Pilgrims' Home

I am ready. Two months was wonderful I have learned so much, but it is time to return. I missed the baptism service at church yesterday, and that was tough for me. As well, I simplly miss the normal things of my life. In honor of the Von Trapps, and the German speaking Vienna, here are a few of my favorite things: Laughing and eating with Lindsay (in our kitchen) Men's lunch Coffee (although German coffee is pretty good) My home office Reading English Mexican Food (not Taco Bell) My bed My church family Going to Seminary (not to 3rd grade German grammar - though it might be more difficult than theology) Lake Minnetonka Stuff like, "when the dog barks and when the bee stings": Driving (I like the train and bahn system here) Cell phones revising long papers cleaning the house paying for gas then I simply remeber my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.... I AM READY TO COME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well this was my last weekend in Germany, and I am ready to come home. But before I return, I thought I would enjoy the city of Bremen for a couple of days. It was a good decision. I had originally planned to travel to Greifswald to meet with a professor in Greifswald, but it was far, I was tired, and I had a test this morning (Monday). Anyway, I think I made the most out of the weekend. On Friday, Bremen began an incredible streetfest call "La Strada." It is a street art festival. Performing artists from all over the world travel to different cities and perform "lustige" acts. They are silly, intelligent, and complex. From magic to comedy to Jim Carey type body humor, to akrobatiks - everything was included. On Satruday I went to the Weder Bremen fussball game (soccer for us Americans). Though this may not mean much to you, Klose, the German star in the world cup, plays for Bremen. We got cheap tickets ont he street and enjoyed a great game of soccer. I think I lik...

On Wednesday night, I was sitting around my Bremen house moping about how badly I wanted to go home. I have loved my time in Bremen, including my Guest family, studies and friends, but I miss my wife, my dog, my friends, my home, and my office. I could not help but wallow in self-pity. My room is only so big, so I decided to move my moping to the outside. I went for a walk with plans for dinner at my favorite restaurant in Bremen, Restaurant Rimini (Italian). As I approached the restaurant, I decided that I should walk for a while before partaking in an Italian feast, so I headed into an unexplored neighborhood, Heimlingen. I came upon a municipal building with several people entering. In Bremen, once municipal buildings are closed, it seems as if they are vacant – no lights, no people. Observing this rare occurrence, I decided to ask an entering woman what she was doing. She immediately grabbed my arm and said, “Komm mit mir.” Unknowingly, I found myself walking into a church service ...

There is a picture of a cemetary included. On our way to see an overpriced ruin, Lindsay found a Jewish cemetary further up the past. Very few people walk to the cemetary as the ruins capture their attention (and their wallets). The Jewish cemetary is so fascinating because it was abandoned in the 1930's (for obvious reasons). Today there are no Jewish citizens left in Beilstein, but a faithful Jewish community in Koblenz maintains the cemetary in Beilstein. As Lindsay and I walked through the cemetary we were both in awe. Many tombstones were marked with dates just before 1933 - the year Hitler began his reign. Lindsay and I discussed that those marked with 1931, 32 were probably unaware of what was ahead for their families. This cemetary is one of the most important places for us, as it is a marker of communities that are no longer. In everything we do, may we seek to offer peace and refuge to all people.

It has been too long since my last post, but Lindsay and I were enjoying Germany together. I will sare you the details of our time in Bremen, and skip to our last weekend together. Originally, we were supposed to travel with one another to Greifswald, a city in North Easter Germany. The plan was to meet with a theologian there and discuss church, mission and European/US culture. Unfortuantely we had miscommunicated, and he thought we were coming the next weekend. Hopefully, I will be able to meet with him this week. Instead of feeling blue about the situation, we improvised. Friday after class, I returned home to tell Lindsay that Greifswald was kaput and we must make other plans. Within one hour, Lindsay packed up everything, and we headed off to the Mosel for one last hurrah together. We left BRemen around 3:45 and arrived in Koln at 6. We dropped off Lindsay's excess American luggage at our Sunday night hotel in Koln, then we were off to the Mosel region. Friday night we arrived...

Lindsay left this morning from Koln to the USA. We had a phenomenal last weekend in Germany, including a self-guided tour of the Mosel (the smaller river off of the Rhine). It was beautiful. More stories and photos later. I am kaput. Take care of my wife - only ten days until I can come home. Tschus. Kyle

From the Café to the Countryside… This past week I traveled to a remote part of the French Countryside to take part in a worship community called Taize. This place has been welcoming people from all over the world since late 1940’s. It is actually a community of Protestant and Catholic brothers who have committed their lives to simplicity and worship, and every week in the summer they invite 6,000 of their closest friends from all over the globe to join them in their daily routine of prayer, study, and fellowship. Most of the group consisted of youth groups, but they also open the community to adults as well. Three times a day, the bells ring to invite everyone to prayer. All 6.000 of us would file into the church in silence, pick up a songbook, and find a place on the floor. The brothers come in and take their places, kneeling in the center front facing forward. Then the music would begin. It was the most beautiful and simple worship I’ve ever experienced. Simple songs in 14 ...

Well we returned to Bremen last night following a great weekend in Amsterdam. On Friday, Lindsay and I met one another in Amsterdam. She came via Paris, and I via Bremen. It was a wonderful meeting point. The best part of the weekend was the time spent with the Jondelings (I might be spelling the name incorrectly). The Jondelings are a family from the church in Stockholm. They now live in Amsterdam. We had a great time sitting around eating, drinking, and talking the nights (and mornings) away. On Satruday we took the bus to the city of Amsterdam. Ironically, on the way there, I read one of our travel books, and it said, 'Amsterdam is a quiet city where bikes and walkers trump the noise of other city's autos.' Well, when we arrived, Amsterdam was anything but quiet! Crowded, noisy, and obnoxious. The weekend was filled with summer activities, a canal boat parade, and thousands of tourists shopping, watching, and not paying attention. But fear not. We still had a great time....

Last night Lindsay called, and she is safe in Taize. Pray that her trip goes well. Also, on Friday we meet together in Amsterdam. Pray that we find each other and our friends who live there.... Kyle