Finish Friends and Birthday Pumpkin Pie

Yesterday and today have been interesting days. Yesterday, I got to meet a family from Finland at a friend's house. One interesting fact I learned from them, is that Finish women leave their babies out in the cold to take naps during the day. Apparently, if you go to just about any store in Finland, you'll see baby strollers parked out front with the babies inside sleeping soundly . . . even in winter! They're covered with down comforters, but still . . . would you leave your baby outside to nap in the dead of winter??? Interesting . . .

Last night I went to the mall with my 16-year-old teammate, Brooke. While walking around, we ran into one of my teen girls, named Ruth. She asked if she could hang out with us for a while, so we all went and had dinner at the food court. While we were eating, I saw the Finish family walk in! They came over and said hi and I introduced Brooke and Ruth, explaining who they were and where they were both from. Right then it occured to me . . . Ruth is from Finland! Small world. Right then and there they all began talking in Finish while I sat there smiling and thinking how cool it was. A few minutes later, Ruth told me she was going to bake a pumpkin pie today using real pumpkin. I've always wanted to try this . . . so I asked her if she wanted to bake at my house. She agreed and today we baked two "real" pumpkin pies. It was a lot of fun and I got to hang out with a teen that I don't usually get to spend any real time with.

I took "my" pie to Bible study tonight. After the study, we were all milling around enjoying the pie and other refreshments and a girl named Johanna, new to our church and the Bible study, told me with emotion in her voice that yesterday was her birthday and that pumpkin pie was her absolute favorite. She just arrived in Berlin, either to work or attend university (I forget), and I'm sure she's missing home and family just like me. Apparently she has pumpkin pie on her birthday every year . . . except this one. :-) Better late than never, huh? God knew. Ordinarily I do not bake pumpkin pies until Thanksgiving.

I like to think that God put Ruth and the Finish family together and then orchestrated a baking day for me and Ruth so that Johanna could have her birthday pumpkin pie. :-) I also like to think that right now . . . at this very moment . . . God may be orchestrating some things on my behalf! In the words of John Piper, "God is always doing more than we know."

Fun blog

If you're at all interested in reading a little about life in Germany, and specifically the differences in cultures between American and Germany, check out this blog written by an American married to a German: http://nothingforungood.com/.

And the countdown begins . . .

Every year around October and November I begin to experience progressive homesickness and I've never truly understood why until this year. I used to believe it had to be triggered by preparation for Thanksgiving . . . a holiday that is now pretty meaningless for me due to no family, no sounds of football (not that I care that much, you just get used to it), no helping my mom bake - just one more day of eating with my teammates (which I do all the time). We have turkey here in Germany, but I don't like turkey so it's no real consolation.

I figured it out though. It's not Thanksgiving that causes the slippery, downward, emotional slope. It's planning out furlough! Every year I get to go home for Christmas and then stay for another 6 or so weeks to visit supporting churches. This is how I've chosen to do furlough, and I LOVE it! Wouldn't change a thing. But, in the planning of it in late October, my heart travels ahead of my body. I start thinking about people and places I haven't let myself think much about in 8 months. For the majority of the year, I protect myself by not dwelling on the family and friends across the ocean. I live emotionally "here". I try hard to live by the words of Jim Elliot, "Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. Wherever you are, be all there." But, in the planning of each mini-furlough, my heart begins to be all somewhere else. Then, I start thinking about Christmas presents . . . and consequently, start slowly leaving Berlin.

I'm not sure there's a solution for it. I'm just glad I know now why I go through it. I've hated Thanksgiving here for 4 years. Our church always has an International Thanksgiving Dinner which is nice, but an enormous amount of work. Then, just days later, we cook and bake all over again for the actual "day". It's a pain . . . but probably only seems that way to me, since I'm the only member of Team Berlin without family over here.

So the countdown begins. 55 days . . . 7 1/2 weeks . . . Until then, I resolve to be all here - that is until my sister-in-law uploads another picture of my niece. ;-)

Fun fact, off topic . . . tonight my pre-teen youth group is coming dressed as the 10 Plagues. :-) Right now, I'm signing off to go make red jello with gummi frogs in it and create a headpiece from a wire hanger that will support hail balls that I intend to hang from it. I was going to paint boils all over my body, but thought against it since the "puss" would rub off onto my furniture. Can't have that. Plus, I like hail. The plague probably wouldn't have been much fun, but I love the many hailstorms we get here in Berlin. Pictures will be forthcoming . . .