tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54724901013970843712024-03-13T22:46:16.368-04:00The Wiisanens in Vienna"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-38548595127896690382017-09-22T09:23:00.000-04:002017-09-22T09:23:14.567-04:00Auschwitz, Forgiveness, & The Tale of Two Women<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A picture of the gate at Auschwitz</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">As I sit down to write, it is cold and rainy outside -- it fits the mood of my topic.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">Last week I went to Auschwitz with a group of 11th and 12th graders and my fellow teachers. History is a hobby of mine. I have studied both world wars, and I am familiar with the Holocaust. I know enough about Auschwitz that I needed to visit the former concentration camp. Some things you do, not because it is fun, but because you should. It is about the Jewish people but also bigger than any one race or nation. The Nazi's perfected genocide, but there were others. Russia’s regime under Stalin killed far more people, yet the immediate aftermath of those killings was not exposed. We do not generally speak of Stalin in the same way as Hitler -- history is indeed written by the conquerors.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">More beside Stalin could be mentioned here. History is filled with such abuse of power and of people, but I digress.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">I want to focus on what happened in the Holocaust,: the aftermath and what we as Christians have to say about it. As fair warning, if you are sensitive to such details, skip to the end, what I am writing needs to be said but is not for everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.38;">Skip this section if you would like to avoid some of the more difficult details of the trip to Auschwitz.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">We stayed in Krakow and drove to Auschwitz early that morning. It was to be a long day. We started at Auschwitz 1, the head camp. The students were tired but somber, and anyone who has ever traveled with 40 to 50 teenagers knows there will usually be laughing and joking among them but not today. We entered through the main gate to the camp and saw the sign 'Arbeit Macht Frei', which means ‘work makes free.’ It is a mockery -- there was no hope of freedom. A few survived, but they were liberated by Allied troops. One did not escape Auschwitz. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">Most know of the Holocaust, but here are a few details:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">In 1942, the Nazi regime set in motion a plan to eliminate the Jewish population in Europe. From 1942 to 1944, the Nazi's managed to murder approximately 6 million of the 9 to 12 million Jews in Europe. The ones who were not immediately killed in gas chambers faced medical experimentation without pain killers, psychological torture, and inhuman living conditions. Auschwitz 1 is where many of these abuses occurred. Dr. Mengle, dubbed the Angel of Death, experimented here, among others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">Auschwitz 1 is a memorial to the Holocaust; it tells the story of those killed there. The Jews were told to bring their most valuable possessions, and rooms at the camp are filled with valuables left when the camp was taken. It is sobering. Shoes, brushes, pots, and pans are some of the things we saw.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">The worst for us was the room full of human hair the Nazis used to make horse blankets. My daughter, Lydia, had to leave the room so she wouldn't throw up. I stayed and just stared, as did many of the students. It was numbing. There was, quite literally, over a ton of hair. If you looked closely, you saw the curls and the variations in color of the women murdered.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">We entered Auschwitz 2, also called Birkenau, where the trains entered the camps. Prisoners traveled 2 to 4 days confined without food or water. They arrived and were processed. Able-bodied men and some women were sent to the camp. Almost all children and elderly, along with the adults not deemed fit for the camp -- roughly 75 percent of all prisoners -- went directly to the gas chambers. They were nasty from the trip. They weren't even allowed to go to the bathroom. When told they were going to the showers, they believed it. There, they were forced to strip nude and enter the showers, male and female alike. The doors closed as nearly 1,000 were gassed at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">Long hair was cut, gold fillings were pulled, and they were cremated. The Nazis made money running the camps. They looted these people to fuel their war machine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">The 25 percent that survived were not the lucky ones. Conditions at the camp defied imagination. I will not go into them now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.38;">Resume reading here if you skipped the previous section.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">Next, I will discuss two Auschwitz survivors. The first we met in Krakow the next day. She told how her parents hid her with others before they were killed. She told how she survived, how she searched for her parents story because nothing was written. She had to research to even know who they were.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">She took a number of questions from the students, and one of my students asked a bold question: had she had forgiven the people who killed her parents and destroyed so many lives? The woman didn't even blink. The answer was,</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">"</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">No." There was no explanation. Her point was clear -- her answer was not open for discussion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">The second woman's story Lydia forwarded to me. When her family arrived in Auschwitz she and her twin sister were selected by Dr. Mengle for experimentation. She never saw her family again. It is almost certain they were killed in the gas chambers. Her time in Auschwitz was horrific, but she and her sister survived. In the 1980's, her sister was dying from kidney failure tied to the experiments at Auschwitz.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">She gave her sister one of her kidneys, but she needed more information to save her sister. She found a former Nazi doctor who worked for Mengle. When she met the doctor, she confronted him. He was tormented by what he had done. She worked with him and publicly forgave the doctor and the Nazis. She even returned to Auschwitz with the doctor.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">I was struck by the two women and asked myself if I could have forgiven the Nazis if I shared their experiences. Honestly, I don't know. I know what I should do as a Christian, but I have not walked in their shoes. I only hope I would have the strength to do as the second woman.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">To be precise, it wouldn't be my strength. Would I be able to forgive with God's strength? Again, I don't know. I considered this while preparing to preach on Sunday. I asked myself, what could I teach the refugees on forgiveness? They have been through so much. Because they converted to Christianity, they will be persecuted or killed if they return to their home country. They need to forgive those who have wronged them, and they have much to forgive.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">I began by discussing the Holocaust -- I wanted them to understand what happened. Next, I spoke of my trip to Auschwitz and the stories of the two women. Then, we looked at the prophet Jonah. Jonah is a study of unforgiveness and God's grace. God told Jonah to preach in Ninevah, the capital of Assyria. Jonah was deeply flawed. He was arrogant. He was bitter. So, Jonah ran from God. He swam with a big fish and got a ride in the right direction. He ended up in Ninevah, his clothes and hair gone, digested by the fish. It terrified the Assyrians, and they repented. Yet, Jonah hated the Assyrians. He was mad at God for caring about them. Jonah hated the Assyrians so much he would not forgive them no matter what God said, not unlike the first woman.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38;">The second woman came to a different conclusion. Forgiveness was not only possible but it was better than unforgiveness. Why? What happened with her that was different? Jesus spoke often of forgiveness and its importance. One key example is from Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus' famed sermon on the mount. Paraphrased, forgive others when they wrong you and you will be forgiven by God, if you don't forgive others when they wrong you, you won't be forgiven by God. Following this has to do with the state of the heart. In his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul called it being ‘circumcised in heart.’</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.38;">I closed with a more practical aspect of forgiveness. It is good to say we should forgive our enemies, but how do we go beyond mere words? Is forgiveness a feeling? An action? Is it both? What do you do when you don't want to forgive? When you cannot muster the strength to do so?</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.38;"> Does forgiveness mean allowing an abusive person the opportunity to continue to be abusive? To that question I would answer a definite "no".</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.38;">To the other questions, begin with prayer. Ask God for help. It is no surprise to Him that you are struggling. He will help you in the way you need most. Do not expect quick results, these things take time. Be persistent. It is worth it. Decide you will forgive. Say it aloud. Say it in your heart and stick to it.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042513208296031790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-26050747679396283072017-08-27T04:18:00.000-04:002017-08-27T04:18:18.048-04:00Stand United. One Mission. One Message <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-3403387790005807895galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #1d2053; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">August 23rd was the first day of school at ICSV for the 2017-2018 school year. We welcomed many new faces this year including several new staff members. We are excited about our theme this year: <b><i>Stand United. One Mission. One Message.</i></b> We hope the excerpt below from our weekly newsletter will give you peek into our first week of school! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001a81; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">A New Theme for 2017-2018!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Welcome back! It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the 2017-2018 school year at ICSV. We had a great turnout at the New Family Orientation <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1444631543" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Tuesday</span></span>. At least 150 parents and students were here, and that doesn’t include all of our staff and faculty who were available to greet everyone. Our secondary student ambassadors did a wonderful job of making the new students feel welcomed at our school.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This year our theme is </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Stand United. One Mission. One Message.</span><span style="color: black;"> The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi: </span><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">“Stand united, singular in vision [with] one Message, the good news.”</span><span style="color: black;"> As we continue to grow in size, it becomes more important that we make it a priority to maintain our unity as a community with a shared mission and message. What is our mission? As a school, we promise to do our best to provide “high quality, individualized education, equipping students with Christian character to impact the nations of the world.” We also emphasize respect and esteem for others and want every student to be “valued and empowered with truth and knowledge for life.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Our message is Christ. No more. No less. All those who believe in Him have their sins forgiven and have a restored relationship with God. Before Christ came and gave His life for us, this good news was not available to everyone. The Apostle Paul explains it this way:</span><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;"> “The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.” </span><span style="color: black;">No matter what your cultural or religious background, </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">YOU ARE WELCOME HERE! </span><span style="color: black;">We will love and respect you because you are a wonderful creation of our Heavenly Father. Your students will be valued and appreciated. That is our Mission and Message in a nutshell.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">During our opening assemblies <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1444631544" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Wednesday</span></span>, I challenged the students to go out of their way to make the new students feel welcomed. I encouraged them to truly value and love their teachers and classmates, with a love that puts others first. And I asked them to keep unity at the forefront of what they do here, whether in the classroom, on the stage, or on the athletic field. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This year, we choose to</span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> stand united</span><span style="color: black;">. God takes great pleasure when He sees His children supporting each other in community. My prayer for this school year is that we will remain focused on our school’s mission and that we would demonstrate God’s love to each other as we walk out our message of love and acceptance. We are truly excited that you are here!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Because of His Faithfulness,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Sharon Brobst, Ed.D.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Director</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">It’s not too late to contribute to the </span><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Cool the School</span><span style="color: black;"> fundraiser. Just this month, over €2600 have come in toward our goal, and we are waiting for two additional gifts to come in from churches. Our total is now at </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">€18.935</span><span style="color: black;">. This still leaves us with a deficit of </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">€21.065</span><span style="color: black;">. I am confident that our school families and friends can come together to raise this needed amount. If you have been planning to contribute, but have just not done so, </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">now is the time! Every gift, no matter how large or small, is helpful!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">To make a donation by bank transfer: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Account Holder: Hilfsverein der Internationalen Christlichen Schulen</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Bank Name: Bankhaus Krentschker </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">IBAN: AT41 1952 0018 0009 3849 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">BIC/Swift: KRECAT2GXXX</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Send your check to: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">RCE International PO Box 4528 Wheaton, IL 60189 </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Please indicate ICSV “Cool the School” Project–02157</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Credit Card payment:</span></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001c4XshuEE9vlsr3wHcVZLOZLZgu5_i5NrZaTcdq7GLWPKM6TtOqd6D70KZWeDJhs4D8qoVXrTu0q9uxQc1cH1EJVqA4SBKxi1Y5hmdmDa5oadA2C5xwWQUTUJfDjQKdSQwlzO6I_Xp5K3scAlnxtqutluLt-QHoVbDmRB71vWpO8%3D%26c%3DhiXI5rnAm9SCn_7fl3yOdn8g4h886dC-ijYcnJXgFsLSxxLQ9roHxA%3D%3D%26ch%3DLdYbqs38HI4_UV_-gWdPZwJF3zl1zqVjpIcURMD7CAe9-Qy1nAcTLA%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1503907517670000&usg=AFQjCNHdYj2bS_ZuGg5iVfTwIGzOXXjSLg" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001c4XshuEE9vlsr3wHcVZLOZLZgu5_i5NrZaTcdq7GLWPKM6TtOqd6D70KZWeDJhs4D8qoVXrTu0q9uxQc1cH1EJVqA4SBKxi1Y5hmdmDa5oadA2C5xwWQUTUJfDjQKdSQwlzO6I_Xp5K3scAlnxtqutluLt-QHoVbDmRB71vWpO8=&c=hiXI5rnAm9SCn_7fl3yOdn8g4h886dC-ijYcnJXgFsLSxxLQ9roHxA==&ch=LdYbqs38HI4_UV_-gWdPZwJF3zl1zqVjpIcURMD7CAe9-Qy1nAcTLA==" style="color: black;" target="_blank">You can also click here to make a contribution to RCE International for the project using your credit card.</a><span style="color: black;"> Gifts to the school that are sent through RCE are tax deductible.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We currently have air-conditioning working on the third floor, in a couple of other classrooms, and in the secondary office. We are waiting for another part to arrive in order to hook up the majority of the classrooms. This delay has increased the cost of the entire project, so your gift today is very much needed. Please continue to pray that the air-conditioning will be installed very soon so that the staff and students can benefit from the cooler air in the near future.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Thanks to all of you who have contributed to this essential improvement to our school facility! Your investment into the lives of our students is so very much appreciated. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001a81; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Meet the New Staff!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">We will be introducing several of our new staff each week in the Eagle. This week, meet David Vundi, Joel and Lee Ann Alba, and Lydia Phoenix.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">David Vundi is our new secondary math teacher. He</span><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial;"> has 20 years of experience in teaching mathematics, physics and Bible, including two years at the university level. He is a dedicated person with a family of four and enjoys reading. The knowledge and perspective that his reading gives has strengthened his teaching skills and presentation abilities. He has also completed a Masters of Philosophy in Math and loves being with children and helping them learn the value of life, the most precious asset one has. His family will be joining here in Vienna shortly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Mabuhay! Joel Alba hails from the Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient. He teaches secondary social studies. Joel likes climbing mountains, swimming in beaches and doing any outdoor adventure. He has a degree in Theology and Education and has taught in several different international schools. His wife, Lee Ann, also joins us as an aide in the elementary school. The opportunity for them to serve at ICSV is indeed a testament that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. An awesome school-year awaits us all! Soli Deo Gloria!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Some of you may remember </span><span style="color: white; font-weight: bold;">Lydia Phoenix </span><span style="color: white;">as she was the student teacher in Ms. Sipos' third grade class last fall. She loved being a part of our school's community, and she is thrilled to be returning as the second grade teacher this year! Since leaving Vienna, she graduated from Wheaton College and moved to Florida, where she worked at a private, Christian school. She is originally from New Hampshire and will always consider that home. When she is not teaching, she enjoys doing almost any outdoor activity, especially those involving mountains, as she is an avid hiker and backpacker. She has always dreamed of doing a backpacking trek through the Alps, so now that she is back in Austria, she hopes to make that dream a reality.</span></div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-33795175695324327742017-08-11T09:14:00.002-04:002017-08-11T09:14:50.776-04:00Returning to Vienna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38JdXDyS59M/WY14JHCyLUI/AAAAAAAAsJU/uMkJVdHJzo83mT0QIKm9PZKQ9Q8ucMOmQCLcBGAs/s1600/20733148_1525773087481073_2021150794_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="720" height="436" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38JdXDyS59M/WY14JHCyLUI/AAAAAAAAsJU/uMkJVdHJzo83mT0QIKm9PZKQ9Q8ucMOmQCLcBGAs/s640/20733148_1525773087481073_2021150794_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="clear: both;">
Lydia and I are now back in Vienna, Ada returned a week ago, and I have a few observations:</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">First,
air conditioning is nice. That statement speaks for itself but we don't have air conditioning in our apartment in
Vienna. Bummer. It is not needed here for nine out of 12 months but it
was in the 90's in our apartment yesterday. There is no good way to
look at sitting in your apartment and sweating. Just saying.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Good
byes don't get any easier. As I will mention below I don't really
enjoy international air travel. To be fair, this probably has a lot to
do with it. Leaving Vienna to go to the states is difficult because we
are leaving our Vienna family whom we love. Leaving to come back seems
to get harder every year. Without question the most difficult part of
our jobs here is being away from family, especially during the holidays.
I don't expect that to ever get easier.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">International air
travel seems to get less and less enjoyable. We go to a lot of trouble
to get the lowest cost airfare when we travel. This usually means extra
connections and time spent in airports. Security in airports has
increased considerably. Don't get me wrong, security is good. I like
planes, especially the one I'm on, to stay in the air while it should be
there. Further, not to state the obvious, it is good not to have
terrorist attacks at airports. That said, it has become almost painful
to move around international airports. That, coupled with airlines
fighting to make ends meet, makes for crowded airports and planes with
long lines and grumpy people.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes people shine through
traveling challenges. Lydia and I had a delay getting to Atlanta from
Jacksonville. The people with Delta in Jax did all they could do to
help us make our connecting flight in Atlanta and with a good run
through the airport in Atlanta we made our flight with about a minute to
spare. Yes we were praying.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The airport in Paris, Charles de
Gaulle, is often mentioned as one of the worst airports in the world.
Our experiences have been mixed and it definitely has its problems.
Still, as a continuation of people shining, two Air France employees
went out of their way to help resolve a ticketing problem with our
flight to Vienna. This was well appreciated as we were tired and needed
help or Lydia and I wouldn't be making it to Vienna that night. We
made it due to their assistance and slept in our beds that night. Yes,
as before, we were praying. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">After living out of a suitcase for 5 weeks it is nice to sleep in your own bed.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It
is good to be back. Each year I wonder what God will do here and each
year I am amazed by what He did do in the previous year. God is good
and I believe, with anticipation, that He will continue to do Great
things in Vienna. May God smile on each of you in the coming year and
bless you and yours.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bill</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042513208296031790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-12347527114884778362017-07-07T10:06:00.000-04:002017-07-07T10:06:38.354-04:00<img alt="The Pilgrims' Process" height="289" src="https://i1.wp.com/pilgrimsprocess.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-Pilgrims-Process.png?fit=3033%2C1382" width="640" /><br />
<a href="http://pilgrimsprocess.blog/david/meet-david-bunce/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://pilgrimsprocess.blog/david/meet-david-bunce/</a><br />
David is one of the pastors at our church. He does a very good job
describing the church we attend and discussing his heart for ministry. <br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Noto Serif", serif; font-size: 15px;">David is a Baptist pastor and missionary in Vienna, Austria. Originally from the UK, he now works with Projekt:Gemeinde (Project:Church) as well as being involved in the year-out bible and mission school Project:Vienna and the Austrian Baptist Union’s home mission.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042513208296031790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-83672659343153341332015-11-15T05:24:00.001-05:002015-11-15T05:25:38.785-05:00#PrayForParis<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-cd3b12ed-0a66-58de-2332-d6d89c6a7e5a"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -Matthew 5:43-45</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="line-height: 14.352px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a difference a night makes. Friday night after a busy week Billy and I went for a walk around Vienna. It's one of the things we like best about living so close to the city center. We walked to dinner and then on into downtown. The weather was cool, but not too cold. I snapped pictures along the way of some of the sights we saw as we strolled through the city. We enjoyed seeing the canal, window displays, cathedrals, and Christmas Markets. It wasn't until later after we returned home that we heard something was happening in Paris. We began seeing initial news reports about attacks there, but it wasn't until we awoke early Saturday morning to notifications on our phones that we found out how bad the attacks were in Paris! This was within a day of very serious suicide bombings in Beirut</span> <span style="line-height: 14.352px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lebanon where many were killed and injured. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="line-height: 14.352px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully we heard that Billy's cousin and his wife who live in Paris were safe! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="line-height: 14.352px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes it is hard to know how to respond, but as Christians we are to respond in a <i>uniquely Christian way,</i> we are to pray, pray for Paris, France, Muslims, Families, Government Leaders, Refugees, the World, our Enemies.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/november/we-are-all-parisians.html" target="_blank">We Are All Parisians Now: A Christian Response to Global Terror and Radical Islam</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donau (Danube) Canal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demel cafe window display - Apple Strudel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rathaus Christmas Market - Pre-tree lighting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in our neighborhood.</td></tr>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-39998738747915739472015-11-11T06:43:00.000-05:002015-11-15T15:26:27.608-05:00Enjoying Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 24px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!</span></div>
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We are enjoying the fall weather in Vienna! This week it has been sunny with temps in the 60's!! Fall means soccer, volleyball, pumpkin soup and beautiful colors on the trees!</div>
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Happy Fall Y'all!!</div>
"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-37963905731866905902014-09-23T15:58:00.000-04:002014-09-27T12:47:25.292-04:00Refreshing<br />
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The past few weeks have been exhausting with our return to Vienna and the start of a new school year. We are finally settling into a routine and the pace is slowing a bit. Fall is in the air today as we awoke to temperatures in the 40's. Throughout the past few weeks God has graciously provided others to encourage us and breaks for rest and refreshing. During the first week of staff orientation we were treated to a wonderful luncheon prepared by several of our student's parents. </div>
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Billy and I have been walking home from church on Sunday afternoons. It provides the perfect opportunity to get a little exercise and then enjoy some ice cream! The weather has been lovely and the flowers beautiful. One Sunday we enjoyed a free "open house" at the Rathaus (city hall). The interior was beautiful and it was such a treat to see inside the building we pass each Sunday on our way to church. We only stayed a short time as it was very crowded. Once outside and in front of the building, it was funny to see a circus tent and palm trees. Of course as the weather cools, the palm trees will be stored away for the winter.</div>
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Mitchell and Lydia are staying busy with school and enjoying time with friends. Lydia is playing volleyball this fall and also has a part in the high school musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Mitchell is back to playing soccer along with being part of student leadership and high school praise band. </div>
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Recently we have had the opportunity to spend time with friends from near and far. Ada's friend Julie and her husband were in Vienna for the night last week and we enjoyed a perfect night walking in downtown Vienna. We got to see many of the historic sights at night while catching up with each other. The conversation flowed just like always. This past weekend was especially relaxing and refreshing! Friday night we enjoyed dinner with close friends and their new baby. Saturday was spent with friends relaxing and sharing a meal. Then on Sunday we had friends, Ted and Mary Lou Strawbridge from Ocala, show up at our church! What a surprise! That evening we got to have dinner together before they left town the next day.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lydia with Baby Mateo</span></b></td></tr>
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We were so encouraged from this time spent with friends. As I texted to say "good-bye" Sunday evening and thank Mary Lou and Ted for dinner and the encouragement, she responded "God is so kind!! Yes, yes He is, most gracious and kind! May you experience the rest and refreshing that only He can give!</div>
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Love and Blessings from Vienna,</div>
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Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)</div>
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p.s. To receive our newsletter with updates and prayer requests send an email request to: </div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-81756773123859794432014-04-12T12:47:00.000-04:002014-04-12T14:58:59.203-04:00A Very Full Week!<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a88961e4-5650-5a06-e832-14df40b72bd2" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s Saturday and the first official day of our Spring/Easter Break! We have had an unusually busy week so I’m looking forward to a little down time. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Last Saturday, Billy left at 6:00am to fly to London until Thursday. He spent Saturday through Monday sightseeing in London before heading to Oxford for school related training. Lydia headed to volleyball by mid morning while Mitchell went to show choir practice and then met up with friends. Mitchell’s friend Josh was staying with us for the week and he had a Romania mission team meeting along with chores to do at home. I got up early to see Billy off and then get the required grocery shopping done so I could spend a leisurely afternoon with a girlfriend sipping tea and visiting the Easter markets. Later, Lydia joined us and we had a girl’s night out for dinner!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I worked from home while 2 repairmen fixed our leaking shower. We discovered it was leaking into the downstairs apartment about 5 weeks ago, not good and have not been able to use it since then. Thankfully we have a second shower, just in case you were wondering. I’m pleased to report the shower is now repaired!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Lydia had 2 volleyball games this week. So Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon I enjoyed watching the games and visiting with her teammates’ parents. I’m pleased to report that they won the game on Tuesday, but were not as fortunate on Wednesday. Following the games, I hurried home to fix dinner for 3 and some days 4 hungry teenagers. In addition, Mitchell and I ran errands to prepare for his France mission trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Thursday after school I had a staff meeting and then headed home to cook dinner and help Mitchell and Josh get ready for their trips. Mitchell would be leaving Friday morning for France while Josh wouldn't leave until Saturday morning. The family room was filled with suitcases, clothes, and a drying rack full of laundry. We double checked packing lists and made sure they had their important travel documents. Everyone stayed up until after 11:00pm to greet Billy when he arrived home that evening. </span><br />
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<a href="http://jessicainaustria.blogspot.co.at/2014/04/france-2014.html" target="_blank">Click here to read more about the France Mission Trip</a></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Following a late night, 5:00am Friday morning came early to get Mitchell up and to school by 6:15am. After getting him off, the rest of us headed out to school at our usual time. That evening, Billy and I helped with the International Family Fun Night (IFFN) at ICSV. For IFFN, our student’s and their families wear international dress and bring food common to their home country to share. There are various “country” rooms set up for everyone to visit and learn about the specific country. After visiting the room, the children get their “passport” stamped. It was a fun night visiting with our school families and a great way to learn about the different countries and cultures represented at the school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">We headed home after a fun evening to a slumber party with 3 girls and a boy doing his laundry and final packing. Saturday morning Josh headed to the school at 7:30am to leave for Romania, while the girls all slept in. We are thankful for a quiet day of rest and glad it is Spring Break! We hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Easter!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Love and blessing from Vienna,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;"><br /></span>"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-11344462669607247772014-03-30T07:41:00.001-04:002014-04-05T01:25:51.394-04:00Missing Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">When we moved overseas, we knew things would be different and we would miss many things from home. I remember someone saying to me when I shared that God had called us to Vienna that "Vienna is not a hard place to go." And while this may be true, my response was that "our home in Florida is not an easy place to leave." We miss many of the comforts, conveniences, and yes foods of our home country, but what we miss most are not things at all. It's </span><b style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">WHO</b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> we miss most, our family and friends, people! We miss being there with them in times of celebration and times of difficulty. The realization that there are people we will not see again this side of heaven is hardest of all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This week has been especially difficult to be away from family. Billy's cousin passed away this week and it's hard not to be in Florida to personally express our love and seek to comfort his family during this time of great sorrow. We wanted to say our "good-byes" to Kyle in person, but that was not to be. Kyle lived in a way that honored God regardless of his circumstances. His faith, courage and unselfish love is an incredible example for us. Our hearts are heavy as we pray for his wife and children. He will be greatly missed, but we find comfort in knowing he is rejoicing in God's presence.</span></div>
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We are grateful that in the mist of a difficult week, God sent one of Billy's second cousins and her husband to visit. Following their mission trip to Romania, Karen and Andy spent last week with us. They were a delight to have visit! They are young newlyweds and soon to be parents. We enjoyed sightseeing, sharing meals, and just talking and laughing together. They were such an encouragement and blessing to us during this difficult time. </div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">We are truly blessed with a wonderful family! As we watch and pray from afar, we witness the love and support of Billy's family as they celebrate the life of his cousin Kyle. While we cannot be there in person, our hearts are there with them, crying, hurting, rejoicing, and loving! In the mist of sorrow, we rest in the hope that we will see him again one day.</span></div>
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Love and blessings from Vienna,</div>
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Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)</div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-27954348324447550872014-02-28T06:32:00.000-05:002014-03-01T06:15:06.566-05:00Energy Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final sunset of 2013 along with the New Year's fireworks from our apartment</td></tr>
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It's hard to believe it is already the end of February! The second semester at ICSV ended in January and we are already in the middle of the 3rd quarter. In January we had exams which means Mitchell and Lydia were studying, Billy was grading, and Ada was getting report cards ready. We also celebrated Ada's birthday and our 20th wedding anniversary. There is always lots going on at the school and this semester is no different. So far we've had the 8th Grade Sleepover (like a lock-in), Elementary Ice Skating, ICSV Talent Show for Romania Mission Trip, Basketball games, Coffeehaus, and a much needed Energy Break.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitchell and friends performing a skit.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.</td></tr>
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Mitchell and friends performed a skit that won 3rd place. He was thrilled to learn that the prize was "Dinner with the Wiisanens"! We are looking forward to having his friends over for dinner!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy along with several teachers performing a song, no prize though, but lots of fun!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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During Energy Break, Billy and Ada enjoyed a long weekend celebrating
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We especially enjoyed seeing the sea and getting to walk on the beach if only for a short time. Listening to the waves reminded us of home!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adriatic Sea, the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea.</td></tr>
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The last weekend of Energy Break we had a real treat. We got to go the the IAEA Ball thanks to a friend from church who had access to tickets! This was extra special because it is at the Hofburg Palace. It was my birthday present from Billy! (He wouldn't have chosen to go to a ball himself). Between friends from church and school there were more than 20 of us all there together. It was such a fun evening. We enjoyed watching the opening dances and getting to dance in the main ballroom. Balls are part of the Vienese culture. There are more than 50 balls scheduled in January - March. Besides the main ballroom pictured below, there were 8-10 more areas with different music styles being played. Sometimes the music didn't seem to go with the atmosphere of the palace such as when we were in the "60's" room and they started playing "See you later alligator"! It was a very relaxing night and one we will not soon forget!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo courtesy of Fi Ona) </td></tr>
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Thank you for checking in with The Wiisanens in Vienna! We appreciate your love, prayers, and support!</div>
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If you would like to receive our newsletter with updates and prayer requests, please email us at <a href="mailto:billyandada@wiisanen.com" target="_blank">billyandada@wiisanen.com</a> and we will gladly add you to our email list.</div>
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Love and blessing,<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-33119384181938434732013-12-24T03:33:00.000-05:002013-12-24T04:01:58.261-05:00Merry Christmas 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Denn euch ist heute in der Stadt Davids der Retter geboren, </span></i></span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">welcher ist Christus, der Herr. Und das sei für euch das </span></i></span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Zeichen: Ihr werdet ein Kind finden, in Windeln ge </span></i></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">wickelt, in der Krippe liegend.</span></span></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Luke 2:11-12</span></span></b></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Jesus comes as a traveler and if we follow Him, this world</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: #274e13;">is not our home, but heaven is our destination, and we put<br />on our shoes and go out into all the world, so more will hear<br />of Him and journey with us to the cradle of the King."</span></b> </i><span style="color: #cc0000;">- </span><i><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Ann Voskamp</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Thank you for your gifts of encouragement, prayers, and financial support which allow us to serve in Vienna. Please take a moment to watch the video below to see many of the students we interact with daily and how God is working at ICSV!!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/80361705" target="_blank">Link to ICSV video</a> </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This Christmas and always, may you share the hope and</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">grace of Christ wherever God leads you!</span><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">MERRY CHRISTMAS!!</span></i><br /><i style="font-size: x-large;">Love, the Wiisanens</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To receive our email and prayer updates, contact us via email at: <a href="mailto:billyandada@wiisanen.com" target="_blank"> <b>billyandada@wiisanen.com</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To give financially, click <b><a href="http://wiisanen.blogspot.co.at/p/support-team.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>or the </span><b style="color: #cc0000;">"How to Support"</b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> at the upper left of this blog page.</span></span></div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-37876407974732245742013-10-13T11:28:00.001-04:002013-10-13T11:41:59.470-04:00Visas, Taxes, and a Birthday!!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> <span class="text Ps-90-2" id="en-ESV-15381">Before the mountains were brought forth, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Ps-90-2">or ever you had formed the earth and the world,</span></span></b></i></span><span class="indent-1"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span></b></i></span><span class="text Ps-90-2"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>from everlasting to everlasting you are God. - Psalms 90:2</b></i></span></span></span></div>
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I thought I would share a quick update as we have had lots going on the past 2 weeks. We are enjoying a beautiful weekend here in Vienna, it is sunny and cool. Our visit to the Visa office went smoothly, they only requested one additional document for Mitchell and Lydia which we were able to quickly provide. Now we just wait to hear from them and hopefully will be called to pick up our visas soon. We will keep you posted. In addition to applying for our visa, we also had to file our Austrian taxes. Thankfully there is an accountant that works with many of the school staff and he helped us tremendously. We only had to go to his office to sign the papers! Very glad to have that taken care of until next year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qa3tv9Ntns/UlqwB5z3qKI/AAAAAAAAA7E/XNmbxCGcVBg/s1600/2013-10-02+20.38.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>October 2nd we celebrated Mitchell's 16th birthday!! It's hard to believe he is 16, how time<br />
flies. We enjoyed an evening with a few of his close friends. I was glad I found everything to make his requested dinner, "shrimp and pasta" along with a cookie cake. Mitchell was very excited about the gift from one friend, "American" bacon. Apparently there was an earthquake in Vienna during the birthday celebration, the 2nd one in two weeks. With six teenagers in the apartment, we didn't feel anything!:)<br />
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Lydia is enjoying soccer and her team has won 2 of their 3 games! In addition, the middle school students had a photo scavenger hunt around Vienna and her team also won! Her free time is spent hanging out with friends and babysitting.<br />
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This past week we had several events at the school. Wednesday the Korean Ambassador came and spoke to the high school students. He was welcomed by the elementary students who sang "Jesus Loves Me" in Korean. He was well received by the students and was very personable. He said in his speech he is a Christian and gave a brief testimony to the school. How cool is that?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Korean Ambassor, center front)</td></tr>
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Praise Night for the high school students was also this week. It is a time for the students to come and worship God together. Mitchell is part of the praise band and said it was an "awesome" night of worship. Please pray for these Christian students as they grow in their faith and relationship with Christ and witness to those around them.<br />
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Because it is the weekend, it means that I went grocery shopping. As a matter of fact, I went to 3 different stores yesterday and got some special treats! A friend told me about a store that has some "American" products, so I got some pop-tarts, syrup, barbeque sauce, and Bisquick yesterday! In addition I stopped by the Mexican store so we can have enchiladas tonight! Well I guess I better go for now and get cooking! <br />
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Love and blessings from Vienna, <br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
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<br />"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-64218841774249814682013-09-28T08:18:00.000-04:002013-09-28T08:18:17.868-04:00Year 2 begins......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sweet sign in front of Lydia's friend's home with Austria added.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 9px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">always offering prayer with joy in my very prayer for you all, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 9px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippians 1:3-5</span></i></span></div>
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</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fa5-af77-b7d4-1380b2c7499f" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fa6-dea8-b18d-4adbd9a4a779" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We returned to Vienna on August 8th and look forward to seeing what God has planned for year 2!!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> We can hardly believe the first year is behind us! We are thankful for how God helped our family transition into another culture and serve at ICSV. The opportunity to share the gospel daily with children who may otherwise not hear is incredible. We are also able to disciple and mentor other believers as they grow in their relationship with Christ. In addition, God has allowed us to be part of a church plant (Crossway International Church) that ministers to the English speaking international community in Vienna. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fb1-93ba-04b2-9803da5b7fa5" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We head to the Visa Office on Monday and are praying our application process goes smoothly and our visas are renewed without difficulty.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fa6-dea8-b18d-4adbd9a4a779" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fa7-76e0-8d2d-a690ab6bae1c" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">During
most of summer break, Billy stayed in Vienna to work on graduate
classes and renew his teaching certification which will expire in
December. Ada and the children were able to be in Florida most of
the summer. Mitchell had a wonderful opportunity to go to upstate New
York and serve at PFO (Pre-Field Orientation) for families going to
International Christians Schools this year. He worked in the children’s
program with 2-3 year olds. Lydia enjoyed being home with friends and
attending church camp where she got to minister to children in a youth
center and share the gospel. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We enjoyed our time in the Florida sunshine!! <span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fa6-dea8-b18d-4adbd9a4a779" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fa7-76e0-8d2d-a690ab6bae1c" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While home we were blessed to see many relatives and friends, but were sad that it is impossible to see everyone! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The beach and swimming were the kids favorite activities!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Upon returning to Vienna, c</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fb1-93ba-04b2-9803da5b7fa5" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">lasses began on August 22nd at ICSV. Billy is
teaching 7 different classes this semester, not all meeting daily. His
classes include Bible (8th, 10th, and 12th grades), physics, current
events, 6th grade math, and 6th grade life skills. He is also part of
our church leadership and is helping lead a men’s Bible study. Ada is not be teaching this year, but is working four days a week at ICSV in the school office. In addition, she is hosting the women’s Bible study for our church. Billy </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fb1-93ba-04b2-9803da5b7fa5" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fb1-93ba-04b2-9803da5b7fa5" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">teaching new classes</span></span></span> and Ada learning a new job at the school has kept us quite busy these first weeks back to Vienna. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bqSJH4h5Qt8/UkV9Bqw6SAI/AAAAAAAAA28/meyNfhWVfHk/s640/blogger-image--1724418697.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bqSJH4h5Qt8/UkV9Bqw6SAI/AAAAAAAAA28/meyNfhWVfHk/s320/blogger-image--1724418697.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PEVbHoGohE8/UkV9IHY9aiI/AAAAAAAAA3U/43LdwrewdzU/s640/blogger-image--2113679779.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PEVbHoGohE8/UkV9IHY9aiI/AAAAAAAAA3U/43LdwrewdzU/s320/blogger-image--2113679779.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PEVbHoGohE8/UkV9IHY9aiI/AAAAAAAAA3U/43LdwrewdzU/s640/blogger-image--2113679779.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fb1-93ba-04b2-9803da5b7fa5" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Mitchell, now in 10th grade, has jumped into this year with both feet. He is playing soccer, in the praise band, part of student union, and has a part in the upcoming school musical. We were also excited that he was asked to go to the Student Leadership Conference in Budapest this week. Our 8th grader, Lydia, is playing soccer this year and really enjoying hanging out with her friends from her class. They can often be found laughing and dancing and making music videos. We were so grateful that both Mitchell and Lydia were excited to return to Vienna. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It
is starting to look like fall here with the leaves changing. The
cooler temperatures feel wonderful! We are excited about all God has
planned at ICSV this year! We welcomed many new students and currently
have 56 countries represented at the school. <span id="docs-internal-guid-0afed3f1-5fb9-15e3-f3b6-aee4be2770c3" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We
cannot thank you enough for your faithful support of our ministry at
the International Christian School of Vienna (ICSV) and Crossway
International Bible Church in Vienna, Austria. Your prayers, financial
support, and encouragement are so appreciated!! </span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Love and blessing from Vienna,</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ada (aka "Miss" Clair) </span><br />
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-69540168846407835242013-04-11T15:20:00.000-04:002013-04-11T15:23:59.582-04:00Spring Break!! Woohoo:)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are signs that Spring is coming, but the snow has lingered!</td></tr>
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<i><b>Psalms 115:1 - Not to us, Oh Lord; but to YOUR name be the Glory. </b></i></div>
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Last week we enjoyed Spring Break and I wanted to share a little about what is going on at ICSV and in our lives. While you may not recognize the couple below, rest assured, we have not changed jobs!! We are still teaching and serving at ICSV!! <i> </i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_k39hxeiJ4/UU7ebCrd6rI/AAAAAAAAAvY/rRyOmRprSeQ/s1600/Ada+and+Billy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_k39hxeiJ4/UU7ebCrd6rI/AAAAAAAAAvY/rRyOmRprSeQ/s1600/Ada+and+Billy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our costumes for the Talent Show skit - Life Guard and Rock Star!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ICSV Staff Skit - Countries and states represented in the skit: Florida, Colorado, Massachusetts, Canada, Slovakia, New Zealand, and Nigeria! God has brought staff from all over the world to serve at ICSV!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle School skit, Lydia is to the far left, seated at the table.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Romanian Mission Trip:</b></span><br />
We had a lot of fun back in February participating in the ICSV Talent Show. The Romania team threw the Fundraiser Event at our school, <a href="http://www.icsv.at/">The International Christian School of Vienna</a>, titled <i>ICSV's Got Talent</i>. Over 120 people showed up to the event and the team raised approximately 1.200 euro. It was a lot of fun and the students did a great job organizing the event. They not only set up and cleaned up, they served the dinner and washed dishes. The Romanian Mission team consist of 31 ICSV students as well as 10 adults for a total of 41 people! During Spring Break, they served at the <a href="http://www.rol.internationalmessengers.org/">River of Life</a> mission for abandoned women and children in Cornesti, Romania. The money raised at the Talent Show was given directly to the mission along with other donations from our school families. They reported that the mission used the money to buy bikes for the children. The mission children had been praying for bikes and our team got to be God's answer to their prayers!! While in Romania, the team worked laying the foundation for some elderly homes and building a secure fence. In addition, they put on a children's program. It was hard work but they did a great job helping these missionaries. This year they chose a theme for the trip titled <i>Not to us</i>, inspired by the verse in Psalm 115:1 that says...<br />
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<i>Not to us, Oh Lord; but to YOUR name be the Glory. </i><br />
They wanted this trip to be about Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ<i> </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2013 ICSV Romanian Mission Team</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica and Becca, ICSV staff who lead the Romanian Team.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Bi<span style="font-size: large;">lly's Family Visits!!:</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Billy's parents, Judy and Erik arrived on <span style="font-size: small;">March 27th</span>!! We <span style="font-size: small;">were </span>excited to see them! They spent several days in Vienna, sight-seeing and visiting the school. <span style="font-size: small;">Michael, <span style="font-size: small;">an ICSV <span style="font-size: small;">Hist<span style="font-size: small;">ory teacher took us on a great tour of Vienna along with visi<span style="font-size: small;">ting several of the Easter Markets. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>On Easter Sunday, we woke to snow and all flew to Paris! We enjoyed more sight seeing and vi<span style="font-size: small;">sit<span style="font-size: small;">ing with Bi<span style="font-size: small;">lly's cousin Dan<span style="font-size: small;">ny and his wife Claire.</span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It <span style="font-size: small;">was so special to be with Billy's parents <span style="font-size: small;">ove<span style="font-size: small;">r our spring break!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy and Erik in front of Rathaus (Vienna City Hall)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy, Erik, and Billy in front of Karlskirche in Vienna (St Charles Church)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggs at one of the many Easter Markets in Vienna</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sight-seeing in Paris, chilly, but sunny!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitchell, Billy, Lydia, and Judy in front of Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Finishing Strong:</span></b><br />
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We returned to Vienna after a fun visit to Paris and had a few days to rest before retruning to school. It was good to hear Mitchell and Lydia say they enjoyed Paris, but were glad to be "home". God has grown them and stretched them in so many ways this year!</div>
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It's hard to believe we are in the last 9 weeks of the school year! The year has flown by so quickly. Please pray that we would all finish strong and finish well!! Warmer temperatures and sunshine this week are a welcome change, but it also means "spring fever"! Already the students come into the classroom asking if we can go outside for class time. :) We are more tired lately it seems and there is still much work to be done. Pray we can stay focused on God's calling here and not looking too far ahead to the summer! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun in Paris, Billy trying to look French!:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia in front of the Eiffel Tower, a dream come true!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitchell playing in praise band during chapel at ICSV.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Speaking of summer, I'm excited to share that we have our plane tickets home to Florida for the summer to see many of your sweet faces!! Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers!! We are so grateful for the support we get from friends and family that make it possible to serve at ICSV!!<br />
Love and blessings from Vienna,<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair) <br />
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-90695984594991283882013-02-19T16:45:00.001-05:002013-02-19T16:45:58.747-05:00It's February Already!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><b></b><b>Psalm 19:14 - </b>Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, my rock and my Redeemer.</i></b></div>
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Wow, I can hardly believe it is February and we are in the second semester of the school year already! We enjoyed our Christmas Break, especially getting to visit with my Mom (aka Nonnie/Peggy). While my Mom was here, Taru, our former exchange student from Finland also visited us. She lived with us in Orlando when I was in high school. We did some site seeing around Vienna and also spent a few days in Prague after Christmas. Prague was beautiful and only a 4 hour train ride from Vienna. We were able to apartment swap with a family who teaches at the international Christian school in Prague. It worked great, they got to visit Vienna and we got to visit Prague. Following a wonderful Christmas Break, we returned to school to finish the first semester with semester exams, grading tests and projects and report cards to complete.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fireworks display just out our windows on New Years</i></td></tr>
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With the start of the second semester, we have had a few schedule changes. I am now teaching 2 health classes each day. Health is only a 1 semester class. I had half of the 9th graders the first semester and now I have the other half of the 9th graders (Mitchell included) this semester. In addition, I have a class of 10th, 11th, and/or 12th graders who need the class to graduate. These are students who entered the school after 9th grade. It's nice to be repeating the class I taught last semester. I don't have to spend as much time on lesson planning, but I am teaching an additional hour each day. I'm enjoying getting to know more of the students and experiencing teaching my own son!:) I continue to ask God for ways to integrate the Bible into the class. Recently as we discussed character and its relationship to health, the students were asked to define "good" and "bad" character. One student then asked how you define "good"? This lead perfectly into a conversation about God being good and that He sets the standard for good. Otherwise, if man defines "good" it is all relative.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At the Prague Castle</i></td></tr>
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Billy's schedule is full this semester. He continues to teach 10th and 11th grade Bible, Physics, and monitoring an online Spanish class. In addition, he now has a ELL (English Language Learner) Science class with only one student and a high school Current Events class. His day is quite full with 5 classes per day. He is especially enjoying the Current Events class, but it does take some time to lesson plan as there is limited curriculum. This class has allowed him to discuss sensitive and current topics such as "human trafficking" plus ways that God is active in the world. For instance, he discussed the Elysee Treaty and how grace and forgiveness overcame past hatreds and allowed France and Germany to reconcile. From there they discussed how God works thorough grace and forgiveness and how that matters to us. He is challenged with questions from students such as "why does God allow human trafficking or evil in the world?". <br />
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Mitchell has transitioned well to Vienna! He said just the other day that it is hard to believe that we are actually living here. He has made friends and enjoys hanging out or talking with them via Oovoo! What is Oovoo you ask? It is a way to talk to multiple friends at one time and also see them via the internet/computer. The picture below is Mitchell (lower left corner) chatting one Friday night with 4 other friends. He is quite the social teenager. It's not unusual to have 4 teenage boys sleeping in our family room on a weekend night. He is especially grateful to have the German A1 exam completed. This means getting to have study hall with his class two days a week, no extra German classes, no missing normal school classes, and no extra homework! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cooking breakfast for the boys!</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCYclonmN4/USJRXMe2UQI/AAAAAAAAAnk/WZ1nMKSydto/s1600/64202_4617959881655_2127200449_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCYclonmN4/USJRXMe2UQI/AAAAAAAAAnk/WZ1nMKSydto/s1600/64202_4617959881655_2127200449_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Lydia is growing into a beautiful young lady before our eyes! She regularly helps out with children's church at our home church here. The children love her and she is a great help to the teachers. She was recently in the Middle School musical, Seussical Jr. She had lots of fun and did a great job as a "Who". The entire production was wonderful! Following the last performance, the cast members enjoyed a fun cast party of food, drinks and games! The parents at the school were wonderful in helping create a fun party for the children! She is learning lots living here in Vienna and is a great help to me at home. For Valentines Day, she cooked dinner (grilled cheese sandwiches) for the family, she also helps by going to the grocery store for me and helping with the laundry! What a blessing! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DufahoxKWDM/USJUHrJ8FpI/AAAAAAAAAoY/p8dA8sfptRg/s1600/blogger-image--767571015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DufahoxKWDM/USJUHrJ8FpI/AAAAAAAAAoY/p8dA8sfptRg/s1600/blogger-image--767571015.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a>For my "foodie" friends out there, I must share what's cooking in my Vienna kitchen. I have learned to make Italian meatballs from scratch and found a recipe that my family really enjoys and works well with ground pork. Ground pork is readily available and reasonably priced. Ground beef on the other hand can be quite expensive. I did venture out to a Turkish market/grocery store the other day and bought ground beef. As I approached the store, I prayed God would help me find what I needed. This may sound silly, but going to a Turkish store means that I can't read most of the food labels/names which are in Turkish, not German or English. Also I appear very out of place from the other women in the store with my light colored skin and uncovered head. My main purpose for going to the market was to buy beef and chicken which is much less expensive there than in my local grocery store. I approached the meat counter and found what I wanted to buy, now to communicate this to the person behind the counter. The first gentleman I approached did not know English, but thankfully directed me to a kind young woman. She spoke broken English and I spoke broken German. While she helped me get the chicken and beef I wanted, she engaged in conversation which is not always common here. She asked where I was from and I shared that we were here teaching in Vienna and discovered she had a mechanical engineering degree like Billy. The conversation was limited, but it made me wonder about her and I hope to get to see her again. By the way, we enjoyed hamburgers made with real ground beef that night!<br />
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Well I have rambled on, but hope this gives you a glimpse into our life here and what God is doing. We are ever grateful for the love, prayers, and support we get from everyone! If you are new to the blog, you can view previous posts by clicking on the "blog archive" to the right. <br />
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Love and blessing from Vienna,<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
<br />"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-68431875167875326492012-12-25T07:16:00.000-05:002012-12-25T07:16:26.872-05:00Merry Christmas!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="text John-1-14" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><b><i>John 1:14 </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-14" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i><b>And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.</b></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i><b> </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas from the Wiisanens in Vienna! We pray your Christmas is blessed with the peace, joy, and rest that comes from knowing our Savior who was born on Christmas day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November flew by and we received a few early Christmas presents:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mitchell received German tutoring and passed his German A1 Exam!!!</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He more than passed, he made a 92!! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He also now has his visa!</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nonnie (aka Ada's Mom) arrived December 9th!</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so blessed to have her here!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It feels more like Christmas with family around.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God continues to provide for our family and ministry here in Vienna, for which we are ever grateful!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are thankful for the new friends God has provided here and we are gradually settling in to our new city.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are grateful for a couple of weeks rest during our Christmas break to focus on our Savior's birth and re-energize for the new year.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are including a short video to wish you all a Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/pamRpxjlm7o" target="_blank">Wiisanen Christmas Video</a><br /><span class="userContent"><a href="http://youtu.be/lu77KLKOLKk" target="_blank">Wiisanen Christmas Video - High Definition</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas Blessing and all our Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billy, Ada, Mitchell, and Lydia</span></div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-47207207845331979242012-11-11T14:25:00.003-05:002012-11-12T01:12:46.271-05:00Fall Break, Zagreb, SEW!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Morning sunrise reflecting on the buildings outside our apartment window.</div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Psalms 28:7 - The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">trust</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">s in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.</span></i></b></div>
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Much has been happening since our last post, so I thought I would try to catch you up on the Wiisanens in Vienna. October 26th was the first day of Fall Break for the school. The kids were out that Friday through the following week. It was a much needed break for all of us. Our break began with Billy and Mitchell taking an unscheduled trip to Zagreb, Croatia. On November 2nd our 90 day tourist visa were going to expire, we found out that Mitchell would not be getting his resident visa and was required to leave the country (actually the European Union) for 2 days in order to renew his tourist visa for another 90 days. So what does this mean. Well, the rest of the family got visas on Friday November 2nd, but Mitchell will not get his until he passes the German A1 language exam. This requirement applies to anyone 14 or older, however because Billy and I have college degrees, we do not have to pass the exam right away. We are working with the school to come up with a plan to help Mitchell accomplish this. He is currently enrolled in German class at school, but it will not get him to the level he needs to be at fast enough. This is a little unnerving for us and has been weighing on Mitchell also. We continue to trust God and pray for wisdom and discernment for His plan in helping Mitchell meet the German language requirement. Billy and Mitchell enjoyed their little vacation, but decided that the train was the preferred mode of transportation over the bus, especially when it started snowing on the bus ride home (they took the train to Zagreb). Before this trip, we really did not even know where Zabreb was. :)<br />
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Zagreb, Croatia</div>
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Also during Fall Break, Billy and I attended several days of Professional Development for the school staff. It was nice to have a break from the classroom and lesson planning and to receive valuable information to help us teach. The main focus was Biblical Integration, how to integrate the Bible into our lesson plans. In addition, we were given teaching techniques to help with English Language Learners (ELL students) and teaching to various learning styles. It was a very productive couple of days with a fun Staff Talent Show for entertainment. We are blessed to work with a great staff at ICSV!<br />
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We had our first snow during Fall Break! It was beautiful! Needless to say it didn't last long, but for Floridians it was very exciting! Lydia and I also enjoyed a visit to the Technisches Museum Wien (Technology Museum on Vienna). We also experienced our first club hockey game. Our friends' daughter Emilie is playing!! <br />
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I also got to bake and try some new recipes over the break. It's a challenge to find easy recipes and new thing to make that I can get all the ingredients for. We had cookies, enchiladas, and white chicken chili! YUM!<br />
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Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) began at school following Fall Break. During the week, the students had chapel daily. They got to hear powerful testimonies from both staff and other students. I was impressed by a student who shared that she was a former Hindu and now a Christian, but that the rest of her family members are not believers. She became a Christian at ICSV! The focus of the last chapel of the week was the gospel. Please pray the hearts of the studenst would be open to the gospel and that the seeds of faith would be planted. Also pray they would see Christ in us and the staff of ICSV and commit their lives to HIM. <br />
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Fall is beautiful here in Vienna. The colors of the leaves are beautiful, but it is definitely getting colder. This weekend we attended Mitchell's soccer tournament and it was very cold and windy. They got third place!<br />
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By 5:00pm it is very dark and cold. It is a hard time to be here, especially for Floridians who are used to the warmth and sunshine. We tend to miss home, family, and friends more these days! But as Lydia reminded us on her Facebook today, we are not alone!! Never! We have Christ with us! May He give us wisdom, strength, and energy. May we be filled with His joy and shine His light to the dark world around us.<br />
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Thank you for your support and prayers!! Please continue to pray for Mitchell's visa and language learning. Also for our witness to the student at ICSV and our community here in Vienna. We love you all so very much!<br />
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Love and Blessings to you all,<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
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<br />"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-49741069253708551232012-10-21T06:58:00.000-04:002012-10-21T12:47:22.360-04:00Quiet, not really.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span class="text Jer-10-12" id="en-NASB-19214" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Jeremiah 10:12 - It is <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-19214Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup>He who made the earth by His power,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Jer-10-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Who <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-19214AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup>established the world by His wisdom;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Jer-10-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">And by His understanding He has <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-19214AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup>stretched out the heavens.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="text Jer-10-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span class="text Jer-10-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">While the blog may have been quiet for a few weeks, our life here in Vienna has been anything but quiet! We are enjoying the cooler fall weather and the beautiful colors all around us. Next week is the end of the 1st nine weeks of the school year! Wow! We can hardly believe it. </span></div>
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<span class="text Jer-10-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Our days are filled with school, teaching, lesson planning, testing, grading, grocery shopping, washing, cooking, helping with homework, parenting, grocery shopping, going to soccer games, meetings, German classes, grocery shopping. Did I mention grocery shopping? With two teenagers in the house, I have to go 3-4 times per week to keep up with all they eat!!</span></div>
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<span class="text Jer-10-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">We are truly enjoying teaching at ICSV and getting to know our students. God continues to confirm that we are right where He wants us to be. We are learning so much and He is growing and stretching each one of us. We still have lots to learn and often things we knew how to do at home without thinking, takes much longer here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I would share some of the highlights of the last few weeks. We celebrated Mitchell's birthday on October 2nd with a "snicker-doddle cake" and later a cookie cake with friends! The cookie cake overflowed the pan, but thankfully tasted good! Mitchell and Lydia sure do miss Nonnie's chocolate cake! Mitchell's birthday dinner was our first time having guests over for a meal (spaghetti, not too difficult). We had a great time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so excited to see my Mom's cousin, Charlie and Louise, vacationing in Vienna!! They were on a river boat cruise that was docked within walking distance to our apartment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning to cook and trying new recipes! I'm so glad I brought a few spices from home. This is the makings for chili in the crock pot. I've also made lasagna, chicken cordon bleu, and white chicken chili in the crock pot. The crock pot is definitely becoming my friend. "Clever" is the store brand which is less expensive and taste good too!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun with friends!! We are so thankful for the friends God has brought into our children's lives here in Vienna. The girls enjoy shopping of course! They are able to go to the mall by themselves here! The boys play video games and skateboard together. What a blessing, it makes our hearts smile to see them hanging out with friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the view out our windows this morning. It's a foggy Sunday morning. The weather is ever changing. Below are similar views on a clear day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I look back over this post, it seems a little sporadic and random which may just be a true reflection of our last several weeks. We are looking forward to fall break in a week. We hope to get some rest and catch up on things around our home. Maybe even get ahead on our lesson planning too!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you again for your prayers and support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is good!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love and joy,</span></div>
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Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)</div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-57364092236873742372012-09-24T05:49:00.001-04:002012-09-24T05:49:42.714-04:00Guten TagWie ist dein Name?<br />
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Woher kommen Sie?</div>
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Wo wohnst du?</div>
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Our handy German-English dictionary.</div>
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If you can't tell, we have entered the land of German language learning. These were a few of the questions we had to answer last week during our first class. Not sure what the question is? We weren't sure either last week. Fortunately the teacher has slowed down a little and thrown in a few English words to help. Needless to say, this is a new challenge. We (Billy and Ada) have German class after school on Monday and Tuesday each week for the next 10-13 weeks depending on how fast we learn. Mitchell and Lydia are taking German classes in school and Mitchell also has German tutoring to help accelerate his learning. This is part of the requirements for our visas. <br />
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Yummy sweets that came in the mail!</div>
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We are settling into a routine now that school is underway. Our days are full of lesson plans, teaching, meetings, preparing tests, and grading with helping Lydia and Mitchell with their homework. We still have lots to learn, but are grateful for the Lord's equipping each day. <br />
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Ada's learning to bake in Vienna. </div>
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Billy and the children head out to the school each morning around 0700. Ada does not have to teach until 1:30pm, so she usually stays home until about noon or so. Her morning is filled with lesson planning, grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, and various other errands. They are enjoying Ada's experimental cooking. Our meals are actually starting to look like meals! She has made bread, snicker-doodles, chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon rolls to name a few. Cooking takes a little more planning without some of the convince foods we used at home. Also our refrigerator is about half the size of what we are used to so we have to shop more often instead of stocking up.<br />
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Things are not always as they might seem. She bought these thinking they were blueberries to make cobbler only to find they are tiny grapes with seeds :) Thankfully the corner grocery store had frozen blueberries and she was able to make the cobbler.</div>
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Lydia and a friend heading to a birthday party. No car so we carry everything on the Ubahn.</div>
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We continue to be amazed at the city we live in! Vienna is beautiful! We are trying little be little to get to know our city. Everywhere we go there is something new to see.<br />
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Just outside the building where our church meets.</div>
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Near the museum quarter.</div>
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Just outside the Hofburg Palace. </div>
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We came upon a "sports exhibit" on Saturday! It was funny to see the blow-up football player with the historic building in the background. It was advertising the Austrian Team for the International American Football League (not sure that is exactly what it is called, but you get the picture). We do miss football at our house this fall. We have listened to some games, but most start after midnight our time so we are often asleep. Oh well, we just wake up and check Facebook and easily get caught up on the games! :) LOL</div>
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Well I hope this catches you up a bit on The Wiisanens in Vienna! Thank you for your love and support!! </div>
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Love and blessings,</div>
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Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)</div>
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"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-72324711028471392502012-09-01T06:11:00.001-04:002012-09-01T06:11:56.766-04:00First week of school!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Joshua 1:9 -</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Have I not commanded you? </span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-5861N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Be strong and courageous. </span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-5861O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> your God is with you wherever you go.”</span></i></b>
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Sorry we haven't blogged in a while. As you can imagine, the last 2 weeks have been quite hectic. I'll try to catch you up on the happenings with the Wiisanens in Vienna! We just completed our first week of school at ICSV! It was a really good week. We had some ups and downs, but overall a good week. Prior to school starting we had a week of staff orientation/pre-planning week. We had lots of meetings, learned about school policies and procedures, learned how to write lesson plans, wrote lesson plans, set up classrooms, made copies, made class syllabus, learned how to take attendance. Well you get it, a lot of the behind the scenes, technical stuff that goes on at school. Because Billy and I are teaching for the first time, we had lots to learn. We have received so much help and encouragement from the ICSV staff and our friends here in Vienna. We are grateful to God placing us here and providing the support we need to accomplish the His work.<br />
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<i>Fun at all staff picnic before school started.</i></div>
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In addition to preparing to teach, I continue to learn how to cook, clean, do laundry, etc here in Vienna. If you saw my Facebook post this week, you already know about my school supplies shopping adventure. I successfully bought the supplies my children needed (woohoo!), but it was a challenge. School supplies like many other things here are just "different". So you go into the store with an idea about what you need and are looking for and it may or may not exist. Then you must figure out what does exist and what will work in place of what you were hoping to buy! That seems to be how most of our shopping trips have gone early on. However, as I have become more familiar with things here, it is getting easier to shop!<br />
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School started on Tuesday, August 28th. Billy and I were so excited to meet our students. Our classes have gone well this first week and we have enjoyed getting to know the students. The students in my 9th grade Health class are interactive and fun to talk with. God continues to stretch me and grow me and cause me to rely on Him as I prepare to teach each day. He has faithfully equipped me for each class! Billy has a diverse cultural cross section of students in his Bible classes. He loves the challenge of studying the Bible with his students. He began by showing a video to his classes discussing New Testament manuscripts and why we could be confident in the Bible not just being a 'religious' document but also an accurate historical document. Billy is also teaching a Physics class and administering a computer lab.<br />
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<i>Family time at the Prater</i></div>
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<i> (amusement park near our apartment)</i></div>
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Mitchell and Lydia had a good first week of school too. While they would always rather have vacation than school, I think they were glad to finally start so they could meet some other students. Mitchell has had several opportunities to play soccer after school and is getting to know some of the other players. He is also hoping to play in the praise band for High School chapel. He has had a great attitude! His biggest challenge right now is to learn German to satisfy his visa requirement. Thankfully, along with his school German class, he will be getting German tutoring during his study hall (we thought he was going to have to attend a 3 hour class every evening for 8 weeks). We are praying that this will meet with the approval of the visa office. <br />
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Lydia is making lots of friends and enjoying her classes. She is excited to have "musical" as one of her electives! I can't wait to see what they do for that class. She is also taking German in school, but does not have the same visa requirements as Mitchell. <br />
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Last night (8/31/12) was the first "coffee house" at the school. It is a time for the High School students to come hang out together, drink coffee, and play games. For the kick off we also had hamburgers (yum!). It was a great opportunity to interact with the students and get to know them outside of class. I enjoyed watching Mitchell interact with the other kids. Lydia stayed home with the daughters of another staff family and watched movies. It made my heart smile when we came home and found the family room piled with blankets, pillows and sweet girls (6 total including our neighbor who is in Lydia's class and a friend) watching The Sound of Music! God is good!<br />
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Thankfully it's rainy and therefore cooler today! Perfect weather to go hang out later with our friends, the Hooks, eat chili, and watch some college football! Hope you have a great weekend!<br />
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Love and blessings,<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
<br />"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-87578245843376032852012-08-18T04:26:00.000-04:002012-08-18T04:26:26.499-04:001st Week Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">As promised, I will gradually share more about our first weeks adventures. This was really cool! We attended a free outdoor film festival that is going on through the month August. It was quite impressive as you will see below. There is a HUGE screen in front of the Rathaus (Vienna City Hall) where they show the films. Also there are booths set up selling international foods. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the park and then watched part of the opera, Paganini. When it became apparent that the opera was not kid friendly (everyone cover you eyes!!!), we decided it was best to leave early. We did return on another evening and enjoyed the Nutcracker and are looking forward to seeing Alice in Wonderland, the ballet next Friday night! </span></div>
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Back side of the Rathaus</div>
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Lydia and Emilie getting ready to watch the Nutcracker!</div>
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Stay tuned, more adventures to come!</div>
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Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)</div>
"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-16093889640379510332012-08-15T04:53:00.000-04:002012-08-15T04:55:05.569-04:00Random thought from Ada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Overlooking Vienna</i></div>
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<b><i>Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.</i></b></div>
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We have had lots going on since we arrived in Vienna!! <br />
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<li>Orientation to Vienna</li>
<li>Applying for Visas</li>
<li>Getting phones</li>
<li>Getting renter's insurance</li>
<li>Learning to buy groceries</li>
<li>Shopping for household goods</li>
<li>Trying to figure out what we need, if it exist here, and then where to purchase</li>
<li>Learning to travel by public transportation</li>
<li>Learning to use the washing machine and dishwasher</li>
<li>Unpacking and organizing everything we brought</li>
<li>Preparing to teach</li>
<li>Visiting churches</li>
<li>Understanding cultural differences</li>
<li>New Staff Orientation</li>
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<i>Out to dinner with some of the new and returning ICSV staff, there were about 40 of us all together!</i></div>
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Thankfully we are not in this alone! God has graciously placed us at a school with a staff who greeted us with open arms. They have all been in our place and are eager to help us in whatever way possible to transition to our new home! We also have our special friends the Hooks, from our home church in Middlburg, who have been helping us too. During our orientation time last week we were able to visit various places throughout the city. Sometimes for fun, other times to accomplish a specific task (visa, purchasing household goods), and other times both. We had several shopping days last week which was very helpful because someone drove the school van and helped us transport our goods home. Imagine going to the store and only being able to purchase whatever will fit in your pull cart. It makes for interesting shopping.<br />
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<i>Our new pull cart thanks to IKEA!</i></div>
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<i>Our apartment is starting to feel more like home.</i></div>
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I'm learning to cook here and my family is very grateful. After the first week, Mitchell told his Grandmother that I could only cook two things: grilled cheese sandwiches and spaghetti. I have added shrimp and pasta and chicken and rice to the list. I'm hoping to make tacos and crock-pot chicken cordon blue later this week. Having to stock the kitchen from ground zero is quite challenging. I'm really glad I shipped a few of our favorite spices (Lawry's garlic salt, cumin, Italian seasoning) from home! I've also successfully washed and dried clothes without a dryer (we gave ours to a family who had a greater need for an electric dryer). It only take about 2 hours for things to dry hanging in the apartment! Amazing, it would have taken days back home hanging stuff indoors.</div>
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<i>Preparing to cook grilled cheese sandwiches!</i></div>
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<i>Technically the clothes dryer is still in the living room. LOL</i></div>
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Many of you have asked what I will be doing at the school. Prior to our arrival, this was not clear. I had been asked to teach Health, but had not committed to anything. You may or may not know that I have a Master's Degree in Health Science from UNF. After we arrived, I was again approached by the secondary principal and asked to please teach Health. I have agreed, trusting that God is in control and He will equip me to do what He has called me to do.<br />
<br />
This week we had a short New Staff Orientation on Monday. The Director and Principals commissioned us at the end of the day. We were then given to rest of the week to begin preparing to teach and set up classrooms as needed. Next week will be full with all staff orientation and then school starting the following week. Below are several thoughts from our New Staff Orientation which remind us of why we are here.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>"What we are all about here is the gospel of Jesus." "ICSV is all about Jesus." </i></b>- James Devinish, Director of ICSV</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>"The mission field crosses the threshold and walks the hallways at ICSV"</i></b> - Tom Mason, ICSV Bible staff</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.</i></b></blockquote>
Thank you for continuing to pray for our family as we transition to Vienna and ICSV!! I look forward to sharing more details of our first few weeks here along with new adventures to come.<br />
<br />
Love to you all,<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-68041572029584001852012-08-11T13:16:00.001-04:002012-08-11T13:16:52.781-04:00<br />
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Random thoughts at the keyboard:</div>
<ul>
<li>First, I love not having a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know that those that knew me back home might be surprised, I did like
my Avalanche but I mean it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll explain
why as I continue… </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>We walk everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that is mostly true, we use public
transportation but other than that we walk and walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is good exercise and you have time to think on the U-Bahn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those that are not familiar with local
terms, the U-Bahn is the subway system in Vienna. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Walking is mostly why I enjoy not having a
car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is of course not having to
buy gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is really cool. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I wonder if I’ll enjoy walking in the
winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, much of the time
will be in the U-Bahn but it will likely not be as nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just sayin. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I haven’t met the entire staff but I really like
the people I’ve met so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the way
up to the principals and director of the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a good group that love the Lord and
care about the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful to be
working with them. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I can’t wait to get started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am looking forward to meeting my classes
and getting to know the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy
both subject areas I am teaching but mostly, I really want these kids to know
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have them see them in
me, day by day and to come to know Him or come to be closer to Him themselves. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I love it here but simple things are no
longer simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, go to the
store, one you are not familiar with, and try to find batteries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to ask for help, remember, most don’t speak
English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oddly, I like the challenge but
it is kind of like running in soft sand.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Vienna is an amazing city and I love it here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sounds obvious but not less true because
of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The history here is stunning and
evidence of that history, both good and bad, is everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those so inclined really must come and visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very much worth the effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>
<ul>
<li>Closing thought, I have an amazing wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to state the obvious, I know most of you
who know her will be thinking, what is your point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, imagine taking your house and
selling it and most everything in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
go to another country and live in a furnished apartment with donated pots,
pans, plates, silverware, other utensils, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have a refrigerator about 1/3 the size of your old one along with limited
space for storing groceries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
Wal-Mart in Vienna but even if there was, how would you get everything home and
then where would you put it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reference,
no car comment above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, from all
of this she makes a home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babe, you
rock!</li>
</ul>
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Blessing, Billy</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042513208296031790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-17681048842135244172012-08-04T18:49:00.000-04:002012-08-04T18:49:35.386-04:00We are here!!!!<br />
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Atlanta airport with all 16 bags!</div>
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Our apartment in chaos (yes that is a dryer in the living room).</div>
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<br />
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<b><i>Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.</i></b></div>
<br />
We arrived safe and sound Thursday night, 10:00pm Vienna time. We were so thankful for Michael Johnstone who met us at the airport and helped us transport all 16 bags to our apartment! Friday started out fairly early to Starbucks and then a government office to begin the process of getting our visas. We later enjoyed the Friday staff lunch at the school where they sang "Happy Birthday" to Lydia and several others who are celebrating birthdays this week. It was nice to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones too. <br />
<br />
We then transported 20 shipped boxes to our apartment via the school van and began the unpacking process. Needless to say things are a mess right now, but we have emptied lots of boxes already! Our sweet friends Kellye and Hannah Hooks stopped by to visit and brought beautiful flowers. With their help we made a trip to the mall/grocery store (yes there is a grocery store at the mall) to buy some essentials. Following dinner at KFC at the mall, we headed home. We were all so tired, but had difficulty sleeping, so at midnight I was unpacking boxes. That may be the theme for the next few days or weeks :)<br />
<br />
Today we slept in and unpacked more. We were invited to the Hooks to celebrate Kellye's and Lydia's birthdays! We enjoyed sweet fellowship with our Middleburg friends along with a trip to their neighborhood ice cream store, yum!!<br />
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Thank you all for praying! Please pray that we are able to get our visas, especially Mitchell, on Monday without any difficulty! Will continue to update you as we progress.<br />
<br />
Love to all!!<br />
<br />
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>"Miss" Clairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085547455746492661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472490101397084371.post-73075447820367273502012-07-31T10:16:00.000-04:002012-07-31T10:16:53.532-04:00Preparing to leave and PFO notes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6XqfDWBQjo/UBfMq6ycTUI/AAAAAAAAF4A/hAf9GX3ljIk/s1600/IMAG0698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6XqfDWBQjo/UBfMq6ycTUI/AAAAAAAAF4A/hAf9GX3ljIk/s320/IMAG0698.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Some of the bags.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As we get ready to leave, on our last full day in the States
we are packing feverishly, doing our best not to forget anything.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> We have already shipped boxes of items to
Vienna.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Mostly my books but other odds
and ends, imagine reducing everything you own to 16 boxes and 12-15
suitcases.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> It has been a good process
actually but a growing one.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I am a
natural pack rat.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I am not good at
throwing things away, all of the ‘organized’ types look at me as if I’m a sub
life form but I do try.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> God seemed to
see fit to bless me with other gifts, there apparently wasn‘t room for organization
so the last 6 months of preparation were challenging.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Still, that which doesn’t kill me only serves
to make me stronger.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Egeler speaking at one of the sessions.</td></tr>
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In my last post I said I would post a blog on the content of
our PFO (Pre-Field Orientation). I would
say the entirety of PFO could be broken up into three categories (had to be
three)</div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<b>1 - Know Thyself:</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span class="st" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nosce te ipsum</span></b><br />
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<span class="st">This is as simple as it
sounds. The first few days amidst
program overview lectures we reviewed Myers Briggs results and other various
self evaluation tests. Amusingly on the
Myers Briggs I ended up being an INTP. I
suspect there will be some that doubt the ‘I’ part but I feel pretty good about
the result.</span></div>
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<span class="st">In another aspect of understanding
yourself, there were sessions on keeping your head on straight during your time
abroad. A significant emphasis was on
moral purity, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and how to avoid
some of the pitfalls along the way. In
my opinion the best and most valuable material was related to keeping your
Christian faith strong. Good stuff.</span></div>
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<span class="st"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="st"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="st">
<b>2 - Understand Others:</b></span>
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<span class="st">I would say the vast
majority of the time spent at PFO was spent learning to understand others. An emphasis here focused on Third Culture
Kids (TCK’s), mostly as we will be teaching TCK’s. TCK’s by definition are children from one
culture that are transplanted into another culture. They end up with a point of view that doesn’t
naturally fit in either culture. The
term applies to the third combination culture and how to relate to students
that fit in this scenario.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Other than learning about
TCK’s, a primary focus for the conference was how to better understand others and
how to have a better understanding of what living in other cultures is like and
how to adapt to function well within that culture.</span></div>
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<span class="st"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="st"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="st">
<b>3 - Application</b></span>
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Time was given to reviewing
different applications for what we studied.
To me, the most interesting and possibly valuable was a morning long
simulation. In this simulation we were
placed in a scenario where a Christian school in another country was being
attacked by anti government rebels. The
participants were placed in rooms, roughly 25/room and isolated from the rest
of the group. We were each given roles
by the facilitator who was not allowed to give any instructions besides what
was on the instruction sheet. From that
point on we were not allowed to leave the room or receive additional
instruction. One of the roles, the head
of the school, was conducted by a staff member.
Other assigned roles were assistant principal, various teaching roles, a
limited number of students, a person who was assigned to be a national citizen
and other non American participants.</div>
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The simulation details went as
follows; There has been rebel activity
in the city where the school is located.
The school was across town from the activity and due to perceived lack
of threat it continued operation as normal.
At a recorded point in the morning a ‘Code Red’ was called over the
school intercom. The school Code Red
procedure mandates that anyone in the school proceed immediately to a classroom,
lock down the classroom and hide. The
instructions did not indicate if the lock down classrooms were predetermined or
random.</div>
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From this point the instructions
from the moderator were sporadic.
Usually indicating an event was taking place. In one instance the facilitator indicated
gunfire was heard and later the principal came over the intercom and told everyone
that rebels made it into a class room and there were casualties. No more could be determined at that
time. Various other updates were given
though out the morning. The head of the
school also came and gave updates in person a few times but would not stay to
answer questions.</div>
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In all the simulation lasted 2-3
hours. Efforts were made to protect the
students and if the classroom was breached by rebels the teachers were to
attempt to delay the rebels to provide the best opportunity for the students to
escape. At each update, even though we
knew it was only a scenario, we found the tension rising in the room. Participants began to assume the personality
of the character they were assigned, at least in some capacity. At the conclusion of the simulation the
principal entered and gave an update. The
American military was sending special forces to evacuate American Citizens from
the compound. Citizens of other
countries, including national citizens were told they must stay behind and wait
for assistance from their passport countries.
This was found to be difficult for those who were the American
citizens. It was very difficult to leave
friends, colleagues and students behind, not knowing their fate.
<georgia,"times new="" roman",serif;"="">
One of the most interesting aspects of the
simulation was even though we knew it was a simulation, as the morning wore on
the participants began to get into their roles.
By the end of the simulation, choices that had to be made related to
evacuation were difficult and in some cases emotional for participants.
</georgia,"times></div>
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<br /></div>
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Well,
back to packing. We are getting
close. Please keep us in your prayers,
much is going on over the next several day.
I would like to thank those that have chosen to support us prayerfully and also those who have chosen to do so financially. We could
not do it without you. If you are
considering supporting us financially and have not done so yet, you can find
links in the upper left column on our blog page making it easy to contribute online. We are not to our support level yet and would
greatly appreciate any support great or small.</div>
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Blessing, Billy</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042513208296031790noreply@blogger.com1