The Autobahn and Beyond

The Autobahn is a freeway-type system here in Germany that is known for its speed. I am glad Jordan is doing the driving and not me (the kids are glad too). It's probably a good thing I can't see the speedometer. We had an experience yesterday that none of us will soon forget...we were in stalled traffic somewhere between Northern Germany and Heidelberg for about three hours. A semi-truck with hazardous materials overturned on the Autobahn, backing up traffic for close to 20 miles. I counted 30 emergency vehicles, including firetrucks and hazardous waste vehicles. Those of you who are interested will need to ask Kenneth what he and the Europeans do when there is a very long traffic hold-up and no way of reaching a rest area.

We have been blessed to be able to stay with friends our entire trip from Norway to Switzerland. It's a wonderful experience to share with the body of Christ wherever we go.

In less than two days, the children will be leaving me at my Crossroads while Kenneth and Sarah return to Norway and Jordan and Andrew return to the U.S.

Greetings from Germany

This still seems like a dream. We left Norway today and traveled through Denmark after riding an incredible ferry for 3 hours. This ferry was 9 stories high! We are in Hannover, Germany tonight staying with a friend we met at the Salem YWAM base. Julia is putting us all up while she is staying with a friend so we can literally take over her apt. Such a friend! She made a great dinner for us and now she and the younger set are watching soccer....pretty exciting to be in Germany this time of the year! We will travel to southern Germany tomorrow and meet up with two other friends.

It is amazing how much parts of Norway, Denmark and Germany look like the area around our home in Oregon.

Sarah and I discovered something about pay toilets in Germany today...this is indeed an adventure!

I really have taken a ton of pix...I need to get them on this blog! Until we meet again.....

We made it!

Well, we have arrived safe and sound in Norway. Jordan and Andrew Dikih picked us up from the airport in Oslo yesterday, and we have had a lovely first night in Norway. Sarah and I had a great breakfast with the family we are staying with this morning, and we are about to head out to see the town of Tønsberg. (I am realizing I was raised more Norwegian than I thought.)Tønsberg is considered the oldest city in Norway. It is so beautiful here! We are blessed by everyone here. My son, Jordan, is an incredible host/tour guide. He truly has been blessed by his friends here and they are showing the same hospitality to us now that we are here.. We are so blessed! Miss you all! You are in my thoughts and prayers! (What is funny is Jordan wrote this blog originally and I am editing it so if any of you read this a few minutes ago, it just changed.. :>) Until next time,
Elizabeth

p.s. There will be pix soon...as soon as I learn how to download..Jordan is tutoring me

The Journey is About to Begin

Why am I so tired? Probably because I got about 3 hours of sleep. Today is the day. Our flight takes off in about 10 hours. I just listened to the CD Sarah made for me. It is unbelievable and truly a gift. I feel like I am taking a little bit of home with me. Our friends, Travis and Bethany worked with her for hours to make it. I am eternally grateful.

We leave the house around one. I just "slept" in my cozy bed for the last time in 5 months. This is a strange place to be. My niece said, "It is kind of like being neither here nor there". I am leaving so many precious people to meet new people and new places...ok I guess I am getting a little too dramatic..after all it's only for 5 months. Right?! But as so many are saying, "At you're age, you are doing what?!" More to come.....

Celebrating Kenneth's 21st and Pulling it all together to leave on the 21st

Today is my youngest son's 21st birthday. We are celebrating with Kenneth and then he and my daughter, Sarah, leave with me on Saturday at 4 pm. We fly to Amsterdam and then Oslo. My son, Jordan, and our friend, Andrew, will pick us up in Oslo. We spend 2 days there before beginning our road trip south. We will take a ferry from Norway to Denmark and then travel south through Denmark to Germany. The first night on the road, we will stay with our friend Julia Berns in Germany. (This is all too exciting..I really can't believe we are doing this!) We are also hoping to see our Friend, Christina Hoerner, as we travel further south in Germany.

My Au revoir

Going Away/Birthday Party

My children and friends blessed me with a party yesterday. God blessed us all with beautiful weather! I have an amazing support group backing me with prayer and encouragement! 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." I Corinthians 2:9 That is a Word that daily helps me keep my focus as I try to tie up loose ends here and prepare for the days and months ahead.