roller coaster week

the week started with a great surprise- a tshirt from becca in ethiopia! unfortunatly, it fits A better than me.. so he took it.

tuesday i led Bible Study at the salvation army... and wow... i have NEVER had such a hard time! the text was acts 5.. which is difficult enough. but man.. respect to the regular leaders, tough crowd! my own bible study was cancelled that night, so i had a lazy evening with my guy and a pizza.

wednesday i had a meeting at gospel tribe that seemed rather disheartening... but half an hour later everything changed drastically. so... there might be some VERY good news comming later this week. we have another meeting tuesday to finalize it..

afterwards was our grill party for the needy and neihbors, which went over really well. i preached on hosea and God's love. people were nodding, so i think it was ok. there was a smallish crowd, bt it included some strangers that saw our sign our front and came in.. a first!

that night i heard some very very bad news.

thursday some more.. my visa was only extended till september. mainly because i am still lacking the necessary funds.

then i was at the salvation army for cafe treff, but my heart wasn't really in it. while we were cleaning up, though, an african group came and was doing worship. i joined in, singing with them in their native tongue and french. even though i didnt understand half of what i was singing, it raised my spirits. the year i spent in africa really affected me, and their authentic worship still clings to me somehow.

the intern didnt want to see me go home alone and upset about the visa, so he insisted on taking me to dinner. it was a wonderful meal (he even insisted i order seconds, because the portion was small and he assumed- rightly- that i had neglected to eat before going to the visa office). we ended up talking till 4am. in the middle of our theological discussion on some matter or other (not sure which of the MANY throughout the night) i had a "EUREKA" moment. it came when i heard myself, for the third time, sign and say "i wish i could study theology too." you can guess where this is going.....

the next day he took me to meet someone, and it might just be the missing piece of the puzzle of God's plan for me in karlsruhe. more on that when i know... a very very good day, though.

saturday, despite the german world cup victory, was a sad one, as we said good-bye to the bible students from gospel tribe. (and i had a bad migraine).

today was a good church service at the salvation army and time together after.
all in all a very up and down and through a loop week.