Dear Loved Ones,

The harmony of the cathedral bells, the crisp winter air and the flow of the Donau (Denube) river are all reminders of the fact that I am far from home. My alarm goes off far too early, not because it is 7 o’ clock in Germany, but rather because my brain and body are still quite convinced that it is 10 o’clock at night. It is hard to believe that I have now been in Germany for four days. Years of preparation could not have prepared me for the mix of emotions that permeate my entire being. Saying farewell to Mom and David at the airport was most certainly one of the most challenging moments of my life. I know that it will not be too long before I shall be with them once again, but my human nature still convinces me to be afraid, to hold on desperately to my comfort zone and to close my mind to all that God has to teach me.

Fears aside, landing in Munich Germany was inevitable. Lisa, Courtney and I had met up for our connection in Chicago, and we were now warmly greeted by Kelly Orr (our student life coordinator). My emotions now numbed by a mix of jet lag and culture shock; we were immediately escorted to Hofbrauhaus, a famous brewery that is known for serving the kings of Germany. The rest of the evening was occupied with tours of our hostel, unpacking and getting to know the rest of the AMBEX students.

On an average day the view out Lisa and my window is nothing to speak of, but Sunday morning greeted us with pure white snowflakes the size of golf balls. Because it was the first real snow I had experienced all winter, I was a bit excited. My giddy state remained as we all bundled up and prepare for the 15 minute walk to the Catholic mass that we would be attending. As we walked into St. Peter’s Cathedral my appreciation for the snow quickly turned to resentment as my own breath floated in the cold like a smoke out of a chimney. Ancient stone castles do not come equipped with indoor heating :).

For the first time in quite awhile I was actually excited to start class on Monday: the change of pace and routine that comes with being in Germany is something that I have come to greatly appreciate. We attend class from 9-12 am, followed by lunch and then some sort of outing that is meant to familiarize us with our host city of Regensburg. It is a beautiful city that has been able to preserve authentic Germany history, culture and architecture. I look forward to the day when I can walk through the cobble stone streets and know precisely where I am :).

I feel blessed to be here and to have been given the privilege of seeing and experiencing more of the world, but the truth is that I miss home terribly. I did not expect to miss my family, friends and David as much as I do, but I also find great peace in knowing that I am where God would have me be in this stage of my life. Please pray that I would not resist what He has to teach me through this experience, but rather that I would have an open heart and mind.

Love,

Heather Dawn