Hello everyone. I finally got it going. Before you continue reading I wanted to explain that I've noticed a lot of differences in the way that austrians speak. They put the wrong EMphaSIS on the wrong SYLLaBLE and say things slightly different. for example Denise an SM had plans to be a missionary pilot in GOOyana aka Guyana and he eats VEEEEEgaUn (vegan) food. But anyhow I put in brackest some slight variations that I have noticed thus far...there are many more but not enough time to write them all.
It was my first full day at "Bogi" (Bogenhofen) today. Last night I was "fetched" (picked-up) from the airport by 8 young men and 1 young lady. Out of all the bunch only 2 spoke english. They immediately made me feel right at home the best they could and took me to Hitlers birth "village" (town) Braunau where we ate "ice" (ice cream) at a cute ritzy little restaurant where all they serve is "ice" and shakes! Don't be fooled though, we had 8 pages of unique and various bowls to chose from. I forgot to include that on the drive from Munich to Austria I had my first encounter with the world famous autobahn and I didn't even know it! That is until I asked someone about it and they said "we are driving on it! Look Denise is going 200 km/hr"....sure enough he really was!
Everyone here is extremely friendly! Both times I put my hand out I was given a hug instead, by both males and females! There are a lot of people here this week because there is a pastors conference taking place and as a result instead of a room in the "Schloss" (castle) I was put up in a "flat" (apartment) on the top floor. I am too short to look down and out the window. In fact I've noticed things here are a lot higher. For example, counters @ the airports, windows, mirrors above the sinks, people hehe jk I think that's everywhere for me ;) , and TOILETS!!! to name a few. I found out today that I will be sharing my "flat" with possibly up to 3 other SM girls, that is of course if they pass their exams.
Well now that I have mentioned a little bit about my time here so far I wanted to share some... "frustrations" and I say that in a light hearted way...

1. needing a stool to open/close my window
2. trying furiously to close my door and then after some time realizing that it is already closed (the doors are built different and I'll leave it at that....I need a picture to describe it sorry)
3. I still have no idea how to turn the bathroom light off. I've searched high and low, in and out but can't find a switch or a button!
4. There are lots of mosquito's which I stumbled upon or better said stubbled upon me while I was sleeping....you see the windows are built different ( and that too I will leave at that I need a picture to describe it sorry again) and they can't have any sreens but the dean is working on something.
5. Mike my bro-in-law was right the spiders are bigger or a lot meatier here :S and for those of you who don't know I am very afraid of spiders... why? who knows!
6. And than of course there is the language barrier.... the students haven't arrived yet so mostly no one speaks english here, so I find myself carrying my german pocket dictionary around and man has it come in handy!
7. Well I took a break from writing to kill a mosquito and ventured into the bathroom where lo and behold I FOUND THE LIGHT SWITCH!!!! which brings me to number seven.... needing to stand on the bathtub to turn the bathroom light on and off =]

Tonight my partner Denise Lachman came to my flat to make sure the internet was finally working and we talked about the video project that God has placed upon our shoulders to bear. There are so many plans here in Europe but unfortunately there is a lot of politics in the church, so much so that speakers like David Gates are banned from speaking in Germany and Randy Skeete was not allowed to come for the first Youth in Congress in Germany. I was very sad as the realization set in that so many people said to me "Europe is a secular country" even amongst the church who apparently prefer Rock Christian concerts over earnest prayer and revival meetings like GYC. The school also has a lot of rebellious kids who are sent by their parents to reform. There is a lot to do here. I can't even begin to tell you the work that I have ahead of me...I trust it will be long hours into the night and early mornings. For the first month my intense german classes will probablly seem like a breeze once I commence full time work with Denise.
I have no idea why GOd brought me here, I did not want to go to Europe I wanted to go somewhere third world and hot! I wanted to work directly with people but instead I am working with cameras and computers. But as I told some of you, people here kept saying they knew God wanted me to come and that it was a miracle that I said yes and that they would tell me why once I got here....I know tonight more than ever that it was sooo true! You see tonight Denise told me what happened. There were a bunch of qualified persons who had applied for the position I have....people who had gone to school for even 6 years to do the work that I will be trained to do. All German speaking males with tons of experience and yet somehow God placed a burden on their heart to contact me! You see they had spoken to David Gates who I met at GYC and somehow my name came up and David told them about me and that they should contact me. But they were hesitant and even decided to hold a board/prayer meeting and finally were impressed to email me. Some of you know that at first I said no and was hesitant but they were persistent and after several emails and praying about it I knew God wanted me here in Austria. Tonight Denise spoke the very thoughts I often have about being here. "Nancy, something big is planned for you here, I don't know what it is but God wanted you here. Of all the qualified people who APPLIED (remember I was contacted by the school and the begining of the email said "I was impressed by God to contact you") we chose to contact you with no experience or background let alone interest. I don't know what it is whether you will grow spiritually, whether you will meet someone here, whether big doors will open for you BUT God has something planned for you here at bogi"
"For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" Jer 29:11

With that I leave you....I have so much too say but I know that people can only read so much ;) I will try my best to write often. But not so long each time I promise.
as they say in "bogi" "cheers!"