Wien- Day 3 of the road trip

VIENNA!

St. Stephen's Cathedral

 

These pictures are totally in the wrong order, but here we are at the end of the day going backwards. After the concert I had the privilege of playing this old instrument:

Mom and I at the concert!

 The Boesendorfer.

 St. Stephens...

Apparently you are supposed to lock these doors in order for them to NOT be transparent. I never thought far enough to lock them, just used the bathroom in sheer disbelief that someone could see right through my door as I went. WOW. One of our many laughs

Carriage Ride with Mom

St. Stephensplatz

SNACKTIME

After walking the extremely claustrophobic stairwell to the top of St. Stephens

 The top.

 Snacktime. Many of these such breaks were taken throughout the trip. Vienna might have had the most coffee stops though... AND shops..This window was perfect.

And this was the start of our day...! More to come!

Part 1 of the Road trip with mom! (first 2 days)

 We drive about 5 or 6 hours in pouring down rain and steady traffic through Germany into Bavaria and this is our first sight of the "baby" Ludwig Castle.

 We caught the last tour of baby castle and decided to spend the night after finding out that this big daddy behind us was booked for the remainder of the day. So, the glories of renting a car: flexibility on a trip. Cancle Munich and hang out in Neuschwanstein. You guys should all check it out. "Crazy" King Ludwig of Bavaria's vacation homes.

 Ludwig actually died before the inner completion of this castle. He only lived here for a total of 170 days, i believe before dying mysteriously the day after he was declared insane. 

**Google King Ludwig II**

 HOTT (minus the cigarettes)

 View from the big palace...

 What I would do for even half of this kitchen. The kitchen was never even used.

 Yes, we love fluffy things! (the purses for Vaughan's kids)... Yes Vaugha, we got Gabie a purse. heehee

 Glory to glory.

Dachau.

Never forget....

 

 Not even 70 years ago (yes in THIS century) Millions of Jews and  minority people groups were made to stand in masses in this courtyard to be counted, humiliated, and exterminated. Sadly there were hundreds just like it over Europe at the time...

 "Arbeit mach frei"

"Work makes you free"

right.

 On the road again! 

(in the hot rental car which you will see later!)

Ellen Comes to Deustcehland!

So sorry to have kept you all waiting but I am having trouble with uploading recent photos and have been waiting to post them. I am giving in an updating you without them!

Tuesday August 16th at 8:48am THE brave Ellen Pursell landed in Zurich and was immediately launched into the land of the unknown. Although she spent 3 weeks on a treacherous bike trip through Germany in '79 and endured a choir tour or two with a group of 50 ridiculous kids a few years ago, those experiences are nothing like the thrill and adventure of everyday life here in Europe. 210 kmph on the German and Swiss autobahns  straight out of the airport chute can be a bit unnerving. Little did she know that SHE would be one of those drivers!! (insert picture here..)

The first few days we spent getting her past the jet lag. Saturday we went to Colmar, France with our faithful Alexander Adolf, who graciously loaned us his 6 foot 8in. frame as a personal bodyguard and translator while we shopped, ate, and walked into old churches. Saturday evening mom and I went to the Baths in Badenweiller.. mind you, these are European baths.  We were not quite as prepare as we intended. The spa and "Bath" experience in the States is a bit different than here! We had the pleasure of locking ourselves into our changing rooms, not bringing our own towels because everyone knows that when you are getting a spa treatment they at least give you those right? NEIN. Our locker rooms- well everyone's locker rooms, are "co-ed" if you will. As for the relaxing afternoon... well, being in an old Roman-Irish bath was nice.
**Remember this if you ever decide to have a European bath or spa experience.**

Sunday: we had an amazing service at the church. It was so nice to have mom there and for her to meet everyone that I have been investing in and who has equally invested into me these past few months. That afternoon we were invited by m friend Nejeeha from language school to have an Asian feast in her home, as her sister and children had come to town to visit.  We ended up talking around their dinner table for almost three hours about religion, politics, and history! I loved it, especially meeting Nejeeha's husband, who is very much German and knows a ton about historical matters.  Their family is Muslim and it is so good to be reminded that my world can become very small when I do not engage with the world around me. I pray that our time together was fruitful! "Nudge", as Nejeeha likes to be called, her husband is Klaus and he offered to take all of us girls up to a beautiful hiking spot called the Giersnest. Nudge, her sister Eda, and my mom and I had a wonderful time. Poor Klaus!

MONDAY! Our road trip began! Neuschwanstein, Bavaria and King Ludwig's castles, a stay in the foggy glorious mountains in the beautiful town of Fussen; Dachau and driving through Munich; Two nights in Vienna; and tonight is our second night in Salzburg, Austria. We have had the amazing privilege of catching the end of the Salzburg Festival and seeing two world famous pianists play the past two evenings here. I must be close to heaven, surrounded by mountains, a hundred other cultures, and music... and being here with mom. She has been amazing. I would be more detailed but she is actually in bed and was gracious enough to sit with me through a 2 and a half hour piano concert that BEGAN at 9pm. Yes, and I would say that 75 percent of the rather large crowd were senior adults, decked out in downs, tuxes, and traditional German attire. I could not believe they were still up!

I think I have found my place, come into my element, and may never come back. Love you all, details later with the pics!

A Time of Learning

A few days ago it hit me that back in the States, my summer would be ending and school fast approaching at the August 1 date. It is hard to believe that I have missed a summer of family beach trips, weekends and cookouts at Lake Martin, time with friends in Birmingham, and being a part of my friends and family's lives as they are rapidly changing. HOWEVER, as I look at the last 9 weeks of my life, I could not help but see all of the "gain" I have from having made the seemingly impractical and scary decision to temporarily uproot my life 3,000 miles away... to a country where I am less than capable in many ways. I do not speak the language and my efforts are constantly challenged; a place where practicality takes the place of comfort and convenience; and a place where I know so little, I always have to seek help and admit to being less than my usual "independent".

The Lord is teaching me so much about humility and being still. Life here is slower, quieter. The months of Spring were spent trying to fill every waking moment with work, ministry, and investment into old and new relationships and I see that time as having been beneficial in so many ways. The Lord brought friends, a job, and a church into my life that encouraged and walked with me this year but I used those blessings to fill my time and schedule so much that I did not have to face the broken ME that can be found in quiet time, alone. I have not lived in a small town since high school and the isolation of language and lack of transportation and technology can be so frustrating. But I am finding myself seeking "alone time" within this present isolation, which I did not think possible for me and my over-analytical mind.

I love the mornings that I am up before my roommate and am able to read and either sit in silence or listen to worship music while drinking my coffee. I love waking up an hour earlier on Sunday mornings even though I have to be at the church an hour and a half early- just to prepare for the day. Running used to be a time of stress relief and necessity amidst an exhausting and crammed day; Now I seek the time in the draining sun or warm evenings just to pray or worship to the only CD my iPhone will download, Shane and Shane- Bring Your Nothing. (Quite appropriate I think?) Amazing that after 8 years of having roommates that I am still learning about living with people and meeting their needs above my own. To deny myself the justice and "rightness" I feel so entitled to at times is like denying myself coffee... which is death (haha insert joke here ___ ) but seriously makes my flesh turn inwardly, to serve them and seek their success no matter the circumstance, is becoming an act of submission to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and ultimately my Father. My Spirit is already seeing the fruit of this time. The first month here was pretty challenging and emotionally wrenching at times but the past 3 weeks have flown by, as soon as I began to surrender some of the "ME" that I mentioned earlier.

I have a special new friend in my roommate Mary Grace- who at 19 has challenged me to be more of a gentle and quiet spirit. She leaves me in 8 days and I am already going to miss her. Look forward to seeing some of this free spirit in upcoming pics! I appreciate her being patient in the past 2 and a half months for me to begin working some of these things out... Pray for this last week together that we may encourage and uplift one another even more in Christ, and through Him have at least some small remaining impact together on the relationships that have begun this summer. 

People and Places... This is only the beginning!

From left to right- Andrea and Steffi- who are best friends. Andrea is getting married in a month and a half and has completed a World Race. Steffi is perhaps one of my two favorite people here. Gifted in hospitality and just "realness" in spirit...

 This would have to be my other favorite. 6 foot 8 in. Alex who has been an amazing servant and friend. (and weirdo)
I think this is a nice surface summation of our relationship.

 My first ever oreo cupcakes. And should be my last.

 Sophie Davies whose family attends the NIC here. Her father is from Tennessee and her mother is German to the core. Soph is a very mature 17-year old and wants to move to America so badly :)

Big Brother watching over my cookies...

Left to right- Mark, one of the baseball players- and Josh my fellow intern and main squeeze with Markie! They were sweet to cook my roommate Mary Grace and I dinner one night!

My first Apfel Kuchen- Apple Coffee cake!

Being watched by Big Brother.

My girl Najeeha who front rowed it with me faithfully.

Singapore and Africa represent. Not to mention the US?

No other way to survive 4 hours a day of this but to have LOTS of coffee and a cell phone.

Our group on the final day:

My favorites!

Lunch by the lake from our backpakcs. Reading the Hobbit out loud, Twilight Soundtracks, and long naps to follow.

The curious meeting of Mr. Mole... Ester.