The Youth Death Walk ! ! !

Beginning the walk
on the FLAT ! ! !








View as we climb
up the mountain








Up, Up we go

Christina, Marcus
and Simea

We made it!

And now we have to

go down - oooooppps!

We all did a hike on Friday afternoon (24 Aug). Roger was to do "The Sermon on the Mount"!!

Well, we all set off, all well and good, and then up, up, up, up........... we went! 1.5hrs later we arrived at the perfect spot chosen by Jonathan!! Yeh, right! This was not a hike for the faint hearted! Anyway, WE DID IT! We sang some songs and then Roger spoke from Matt. 5 and then down the mountain we went! Today is the first day since that I haven't felt sore! Are we crazy or what?!! Don't answer. I think I was just stating a fact!

I talked to my sister Jillian (from Western Australia) on the phone and she said it was a good 'stress test' for us both!! There's definitely no angina problems with us!

I would hope I never put my body through this type of hike again. Made our hikes on Mondays look like chicken feed and I thought some of them were bad enough!

Workshop on making Lamington's

Something I never do in Australia - make lamington's!! But it was a huge success and I thoroughly enjoyed showing these young people how to make them. And I surprised myself that they turned out so well......considering! Mind you, I prayed heaps as I was showing the young people what to do.

FeG YOUTH CAMP @ SCHWARZSEE, SWITZERLAND 2007

What an absolute privilege it was for Roger and myself to go on the FeG Youth Camp. To be back amongst young people has not only enthused us but recharged our batteries (well..... once we have recovered from lack of sleep and lots of activities!!!!). We had the best time and tried very hard to get to know the names of all the young people, but we weren't totally successful!! Roger's Deutsch is a little better..... I am still coming to grips with lots. I REALLY must do homework every day, especially now that I know so much more. It WILL be easier for me and make more sense.

I will share photo's with you over the next few days. These photo's are of the first couple of days at camp.

L-R Franzi and Peter, Werner, Musical Chairs (!!),

learning the Aussie game 'Fresh', view of the lake from our Chalet, the double decker Bus arrives safely at Schwarzsee,

Brothers in crime (!!) - Benjamin and Michael, Leaders meeting

Some interesting photo's to share

Photo of fireworks for sale outside the SBB Bahnhof in Basel!

The bonfire we enjoyed at a village celebration for Swiss National Day

Bernhard, Lorraine and Gaynor enjoying the warmth.

Had to include this photo. It's our train leaving Schopfheim, but the Bus is having a "Fahrerpause" displayed with a cup and saucer. Very cute indeed. These things really tickle my fancy!

Out in the countryside of France

• I had a lovely walk with Eliane and Noah Wednesday morning. Eliane and I always have such encouraging times together.


• Wednesday evening we had another Aussie get together to plan for our Aussie Night on 20 September at Centrepoint in Basel.


• Roger and I went to Riquewihr in France on Thursday with Wirt and Linda. They are packing up and preparing to retire back to Texas, leaving 1 September. What are we going to do without them?


• Friday night was the Basel Jazz Festival. We enjoyed the evening with friends then stayed overnight with Bernhard and Lorraine.
• Saturday afternoon we caught up on much needed work!

ANOTHER Bike Story ! ! !

Those of you who have been reading my blog from the start will remember the day Roger MADE me ride my bike up a very steep mountain!! Well, here's another story, but not quite as good.

To set the scene I need to say that at the moment there is work going on after 8pm week days on our rail line from Loerrach (a new station is being built). So when we come from Basel, the train terminates at Loerrach, everyone has to get off and get on a bus (most inconvenient!!). Also, of course, you can't take a bike on the bus!!

So, we are leaving the house for our Mosaic meeting yesterday at 5.30pm and Roger says -

"Why don't we take the bikes and ride home!"
Gaynor says "What, from Loerrach, 17 km's!"
Roger says "Well, we've ridden that long before"
Gaynor says "Okay, lets do it!!"

After the meeting, which does not finish till 8.45pm, we get on our bikes and head home. After riding for about 10 minutes I did a Glenda (sorry, in family joke) "Are we nearly there yet?!!" Now I do have to say the ride is simply gorgeous, mainly along the Wiesse River. But as it got dark, that was nicht so gut!! Then Roger, who has ridden in the opposite direction, and from Steinen in our direction LOST THE WAY.

"We shouldn't be going through the forrest", says Roger as we disappear into darkness and I'm fairly freaking out!

We got home safe and sound. I was exhausted so I was given the right royal treatment! (Food, drink, little foot message!!)

This morning we were still very good and got up early and joined our hiking group for the usual hike, but it was not a long one.

I did have a 1.5 hour snooze this afternoon. This is not normal for me (though I wish it was!!)

(Just as well there aren't any pictures for this one!!)

GOD LOOKS AFTER US

We have had 2 special dinners with German families in less than a week. Last Thursday we went to Renate and Jan's place in a little village near Bad Sackingen. Only about 1/2 hr from our place if you go over the mountain (we came back from there by bus, over the mountain). This was such a special time for us both. Renate has been coming to my 'Girl's Nights' since May and is a very special lady. Jan, her Dutch husband, has lymphoma and gets very tired and unwell at times. He plays the piano and organ by ear. Not being able to speak a lot of Deutsch does not stop us from forming friendships with people here!

Last night we visited Andreas, Constanza and David (10) in their home in Binzen about 20 minutes from our place, but harder to get to. We had a BBQ (grill) and sat outside as the weather was perfect. Andreas is a train enthusiast (he is a teacher). Roger loves trains also so this is the common interest for them both. I think they will form a good friendship together. Andreas is more outgoing then Roger so will push him to do things!! He will also take us to many lovely places in their car.

Around 10pm we walked to the field which they rent (a popular thing to rent a field or plot of land here in Germany/Switzerland). By the time we got there it was dark. What were we thinking doing this after dark! I tell you, the things we get up to! Anyway, with torch we were shown all things growing, moving, etc!! What a scream when Andreas picked up a ladder (with many slugs clutched to it) so that he could pick some yellow plums for us to take home.

Then we walked to the end of the street for a panoramic view of Basel in the distance. Wow!

We are so blessed to be living here, enjoying all the beautiful surrounds and to meet people who look after us, love and encourage us.

I can only say "Thank you Heavenly Father for your care of us as we seek to share your love with those people we rub shoulders with".

What's going on in our lives !

Sorry for the silence. Suddenly I have lots of energy so have been out and about quite a bit. Have had two very successful visits to my lovely lady Doctor in Schopfheim and she is treating me in a special way (with natural medicines) and I am responding well.

Plus our lovely friend Wirt Davis gave us a BIG scare last Friday week when he went to hospital. He is now home and will go back to Texas with his wife Linda as planned on 1 September and have surgery there.

We had a special Thursday afternoon/evening with one of my girlfriends Renate who lives in Bad Sackingen. She invited us to have a meal with them and to meet her husband Jan (who is originally from Holland). We were blessed by a visit to their place.

We have a busy few weeks coming up, so please don't despair if I don't blog regularly.

Lunch on the lake at Schwarzsee

Having lunch by the lake

David, 2 year old Leah and Simea. Leah is the cutest, funniest little girl (but you've already guessed this by Simea's response!!) Simea might not like me putting this picture on my blog.

The boys braving the cold water in the lake (they didn't stay in very long).

Day out to Schwarzsee

• 

  On the way to Schwarzee in the car

The Camp house

The view from the house (there's not much flat land!!)

You might just be able to see the handglider! In winter this would all be covered in snow.

Roger and I have been invited to join the youth from our German Church for their camp from 22 August. It is for 10 days, but we will only go for 1 week. We think that is enough for us oldies!! Our Youth Pastor David asked if we would like to go and see the site. We couldn't say no could we?!! So yesterday we left early and travelled by train into Loerrach and then David picked us up. There were 8 of us who travelled in 2 cars to Schwarzsee which is almost in the middle of Switzerland and close to the Alps. Picture postcard perfect! We had a delightful day together and arrived home by train at 6pm. More on what we will be doing on the camp later.