hey guys!! I'm serious about the title, we need to have a reunion soon cuz I miss you guys a lot :( If you get married or something and are therefore the reason for our reunion then you are really taking one for the team and I'm sure we would all appreciate it very much!!
As far as an update on what's new.. in the summer I worked with a bunch of kids again doing those library programs where I read books and just kind of have fun. It was great! I was so grateful that I got to work at the same place as last year as well because then I was already familiar with the community there and the people I was working with, so that was awesome. In other news, I met a special someone last semester. We've been together now for just over 6 months and it's going wonderfully. His name is Joel. I definitely think that it has been God's idea from the start and He continues to be central in our relationship, bringing us through some tough conversations and keeping us together despite being somewhat long distance for a lot of the relationship so far.
Joel actually just went home from visiting me here in Germany for a couple of weeks. This semester I decided to leave the country again (I often wonder why), but this time to work instead of study. I've been here in Germany since the end of August, working at a kindergarten, taking German language classes and traveling around. It's been a good but challenging experience so far. There are a lot of cultural differences that have been tough to understand and work through, and the language has been challenging at times, especially with the strong accent they have here in eastern Germany (Dresden is the city I'm living in).
But working at the kindergarten, getting to know all these kids and the people I work with has been great. One of the guys I work with who is 23 had barely talked to me for the last couple months I'd been there, but the other day he opened up about how his mom had passed away 4 months ago and about how he believed there was a God but didn't have faith in him anymore because of the bad things he's experienced in his life. I didn't know what to say, so I just tried to listen and understand where he was coming from. Do you guys know of bible verses that relate to that? or of ways that I could talk to him about it all? I know that I can't relate to him about a lot of these things he's experienced in his life, and all I can do is pray for him, but at the same time, any advice?
Since being here in Germany, I haven't been to a church yet, but I also haven't tried very hard. On my way home from work yesterday though I passed a church and it looked like something was happening so I went in and talked to the people there. They were so friendly and welcoming and there is a lot they offer for the community, especially young families and kids, and I'm going to get to help out and I'm so excited for that! God is so good. I'm so grateful that he brings us back to him and never gives up on us, no matter how many times we are discouraged or afraid and don't go to church, or turn away from him from.
I often think about how grateful I am for that year we had together and how much you taught me about true friendship and support. Thanks for being wonderful like that, I greatly appreciate it and would love to be here to support you in whatever way I can. I love you guys!!
free Kelsey
p.s. Sheri and Bertram, now that I've realized you weren't tricking us again, I'm really happy for you :)
