We're Still Here!

So it's been a while since our last posting...yep. Sorry about the lapse in communication, but as you will see if you stay with us all the way through this entry, we've been staying busy (as always).

We've started back to volunteering at our favorite girls' dorm, Storchenblick. These girls keep us laughing and we love each of their different personalities. It's really great to have the chance to get to know them outside of the school setting.

Jae doing her dish gratis. Each night after dinner and before study hours, the girls have chores.

Me making my mom's peach cobbler for 20!

Fall party was held in September and the theme was Opposites. Mark and I went as young and old.

City and Country

Geeks (not sure where their opposites were).

Summer and Winter

War and Peace

Our small groups have started up again. Above is most of Mark's group.

Another one of Mark's guys.

My beautiful small group girls.

Mark took a couple of guys out for a ride one Sunday afternoon. These guys regularly hang out with Mark and want him to "chill" with them.

"Mark these seats make my butt hurt!"

Mark was able to go on the middle school overnight retreat again this year. He loves hanging with the middle schoolers. They went to a youth hostel near the Swiss border as you can see from the above picture.

Love this girl!

Oh the games middle schoolers love to play!

They also love to steal Mark's camera and take pictures of themselves.

Getting a little crazy with the kids!

Evan is getting pretty serious with his band. They get together once a week to practice...that is provided they all keep their grades up:)

Crazy band mom taking her turn at supervising them. I need to invest in some earplugs!

We followed Meredith and the JV volleyball team to a military base in Heidelberg one Saturday. Meredith is captain of the JV team.

Sorry about the quality of these pictures. The gym was pretty dark inside.

Praying before their games. Meredith is number 3.

Just recently Mark and I were privileged to accompany the sophomores on a class field trip. We are sponsors of the 10th grade class. We went to a labor concentration camp in France about 2 hours away. It was a somber experience, but one for which I am grateful.

Outside the entrance to the camp.

A memorial where ashes of the burned barracks and bodies of prisoners were placed.

A student getting a small taste of what kind of work the prisoners were made to do.

Learning about the gallows where many prisoners were hanged.

After all the seriousness of the day and restraint necessary for these kids to remain respectful at the memorial, they needed a little break. We stopped at a McDonald's on the way home (a rare treat for our students).

We had one loud and crazy bus ride home!

Well you made to the end of this entry! Thanks for staying with us:) Every now and then we get a chance to get away from the BFA bubble and take in some sights nearby. One Saturday afternoon, Mark, Ethan and I drove up to Freiburg (45 minutes away) and enjoyed just walking around. It's a beautiful, old German city.

While living in a foreign country can be quite taxing and difficult at times, we are so thankful for the opportunities that God gives us to enjoy this part of the world.

Here's a picture of "death on a plate"! It's currywurst and french fries (pommes) covered with mayo. It's typical German fast food. So yummy but so bad for you.

As I close this entry with how thankful we are for each one of you who support us in prayer and finances, please allow me, with Mark to offer this prayer for you and us as we all seek to serve the Lord through our lives.

A Prayer for Vocation in Daily Work:
Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Many blessings and much peace,
Susan and Mark, with Meredith, Evan and Ethan