Other Summer Happenings

Really, I do work for a living. But I did take a family vacation in early July with Mom, Randy and Abby. My other sibling, Karen and her husband Dave (and boys AJ and Zac) are in Cameroon as missionaries so they couldn't make it. One morning we 4 took rides on bikes/a surrey, along the Ocean City boardwalk. The times with my family are precious and I'm thankful for them!

The Hungary & Austria Trip

There was a single missionaries retreat for numerous missions in June, in Salzburg, Austria. At first I wasn't going to go, but the Lord provided and suddenly I was making plans! I already had my tickets for England, to later connect to the USA to head to the USA for my Homeland Ministry Assignment (furlough). All I had to do was postpone the USA part, and fill the days before the retreat with something. First idea? Hungary! Visit Katy Beth and Dan Searls, dear college and WGM missionary friends.
God worked out all the details and poof- I was on my way. Happy days. Beautiful places. Wonderful visits and blessed times. Refreshment and rest and renewal. Praise the Lord for those days! :)
Out of about 300 photos (so I like to shoot pictures!), I have chosen a number which I hope will be something you enjoy.

Random but Fun Photos

So I like to take pictures of interesting views or subjects. These are my favorites from Austria. The one with the iron grate is taken inside the Salzburg fortress looking out over the city. The other 2 are just neat window settings. Enjoy!

Two Lake Visits

Here I am at the King's Lake (I can't spell it in German, but that is the translation). It is blue-green and one of the most incredible vistas I've ever seen personally. Yes, the various Austrian/Hungarian kings would use the Chateau (castle really) and the lake for their summer and sometimes winter retreats. Now it is a museum and National Forest area.
Next, a photo outside the Von Trapp's family mansion. It was used for filming The Sound of Music. If you remember the scene where Maria and the children fall into the lake from their boat, this is the lake and if you look closely, you can see the patio area which leads down into the lake, where they all stepped out. This place is now a private (no trespassing please!) retreat and conference center owned by... Harvard University (how random). Now look to the left of this photo; there is the fortress which overlooks Salzburg and this is the back view of it, about 2 miles away from the Von Trapp's family home. Apparently the FRONT of the Von Trapp mansion was not impressive enough, so they used another building/place. But Hollywood loved that the family home is located on this lake and has the view it does. Patio scenes and dancing scenes were also filmed here for the movie.

Toliet with an Awesome View

Built in the 1400's, this toilet was connected to the Prince's bed chamber high up in his fortress. It was the first of it's kind- meaning an outhouse was in the palace, not detached where the prince or princess would have to tip toe through the mud and muck for relief. But check out the window in the closet; they had an incredible view overlooking the valley and city below. Naturally the plumbing was just like an outhouse- sort of a drop into a pit. But what you can't tell from this photo easily is that the pit was located about 1000 feet below, down the mountain and still encased in the stone base of the fortress itself. If you look at some of my other Salzburg photos, this photo is taken inside the fortress at the top of the mountain there in the city. High up enough for defense AND a great view while relieving yourself. Hmm. No, the toilet is no longer in use.

My Small Group at Retreat

These missionary ladies made up my small group with me during the retreat near Salzburg. Pictured from left to right are Krista (France), Cat (Italy) and Pamyla (Spain). We had some special times of sharing and prayer. Each morning all the missionaries would meet together for a Bible study session, and then we'd break up into our small groups. These 3 friends were a great encouragement and example to me of faithfulness to the Lord.

Views around Austria

The first photo is of the town and lake area where Maria Von Trapp (Sound of Music fame) had grown up. Is there a better word than beautiful? I mean, besides "more beautiful" or something? Wow.
The next photo is of Salzburg, and that city's beauty practically makes my heart sing. I loved walking all around the streets and seeing the architecture, people, places. It is a city from the 1400's; just amazing.

Out with Katy Beth

Girls' Night out just outside of Budapest was really neat. We girls (5 of us) went to a restaurant in a village known for it's - get this- large film studio! The area is breath taking and they're in the midst of farms, vineyards, and incredible history. This photo shows one of the neat churches in the background. Church towers and spires really add a lot to the photography/views in Europe.

Budapest's Beauty

Upon my arrival to the Searls' home, we had a wonderful dinner and fellowship. They were in the midst of hosting 4 VIA (Volunteers In Action from WGM) and we all had a very nice visit during those days. One night Katy Beth took some of us to see the downtown views of Budapest. The city has done a fabulous job accenting the architecture there with lighting. And then the day time views are pretty awesome, too!

Reunion of College Friends

In London, on the way to Europe then the USA, I had dinner with Lisa Mayo (middle) and Laura Jones (right). They were roommates at Asbury and we all were good friends. Laura is in ministry with her husband in London. Lisa and her family (her husband is my field director in Uganda) were headed to her parent's retirement in the USA. It was a very nice evening together. It had been since, like, 1989 maybe that we all were in the same place together. We'd started out in missions together, under Prof. Roy Lauter (Asbury) who took a crew of us to Kenya. That was the trip that later put all 3 of us more into ministry locations which have (amongst the 3 of us) included: Bolivia, Honduras, Kenya, Tanzania, Greece, England and Uganda!

Culture "Shock" and Computer Issues

It has been more than a month that I've been able to add anything to the blog, and a little longer that I've not been able to use my Outlook in my laptop to email folks. Why? Well, I left Uganda in early June, went to see our Hungary field (awesome.check the photos I'll be adding), and attended a retreat in Austria. Upon arrival to the USA, I've re-discovered how very little I know about computers. I've struggled about 2 weeks trying to get my computer to let me send from my outbox; no luck yet. I'm working on it and I think a WGM IT guy will be helping me out this week.
All of that is to say I'm sorry I've not updated any of you; it has been a fight and one I've easily lost a number of times.I am sure you'll know when things are straightened out. Ugh.
As to culture shock, well, I notice the sun is out later (Indiana now is East Coast year-round where before the state had never switched, so in the summer it was Central Time Zone, and winter it was EST). Since moving to year-round EST, yikes, the sun is out till nearly 10 p.m.! I also notice how smooth the USA roads are. Compared to the bumps and dips and horrible roads in Uganda, it is a pleasure (and a bit boring if I'm tired- very little to dodge here!) to drive in the USA. I LOVE sleeping without my mosquito net, and those horrible things don't even bother me here (so far). In Uganda I have to close my doors at 6 p.m. and NOT open them till about 8 a.m., or they rush in and attack all night long. I can even sit outside on the deck at my Mom's and enjoy the back yard instead of constantly swatting and spraying so that I don't get bitten.
I AM happy to be "home" in Indiana, with my Mom and sister. I've had a few visits with friends and of course I expect to talk with and see a number of others too. I'm currently working (besides on the computer issues) on my travel schedule and where I'll be when and who I'll get to see! :-)