Jesus Christ is Better

"But of the Son he says,

'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore, God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."

Hebrews 1v8-9

Sunday:

Last Sunday, I was able to make the Sunday morning church service at the Thomaskirche. The service was in both Latin and German, but the bulletins had English translations (which I was grateful for!). That Sunday was the last day of the Bachfest in Leipzig, and the famous Thomaschor boys choir led worship. I was in awe. I'd never heard such an elegant church choir singing to our Christ. It was truly a delight to be there, worshipping the Lord.

Monday:

After class Monday, the German tutors took us on a wandern (hiking) trip through a park in Leipzig. Here are some pictures that can explain themselves :) 

Tuesday:

After class, I went with my roommate to a grill party withs some of her friends. All of them are from different countries, and are flying home soon because their semesters are ending this week. So this was our last week to do this. It was so much fun, visiting in so many different languages, and learning lots of German in the midst.

Wednesday:

This day practically flew by, because all I did was go to class, then sleep...I slept so much and so hard. And it was one of the first days I was able to get a real full nights rest. Praise God.

Thursday:

The Lord is faithful to Love His children, and to continually remind them of that Love. I was struggling with feeling alone here, not being surrounded by the comfort of many other believers. I was just really desiring fellowship. After eating lunch, I went for a walk (which I've never done at this time) around the campus cafeteria, which is close to the central area of Leipzig, called Augustusplatz. I only had about 20 minutes before having to be back to the Mensa, to meet friends to go to the Library. But I had turned to corner by one building, and usually there are street performers, bands, singers, etc. that set up for donations along the walk way. As I was turning that corner, I saw a man, playing at his keyboard, and I didn't recognize the song, but I knew I needed to turn around and go closer. As I approached, I realized he was singing, in English, worship music to our Lord Christ!! I had not yet met, or seen, or heard believers in this city, truly proclaiming Jesus unashamedly. I was blown away by the Lord's faithfulness to provide me comfort in this way that I could truly understand. I was able to stand there for about 10 minutes, worshipping Him publicly with just a few other people. I was amazed and reminded, that Christ just calls us to obedience, and usually we do not know His true reasons for calling us to do specific things for His kingdom, but He NEVER FAILS to use that obedience! The Lord used that man's obedience to Christ that day, to remind me that Christ is better, forever. 

Friday:

TEST!! My final exam for my German class was today. I had to write an essay over Leipzig, my experiences here, and why I've chosen to learn the German language. The topics were pretty easy, so I hope that my writing was sufficient enough to pass the course. I'll find out next week, I believe. So keep that in your prayers please!

After classes were finished, we had our final grill party for our friend Ibra, who is flying home to Saudi Arabia on Monday. The party was in the park behind our dorms, just next to a beautiful pond with ducks and geese. The majority of the time, it rained. But, truly no one seemed to mind it, because we were having such a great time, playing Fußball and grilling. I will really miss my new friends!!!

(I don't have any pictures from this night just yet, but I will post them as soon as I do.)

Saturday:

Off to Dresden! My German course had scheduled a day trip to Dresden, Saturday. We left around 9am and went by train. (By the way: I'm really getting used to getting around by this wonderful public transportation!). We arrived just 2 hours later, and the first stop was to visit the Frauenkirche, which had been destroyed in WWII, but was rebuilt as a replica of the original. There were many people there, waiting in line to look through the church, but there was a wedding going on inside! So, instead of meeting back with the group, my friend Kathleen and I assumed that everyone would still be waiting to get inside the church, so we did the same. After finally touring through it (pictures below), we went back to our "meeting spot," and no one was there. So we just sat there for a while, got hungry, found a bratwurst stand, came back, sat some more...sat for a while...then I finally asked her nonchalantly:

"Kathleen, are we lost?"

She just shrugged her shoulders, taking a bite of her bratwurst, and said, "I dunno. Maybe."

Needless to say, we were. And about 1/2 hour later my professor found us and was so thankful!! It was interesting to be lost in Europe, and not even realize it :) It was certainly a lovely trip, and even in silly things like this, the Lord is faithful to keep us from worry. 

I love you all and thank you for your prayers! Here are a few prayer requests I have for the past week and next:

-It is my last week with the Uni Leipzig Sommerkurs program (I still have another week here after that, but it is just UNT after this week), and I have many things to do before it is over (projects, oral exams, etc.) Please be praying for peace and my diligence to finish my last week of this course.

-Be praying for the Lord to continue to work in His people for their salvation. I've seen His hand in so many things this week, and I am still praying for His will to be brought about in these people.

Thank you for your love and obedience to our Lord Christ, who is better than every created thing, and rules, forever, on His rightful, righteous throne!

Alles Liebe,

Carol 

He Will Bring Salvation To Completion

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,

your remembrance, O LORD, throughout all ages.

Psalm 135:13

Now may the God of peace who brought again

from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd

of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,

equip you with everything good that you may

do his will, working in you that which is pleasing

in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be 

glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Guten Tag! My German has slowly but surely gotten better this week in Leipzig. I'm without a doubt that I could write a different blog post for each day of the past week, but I'd rather just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Montag 13. Juni

After class, the Universität Leipzig Herder Institute Program took all the American students bowling. It's not a usual "German" thing to do, but I guess we were getting a tiny taste of home.

Kathleen and I. 

Dienstag 14. Juni

After all day class, the Institute had planned another evening event for us. This time they took us to see a Summer Theatre production of Treasure Island in German.

The theatre was outside, in a small run down vintage area of Leipzig, and it looked like we were sitting under the covering of an old barn!

Kathleen, Bo, and I. 

Mittwoch 15. Juni

After all day class (again), we went on ANOTHER excursion (and at this point I was almost a zombie). This excursion, however, was incredibly special. We toured the German BMW plant and got to see each step of putting these cars together. The tour was naturally, in German, but I saw plenty to understand what was going on. They didn't allow us to take pictures inside, so I don't have anything from it. Even so, it was a special experience.

Donnerstag 16. Juni

This evening after class, I went to a Syrian dance party with my roommate, Olga. I especially love being here in Europe, because there are so many students from different countries studying at the Institute. I'm able to enjoy new cultural immersion, in many more cultures rather than simply German. 

Olga! My sweet Roommate from Belarus! 

Freitag 17. Juni

Again after class I spent the evening with my roommate and her friends. We just sat around and visited. I learned how to play a new Russian card game. I feel as if I learn German better in these settings than in the classroom!

Samstag 18. Juni

Here's where I'll camp out I believe. This day we took an excursion to Eisenach, Germany. It is a quaint little city about 3 hours by bus from Leipzig.

Kathleen, Lexi, and I.

 As soon as we arrived, we hiked up this incredibly steep hill to the 900 year old Wartburg Castle. 

Although they did not allow pictures in most of the castle, I was allowed to take pictures of my favorite part. 

The desk on which Martin Luther's German translation
of the New Testament was written. 

Martin Luther (1483-1546)
In the 1500s, after Martin Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to the church in Wittenburg, the authorities were searching for him to execute him. During those months, he was able to find refuge in a little nook in this castle and hide out. During that 10 month period, his obedience to the Lord led to the first translations of the New Testament other than Latin. I was blown away to stand in that room. Here was a man, just as lowly as we are without Christ, but whose obedience led to truly amazing things for the Kingdom of Christ, whose ramifications are still being felt in believers lives today, almost 500 years later!!! I was so encouraged to be in the place where a simple man, saved by the grace of our Messiah, humbled himself in the midst of trials, and obeyed the Father's command to reach unreached peoples with the Word of God. Through his actions, Luther showed that truly we are never to be ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, and to those who are being saved by it, it is the Power of God (Rom.1v16,1Corinth1v18). 

The Lord's will WILL be done. He calls his children to obedience, not to somehow obtain the ability to serve Him without His Holy Spirit's help and fellowship. I'm encouraged by this, in that I am reminded that once we are in Christ, when the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, every moment of our lives belongs to Jesus Christ, without exception (Luke7v22). So, when Paul is sent to prison multiple times, when Martin Luther goes into hiding to keep from being executed, and even when believers of this time are martyred for the sake of Christ, we belong to the Lord and He is in control. All things, all moments, all breaths, must be lived in humble obedience to the Lord's command to repent and turn from sin, and He who has begun a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil1v6). So if you are in Christ, covered by His precious blood, REJOICE in your trials! Do not be discouraged! For Christ will not simply give us salvation and cease to involve himself intimately in our daily lives. He is bringing about the Father's will and glory through our lives, by making us more like Himself, and disciplining us to trust him and follow him unwaveringly.

Alles Liebe,
Carol 

Grace that is Greater than All our Sin

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives."

Hebrews 12:5-6

Guten Tag von Deutschland!! I have been in Leipzig, Germany, for a week now, having experienced more in the past seven days than I could even begin to describe. But, I will do my best to hit all the highlights and try to give them structure.

Firstly, I had left the States at 2 in the afternoon last Saturday, and arrived in Leipzig at my dorm almost 24 hours later, having taken 2 flights, a train, and a tram! Amidst all the jet lag and immediate immersion into the German language and culture, my bag went missing between my Chicago flight and arriving in Frankfurt, Germany. My first flight from Houston to Chicago ended up being delayed 45 minutes, so I had only 15 minutes to run to my Frankfurt flight. Although I made it safely, my bag didn't quite get loaded onto the plane. So, I arrived in Germany, having packed only a shirt, my computer, and some books in my carry-on. Needless to say, the Lord began testing me within the hour of my arrival in Europe, and He has been faithful to continue since that moment.

After four days of resting in His grace, and learning to do without, my bag was hand delivered to my dorm, fully in tact! None of my liquids had spilled and everything was accounted for. The Lord is faithful to provide, not simply material blessings, but the strengthening of our hearts in Christ, through His giving and taking away the material blessings.  

UNT German Class in Leipzig, Deutschland Summer 2011

After having settled a bit more (and cleaned up a bit with real soap!), I began my classes at the Herder Institute at the Universität Leipzig. I am taking 3 German speaking courses, one from the German Institute, and two from my German professor from the States. I was placed in a Sprachkurs (language course) after taking a 100 question German placement test. I have already learned a ton this past week, and am interested to see how my development in the language grows in the next four weeks! 

In order to help my German as much as I can in my time off, I've bought a Märchenbuch (Fairytale Book) in German to read aloud to myself at night. It has some great old German stories, like Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, the Princess and the Pea, and Little Red Riding Hood! Its certainly a keeper, and I hope one day to be able to read it to my kids!

Spaghetti-shaped Ice Cream with Nutella and Peanuts!!

I know that much more has happened here, but this is plenty for now. For those of you who are so graciously praying for me and more importantly, for the Lord's work in Germany, here are a few specific prayer requests that I have:

-I have not yet gotten settled into the routine here, and have been struggling with staying in the Word and keeping my heart and mind on Christ. Please pray that I will be obedient to Him in whichever circumstances He allows and calls me into. 

-The language classes are quite difficult, and can become discouraging if I am not careful. It is easy to complain about not understanding instead of continuing to try and learn. Pray that the Lord gives me strength and aid in learning the language, so that I can better advance His Kingdom in sharing the Gospel.

-Always keep the unsaved people of Germany in your prayers. Pray that they are receptive to the Gospel, that the Spirit will convict them of sin, and reveal to them that Christ is the true Messiah who has come to save us.

Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) where Martin Luther preached the Reformation in 1539.

Thank you all for your faith and love of Christ. Although I am far from you, I feel the Lord using your prayers as comfort and aid to me in my time here serving Him. 

To the One for whom and by whom all things exist, I praise forever!

Alles Liebe,

Carol