Change

Finding that no one reads this blog, I've decided to put my energy into my xanga site instead. For photos/updates see www.xanga.com/mereeser.

Thanks for dropping by!

Good stuff

I awoke anxious this a.m. And then the Lord gave me His reassurance through the words of Jeremy Taylor (excuse the old English):

It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent; and can do whatsoever He please. Let us rest there awhile,--He can, if He please: and He is infinitely loving, willing enough; and He is infinitely wise, choosing better for us than we can do for ourselves. God invites and cherishes the hopes of men by all the variety of His providence. He that believes does not make haste, but waits patiently, till the times of refreshment come, and dares trust God for the morrow, and is no more solicitous (fearful) for the next year than he is for that which is past.

Thanks Lord.

English Camp

It's been a busy summer (as you might have guessed from my lack of entries). My most recent adventure was cooking for an English camp for German kids. It was an exhausting 2 weeks but every bit of worth it. God was very evidently at work in their lives so I'm grateful for the privilege of fixing food for 60! The menus (which were planned for me) included chicken curry as the banquet meal!

I had lots of good help (from fellow BFA staff members and other missionaries from the community). It was interesting to observe what different women found important in the kitchen!!

Life is good. I'm tired, but grateful for all the opportunities the Lord gave me for ministry this summer. See www.xanga.com/mereeser for more photos!

God's will

Don't you love it when you hear God's word "loud and clear." The message for today came from I Thess. 5:15-24. Our high school principal read us this passage in devotions this a.m. and then a few hours later I received it in a e-devotional called Prime Time with God (by the Church Growth Institute). The word for me was one God had given me many years ago but it's always good to be reminded. God's will for us is simple: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything!

The rest of the devotional (by Os Hillman) was called "God's Preparation for Moving Out" (of course, that caught my eye! Mr. Hillman tells the story of how God prepared Jacob to leave Laban. He said "when God decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call." That was a great encouragement to me, not only relating to my physical move to a new apartment, but more important, my move back to BFA this past year.

God is so good to us! He leads and he provides the way.

A picture paints a thousand words

After posting to Xanga (www.xanga.com/mereeser is the site I use to stay in touch with BFA students) and writing a "Musings" I don't have many words left...but in the meanwhile, I thought I'd share some fun photos:


How I am going to miss this dear mentor!


Victory! Michele and I defeated two of BFA's best athletes! Ok, so maybe bowling is an "old lady" sport?



My soon-to-be new home!! (Come see me soon)


BFA celebrates 50 years!! (With Black Forest Cake, naturally!!)
(Thanks for all your hard work, Loralee & committee!)

For tons of great photos of all that's been happening here: www.bfacademy.com

Random Photos

I'm having a hard time synthesizing my thoughts these days...So I thought I'd just post a couple of random shots...





Anyone care to guess where I was?

All I can say is life is good in Europe.

The Journey

Me with my "mentor" Peggy in a little town called Staufen!
(photo credit to Michele Phoenix)

This blog has nothing to do with the photo, but I thought it was a good view of me relaxing over Easter break. The thing I wanted to share with you was about how I spent my afternoon yesterday.

The English speaking church I attend here in Kandern is sponsoring a "contemplative exhibit" for the Easter season called, "The Journey."

"The Journey is an interactive prayer experience based on a feature in European medieval cathedrals. The Journey was introduced in Europe and brought to America by Campus Crusade for Christ staff. The basic premise is that you are on a pilgrimage with God to the center of a labyrinth and back out again. At each station, you encounter God concerning a different aspect of your life." (www.globalprayermovement.org) The stations are named things like "burdens, mosaic of life, washing, obstacles, pearls." It's very tactile and lets you do things like water color painting, forming things with claydough, washing your hands (symbollically), etc. Very neat.

Anyhow, this experience was a real blessing to me (both going through it and helping monitor it). I volunteered to "man the booth" for 2 hours yesterday (I had taking time to walk through it myself on Good Friday). There were 2 kids who kept roller blading by and being very loud (even opening the front door and hollering "Hallo"). Finally one opened the door and said, "What is this?" (in German). I went outside (since there were people praying inside) and explained in my best German for kids that this was a place of prayer. Were they interested? I asked? Yes, the said. (wow). I told them they'd have to take off their blades. So they promptly went home, changed shoes and came back. (amazing). They went through the exhibit respectfully and quietly. My heart nearly burst with joy. God has given me such a love for kids (including Germans!). I'll probably never know what that encounter was all about, but it made my day!!