The Been Briefing

christmas in germany

is, i hear, pretty amazing. magical even. so tomorrow morning i fly out for a week in dresden, which is about 3-4 hours south of berlin. i think late last night as i was getting ready for bed the realization settled in. i think in part it was because i had to give a few co-workers some instructions as to my lesson plans so they can cover my classes while i'm gone. also, i have begun to pack, which automatically makes things feel real.

when i think about all the places i could be during the holiday season - back home with the family in richmond, visiting college friends, or staying here in korea to be with the wonderful friends i have made here - i find that those are good in it of themselves. they are not abhorrent to me. i could be happy in either place. but i think this trip is ordained of the Lord, and on those grounds alone, there is no place i would rather be than in germany.

it is more than good german food, more than the longing to be where the language is spoken so i can test myself and stretch myself in my ability to grasp and respond in german, more than the love of *all* things european, though i would also be lying if those are not HUGE perks. but i think it is largely for the answer to a question i've had for a long, long time about the Lord's calling on my life and how that plays out in a practical way.

here are the details. i fly out tomorrow (friday, 22.december) around 2:30. i'll arrive in germany the same day, local time in germany around 9pm. i will return to korea the 29th, with enough time to recover from any jetlag. i should be able to access email/skype from the holeys - the family i am staying with - so feel free to keep in touch.

here's jody and i from the don juan opera. we call it 'the prom picture' because the background was just so ridiculous we had to get a picture of it. :)