Christmas at Bodenseehof
I'm sorry for not updating since the 19th of November. A public apology brought to you by Mickeelie-Sucks-At-Blogging Inc. Seriously though, life here flies. So much has happened that I won't be able to cover it all, but here are some highlights...
-the Briscoes (Stuart and Jill) came and did a week on Romans and Life Lessons
-we had an open mic which produced some unknown talents and a lot of laughs
-I finally had outreach and helped run Kinderbrunch here at Bodenseehof for a bunch of kids which was A LOT of fun :) - basically we play games, do crafts, eat brunch, and the kids hear a bible story
-went to Sporthalle (a hall where we play sports)
-went to the flea market in town
-this past week our lecturer was Johan Schep, a crazy Dutch guy who love for Jesus and general joy infectious
-Bible Study Projects - we each had to pick a fundamental chapter of the bible and write about the historical context, interpretation, and life application for today. I wrote on Psalm 51 because I strongly felt connected to David's feelings
-lots of memory work
-lots of billiards
-lots of sauna
-and Christmas planning! and general revelry
Maybe not revelry. But Christmas spirit for sure. So far at the Bode we have a had a Christmas party involving endless cookie decorating and eating, ornament and paper snowflake making, and Charlie Brown Christmas music brought to us by one of our classmates. He also wakes us up every morning by walking down the halls playing Christmas carols on his accordion. Life here is excellent.
All week we have been preparing for Advent International, Bodenseehof's annual Christmas concert. I am involved in a few acts, which is surprising considering A. I never put my self out there for a performance, and B. I don't sing publicly. Or do anything musical outside of my shower or car really. Anywho, I am involved in a choir that is singing a Christmas medley of sorts in Swahili. One of the students here, Hudson, is from Kenya and it was his idea to put together the choir. I actually thought of my little sister, Jacq, when this choir was announced, and thought I would check it out considering she's been to Kenya. I ended up going to all of the practices and joining the choir. Again, surprising. Because I don't sing. But it's been fun and I have realized I've got soul. Hah. Also, my friend Tash put together a band to sing "Lay 'Em Down" by Needtobreathe, who are my second favourite band. She knew I liked them, so she invited me to join the band and play the drum box, aka Cajon. So tonight I am singing in a Swahili choir, playing the "drums" for a band, and our entire school is singing two songs at the end of the evening. So four acts in total.
This school has changed me. Before coming to the Bode I would never in a million years join any choir or band or get involved at all, but being here has helped me get out of the shell I've been kind of hiding in over the last few years, and just get out, have fun, and worship Jesus while doing it. He makes life more fun, I'm beginning to realize.
My Christmas plans are taking shape. School is out on the 17th and I head to Frankfurt for a few days. My reason for going to Frankfurt is simple: Coldplay. Being my favourite band since the age of 10, and the fact that they just released a new album, was reason enough for me to pay an arm and a leg for a ticket to one of their European tour shows. After Coldplay, I will be flying out of Germany to England for a week. I will be visiting my cousin Patricia and her family over Christmas, which is nice because they're family. After my week in England, I will be flying back to Frankfurt and training to Baden-Baden which is right next to the border of France. I will be staying in a host house with my friends Mallery and Roxana, and we will be doing day trips into France, including a trip to Paris for New Years Eve. After that we will come back to school, pick up some gear and head to Switzerland for a ski conference with many people form our school. No, I will not be skiing, which may sound ridiculous considering I'm living around some of the finest slopes in the world. But skiing and/or snowboarding + Mickeelie = broken neck and/or empty wallet. So Mallery and I plan to snowshoe, knit, and explore the various towns around the conference area. Should be an excellent time.
So if you are reading this and it is still Saturday wherever you live, pray for us tonight for Advent International. Many people only come to Bodenseehof once a year and it's for this concert, so pray that they come with open hearts and minds to receive the word of God. Also pray for Heinz Spindler, (my small group leader and the director of Bodenseehof), as he will be speaking tonight.
Life has been crazy, and fun, and Jesus just keeps getting better. I have missed a lot of things that have happened in the last few weeks, but to tell all of them, I would need about five more blog entries, and right now, I don't exactly have the time. I'm behind on Old Testament reading, an essay on characters of the OT, memory work, and my reading of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. Procrastination still rules. Sorry Mum.
Merry Christmas and much love,
Mickeelie
-the Briscoes (Stuart and Jill) came and did a week on Romans and Life Lessons
-we had an open mic which produced some unknown talents and a lot of laughs
-I finally had outreach and helped run Kinderbrunch here at Bodenseehof for a bunch of kids which was A LOT of fun :) - basically we play games, do crafts, eat brunch, and the kids hear a bible story
-went to Sporthalle (a hall where we play sports)
-went to the flea market in town
-this past week our lecturer was Johan Schep, a crazy Dutch guy who love for Jesus and general joy infectious
-Bible Study Projects - we each had to pick a fundamental chapter of the bible and write about the historical context, interpretation, and life application for today. I wrote on Psalm 51 because I strongly felt connected to David's feelings
-lots of memory work
-lots of billiards
-lots of sauna
-and Christmas planning! and general revelry
Maybe not revelry. But Christmas spirit for sure. So far at the Bode we have a had a Christmas party involving endless cookie decorating and eating, ornament and paper snowflake making, and Charlie Brown Christmas music brought to us by one of our classmates. He also wakes us up every morning by walking down the halls playing Christmas carols on his accordion. Life here is excellent.
All week we have been preparing for Advent International, Bodenseehof's annual Christmas concert. I am involved in a few acts, which is surprising considering A. I never put my self out there for a performance, and B. I don't sing publicly. Or do anything musical outside of my shower or car really. Anywho, I am involved in a choir that is singing a Christmas medley of sorts in Swahili. One of the students here, Hudson, is from Kenya and it was his idea to put together the choir. I actually thought of my little sister, Jacq, when this choir was announced, and thought I would check it out considering she's been to Kenya. I ended up going to all of the practices and joining the choir. Again, surprising. Because I don't sing. But it's been fun and I have realized I've got soul. Hah. Also, my friend Tash put together a band to sing "Lay 'Em Down" by Needtobreathe, who are my second favourite band. She knew I liked them, so she invited me to join the band and play the drum box, aka Cajon. So tonight I am singing in a Swahili choir, playing the "drums" for a band, and our entire school is singing two songs at the end of the evening. So four acts in total.
This school has changed me. Before coming to the Bode I would never in a million years join any choir or band or get involved at all, but being here has helped me get out of the shell I've been kind of hiding in over the last few years, and just get out, have fun, and worship Jesus while doing it. He makes life more fun, I'm beginning to realize.
My Christmas plans are taking shape. School is out on the 17th and I head to Frankfurt for a few days. My reason for going to Frankfurt is simple: Coldplay. Being my favourite band since the age of 10, and the fact that they just released a new album, was reason enough for me to pay an arm and a leg for a ticket to one of their European tour shows. After Coldplay, I will be flying out of Germany to England for a week. I will be visiting my cousin Patricia and her family over Christmas, which is nice because they're family. After my week in England, I will be flying back to Frankfurt and training to Baden-Baden which is right next to the border of France. I will be staying in a host house with my friends Mallery and Roxana, and we will be doing day trips into France, including a trip to Paris for New Years Eve. After that we will come back to school, pick up some gear and head to Switzerland for a ski conference with many people form our school. No, I will not be skiing, which may sound ridiculous considering I'm living around some of the finest slopes in the world. But skiing and/or snowboarding + Mickeelie = broken neck and/or empty wallet. So Mallery and I plan to snowshoe, knit, and explore the various towns around the conference area. Should be an excellent time.
So if you are reading this and it is still Saturday wherever you live, pray for us tonight for Advent International. Many people only come to Bodenseehof once a year and it's for this concert, so pray that they come with open hearts and minds to receive the word of God. Also pray for Heinz Spindler, (my small group leader and the director of Bodenseehof), as he will be speaking tonight.
Life has been crazy, and fun, and Jesus just keeps getting better. I have missed a lot of things that have happened in the last few weeks, but to tell all of them, I would need about five more blog entries, and right now, I don't exactly have the time. I'm behind on Old Testament reading, an essay on characters of the OT, memory work, and my reading of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. Procrastination still rules. Sorry Mum.
Merry Christmas and much love,
Mickeelie
Mickeelie, I am amazed at the experiences you are having, plus learning more about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ... what a blessing! Uncle Gerald, Alyssa, Chris, Pat, Kacie, Kait, Korby and I will miss you for our Boxing Day "feast"!!
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Aunt Karen