Beautiful Trieste!

Hello Friends!

We have arrived safely in beautiful Trieste. This ancient Austrian city, now a part of Italy, in situated on the Adriatic Sea. The coastline is magnificent! We will be here a little more than a week, working in various capacities. It looks like we will be working distributing literature, and playing music.

Our hosts, David and Rachel Tucker, are wonderful! David and I share so many of the same passions: flyfishing, woodworking, hunting, music, sports and list I am sure would and could go on and on! Their two children, Laura and Gabriel, have graciously given up their bedrooms for us and are teaching us the finer points of Italian living!

As we finish our work here in Italy, I am reminded how very fortunate I and my family have been for taking such a life changing trip. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve people in this world, and am very grateful for the blessings that have been given to me. I am truly thankful.

Jerry

Change!

I can’t even begin to describe how much I have changed. I have witnessed first hand the generational poverty in Africa, and have had overwhelming feelings of relief and guilt coming to first world Europe. My core has been shaken. My compassion (or lack there of) is showing. By that I mean, in Africa, it is so easy to be compassionate to those who have nothing. While in England, Holland, Germany, and Italy, it is quite easy to walk by a beggar and not be moved with compassion. My heart screams out WHY? Why is there a lack of caring among those who we think have so much? Or is it that we all have been “shammed” so many times. Like the other day in the marketplace, an elderly woman stood visibly shaking, cup and cane in hand, hunched over looking pathetic. We later found out this woman was healthy and fine, a “gypsy.” She is known in town as “the shaker lady,” a sham she has been pulling for years.

I pray for a discerning, yet tender heart, longing to know how to treat others.

I have been changed in other ways as well. I have seen what I thought was abject poverty, only to see more extreme poverty. I have seen hate in the eyes of those who have been oppressed, and love in the eyes of others who are simply happy in spite of having nothing, and not knowing anything different. I have witnessed the art of the Masters: Van Gogh, Monet, and Seurat. And I have seen the art of the orphaned children. The architecture of Europe was inspirational, as were the children’s sand castles in Cinque Terre. My heart came alive dancing with the rhythms of South Africa, as well as the moments of pride, listening to the music of my own children.

Yes. I changed. I continue to change. You see, my mom has been diagnosed with cancer. You can’t describe this change unless it has happened to you. Worry has never been one of my “gifts”, but it seems that I now have received a crash course. The news came suddenly, and dramatically as well. We were unable to retrieve email for days, as it was a train ride away to link to the internet. I was shocked and worried. My dear mother said she wanted us to continue on with our trip, and she would be fine. My sister (a nurse) gave me all the details. We decided as a family that it is best to end our trip early, and return home after Christmas. I am changed.


Jerry

Italy, contined R & R

Here we are in beautiful Cinque Terre! We rented an apartment from Daniella (thank you!) through a “Rick Steves” comment blog, who recommended Paula’s boat service, which in turn hooked us up with Daniella... whew! We are up on a hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Spectacular sunsets in the evenings, and sunrises greet us in the morning with hot coffee on the deck sipping on teak patio furniture.

The temperature here is in the low 70’s, the sun has been shining, and best of all… all the tourists have gone back home! Well…except for a few! Our stairway down to the town is one hundred and sixty steps (thank you Micah for counting, again and again!), weaving through a tapestry of Italian terraced gardens and architecture. The town is divided into two sections; the new, and old town. We are situated in the new section, but it is a simple downhill ten minute walk and we are in the heart of old town.

Boutiques and focaccia shops abound. Little alley ways can lead you to a magnificent square or a medieval church, or even a dead end! Cobble streets are the norm, and at almost any vantage point, you can catch a glimpse of the sea, the beautiful teal colored water, and majestic stone outcroppings.

We are in the birth place of pesto… so we are having pesto and pasta for dinner, with a salad, fresh made focaccia bread, virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Yummy! : )

We are making great family memories here, photos and more stories to come…

Jerry

We took a scooter ride. Much to the boys delight and Cathi's worry!

London, Amsterdam, Hamburg

We arrived in London, the morning after a long overnight trip from Kenya, with a layover in Qatar. We will miss our brothers and sisters in Africa.

London is a bustling city, full of life and very first world. I never thought I would be so happy to see the first world. Long, hot showers, cold drinks and clean machine washed/dried clothes were welcome niceties after three months in Africa.

Cathi’s aunt and uncle hosted us in London for a day and we also met up with friends, some from America and one from Ecuador. It was a refreshing time of Starbucks and well, more Starbucks!

Here we are with our dear friends, the Koets and the Brandelieses.



After a three nights in London, we jumped on an overnight ferry ride to Amsterdam. This ferry was equivalent to a “cruise ship” for the English Channel. We had a lovely berth, on board meals, and even entertainment. When we arrived in Amsterdam, we were refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Cathi’s dad and wife happened to be taking a real cruise and were docked in Amsterdam for two nights, so we were able to meet for dinner and a nice visit.

We were able to connect with my family on two occasions over… well, yes, coffee! Our housing was great; we rented a small apartment (thanks, Craigslist!) The public transportation is excellent! The family enjoyed some “sight doing” (Jess hates sight seeing so we have to do sight doing!) a bike tour of the Dutch countryside and Amsterdam. Of course, we took in the Van Gogh Museum, and a canal boat tour as well.

Today, we are on a train to Hamburg. We will spend the night in there, then catch a train for Ahrensburg in the morning to visit the “Von Schimmelmann” Castle. Yes, we have a castle… doesn’t everyone? We are enjoying a little rest and relaxation, soon we will be back to work in Italy.

Jerry