Quiet, not really.

Jeremiah 10:12 - It is He who made the earth by His power,
Who established the world by His wisdom;
And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.

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.  

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!!

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.  

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!

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.  

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!!

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.

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.

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!!  

Thank you again for your prayers and support.

God is good!!!

Love and joy,

Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)

Guten Tag

Wie ist dein Name?

Woher kommen Sie?

Wo wohnst du?

Our handy German-English dictionary.

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.

Yummy sweets that came in the mail!

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.

 Ada's learning to bake in Vienna. 

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.

 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.

Lydia and a friend heading to a birthday party.  No car so we carry everything on the Ubahn.

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.

Just outside the building where our church meets.

Near the museum quarter.

Just outside the Hofburg Palace.  

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

Well I hope this catches you up a bit on The Wiisanens in Vienna!  Thank you for your love and support!!  

Love and blessings,

Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)

First week of school!!

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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.

Fun at all staff picnic before school started.

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!

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.

Family time at the Prater

 (amusement park near our apartment)

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.

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.

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!

 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!

Love and blessings,
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)

1st Week Adventures

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!  

Back side of the Rathaus

Front

Lydia and Emilie getting ready to watch the Nutcracker!

Stay tuned, more adventures to come!

Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)

Random thought from Ada

Overlooking Vienna

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

We have had lots going on since we arrived in Vienna!!

• Orientation to Vienna
• Applying for Visas
• Getting phones
• Getting renter's insurance
• Learning to buy groceries
• Shopping for household goods
• Trying to figure out what we need, if it exist here, and then where to purchase
• Learning to travel by public transportation
• Learning to use the washing machine and dishwasher
• Unpacking and organizing everything we brought
• Preparing to teach
• Visiting churches
• Understanding cultural differences
• New Staff Orientation

Out to dinner with some of the new and returning ICSV staff, there were about 40 of us all together!

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.

Our new pull cart thanks to IKEA!

Our apartment is starting to feel more like home.

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.

Preparing to cook grilled cheese sandwiches!

Technically the clothes dryer is still in the living room. LOL

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.

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.

"What we are all about here is the gospel of Jesus."  "ICSV is all about Jesus." - James Devinish, Director of ICSV

"The mission field crosses the threshold and walks the hallways at ICSV" - Tom Mason, ICSV Bible staff

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.

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.

Love to you all,
Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)

Random thoughts at the keyboard:

• First, I love not having a car.  Really.  I know that those that knew me back home might be surprised, I did like my Avalanche but I mean it.  I’ll explain why as I continue…

• We walk everywhere.  Well, that is mostly true, we use public transportation but other than that we walk and walk.  I love it.  It is good exercise and you have time to think on the U-Bahn.  For those that are not familiar with local terms, the U-Bahn is the subway system in Vienna.

• Walking is mostly why I enjoy not having a car.  There is of course not having to buy gas.  That is really cool.

• I wonder if I’ll enjoy walking in the winter.  Fortunately, much of the time will be in the U-Bahn but it will likely not be as nice.  Just sayin.

• I haven’t met the entire staff but I really like the people I’ve met so far.  All the way up to the principals and director of the school.  This is a good group that love the Lord and care about the kids.  I am thankful to be working with them.

• I can’t wait to get started.  I am looking forward to meeting my classes and getting to know the kids.  I enjoy both subject areas I am teaching but mostly, I really want these kids to know Jesus Christ.  To have them see them in me, day by day and to come to know Him or come to be closer to Him themselves.

• I love it here but simple things are no longer simple.  For instance, go to the store, one you are not familiar with, and try to find batteries.  Try to ask for help, remember, most don’t speak English.  Oddly, I like the challenge but it is kind of like running in soft sand.

• Vienna is an amazing city and I love it here.  That sounds obvious but not less true because of it.  The history here is stunning and evidence of that history, both good and bad, is everywhere.  Those so inclined really must come and visit.  Very much worth the effort.  

• Closing thought, I have an amazing wife.  Not to state the obvious, I know most of you who know her will be thinking, what is your point?  That said, imagine taking your house and selling it and most everything in it.  Then go to another country and live in a furnished apartment with donated pots, pans, plates, silverware, other utensils, etc.  You have a refrigerator about 1/3 the size of your old one along with limited space for storing groceries.  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?  Reference, no car comment above.  Anyway, from all of this she makes a home.  Babe, you rock!

Blessing, Billy

We are here!!!!

Atlanta airport with all 16 bags!

Our apartment in chaos (yes that is a dryer in the living room).

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.

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.

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 :)

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!!

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.

Love to all!!

Ada (aka "Miss" Clair)