Berlin

This past Wednesday, I returned from a 5-day trip to Berlin. It would have normally been just a 2-day business trip, however since I hadn't been to the German capital for over 20 years, I decided to add a long weekend to my journey. It was a very nice experience, in spite of the cold weather. I would have appreciated a little more sunshine though, but that's the way it is. 

I got to take a boat cruise on the river Spree in the city centre, followed by a tour through the government district and the famous Reichstag building. What a view! And of course I got to stroll through one of the numerous Christmas markets. The work meeting was quite interesting. It helped me to widen my horizon a little bit, and I got to meet new people. We met in the Representation of the EU in Berlin, which is right by the Brandenburger Tor. Very nice location.

Other than that, these past few weeks have been quite eventful. I haven't blogged about my Thanksgiving dinner and Health Club meeting in November, but both events were very blessed, and I'm so grateful that I was able to do all this, in spite of the delays with my renovation. When I returned from my Germany trip in November, I came back to a huge mess in my apartment, and had to camp on the living room floor for two weeks! But I'm thankful that it's done and over with, and that my walls are looking so much nicer now! 

Now I'm wrapping things up here, before I travel to Germany again this Sunday, in order to be with friends and family for the year end. I'm definitely looking forward to this change of pace!

Me at the Brandenburger Tor

Famous "Schupfnudeln" (potato dumplings) with Sauerkraut

Government district

Famous tower on the Alexanderplatz - with a small church in front

Germany To And Fro

Wow - time flies so quickly! This past Monday, I came back from my Germany trip, and I'm thankful for all the blessings that came with it. 

So after my Back to School experience (see my previous blog), I enjoyed some more days with friends and family, while doing some "teleworking from abroad" as we call it. The weather was very mild all through my stay, in fact too warm for the season, but I definitely enjoyed it. 

The ASI Germany convention was a great blessing. Our planned Center of Influence in Brussels was shortlisted as one of the projects that would be sponsored through the proceeds of the offering; and as the only representative of our church, I was the one presenting it. The outcome was that we are going to receive the full amount requested! We hope and pray now that this will be really the kick-off to get started with this project. Of course we still need more funds, but I'm confident that the Lord will provide. I can't wait for the outcome!

After that, I travelled four hours north east to the Harz region, where the family from my father's side lives. I hadn't been there since my grandmother's funeral beginning of 2016, so it was high time to catch up. It was nice seeing them, and it was definitely the most relaxing part of my trip. My aunt and uncle's home is beautifully situated in the country, so the air is fantastic; and they also have an orchard and vegetable garden. This was a great opportunity to recharge my batteries. 

Now I'm back to a mess here at my home. I had some renovation going on during my absence, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, the works haven't been quite finished. But I look forward to enjoying a renewed apartment very soon!

At ASI Germany

The main speaker Conrad Vine

My second home in Germany

Walnut harvest

A hotel near my aunt and uncle's place

A stone saw

You have only really been where you have been by foot

Beautiful scenery in the Harz region

The reason why I'm sleeping in the living room right now...

Looking forward to a renewed guest room!

Back To School

Oh my, it's been two months already since I've posted something here. Sorry for that! I'm still determined to post at least once a month, if not every two weeks from now on. Let's see if that will work!

On Monday, I went "Back to School", which does not mean that I have taken up another educational challenge. It's just the working title of a project initiated at my organisation (the European Commission in case you don't know where I work). So since 2007, EU officials go back to their home countries to visit their old schools and even universities, in order to share with the students about how the EU works and their own personal experience working in these institutions. 

I have done this for the first time back in 2012/2013, before I went for another career break to the United States. Back then already, I found it a very rewarding and enriching experience, but it was also quite exhausting! Some of the young folks were very inquisitive, others seemed rather indifferent, and basically everybody was ignorant about how the EU works, and what's in it for me as an individual citizen. 

I had a couple pictures with the students taken, but will not publish them here for data protection reasons. But below are some pictures of my former school. Yes, I was so surprised when I saw this skeleton building! But this is where I went in and out about 25 years ago. It was actually built in 1972 (so it's as old as I am :-), and now they thought it was time to renovate it. But thankfully, they can use the building adjacent to that one now, which is very nice and comfy!

Reviving a Dead Blog

I know it's been a long time since I've last published a blog. It's not that there wasn't anything happening during this time, but I wasn't sure if I should really continue blogging. However, I've changed my mind and I would just like to consider this time of silence a Sabbatical. So let's see if I can fulfill my commitment!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. This has certainly not been a relaxing summer, but definitely a very blessed one! 

About three weeks ago, we concluded our annual German camp meeting, which was the first one after two years that we could organize without any covid restrictions. You could see that people were hungry for such meetings, as we had more than double the amount of participants compared to last year. Our main speakers (Mark Sandoval, Christopher Hudson, Gabriel Maurer) were a blessing. We spontaneously ended up having Chris Hudson with us here in Belgium during last weekend, where he spoke in West Flanders. His preaching was so powerful. It reminded me about the urgency to finish the work on this earth. 

In our church, we are going to start a new two-year term of officers. Besides Health Ministries coordinator, I'm elected as church clerk for this term. I held this office between 2010 and 2014, before I went to the US again. It's rather humbling to me to play such a pivotal role in our church life again. May the Lord help me to serve His church in the way He wants to use me. 

As for my work, I'm very thankful for the current conditions at our offices, which are extremely helpful to balance home and career. We only need to come to the office two days per week, and the other days we can work from home. They also allow us to work up to ten days per year from abroad, which gives me more time to be with my family in Germany. 

So all in all, I look forward to these months to come, which will certainly give me no dull moment!

This morning, I've read a rather sobering devotional reading, entitled "Work, for Earth's Night Is Coming." The messenger of the Lord says:

"My heart is often burdened because so many who might work are doing nothing. They are the sport of Satan’s temptations. Every church member who has a knowledge of the truth is expected to work while the day lasts; for the night cometh, wherein no one can work. Erelong we shall understand what that night means. The Spirit of God is being grieved away from the earth. The nations are angry with one another. Widespread preparations are being made for war. The night is at hand. Let the church arouse and go forth to do its appointed work. Every believer, educated or uneducated, can bear the message."

(Be Like Jesus, p. 252.4)

Sometimes, I think how in the world the work on this earth can ever be finished, so that Jesus can come soon to take us home. How shall it happen if so many church members just go with the flow and make no personal efforts to win souls for the Kingdom? What about the numerous opportunities that I did not cease to spread the gospel in whatever way? I can only determine for myself right now to get moving and do what is in my power to make a difference. May the Lord help us in this solemn task, and may the Holy Spirit wake up many people who are now in ignorance before it's too late! 

                                                              Camp meeting audience

                                                         Some of the speakers on stage

Christopher Hudson

                                                                          Music

                                                           Gabriel Maurer speaking

                                                                Children's programme

                                                           Children's story on Sabbath

                                    Mark Sandoval with Johannes Kolletzki interpreting