Friends and Faces of Berlin

I thought it was time you all get a little snapshot of the people and places I see on a regular basis. These are just a few of images of the things that surround my life in Berlin. I only have a few now, but I promise to make a part 2 (or 3...or 4... if necessary). I want to much sure you get to see all the wonderful people on this very large team!

 "We're so excited for UniMAT!" We really were. I think these faces more expressed our feelings about being in the 8 passenger van. L-R Me, Hannah K, Maureen, Kayla, and Mamie.

Behold. The Doner. A common delicacy available on almost every street corner in the city.

Kayla. A most spirited and hilarious individual. This is Kayla in her natural habitat- taking a quick selfie of herself and her gluten-free soup. It's hard not to love her, although you never know what she's going to do or say next!

So technically this one isn't in Berlin. This is a picture of what my Mom's office at work looks like. Two clocks- Chicago time and Berlin time. I think that says it all. You can be praying for my Momma too. And if you see her regularly, you can give her a hug for me. Berlin is great but I still miss my Mom :)

The faces of success at the Burgeramt! We had to register with the city in order to get bank accounts, visas, and follow the law. We woke up at 5:45 to beat the crowds and were pretty excited to be out by 9:00. And so was Mackey. Up top you'll see Nicole, Hannah K, and Maureen. The animal licking my face is our lovable team dog, Mackey (really Adam and Lauren's, but we all like her).

 The Queens of the Castle (roomies), minus Maureen. We were in desperate need for anything closely related to Mexican, and then found some taco seasoning in our cabinet. So we made chicken nachos loaded with veggies and mozzarella (because cheddar is quite hard to find!). Here you've got Nicole, Hannah K, myself, and Mamie. Maureen got home shortly after we took this pic so...

...Maureen now gets her own picture. We accidentally matched completely. And if you know me, my face is the opposite of how I was feeling inside. But Maureen was pretty stoked about it so I guess it was okay.

The Tor. All lit up with moving projections and music for the Festival of Lights. I wish I could describe the Festival better but I think it's just one of those things you have to experience!

 Top- Steph and Hannah K. Bottom- Maureen, Nicole, and I. Enjoying the Festival of Lights together with our hot chocolate and gluhwein. 

This one is so cool. "Let there be light" in the projection onto the Berliner Dom and the TV Tower in the background.

If you are a Heinen or you've had brunch with the Heinens you know what this is. Eggs Benedict on a Saturday morning to celebrate our first full week of work. Just initiating the roommates into the Heinen family!

 Two wonderful things- Sam and a Belgian waffle. Sam and I went to church together, caught up at Starbucks afterward, and took a prayer walk around Alexander Platz. We prayed that God would lead us to the cafe with these waffles that I went to on my spring break trip (I couldn't remember where it was) and bam! 10 minutes later we found it. And then we celebrated by sharing this incredible waffle. So thankful for this beautiful woman, Belgian waffles, and for a God who shows us that he loves us- even in waffles.

Steps of Faith

I all too easily forgot that support raising was not the only challenge in the call to Berlin. In fact, it was just the beginning. Leaving the U.S. and my first few weeks in Germany have been fun and exciting and filled with all things new. It's been great! But has been feeling more like a vacation than a job. After a Germany staff conference, a Berlin team retreat, and a women's adventure to Poland, it's finally time to get into the swing of things!

In this time of vision, planning, and orientation I've been struck by the faiths of Simon (Peter) and of Jonathan. Pretty much all of this thinking was prompted by what we talked about at team retreat, but I really felt like this was wisdom that needed to be shared.

Luke 5:1-11 | The Calling of the First Disciples
Now Peter. Oh Peter. I feel like every time I read about Peter my response is, "Retweet, Peter. Retweet. I feel ya." Paul is great and inspiring, but Peter constantly reminds me that grace, power, and love are extended even to those with little faith. So here, Peter is just getting to know who Jesus is. Jesus just healed his mother-in-law and now goes to Peter after a long night of fishing, asking to use his boat to teach a large crowd. After his teaching, Jesus then instructs Peter to put his nets down for a catch. Read: Jesus is telling Peter how to do his job. Peter's response is so like mine often is, "Jesus, I've tried that. I know how to do this. In fact I've been doing it for a while now. But okay, because you say so, I'll do it your way. Whatever." (Obviously paraphrased) Jesus' instructions lead to the largest catch of Peter's life. And his response is asking Jesus to leave. "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (5:8). He knows who Jesus is, acknowledges it, and knows he is not worthy to be in his presence. He's also probably afraid of who he is. I know I would be. And yet, Jesus still says to him "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men" (5:11) and Peter follows Jesus upon bringing the boat to shore.

In this moment, sitting in my apartment in Berlin, I feel so much like Peter. Jesus has done great things through me in situations where, like Peter, I am comfortable in my ability- in school, in community, in my sorority, on my campus, in America. And now, He has brought me to a new place, to do new and uncomfortable things. I'm focusing on starting new movements on new campuses in the city. I wasn't fully expecting that. I'm sure when Peter heard Jesus say he would be a fisher of men he hesitated for a moment. "What does that even mean?" I find myself asking that question as we're talking about how we're reaching students this year and beyond. Jesus is calling me out of my boat and I'm trying to figure out what it means to follow him. I'll admit it's pretty scary, and yet...

1 Samuel 14:1-14 | Jonathan Attacks the Philistines
What I've always loved about Jonathan is his loyalty to his friend David. Every time I read about him, I'm amazed at how far that loyalty goes. This story of Jonathan is about his faith in the Lord. At this time the Israelites have no weapons, except for Jonathan and Saul, they have very few solders willing to fight the Philistines, and the Philistine army is massive. The reality is that if the Israelites try to fight, they will surely lose, because how could a few beat countless? Yet Jonathan says to his armor-bearer (note it's just Jonathan and this other man), "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows (Philistines). Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few" (14:6). Guess what? Jonathan defeats the Philistines. And he starts his prayer with perhaps. The door is open to possibility. And isn't God the one who can do whatever He wants? God is not hindered by many or few, big or small. Anything is a possibility. Anything we think about, God could do.

Perhaps. It's not a word we use often, especially in the positive sense. But really? God can do whatever He wants, with whoever He wants. He can do small things with lots of people or big things with a few. How refreshing is that? So my fears and hindrances, my desire to stay in the boat, I can let that go. Place myself in the river of God's will and allow Him to use me to glorify His name. And in doing that, in giving up of myself, I will experience more than I could ever imagine. I can take risks without worry because God can do whatever He wants. How cool.

Anything could happen.

"And He whispers to your heart to let it go and to be a light...You're full of life now. You're full of passion. That's how He made you. Just let it happen" - "Let it Happen" United Pursuit

The First Week

Wow. Hey! I'm in Berlin! Who would have ever thought that this day would finally come? It still doesn't feel real to me but it is a cool feeling to walk around this city thinking "Whoa, I live here!" I take the s-bahn (one of the train systems) to the Brandenburg Gate stop when I go to Mittelpunkt (our cafe/meeting place in the city). I'll be working on a campus that claims some of the greatest minds- Einstein, Planck ('s constant), Buchner (funnel), Nernst (equation)- and has incredible history in the city. Yesterday I walked between two pieces of the Berlin Wall chilling outside of a mall. I literally live here. Ask me in a few months how I feel about Germany but today I'm pretty thrilled by it.

This week was a lot of new. New places, new food, new friends, new experiences. I finally made it to an IKEA! I moved into an apartment in Germany! I turned 23!

Monday- A whole lot of crazy. Landing at 8am after a sleepless flight from the States- I really don't recommend it to anyone. Mamie, Maureen, Hannah, Nicole, and I went to our apartment for the first time and took in the lay of the land (including our awesome balcony). Nicole and I spent the majority of our day setting up our room with reminders from home and staying on our feet to stay awake. A chaotic first Aldi run and a team dinner somehow fit into the day. The seemingly longest day ever ended with my head on the pillow at 20:30. Day one: check.

Tuesday- Olympiastadion. One of the coolest places to cast vision for our role in Berlin. The amount of students in Berlin (around 200,000) can fill this Olympic Stadium 2 and 1/2 times. God knows each and every one of them, just like He knows each and every one of us on our team. Our job is not to look at the stadium with fear for the enormity of students needing the Gospel- but to take it all in, knowing that by multiplying our faith in the lives of student leaders it is the believing students that will reach their non-believing peers. One can reach four, four can reach sixteen, sixteen can reach sixty-four, students can reach the world. I'll stop there with the side comment that yes I made up the numbers but the concept is the key. Multiplication builds movement. And I'm so excited to be a part of that here in Berlin over the next year. Tuesday afternoon we talked more about our role as interns and met some students. We celebrated our teammate Liz's birthday with dinner at an Egyptian restaurant and Wonder Waffel before another early night. (yay jetlag...)

Wednesday- A morning meeting and time in the Word. My first trip to IKEA for things for our apartment. Roommate bonding talking love languages, Meyer's Briggs, and rules for the apartment. Eating brownies and ice cream. More settling in.

Thursday- Happy Birthday to me! 22 years of American birthdays, here's to my 23rd starting in a new country! My roommates raced me to Mittelpunkt to make me a chai tea latte in a mug with my boss' winking face on it. Truly priceless (see Facebook for a picture of the mug). Morning meeting and time in the Word was followed by an afternoon on our first campus. Mamie, Ben, Hanna, and I went to University of Potsdam- Golm campus. We "decoded" or explored and learned about the campus and students to gauge the environment for moving onto this campus. Classes are not yet in session so it was pretty quiet but it was fun to have the day with Hanna (who I know from IndyMetro Cru) exploring a new place. Our team had dinner that night at the Speichers (one of the families on the team) and I got another round of happy birthday and a brownie cupcake. My roomies and I finished the night with a new apartment tradition: share 22 facts/fun stories about yourself and 1 thing you want to do over the next year (all together that makes 23 things because I'm now 23 years old). It was a great birthday :)

Friday- Team assignment reveal- I'm on the North team! While this makes no difference to many of you, it helps to distinguish where in the city I'll be working. I'll be mainly on the campuses of the HU and the TU along with a few other campuses. I'm excited to be working along Brady, Debbie, Kayla, Liz, Ben, Lauren, and Stu and Barbara (who you can be praying return to Berlin soon!) We spent the afternoon on campus at Humboldt (HU) and our evening watching Pitch Perfect with the team at our apartment. Beautiful.

For the sake of length I'll say we spent our weekend adventuring a little bit, being real tourists in our new home, eating ice cream, and enjoying the fact that Berlin is sunny right now. Sorry for the length and logistical orientation this post had but I wanted to fill you all in on how this first week of adventure has been. It's hard to believe I'll be here until next summer but piece by piece we're working on making it home. I promise I'll share more about what God has been up to in future posts. For now, sleep.

Berlin's Olympiastadion. A most impressive place of Nazi design with particularly redemptive qualities.

My sweet birthday cupcake.

My team for Thursday's birthday campus decoding adventure- Hanna, Mamie, and Ben (L-R).

Just going to work in the morning...

The courtyard of Humboldt University- one of the places I'll be spending my time over the next year.

A God who Provides

I've been waiting weeks to finally find the words to be able to sum up how I feel at this moment. This summer has been long, busy, prayer-filled, challenging, lonely, uplifting, and so many other things. It seems like I only just graduated and moved back home. So of course I'm beyond excited that God surpassed every expectation and provided for all of my financial need while in Berlin over the next 10 months. 

Did you hear that?! I'm 100% funded. What?!

I'll admit that it is easy to forget that God not only calls but enables. It was easy for me to forget why Berlin felt like the next step. It was easy for me to forget why making phone calls, sending emails, and going to appointments was worth the awkward and the humility. He does not call the equipped but He equips the called.

I don't really know what to expect in this next 10 months in Berlin. I almost feel like I'm walking in blind. It's so weird to think I'll be gone that long without coming home! I don't even know how I can even pack for this! I'm nervous, excited, scared, honored, unprepared... I'm feeling a lot of feelings, and I know I'll have many more once I get there. Yet, how cool is it that the creator of the universe has called and equipped me to tell university students in Berlin about Jesus? To be a part of the greatest, most intricate storyline in all of time? All feelings aside, this is worth it.

So thank you. For being part of my financial support team, my prayer support team, my life support team ;). For reading this blog, for caring about and listening to what God is doing through me. I can't wait to continue to share about how God is working in Berlin and the lessons He will teach me over this next year!

Meet my fellow interns!! A whole fifteen people!

Look at those ladies! Super excited to do life with these beautiful women.

Typical Chicago "bean pic". I just had to. From the homeland to the Deutschland ;)

Just The Beginning

So this is it. I'm going to Berlin.

I knew from freshman year that international ministry was something that I wanted to do but never thought I would be able to do it. Six years in pharmacy school doesn't leave much room for a year abroad. Through the process of changing my major I let go of my plans and started to pray that God would reveal His to me. In the fall, I realized that my heart broke for the city of Berlin and even though I knew Spanish, Germany might actually be where God was leading me after graduation. I trusted that if Cru was my next step and if God wanted me to be in Berlin, He would send me. He surely did. I'm young, adventurous, open, ready, and willing, I have no excuse so I'm going.

This summer I'm praying. Praying and working and praying some more. These next few months are going to be a lot of work and preparation for my year abroad. I have a lot of money to raise before I leave in September. I have a lot of phone calls to make, letters to send, appointments to set up. And so I'm praying that God continues to motivate me. I'm praying that He continues to lead me to the members of my support team. I'm praying that He prepares my heart and mind for ministry over the next year. I'm praying that He will do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine.