I discovered once again how we have brothers and sisters everywhere. Here in Leipzig we met with a new congregation just getting started. Many have never read or owned a Bible. The 2 missionary couples are doing a great job and there is a part of me that envies the work they're doing. What a blessing to serve God in such a powerful way.
We also visited the STATSI Museum where under communism the people were spied upon. Very unsettling but terribly interesting.
I hope you see God's blessings in your life today!

Yesterday Sat March 16th we spent the day in Wittenberg where Martin Luther, as a priest, began to protest the Catholic Church. He was very brave to speak against indulgences, the Pope's authority, and other unbiblical beliefs and practices. He preached about love and more importantly how Christianity is centered around the gospel of Christ and nothing else. He translated the Bible into German so people could read for themselves the Word of God. He began a movement back to personal faith and knowledge. These pictures are of the church he preached in and the one he famously nailed his protests on the door.

We'd we got up early and headed for a 3 day trip down to Fussen. It was snowing and about 21 degrees. Walking from the train station to our family run hotel was cold but with 3 sweaters and a coat, I loved it.
Fussen is the Bavarian village close to "Mad King Ludwig's" Neuschwanstein Castle. It doesn't seem like he was really " mad" but interested more in creating beauty for himself than for governing. So when he built his castles all over Bavaria, he owed 400 million marks. In other words he was spending more than he could afford. (Mmmmm sounds familiar. ) Anyway the people declared him insane and he mysteriously died.
This castle is truly a work of art. Walt Disney though so and made it his "Disney Castle".
We took a horse drawn carriage up but stayed too long and walked down in driving snow. It was worth it. So very beautiful is God's creation!! The surrounding mountains were breathtaking in the snow.

The museum starts at around100 AD with a few things earlier but really centers on WWII. Hitler was truly a madman and those who followed him.
I thought about testing who we follow in this life and how vitally important that is. They became so desensitized that doing wrong seemed right.

I hope and pray God's blessings on you today. Dennis and I have really been on the move this last week. Seeing everything from the horrors of war man creates to the beauty and majesty God creates.
Tues the 12th we walked to the train station heading off for Berlin. There is so much there to see. We decided on the German History Museum for our day trip.

I've been surprised how little jet lag I've experienced. Maybe because I'm with my sweet family.
Karen and I went to some 2nd hand shops and grocery shopping.
Today we walked all over Leipzig. Seeing the city center where Bach, Goethe, Wagner, Schiller lived.
Leipzig has so much history in music, literature and religion. What a wonderful city in which to begin our adventure!
Auf Weidersehen

I'm in Germany!!!

Dennis and I were welcomed at the train station with flowers and hugs. We welcomed them with a suitcase full of American goodies. All is good!!!

Deciding on this adventure

After 38 years of marriage, 4 children, and 8 grandchildren my husband, Dennis, and I decided the time was right for an adventure we've only talked about never believing we would really be able to do. But our oldest daughter and family moved to Germany for the semester taking 4 of our precious granddaughters with them. We HAD to visit them. The trip kept growing until we decided to backpack throughout Europe.
So now I'm sitting at the Dallas airport thinking, "Am I crazy?! 3 1/2 months of living out of a backpack? Am I too old and of shape? What in the world am I doing? Besides...I don't like to fly!"
Like another daughter of mine said "mom, that's what makes it an adventure!"
She's right. So here we go. Packed. Through security.
And a tearful goodbye to my newest 5 month old granddaughter at the airport, And my sleeping pills in my bag.
Stay tuned... This is guaranteed to be interesting. May God bless!

Preparing

As I think about this upcoming adventure, one of the hardest things is not seeing my precious grand babies for so long.