Do I miss Germany?

I get asked this question all the time when I'm home on furlough. Do I miss it? As the Germans would say, "Jein." That's both "yes" (ja) and "no" (nein). There are things I definately miss and things I definately don't!

Things I miss about Germany:
The kids in my youth ministry
The love I feel from the people of CrossWay Church in Berlin
Milch Kaffees!
Sushi restaurants on every corner (oh wait . . . that's bakeries)
The beauty of Europe

Things I don't miss about Germany:
Having to do things alone
Dragging groceries home on foot
Taking public transportation in bad weather
Grumpy people
Missing my family
No Walmart!

Am I ready to go back? Hmmmm . . . I'd have to say, "Jein."

Furlough Highlights

I've been home a month and 10 days today. Time has flown, as it always does. In that time, I've traveled to and through Washington D.C.; Lancaster County, PA; Ohio; Indiana (Warsaw, Indianapolis, Crawfordsville); Des Moines, IA; Chicago, IL; and . . . Michigan (Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo). Here are some highlights: (Oh, and enjoy the picture of mom and I driving our truck through Chicago, full of all the treasures we picked up along the way.)

• Seeing my family again

• Seeing LOTS of good friends in Washington D.C. at Jason Berrus' wedding

• Shopping
• Celebrating my birthday in Lancaster, PA
• Drinking my Uncle Dave's "orange julius'" in Chicago
• Shopping
• Speaking at my brother Trav's snow camp in Michigan
• Getting back to PA and sitting!
• Shopping

:-) Good memories . . .