"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." Mt. 28:19

Hi everyone!

This blog is to help keep everyone updated about my life here in Germany! As most of you know, I am living in southern Germany, serving as a Resident Assistant at an international high school called Black Forest Academy for missionary kids for 2 years! I currently live in Wittlingen Dorm with about 20 high school girls, encouraging, mentoring, and discipling them in the Lord. Since my senior year in high school, I have felt that God has called me to minister to high schoolers and am so excited that I am living that out. I absolutely love what I do! Love my girls and love what God is doing here!

If you’d like to find out about a bit more about the school BFA or the mission organization TeachBeyond, feel free to check out the websites: www.bfacademy.com and www.teachbeyond.org

Thursday, September 13, 2012

First Week

School is back in gear!

All the girls are back!!

Plus 5 new girls!! We have 4 new sophomores and 1 junior, for a combined total of 21 students!  We also have a new RA, Sarah, who will be joining us in January. J

The school year started off with Flag Ceremonies on Tuesday, September 4.  It’s such a fun ceremony—always gives me chills: all the seniors line up and enter the auditorium carrying a flag that represents either where their parents are working/serving, their passport country, or where they have lived at one point.  In total, currently, there are 53 nations represented amongst the roughly 300 students that attend BFA.  That’s about the international demographics/statistics of APU, and there are thousands of students that attend there.  Isn’t that amazing?!  These students are so world-aware, and seeing them stand and represent all these different countries reminds me why they are here, and ultimately why I am here.  So many of the nations they come from do not offer the best educational resources for these kids, and it makes me so happy that they have a place like BFA to grow and learn.  

Come Friday, the school put on a Chillin’ and Grillin night where the students got to meet and greet with each other, play games, and enjoy some BBQ. 

Saturday, we loaded up our 3 vans and drove to a shopping center in France to do some school shopping.  Later, we ate some Malaysian curry and watched A Knight’s Tale in our newly decorated TV room. 

Sunday, after church, Kandern celebrated Budenfest, or the festival of new wine supposedly.  All the dorms went and got to eat bratwurst, schnitzel, and other German goodies.  And then later, the girls decided to celebrate my birthday (which was 3 weeks ago) with a chocolate cake and a tubbing—meaning they all picked me up and dumped me in an old tub full of water in the backyard. ;)

This is our newly remodeled TV room! 

Sarah, Emily, and I grocery shopping.  I don't think you're ever too old to sit on a cart. ;)

This is the first day when the 5 new girls arrived. There's the 3 of us RAs, and then 4 of 5 new girls. 

We played the game the Human Knot on the first night. :)

Opening Ceremonies. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th from the left are Witt girls.

Opening Ceremonies. 1st and 3rd are Witt girls.

The 2 in the middle are Witt girls at Opening Ceremonies.

Chillin' and Grillin'

Chillin' and Grillin'. Random boy popped into the picture.

All of our 8 seniors.

Over the weekend, a few girls and I painted our nails. 

Budenfest on Sunday.

Emily, Sarah, and I eating brats at Budenfest.

This is me getting 'tubbed' for my birthday celebration.  The all picked me up and dumped me in!

The whole gang: this was taken at our first dorm fellowship Sunday night. The girls might kill me for putting this up--many were in their pajamas and weren't so fond of taking a picture. ;P

This concludes the highlights of the first week of my second year!