Rachel Hampton

Guten Tag! January 14, 2009

I am in Germany…can you believe it? And we have wireless internet, even better! I don’t know that I’ll have a lot of chances to use it because we are going to be very busy. Still, it’s nice to have the option.

Leaving day was so surreal.  I felt a little nervous but also pretty calm, considering.  My parents and friends went with me to Dulles and gave me a great goodbye. It was pretty crazy, but exciting, to stand on the other side of security and wave goodbye to my parents, Kim, and Amy….knowing those faces wouldn’t be seen again physically for awhile.  I say exciting but don’t meant that I don’t WANT to see them, just that it was exciting to begin this journey.  God has been so faithful!

The flight was ok.  I had a delightful child kicking the back of my seat almost the entire 7 hours. Another lesson in patience? I tried to sleep but it was difficult.  The seats were cramped and my body just wasn’t cooperating.  I got to Germany and had the easiest time in customs I’ve ever seen.  There was no line and no forms to fill out.  The guy just looked at my passport, asked no questions, and stamped that sucker.  I wish it was always like that!  I met some Operation Mobilization staff in the airport and found out there were three other people already there (all Americans).  We chatted for about 20 min before our bus arrived to take us to Mosbach where the conference is taking place.  Another American lady showed up just in time to join us. Two of the people (one boy, one girl) are going to Logos Hope (the other ship), one lady who is in her 60’s is going to India, and the other girl who is 30 is heading to one of those long-named countries that ends in -stan.  Everyone slept on the hour and a half ride to Mosbach but me. I wanted to take in the scenery.  It looked like I could be driving through the US until I’d see a village with old, cool buildings and very distinct looking homes.  I think we drove on the Audubon, though I can’t be sure.  That’s the highway with no speed limits.  We were definitely flying and still some people were soaring right past us.  I tried to look at the road signs for my dad (because I knew he’ll ask me what road we took) but couldn’t figure it out.

We arrived, half asleep, checked in, and were then driven a mile or so to the youth hostel we’ll be staying in. None of my roommates had arrived yet, so I claimed the prime bed and quickly laid down for a nap. Shortly after I woke up, my first roommate showed up.  Her name is Gina and she is from Indiana.  We get along great already.  She’s a really fun girl with a hint of sarcasm.  Wonder why we get along? She is going to Bosnia when she’s done here at the conference.  We hung out for awhile and other girls wandered in our room.  Before long, we had the party room with lots of girl talking, laughing, and just hanging out.  But then it was time for dinner.  A group of us walked back to “The Mill”.  The OM headquarters here is an old, renovated mill that is very cool!  Oh and yes, it’s very cold here.  In the teens.  There’s a little snow on the ground though not much.  Don’t worry, there’s something called the “Charlie” here which is a secondhand clothes closet with lots of winter clothes to borrow.  I’ve already taken advantage of it.

Dinner was interesting.  We walked in and Gina said, “So what do you suppose that is?” haha.  It turned out to be really good.  It was some pasta meat pocket thing with spinach.  The rest of dinner consisted of cold potatoes (that was a surprise when I popped it in my mouth) and some cold bean mixture. Oh, and croissants.  I sat with some young girls that work here and are all German.  They were nice but felt embarrassed that their English wasn’t better.  I told them it was better than my German!  Shortly after, a few men sat down.  One happened to be the current director of the Doulos!  He is from South Korea and was just in town for a ship meeting.  I got to chat with him some and he seemed very nice.

After dinner was the welcome meeting.  We sang some praise and worship and had the usual announcements.  Everyone was dead tired but it was still a really cool time. The director of the conference (who is from South Africa) gave a short message which was translated into German.  There were also a couple other people in the room I could hear translating for others…so cool!  I am just so excited to be here!  It was awesome to sit in that room with people from over 20 countries and know God has placed a very similar call on all of our lives.  Pretty crazy.  And to be here after such a long journey…how good is my God?  I hope you know and are able to see His power in your life.  I already know I won’t be sorry for giving him complete control! There has been no homesickness yet, just total awe and joy and peace.  I already know this is going to be one, crazy journey.

After the meeting we all headed back to our rooms to SLEEP! I met our other two roommates briefly because they had recently arrived.  One is Miriam and she is from Switzerland and the other is Katryn from Germany.  They are very sweet girls.  I am taking advantage of an open morning that was given to us.  We have our first “official” conference meeting in a little over an hour.

Well, 992 words later, I am finally done updating on my first few days. I’ll update you again as soon as possible!