Sunny SoCal!

Ok, just a quick update. We finally made it to SoCal - long trip but it was good, the kids did great! Dariah was just a little sacred of the take-offs and landings, but otherwise, she did fine. In fact, she slept for about half of the flight!

Now we are just trying to get over the jetlag - the kids were all up at 2.00 in the morning the first night, last night was better - Taliah and Zachie slept most of the night. It was just Jesaiah and Dariah who were up again at 2.00 to about 4.30 or so. Or well, hopefully it'll wear off in a few days.

Just for your info, we don't have telephone or internet at the house yet - we're working on that. We should have that next week, I hope. Then we can keep you better updated. OK, that's it for now - gotta go get the kids registered in their school and run a few other errands.

PS - we just had an earthquake - 5.2 on the Richter scale! It was the kids' first earthquake - welcome to California!

Sunny SoCal!

Ok, just a quick update. We finally made it to SoCal - long trip but it was good, the kids did great! Dariah was just a little sacred of the take-offs and landings, but otherwise, she did fine. In fact, she slept for about half of the flight!

Now we are just trying to get over the jetlag - the kids were all up at 2.00 in the morning the first night, last night was better - Taliah and Zachie slept most of the night. It was just Jesaiah and Dariah who were up again at 2.00 to about 4.30 or so. Or well, hopefully it'll wear off in a few days.

Just for your info, we don't have telephone or internet at the house yet - we're working on that. We should have that next week, I hope. Then we can keep you better updated. OK, that's it for now - gotta go get the kids registered in their school and run a few other errands.

PS - we just had an earthquake - 5.2 on the Richter scale! It was the kids' first earthquake - welcome to California!

Countdown Continues - 3 Days

I can't believe that we fly in just over 3 days! AHHHH!!! And we still have many people to see! Who needs sleep anyways - we can sleep on the plane (right, with 4 kids!?!?! NOT!!)

This past Sunday (our very last) was hard - there were so many tears. I am reminded of Paul gathering the Ephesian elders and saying a final farewell, and then how they cried on his neck. Well, that was how it was on Sunday after service. There was a huge line of people wanting to say good-bye. I don't think I ever received so many hugs nor see so many tears.

Becks did her fair share of crying too, but I on the other hand didn't shed even 1 tear! ;-) Seriously, afterwards we were both just emotionally drained. Even thought I might not show my emotions so easily, I still have them. And at the moment, they are mixed feelings - sadness, tiredness, loneliness, anxiety, fear, joy, love, awe, anticipation - and I seem to go from one emotion to another just as often and as quickly as a fickle 2-year toddler changes his/her mind!

It has been such a privilege and joy to serve these people, even through the hard times and trying times, it was such a joy to look back at the 12 years here in Europe and just see God's hand moving throughout that time. So we leave Freiburg and Germany and Europe in 3 days and then begins a new adventure for us and CCF. Thank you CCF for precious and irreplaceable memories!

Countdown Continues - 3 Days

I can't believe that we fly in just over 3 days! AHHHH!!! And we still have many people to see! Who needs sleep anyways - we can sleep on the plane (right, with 4 kids!?!?! NOT!!)

This past Sunday (our very last) was hard - there were so many tears. I am reminded of Paul gathering the Ephesian elders and saying a final farewell, and then how they cried on his neck. Well, that was how it was on Sunday after service. There was a huge line of people wanting to say good-bye. I don't think I ever received so many hugs nor see so many tears.

Becks did her fair share of crying too, but I on the other hand didn't shed even 1 tear! ;-) Seriously, afterwards we were both just emotionally drained. Even thought I might not show my emotions so easily, I still have them. And at the moment, they are mixed feelings - sadness, tiredness, loneliness, anxiety, fear, joy, love, awe, anticipation - and I seem to go from one emotion to another just as often and as quickly as a fickle 2-year toddler changes his/her mind!

It has been such a privilege and joy to serve these people, even through the hard times and trying times, it was such a joy to look back at the 12 years here in Europe and just see God's hand moving throughout that time. So we leave Freiburg and Germany and Europe in 3 days and then begins a new adventure for us and CCF. Thank you CCF for precious and irreplaceable memories!

Boyz in dah Hood!

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Disco Dave & Grooving Becks

Check out these moves! We played this video of us at the last service we attended at CCF - the 'hand-over' service. It was a hit!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Boyz in dah Hood!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Disco Dave & Grooving Becks

Check out these moves! We played this video of us at the last service we attended at CCF - the 'hand-over' service. It was a hit!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

13 Days and Counting...

We are down to less than 2 weeks until we fly back to the USA! And it seems we still have so much to do here! Ahhhhh! At least we are out of our apartment now - we moved in with some friends for the next 13 days. Now we can really get the apartment completely empty and then renovate / paint and clean and then we are finished! WOW, I just can't believe it - 13 more days!

This coming Saturday, the church is throwing a small going away party for us and I know it's going to be tough already! All the good-byes and of course the tears. Already, this past Sunday one of the ladies was crying on my shoulders. She was so sweet - she wanted to say so much, but was just in tears. I just put my arm around her and told I understood, she didn't need to say anything. One of the reasons her teenage kids were coming to church was the teaching and she didn't know what they will do now that we are leaving. I encouraged her - she and her husband raised those kids well, they will stand on their own 2 feet. And they will, no matter if we are there or not. Because this is Jesus' church not mine or the next pastor's - and we should never forget that.

Anyways, the good-byes are getting harder and harder as the time gets closer and closer. :-(

13 Days and Counting...

We are down to less than 2 weeks until we fly back to the USA! And it seems we still have so much to do here! Ahhhhh! At least we are out of our apartment now - we moved in with some friends for the next 13 days. Now we can really get the apartment completely empty and then renovate / paint and clean and then we are finished! WOW, I just can't believe it - 13 more days!

This coming Saturday, the church is throwing a small going away party for us and I know it's going to be tough already! All the good-byes and of course the tears. Already, this past Sunday one of the ladies was crying on my shoulders. She was so sweet - she wanted to say so much, but was just in tears. I just put my arm around her and told I understood, she didn't need to say anything. One of the reasons her teenage kids were coming to church was the teaching and she didn't know what they will do now that we are leaving. I encouraged her - she and her husband raised those kids well, they will stand on their own 2 feet. And they will, no matter if we are there or not. Because this is Jesus' church not mine or the next pastor's - and we should never forget that.

Anyways, the good-byes are getting harder and harder as the time gets closer and closer. :-(

Top Five 80's Sitcoms

Becks and I were driving back from visiting friends in Central Germany and were just talking about some of the shows we used to watch back in the 80's (don't ask how we got onto that subject - I don't know). It was hilarious what we used to watch! I can still remember the cheesy theme songs to many of these shows!!!

My Top 5 80's sitcoms (not in any order - can't decide which I like best)...

1. Family Ties - remember Alex P. Keaton? I had a crush on the older sister, can't remember her name!
2. A-Team - I wanted to be like that!
3. MacGyver - check out this site for you MacGyver fans, especially the MacGyverisms!
4. Three's Company - Mr. and Mrs. Roper, too!
5. The Wonder Years - nostalgia, ;-)

Here are some of my runner-ups...
TJ Hooker (yes, I thought William Shatner was pretty cool!); Knight Rider (yes, I thought David Hasselhof was cool too!); V - The Series; Silver Spoons; Remington Steele; Cheers; Night Court - there are a few more but I can't remember them right now.

So what are your Top 5 80's sitcoms? What did you watch growing up in the 80's? Yes, I know it dates you / us, but hey, it's all good! Write a comment and give your Top 5! Here's a few soundbits to kick-start your memory (remember Steve Austin - Bionic Man??) Enjoy!

Top Five 80's Sitcoms

Becks and I were driving back from visiting friends in Central Germany and were just talking about some of the shows we used to watch back in the 80's (don't ask how we got onto that subject - I don't know). It was hilarious what we used to watch! I can still remember the cheesy theme songs to many of these shows!!!

My Top 5 80's sitcoms (not in any order - can't decide which I like best)...

1. Family Ties - remember Alex P. Keaton? I had a crush on the older sister, can't remember her name!
2. A-Team - I wanted to be like that!
3. MacGyver - check out this site for you MacGyver fans, especially the MacGyverisms!
4. Three's Company - Mr. and Mrs. Roper, too!
5. The Wonder Years - nostalgia, ;-)

Here are some of my runner-ups...
TJ Hooker (yes, I thought William Shatner was pretty cool!); Knight Rider (yes, I thought David Hasselhof was cool too!); V - The Series; Silver Spoons; Remington Steele; Cheers; Night Court - there are a few more but I can't remember them right now.

So what are your Top 5 80's sitcoms? What did you watch growing up in the 80's? Yes, I know it dates you / us, but hey, it's all good! Write a comment and give your Top 5! Here's a few soundbits to kick-start your memory (remember Steve Austin - Bionic Man??) Enjoy!

MitarbeiterTag 2008

Yesterday we had our 3rd annual Mitarbeitertag (literally means 'employee day') from the church and it was a blast! Our desire was to just thank all the servants who give so much, sacrificing time, energy, resources over the past year. This day was simply a day to thank them, to encourage them and to show them that they (the people) are much more important than the ministry. It's so easy in our hurry-up world full of goals and deadlines and ministry, that we forgot about the people doing the work of the ministry! So yesterday was a reminder to us all that ministry is always about people - those we serve and those doing the serving!

So we had a great day of just hanging out together - playing games, talking and catching up, bbq'ing, eating and just simply relaxing. A family in the church has a piece of property just outside of Freiburg and they set up a volleyball court, a soccer field, a kiddie pool, horses to ride, spontaneous tractor-ride for the kids, a trampoline and a big firepit. And as I watched people from afar, I noticed that even on a day of 'relaxing', there was still ministry going on. I saw so many people in deep conversation with others, others being prayed for and still others simply just being encouraged. That's what ministry is all about! Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples by the love we show towards one another. That was evident yesterday.

Here are a few impressions of the day (as usual, click on collage to see full-size)...

MitarbeiterTag 2008

Yesterday we had our 3rd annual Mitarbeitertag (literally means 'employee day') from the church and it was a blast! Our desire was to just thank all the servants who give so much, sacrificing time, energy, resources over the past year. This day was simply a day to thank them, to encourage them and to show them that they (the people) are much more important than the ministry. It's so easy in our hurry-up world full of goals and deadlines and ministry, that we forgot about the people doing the work of the ministry! So yesterday was a reminder to us all that ministry is always about people - those we serve and those doing the serving!

So we had a great day of just hanging out together - playing games, talking and catching up, bbq'ing, eating and just simply relaxing. A family in the church has a piece of property just outside of Freiburg and they set up a volleyball court, a soccer field, a kiddie pool, horses to ride, spontaneous tractor-ride for the kids, a trampoline and a big firepit. And as I watched people from afar, I noticed that even on a day of 'relaxing', there was still ministry going on. I saw so many people in deep conversation with others, others being prayed for and still others simply just being encouraged. That's what ministry is all about! Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples by the love we show towards one another. That was evident yesterday.

Here are a few impressions of the day (as usual, click on collage to see full-size)...

Have an Awesome 4th - We Did!!!

We wish you have as great a 4th as we did. It was a special day for us as we decided to make a Phamily day out of it. We bbq'ed hamburgers, had watermelon and ice cream for dessert, went for a Phamily walk around the neighborhood, played tag with a stroller, 2 scooters and a training bike (you figure that one out) and then finally had a mini 'fireworks' show!

Well, since fireworks are not sold here in summer (only for New Years eve) we improvised with sparklers. The kids had fun watching them light up and sparkle and we did a 'show' for them by lighting the number 4 with sparklers (see last foto). Okay, it is nothing compared to what we have in the USA for the 4th, but hey, you gotta make do with what you can get on the mission field!

(click on foto collage below to view it in full size)

Have an Awesome 4th - We Did!!!

We wish you have as great a 4th as we did. It was a special day for us as we decided to make a Phamily day out of it. We bbq'ed hamburgers, had watermelon and ice cream for dessert, went for a Phamily walk around the neighborhood, played tag with a stroller, 2 scooters and a training bike (you figure that one out) and then finally had a mini 'fireworks' show!

Well, since fireworks are not sold here in summer (only for New Years eve) we improvised with sparklers. The kids had fun watching them light up and sparkle and we did a 'show' for them by lighting the number 4 with sparklers (see last foto). Okay, it is nothing compared to what we have in the USA for the 4th, but hey, you gotta make do with what you can get on the mission field!

(click on foto collage below to view it in full size)

Happy 4th of July!

In line with yesterday's post about the 888th birthday (birthyear??) of Freiburg, we wanted to wish everyone in the good ole US of A a Happy 4th of July! Hope you all have a great day off, enjoying the time with family and friends. And of course the fireworks! And the burgers and hot dogs. And the corn on the cob. And the....

Unfortunately, we won't make it back this year for the 4th, but hey, there's always 2009! Happy 232nd Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July!

In line with yesterday's post about the 888th birthday (birthyear??) of Freiburg, we wanted to wish everyone in the good ole US of A a Happy 4th of July! Hope you all have a great day off, enjoying the time with family and friends. And of course the fireworks! And the burgers and hot dogs. And the corn on the cob. And the....

Unfortunately, we won't make it back this year for the 4th, but hey, there's always 2009! Happy 232nd Birthday America!

Happy 888th Birthday Freiburg!

I was reading in the newspaper yesterday and came across an article stating that 2008 is the city of Freiburg's 888th birthday as a recognized city! WOW! I knew Freiburg is an old city, but I had forgotten how old - that Freiburg was founded in 1120! You can read a bit more on the events of that year at this Wiki site (notice the mention of Freiburg im Breisgau under the 'events' heading). You can also read more about the city itself here.

1120 was also the year that the Gothic cathedral (Münster) of Freiburg was first started. It was built in 3 stages - 1st phase started in 1120, 2nd phase in 1210 and the 3rd and last phase started in 1230, finally being completed in 1330! (Read more about the Münster here). And it still stands today (well, at least the original foundation - the rest has been remodeled, renovated over the centuries). It is the centerpiece of the city, rising 116m / 380 feet above the city center. In fact, on a clear day, you can pretty much see the Münster from almost anywhere in Freiburg. And we've had the privilege and joy of living in this beautiful city since 1997 - it truly has been home for us over thse past years.

Happy 888th Birthday Freiburg!

I was reading in the newspaper yesterday and came across an article stating that 2008 is the city of Freiburg's 888th birthday as a recognized city! WOW! I knew Freiburg is an old city, but I had forgotten how old - that Freiburg was founded in 1120! You can read a bit more on the events of that year at this Wiki site (notice the mention of Freiburg im Breisgau under the 'events' heading). You can also read more about the city itself here.

1120 was also the year that the Gothic cathedral (Münster) of Freiburg was first started. It was built in 3 stages - 1st phase started in 1120, 2nd phase in 1210 and the 3rd and last phase started in 1230, finally being completed in 1330! (Read more about the Münster here). And it still stands today (well, at least the original foundation - the rest has been remodeled, renovated over the centuries). It is the centerpiece of the city, rising 116m / 380 feet above the city center. In fact, on a clear day, you can pretty much see the Münster from almost anywhere in Freiburg. And we've had the privilege and joy of living in this beautiful city since 1997 - it truly has been home for us over thse past years.

26 Days Left...

We can't believe it, but it is down to the last 4 weeks - actually 26 days! After more than 12 years here in Europe, we are heading back to the USA again. We fly to LAX on 27.Juli - wow! Time is just flying by now! So pray for us as we continue to pack up our lives here in Europe. We don't think we will be coming back to Europe (well, to visit maybe, but not to live), which makes it even harder to leave. Over the years we have fallen in love with Europe, especially Germany - it has been a second home for us. And now to pick up and go - hard!

This past Sunday we had to say goodbye to some friends who live an hour south of Freiburg. I think that is the beginning of the 'real' goodbyes. We most likely won't see them again before we leave and I think everyone kinda realized that. So the tears came. Not for me though - I'm Asian, we don't wear our emotions on our sleeves like you Occidentals! Hahaha, just kidding, let's just say I was bawling inside! But just inside. ;-) But I'm sure the time will come soon when we will all be bawling!

Spain is EuropaMeister 2008

Well, it didn't quite work out as we had hoped for - that Germany would win the Europameisterschaft 2008. That would have been a great going away present for us. But alas, Spain are the champs - winning 1-0 over Germany. I have to admit, Spain really do deserve it - they went undefeated in the tournament and played great soccer. Germany did well, but were not quite in the same league it seemed. Oh well, life goes on!

Congrats to the Spaniards! Great job!

26 Days Left...

We can't believe it, but it is down to the last 4 weeks - actually 26 days! After more than 12 years here in Europe, we are heading back to the USA again. We fly to LAX on 27.Juli - wow! Time is just flying by now! So pray for us as we continue to pack up our lives here in Europe. We don't think we will be coming back to Europe (well, to visit maybe, but not to live), which makes it even harder to leave. Over the years we have fallen in love with Europe, especially Germany - it has been a second home for us. And now to pick up and go - hard!

This past Sunday we had to say goodbye to some friends who live an hour south of Freiburg. I think that is the beginning of the 'real' goodbyes. We most likely won't see them again before we leave and I think everyone kinda realized that. So the tears came. Not for me though - I'm Asian, we don't wear our emotions on our sleeves like you Occidentals! Hahaha, just kidding, let's just say I was bawling inside! But just inside. ;-) But I'm sure the time will come soon when we will all be bawling!

Spain is EuropaMeister 2008

Well, it didn't quite work out as we had hoped for - that Germany would win the Europameisterschaft 2008. That would have been a great going away present for us. But alas, Spain are the champs - winning 1-0 over Germany. I have to admit, Spain really do deserve it - they went undefeated in the tournament and played great soccer. Germany did well, but were not quite in the same league it seemed. Oh well, life goes on!

Congrats to the Spaniards! Great job!