Slave set free
Once we finally made it to Berlin we had a great time. Marie picked out a wonderful hostel with hot showers, soft beds, and friendly staff. After a long hot shower I felt the cleanest I have in a while. We headed out and saw Bandemburg Gate which was part of east Germany and has been the site of many historic battles. We meandered toward the mall and grabbed some dinner before ascending the 240 meters to the highest point in Berlin to take in the city all lit up. We were pretty tired so we went to bed ready for a packed day the following morning. I went to bed more satisfied than I had felt in a long while. We made it to Berlin, I was with Marie, and in a soft warm bed. It's funny how you don't realize how unsettled you feel until you really do feel content.
In the morning we headed down to the bakery on the corner to try out some yummy German breakfast breads. With coffee as my fuel we went out on te town to do a little shopping. We quickly jumped on a "hop on, hop off" tour but to see all the big sites of Berlin in one swoop. We got off at a point that had a section of the Berlin wall still standing and a well done museum to give an overview of German history. Marie gave us a quick explanation of what happened during the time when the wall was still standing because I
Embarrassingly did not know much about it. We headed on to Check Point Charley where the boarder between eastern communist and western American occupied Germany met. Marie also told us about how her parents had to flee from the east to Celle where they live now. It is crazy to me that a country was so torn so recently and has forced me to think about all the war torn countries that are in the world today. My heart breaks when I think about all the people that are being stripped of their rights and forced to live according to someone else's ideals. Please pray for all the enslaved and oppressed around the world.
In the evening we headed to a little festival where there were cute little German looking huts selling crepes, sausages, drinks, and roasted nuts. It was very cute. After Marie enjoyed a crepe we headed for the bus station. We missed the 5 o'clock bus so we had to wait until nine and ten ride three and a half hours to Hannover where we were met by her mother. It was so good to see Martina again and she greeted me warmly with a hug. We had about an hour ride to Celle where we went strait to bed. Their house is absolutely wonderful. Marie's room is so fitting with many books, pictures of her travels, and a hammock chair. They have beautiful wood floors with a spiral staircase and fresh flowers everywhere. It is so cozy and homey I feel like I live here. Today was a perfect demonstration of that because we spent most of the afternoon lounging around and sleeping. This morning we went to the bar restaurant where Marie works for breakfast. I had a delicious coffee that came with a little homemade crispy chocolate treat and then Marie ordered us two large plates of meat, cheese, and vegetables that we put on bread. It was great. We then headed out for a tour of the town. Celle is absolutely adorable. Imagine a small German village with little shops and parks everywhere. Got it? That is Celle. Everywhere we went I just kept saying "it's so cute!" I thought I was going to implode. I took lots of pictures and ten we headed back home to watch a movie and nap. After two movies and a 4 hour nap we sat down to a candle lot table to enjoy some phenomenal spaghetti. Marie's father came in a bit late as he was working, but it was great to spend some time with him. He is a kind man who smiles a lot. All in all I would say it was a great day. Marie treated us to some "cold dog" which is a kind of cake that is like shortbread crackers layered with dark chocolate. I am definitely going to have to try and make it when I get home ;)
In addition to all of the loveliness of My day to day, Caleb suggested reading Romans and so I have been doing that. It is so beautiful to be reminded of Gods saving grace every day. I recently read the part where Paul is talking about how he cannot do what he wants because his sinful nature causes him to do wrong, but reassures the reader that we have died with Christ and are no longer a slave to our sin, but that we have risen with Christ and are freed from our sin. So beautiful. I consequently have found myself thanking God repeatedly for this and reminding myself that i am not a slave to my sin because I have been set free and now live life fully with Christ.
Standing in awe of the freedom in death,
Sigourney
In the morning we headed down to the bakery on the corner to try out some yummy German breakfast breads. With coffee as my fuel we went out on te town to do a little shopping. We quickly jumped on a "hop on, hop off" tour but to see all the big sites of Berlin in one swoop. We got off at a point that had a section of the Berlin wall still standing and a well done museum to give an overview of German history. Marie gave us a quick explanation of what happened during the time when the wall was still standing because I
Embarrassingly did not know much about it. We headed on to Check Point Charley where the boarder between eastern communist and western American occupied Germany met. Marie also told us about how her parents had to flee from the east to Celle where they live now. It is crazy to me that a country was so torn so recently and has forced me to think about all the war torn countries that are in the world today. My heart breaks when I think about all the people that are being stripped of their rights and forced to live according to someone else's ideals. Please pray for all the enslaved and oppressed around the world.
In the evening we headed to a little festival where there were cute little German looking huts selling crepes, sausages, drinks, and roasted nuts. It was very cute. After Marie enjoyed a crepe we headed for the bus station. We missed the 5 o'clock bus so we had to wait until nine and ten ride three and a half hours to Hannover where we were met by her mother. It was so good to see Martina again and she greeted me warmly with a hug. We had about an hour ride to Celle where we went strait to bed. Their house is absolutely wonderful. Marie's room is so fitting with many books, pictures of her travels, and a hammock chair. They have beautiful wood floors with a spiral staircase and fresh flowers everywhere. It is so cozy and homey I feel like I live here. Today was a perfect demonstration of that because we spent most of the afternoon lounging around and sleeping. This morning we went to the bar restaurant where Marie works for breakfast. I had a delicious coffee that came with a little homemade crispy chocolate treat and then Marie ordered us two large plates of meat, cheese, and vegetables that we put on bread. It was great. We then headed out for a tour of the town. Celle is absolutely adorable. Imagine a small German village with little shops and parks everywhere. Got it? That is Celle. Everywhere we went I just kept saying "it's so cute!" I thought I was going to implode. I took lots of pictures and ten we headed back home to watch a movie and nap. After two movies and a 4 hour nap we sat down to a candle lot table to enjoy some phenomenal spaghetti. Marie's father came in a bit late as he was working, but it was great to spend some time with him. He is a kind man who smiles a lot. All in all I would say it was a great day. Marie treated us to some "cold dog" which is a kind of cake that is like shortbread crackers layered with dark chocolate. I am definitely going to have to try and make it when I get home ;)
In addition to all of the loveliness of My day to day, Caleb suggested reading Romans and so I have been doing that. It is so beautiful to be reminded of Gods saving grace every day. I recently read the part where Paul is talking about how he cannot do what he wants because his sinful nature causes him to do wrong, but reassures the reader that we have died with Christ and are no longer a slave to our sin, but that we have risen with Christ and are freed from our sin. So beautiful. I consequently have found myself thanking God repeatedly for this and reminding myself that i am not a slave to my sin because I have been set free and now live life fully with Christ.
Standing in awe of the freedom in death,
Sigourney
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