Prayer Requests

Wow, we can't believe it's been 2 and a half weeks that we have been here in SoCal already. We are doing well, enjoying the weather - sunny and over 35 degrees Celsius almost everyday. Feels almost like vacation / furlough - but the reality that it is not is beginning to settle in. The kids start school in 3 weeks and we are running around trying to get all the stuff they need for school together. And still trying to get a few small things to turn the house into a home. ;-)

Also it just somehow feels different being here this time - probably because we know in the back of our minds that we are living here and not just on furlough. Sometimes I just feel disoriented - emotionally and physically. I know that is part and parcel of the whole 're-entry' process and culture shock but it's still weird. At times it feels like it's a dream and I'll wake up in my bed in Freiburg. Other times it hits really hard that this is for reals and I start to panic and wonder 'what the heck are we doing here?! did I hear God correctly?' Weird.

One example of the difference of SoCal life - I forgot how huge the streets are! In some residential neighborhoods, the streets are as wide across as the Autobahn! And that's only 2 lanes - 1 in each direction! And the freeways here SEEM like they are half a kilometer wide - with 4 and sometimes 5 and 6 lanes in each direction! It's like driving in a sea of cars.

And we have to drive everywhere - to the market, stores, school, church, playground, etc. The kids keep asking why we have to drive so much - Zachie asks if he can ride his laufrad! And Dariah often screams 'nein, nein, no!!!' when we put her in her car seat to go somewhere - (Auntie Doro, you need to come and talk to her).

But all in all, it has been a good first couple of weeks. We have enjoyed connecting with friends and family again. Which has made the culture shock less intense. I couldn't imagine coming back to SoCal and not knowing anyone and having to figure everything out on our own!

Anyways, for me, I have started looking around for a job, but haven't had much luck. The economy isn't doing that well and jobs that I qualify for are far and few in between. But I still have confidence that God will provide one for us. So pray with us - here are a few things to bring before the Lord...

1. quick adjustment to life here
2. job for David
3. car/van for the Phamily