Chapel Time

Once a week there is chapel time for faculty, students and parents during the school day. This was the first Friday of the year and our first exposure to chapel time. It was awesome to see the student led worship team and the music they played was upbeat and fun. Many of the students gathered around the stage like a concert and jumped and sang with the band, creating a very interactive time of worship. I must say the deliberate conversations about God and faith embedded in all that is done at BFA has been enlightening and refreshing. Our whole family has enjoyed and benefited from this environment greatly.

Opening Ceremonies

Today was the Opening Ceremonies for the new school year at BFA! It was an interesting and powerful experience. As the students gathered outside the auditorium, you could hear the buzz and excitement about reuniting with friends and the start of a new year. The student lead procession began with the seniors carrying in flags representing their home and passport countries. Once the ceremony began, Mary Ellen Reisser, a long time faculty member, read off all the countries our students represent and it was great to see their pride as they stood. I counted 52 countries in all, many of which I am embarrassed to say I couldn't locate on the map. Once the Opening Ceremony was complete, it was time for good-byes. This was powerful as parents and students were faced with the reality that they would not see each other again until the winter break in December.

You know you're in Germany when ...

You know you're in Germany when you are excited about receiving your garbage can! We have been here for 3 weeks and we have had one Gelber Sack day where our recyclables (plastic and some cardboard containers) have been picked up and we now have a garbage can. Things are getting real exciting. We still need to drop off the glass jars (pasta sauce, jelly, etc) we have piling up at the recycling center, but we are getting used to the seriousness of garbage here in Germany. I am beginning to think that forced recycling is a good plan and something we will bring back with us. It is amazing how little true trash you have when you separate those things that can be reused.

Rotteln Castle

We have been blessed with our host family, the Stemples. Yesterday they took us on a tour of Lorrach, Germany. We got to take a nice walk and picnic outside Rotteln Castle, as well as go school shopping in the city. The kids really enjoyed climbing the towers of the Castle, as well as playing with Ellie, Jordan, Matthew and Katie Stemple. Heather and I enjoyed the views from the top and the friendship with Sam and Jen.

Basel, Switzerland

On Friday the personnel office at BFA (aka Kristi Schliep) took the new staff on a walking tour of Basel, Switzerland. This is the city we flew into, yet really did not see much of as we had a little jet lag at the time. It was awesome as there was a jazz fest being held on the Rhine River. We got a chance to ride a boat across right before we met up with the rest of the group to return home. The city was very busy, but had many streets that are pedestrian only. That is pretty cool as we are coming to realize that most europeans walk mostly everywhere and if they are not walking, they are riding their bikes.

Tour of Residence Halls

On Thursday, the 13th, our family and some of the other new staff took a tour of the 7 residence halls available to the BFA families. We enjoyed seeing where the approximately 150 boarding students will spend a majority of their time outside the classrooms. While some of the residences are close and others are further away, they all offer the boys and girls a true home away from home. While we were on our tour, Matthew lost a tooth! As a reward, he got a popsicle from the dorm parents at the Stork Dorm. Actually we all got popsicles, thanks Matt.

BFA Sitzenkirch

Today we took a short drive out the BFA Sitzenkirch. This is where the elementary school (grades 1-5) is located. We heard about the new multilingual 1st grade that is half English speaking students and half German speaking students. This is a new venture that BFA is attempting to integrate with the community through their educational efforts. This is where Matthew will be going to school. He will be in a class of about 14 other students, mostly boys. We have gotten to know his teacher already, the Lord has sent the right woman for the job!

Visit with english camp

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Heather, Andrew and I spent the first half of the day at the Black Forest Academy (school seen in picture) in a German language and culture class. I thought I might pick up some German while I was here. Now, I doubt it. I was completely intimidated by the morning session. I am hoping the next 4 days will help a great deal.

Our family spent the afternoon and evening with the Kraines, Lori Henry, Becky Brooks and Brian Chausse, as well as 30 German teens at English Camp. We had a chance to join them in their activity time, which was American Football. We had a lot of fun interacting with these kids. It was wonderful to see teens so interested in learning the English language and about God. If you didn't hear them talking with one another, you wouldn't even know they were German.

Speedo Anyone?

We hit the public pool in Kandern yesterday. Also known as the "speedo" pool. Regulations require tight fitting swimwear from all bathers. All in all, it was a really nice swim area with 2 pools and a kiddie water area. The boys managed to have a great time in the water and going down the water slide.

Today is our first Sunday here. We went to Black Forest Christian Fellowship, where I had to stand and introduce us all. Wasn't quite ready/expecting that, but we met many very nice people. Today is the first day that has not been sunny and warm, but that has not stopped the boys from having fun outside with the Frantz & Ellis kids (our neighbors).

Kandern, the first few days.

We have landed in Kandern, Germany and are getting settled into our new home. It has been amazing to see God's hand in our lives throughout the past few months, weeks, days and even hours. We have been blessed with meeting wonderful individuals and families that have been encouraging and supportive.