks for allowing God to speak in my life through you. The best choice that Simpson has made is hiring you. You rock! But most of all, thanks God for the severe butt-kickin'. You know how much I needed it.

Uh oh

Jesus once said that your "yes" should be "yes," and your "no" be "no."

But what happens when you want to do everything?

Yeah, now it's not so easy, is it?