April/May 2015 Switzerland

I'm packing my things and getting ready to leave on May 18th to the DRC...

The cherry tree in full bloom in the backyard.
Le cerisier en floraison au jardin.

New growth.
Nouvelle croissance.

I've really enjoyed my time in Switzerland and will miss the people that I've met here.  It's an amazing concept that people would invite a perfect stranger into their home, treat them probably better than family, and make them a part of their lives.  That takes a lot of courage.  Thanks to all the people in Switzerland who welcomed me and helped me, especially my host family.

The garden at the beginning of May.
Le jardin au début de Mai.

I have really profited from my time here.  I have an intermediate level of the French language.  I have had time to rest and recover from residency training.  I have made new friends.  I learned a lot about communication.  I also read some good books, one of which is called When Helping Hurts.  I highly recommend this to anyone interested in any type of social outreach/mission-type work.

The fields of rapeseed around Le Landeron.
Les champs de colza autour du Landeron.

The view from my window.
La vue de ma fenêtre.

Dinner at my house with my host family, professors, and other students from inlingua.
Un dîner chez moi avec ma famille d'accueil, des profs et d'autres élèves d'inlingua.

From Left to Right, Front to Back (De devant vers l'arrière, de gauche à droite):
1. Simba (the dog/le chien), Melina (my host sister/ma soeur d'accueil), Teresa (missionary to Cameroon and student at inglingua/ missionaire au Cameroon et élève à inlingua), Anastasia (prof at inlingua), 2. Christine (host mother/ma mère d'accueil), Barabara (prof at inlingua), me/moi, Dominique (prof at inlingua), Diane (helps welcome missionaries/ aide d'accueil pour les missionaries), 3. Erino (director at inglingua), Matthew (Teresa's husband/ le mari de Teresa)

A group of mostly German people I met at a place called Ralligen,
a retreat center run by a group of protestant and catholic brothers and sisters.

Un groupe de majorité d'Allemagne que j'ai rencontré à Ralligen,
une maison de repos dirigée par un groupe de frères et soeurs catholique et protestant.

Two of the women who invited me to walk
with them on part of the St. James trail.

Deux des dames qui m'ont invitée à marcher
avec elles une partie du chemin de Jacques de Compostelle.

The view behind Ralligen. It is one of the
best places I visited in Switzerland.

La vue arrière à Ralligen.  C'est un des meilleurs
lieu que j'ai visité en Suisse.

The St. James trail is similar to the concept of the Appalachian trail.
People walking for long distances often reflecting on God and nature, a type of pilgrimage for most.

Le chemin de Jacques ressemble au chemin des Appalachian.
Des gens qui marchent des longues distances en méditant Dieu
et la nature, une sorte de pélerinage.

Mid-day contact: a time for people from the church and
community to eat, talk, and get to know each other.

Midi-contact: un temps pour les gens de l'église et aussi
les défavorisés de l'extérieur pour manger, parler et se rencontrer.

I was albe to help most Wednesdays after classes.
J'étais libre d'aider la majorité des Mercredis après mes classes

 A picnic Sunday afternoon with Didier et Evodine,
a couple who comes to the monthly Bible study I tried
to participate in.

Un pique-nique un dimanche après-midi avec Didier
et Evodine, un couple qui vient à l'étude biblique
ou je participais.

A short walk
Une petite promenade

Grilling out with a couple from the church.
Un grillade avec un couple de l'église, Michele et Verena.

Visiting Mimi (my host mother's mom) at
the restaurant they run near Basel.

Visite chez Mimi (la mère de ma mère d'accueil
au restaurant près de Bâle.

Spending time with Solya, a student from inglingua after she
moved to Lausanne with her husband.

Avec Solya à Laussane, une élève d'inglingua après elle
ait déménagé avec son mari.

Olga (my host family's daughter in law/ la belle-fille
de ma famille d'accueil),Melina, and me/moi.

Visiting Annecy in France.
En visite à Annecy en France.

Pizza at Raphael (son) and Olga's house afterwards.
Pizza après chez Raphael (fils) et Olga.

Simba enjoying the view.
Simba en profitant de la vue.

Walking in the rain at creux-du-van.
Une promenade au Creux-du-Van.

With sunshine a few minutes later.
Quelques minutes plus tard avec le soleil.

My host family/ ma famille d'accueil:
Christine, Melina, Robert and Simba
on trail back to Grinderwald/ sur le chemin
de Grinderwald.

We took a small train from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg
and then walked back down the mountain.

Nous avons pris le train à crémaillère de Grinderwald
à la petite Scheidegg et puis nous sommes redescendus.

No explanation needed.
Aucune explication nécessaire.

I know I've been gone for several months and it's hard to stay connected with someone who lives a totally different life in a totally different country, but I appreciate your continued support and prayers.

I have a lot of mixed emotions about leaving Switzerland.  I'm sad to be leaving and have some fears about going to the DRC, but I know that God continues to be with me and his "calling" is still very clear.  I'm excited but nervous for the next step: a new place to live, new people, new culture, new language, new friends, starting to work again, etc.  Pray that I would have wisdom to know what to do, where to go, and with whom to make friends.

As always, you are always invited to visit (my friend Kimiko is coming in September and my sister Sarah is coming in October!).