Pretty sure I have officially beaten all previously held records for amount of times spoken in a single day or week. My trip to Germany has been rather eventful, as I have not let a single moment go to waste, and it’s not over, I still have another week.
I am a part of a two-week event called Ich Glaubs (I believe), which is very similar to our school program, The 180 Tour in the United States. I am speaking in schools during the day and in churches at night. When I’m not doing Ich Glaubs I am promoting my book (Ich Dachte Mein Leben Ist Vorbei) and doing a lot of media interviews. Despite my busy schedule, I managed to sneak away for a day trip to see Paris with my hubby.
Just last week I spoke seven times in one day. Normally, with a translator seven times wouldn’t be so bad, but the teachers wanted the students to practice understanding English so I spoke five times for forty-five minutes a piece. Altogether, the amount of time I spoke totaled four hours and thirty-five minutes! Not to mention, that in the same week, I traveled to twelve different cities and spoke twenty-three times. Are you kidding me, that’s insane?!
My biggest prayer is that when all is said and done that God gets the glory. I am honored to participate with Him as He is changing lives around Germany, and I am thankful that I am able to speak of His great love to so many students. Every once and awhile, as believers, we have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the impact we have on others according to His work through us and throughout recent days I have been able to see the fruits of some of my labor….
A few nights ago, I met a special young lady by the name of Banin. Banin had come to hear me speak, because she has been studying the topic of school shootings for many years. In fact, three years ago she did a huge project about Columbine, and had even seen me in Michael Moore’s movie, “Bowling for Columbine.” She was excited to hear my story of survival, but I am not sure she was prepared to hear about how Jesus has changed my life! After I finished speaking, she approached with some tough questions about my faith in Christ. For the next hour I shared the Gospel with Banin and gave my best attempt at answering questions like; Why Jesus allows bad things to happen, Why there is suffering in the world, about the differences between what a relationship with Jesus looks like compared to other religions, and about fear. Although Banin was not ready to make a decision for Christ, many seeds were planted in her heart and mind and I am confident that the Lord will complete the work He began in her. I am forever thankful He took me to that village, on that night, to have that conversation with that very special young lady!
Also, the first week I was here, I went to a school in a remote village, and a week later received the following email from a young man named Timo.
Hey Crystal
You were at the 6Th of October 2008 at our School (AHS) and you reported about the Columbine High School Massacre, I don't know if you remember me. I am the boy who asked for an autograph Thanks again. I hope you can understand my English. I want to ask you a last question. I have watched many Videos about the Columbine High School Massacre at home on YouTube after your report and I have seen how brutal it has been. And I have almost began to cry because they were so terrible and so brutal. But when you where here and told about it you didn’t look unhappy you smiled. I am surprised about that. I think when I witness something like that I don’t know if a can live normally, smiled about anything or talk about that to other people because that must brutal. And the question goes around in my head, every day after your report I asked myself. How do you managed to live a normal life and go to other people and tell them what you saw??? What gives you your innerly peace??? Is it God who gives the innerly peace ??? I hope you can answer my question.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you
Timo C.
Last but not least, I was able to pray for a fellow brother in Christ named Karim who came to faith nearly five years ago, but has been unable to tell his father for fear that he will disown him, or even kill him! Karim grew up in a very strict Muslim family and knows following Christ could cost him everything. Both his brothers and Mother know he is a Christian, but they think it’s only a phase and soon enough he will come back to the Islamic faith. It’s always inspiring and challenging to come into contact with people like Karim because I confronted with the realization of how lazy and comfortable I can be in my relationship with the Lord, and it spurs me on to live with greater boldness and passion!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sleepless in Germany
Guttentag mien freundes! I have now been in Deutschland for four days, and I have slept in three different places and have spoken ten times!! I guess you could say I have been fairly busy, but I have managed to see much of the countryside around Southern Germany and I have met a lot of people. I am not able to communicate with most, but some of the younger students speak good English. However, when I find myself in a situation where I am unable to communicate and I feel uncomfortable, I inevitably turn to Spanish, because it’s the only foreign language I know. You don’t have to be a brain scientist to know that Spanish doesn’t get you very far in Germany.
I am very thankful to be here. It isn’t every day I get to come to Europe for work, so I am taking advantage of every possible opportunity, even though things may be a bit busy and disorganized. To all my friends who love a well thought out plan, I am sure you would be pulling your hair out right about now. Every morning I wake up not knowing where I am going, who I am going with or where I will be staying that night. It makes for some interesting adventures, like the one I wrote about in my first blog with the wedding.
However, it never ceases to amaze me when I travel around the world and meet other believers. People are so passionate about the Lord and will stop at nothing to share Him with others! I was encouraged tonight by a conversation with a young girl who kept talking about her deep love for the Lord and how she wants everyone to experience the same life changing love. We may worship God in a different language, but we are connected on a much deeper level through Jesus. I am thankful to be a part of God’s Church around the world and it is through my interaction with other believers that I am inspired to keep walking into deeper intimacy with Him! So be encouraged because there are many who are fighting the good fight, even half a world away!
Many of you know how Africa is never far from my heart and my thoughts. It has been exciting to meet many believers in Germany who have lived there just as I have, and to share our experiences with one another. It always fires me up to talk about Africa and it makes me want to go again! Perhaps that will be my next trip. One can only hope!
I am sure most of you will not be shocked to learn that I have already taken thousands of pictures, and my new camera is getting sufficient use. I will try to post some online soon so you can view them if you are interested.
It is currently 2:00 in the morning and my body wants me to believe it’s actually 2:00 in the afternoon. I can’t seem to shake the jet lag- and I am almost certain that as I begin to settle into a schedule here it will be time to turn around and come back home, isn’t that always how it works?
More from me later, but for now I will try to catch some shut eye!
I am very thankful to be here. It isn’t every day I get to come to Europe for work, so I am taking advantage of every possible opportunity, even though things may be a bit busy and disorganized. To all my friends who love a well thought out plan, I am sure you would be pulling your hair out right about now. Every morning I wake up not knowing where I am going, who I am going with or where I will be staying that night. It makes for some interesting adventures, like the one I wrote about in my first blog with the wedding.
However, it never ceases to amaze me when I travel around the world and meet other believers. People are so passionate about the Lord and will stop at nothing to share Him with others! I was encouraged tonight by a conversation with a young girl who kept talking about her deep love for the Lord and how she wants everyone to experience the same life changing love. We may worship God in a different language, but we are connected on a much deeper level through Jesus. I am thankful to be a part of God’s Church around the world and it is through my interaction with other believers that I am inspired to keep walking into deeper intimacy with Him! So be encouraged because there are many who are fighting the good fight, even half a world away!
Many of you know how Africa is never far from my heart and my thoughts. It has been exciting to meet many believers in Germany who have lived there just as I have, and to share our experiences with one another. It always fires me up to talk about Africa and it makes me want to go again! Perhaps that will be my next trip. One can only hope!
I am sure most of you will not be shocked to learn that I have already taken thousands of pictures, and my new camera is getting sufficient use. I will try to post some online soon so you can view them if you are interested.
It is currently 2:00 in the morning and my body wants me to believe it’s actually 2:00 in the afternoon. I can’t seem to shake the jet lag- and I am almost certain that as I begin to settle into a schedule here it will be time to turn around and come back home, isn’t that always how it works?
More from me later, but for now I will try to catch some shut eye!
Communication Debacle in Germany
I’ve traveled enough to know that when you arrive in a new country it takes time to adjust to the culture; the food, the language and the customs. Often time, it takes a few days to learn how to communicate cross-culturally, however, on my first day in Germany, there would be no adjustment period, just a lot of really embarrassing, really awkward moments. I know I am to blame, because I don’t speak a lick of German, and if I did, I never would have found myself in this situation. Therefore, you have my permission to read the following story and have a hearty laugh at my expense.
Three flights and sixteen hours later, I arrive in Stuttgart Germany only to realize the man picking me up is nowhere to be found. So there I am, in a strange new city, I don’t speak the language, I’m almost certain my phone won’t work, and I have no idea who I am looking for other than a man named Klaus, to which there are probably hundreds of Klaus’s throughout Germany. I pull out my trusty iphone, which in theory was made to work oversees, and much to my surprise- it does! (Sorry Pete, not sure how much that bill will cost us later). I reach Klaus, who I learn, hardly speaks any English nor does the rest of the family, yet I will be staying at their house over the course of the next few days. We arrive at their flat, where I am given a tour and learn my toilet is down two flights of stairs and my shower, three flights. I then stumble to my room out of pure exhaustion from all the travel (and NO sleep) and manage to get a short four hour nap before having to wake up and speak at a church, which is nearly an hour away. I wake up late, and have no time to shower, so I throw on some jeans and a hat and run out the door, having not eaten in over ten hours. Once Klaus and I pull up to the church, we are greeted by the pastor who is unaware of the fact that I will be speaking at his church. He kept asking, “You speak here?” I kept saying, “I think so, I don’t know.” - AWKWARD! Well, it turns out, that I actually wasn’t supposed to speak there, but at a nearby church, so I walk down the hill where they are waiting for me. I can only imagine what I looked liked at this point, probably much like someone who had been run over by a train. Nonetheless, I finish speaking at nearly 10:30pm and we get in the car to drive home. Or so I thought. I fall asleep on the drive back, and wake up at 11:30pm in a parking lot, just outside of a wedding reception. Yeah that’s right, you didn’t misunderstand, A WEDDING RECEPTION! I knew Klaus and his wife, Doris went to a wedding at 1pm that day, but I was unaware that it was still in progress and that I was about to be a guest!! I look inside the beautiful reception hall and see everyone dressed in their finest clothes. Most, look young, similar to me. Klaus tells me that these people are all very rich, because they work at the Porsche headquarters just down the road. AWKWARD!! Yet, he assures me of two things, 1-we won’t stay long and 2- that I am dressed appropriately for the reception. My thoughts were only of finding some hole to crawl into and hide because I felt so embarrassed and out of place. We enter the doors near the desert table, where the wedding party is taking pictures. So naturally everyone looks in our direction as we walk in. We step over the bride’s dress and towards the table full of people! I approach, but I am not introduced immediately, instead Klause and Doris usher me into the kitchen so I can make a plate of food, even though the rest of the guests had eaten hours before. The kitchen staff is cleaning up and all the food is put away. Klaus and I make a plate and take it back to the table full of people who want to know who I am and what I am doing there! Soon, I have at least twelve people crowding around me to hear my “Columbine Story.” I try to share as quickly and as quietly as possible, so as not to draw any undue attention in my direction. Klaus and Doris then take me to meet the bride and groom! AWKWARD!! I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I was desperately wishing I had a friend there to share this incredibly awkward moment with me.
All I can say is that I am glad day one is over!
Three flights and sixteen hours later, I arrive in Stuttgart Germany only to realize the man picking me up is nowhere to be found. So there I am, in a strange new city, I don’t speak the language, I’m almost certain my phone won’t work, and I have no idea who I am looking for other than a man named Klaus, to which there are probably hundreds of Klaus’s throughout Germany. I pull out my trusty iphone, which in theory was made to work oversees, and much to my surprise- it does! (Sorry Pete, not sure how much that bill will cost us later). I reach Klaus, who I learn, hardly speaks any English nor does the rest of the family, yet I will be staying at their house over the course of the next few days. We arrive at their flat, where I am given a tour and learn my toilet is down two flights of stairs and my shower, three flights. I then stumble to my room out of pure exhaustion from all the travel (and NO sleep) and manage to get a short four hour nap before having to wake up and speak at a church, which is nearly an hour away. I wake up late, and have no time to shower, so I throw on some jeans and a hat and run out the door, having not eaten in over ten hours. Once Klaus and I pull up to the church, we are greeted by the pastor who is unaware of the fact that I will be speaking at his church. He kept asking, “You speak here?” I kept saying, “I think so, I don’t know.” - AWKWARD! Well, it turns out, that I actually wasn’t supposed to speak there, but at a nearby church, so I walk down the hill where they are waiting for me. I can only imagine what I looked liked at this point, probably much like someone who had been run over by a train. Nonetheless, I finish speaking at nearly 10:30pm and we get in the car to drive home. Or so I thought. I fall asleep on the drive back, and wake up at 11:30pm in a parking lot, just outside of a wedding reception. Yeah that’s right, you didn’t misunderstand, A WEDDING RECEPTION! I knew Klaus and his wife, Doris went to a wedding at 1pm that day, but I was unaware that it was still in progress and that I was about to be a guest!! I look inside the beautiful reception hall and see everyone dressed in their finest clothes. Most, look young, similar to me. Klaus tells me that these people are all very rich, because they work at the Porsche headquarters just down the road. AWKWARD!! Yet, he assures me of two things, 1-we won’t stay long and 2- that I am dressed appropriately for the reception. My thoughts were only of finding some hole to crawl into and hide because I felt so embarrassed and out of place. We enter the doors near the desert table, where the wedding party is taking pictures. So naturally everyone looks in our direction as we walk in. We step over the bride’s dress and towards the table full of people! I approach, but I am not introduced immediately, instead Klause and Doris usher me into the kitchen so I can make a plate of food, even though the rest of the guests had eaten hours before. The kitchen staff is cleaning up and all the food is put away. Klaus and I make a plate and take it back to the table full of people who want to know who I am and what I am doing there! Soon, I have at least twelve people crowding around me to hear my “Columbine Story.” I try to share as quickly and as quietly as possible, so as not to draw any undue attention in my direction. Klaus and Doris then take me to meet the bride and groom! AWKWARD!! I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I was desperately wishing I had a friend there to share this incredibly awkward moment with me.
All I can say is that I am glad day one is over!
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