Many Thanks and Much Returned and Affirmed

My apologies, for I have been a bit slow on the up-keep these days. A lot has happened in the past few weeks. Like, a lot a lot.

It took a few days after I got back from Dundee to remember why I like it here; I also had to remind myself that I was starting to really feel comfortable and at home here. So that was something I didn't necessarily anticipate having to deal with. The Saturday after I was back, November 17th, the YAG had a worship night that I was really looking forward to. I (thought) had remembered the address of the place from the Facebook event page, but I didn't know which U-bahn stop to get off on. I knew the general area, so I thought I'd just make an adventure out of it and use my (usually) decent sense of direction to get me the rest of the way there. I saw the street name out the window of an U-bahn stop, so I just hopped off there. Long story short: I thought the address was 15 Wagramer Strasse but it was 175, how I failed to see the 7 in the middle of the 1 and the 5 I will never know. I literally walked a good half an hour in the wrong direction from the stop. Fortunately I wasn't in a stubborn I-can-do-this-myself mood so I called a friend and he directed me how to get there, after he told me the correct address. Also, I happened to be standing fairly close to another U-bahn stop, so I just hopped on and went back the right way. That's one thing Vienna has down- the public transport system. Really and truly, it's great.

I finally got there, but looking back, I know God had wanted me to have those 30 or so minutes to myself just walking around and being by myself in the city and kind of breaking me down a bit. It also made me realize how handy smart phones really are; that would have been an occasion where it would have been really helpful because there were detailed directions from the U-bahn as to how to get to the venue. Cool.
The worship night was a fabulous time of praise and fellowship. It was small, intimate, and forced me to focus on God and all He has done for me and what He's been teaching and showing me about so many things. We sang and prayed and listened to the first eight chapters of Romans, which was probably one of my favorite parts. So challenging and such a good message to hear often.

The next day at church was the first time I'd lead worship there, and I was really looking forward to it. Music ministry is something that I have a real passion for and I'm so grateful for the experience I was able to get leading worship during my college years (that's weird to say...since I only graduated 5 months ago... wow). Anyway, I was prepared and ready to have a great service and for the Lord to do his will through it all. And that is just what He did! Personally, I felt relaxed and comfortable up front and not nervous at all, which I was ecstatic about. I had several people say to me afterwards that I did a great job leading and the song selection was perfect. Praise Jesus!! After that service, and the weekend in general, I started to really see some of the ways God has planned to use me in these 10 months in Austria. There is no better feeling then the affirmation you get from brothers and sisters in Christ who recognize that you are in the right place doing the right things, all for His kingdom. And it is for this that I am truly thankful and in awe of the greatness of God.

That following week was Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday after Christmas. I knew may family's plans back home, and I also knew it had the potential to be a hard day for me over here. I love everything about Thanksgiving: Waking up to the smell of turkey and other wonderful things, going for a run to feel a bit better about all the food I'll intake, Detroit game starts, eat at half-time, catch the last quarter and a half of the game whilst looking at all the Black Friday ads/falling asleep, Dallas game starts, eat dessert, possibly watch movie, eat again. Ahh... it's all fabulous! Anyway, it was a busy Thursday here at the house, but we did celebrate it, which was great! Later in the evening, while tracking the Detroit game online, I skyped with my best from from home, which was awesome, but it sort of made me feel even more homesick. (I tell ya, that really is the worst thing about skype: it makes you miss that person even more!! Oh well. I wouldn't trade it for the world!) Then even later, I watched "Eat Pray Love" because she's in Italy at Thanksgiving and celebrates it with all her new friends, so I thought that was highly appropriate. I also had some Oeros and Peanut butter. Two days later on Saturday, a wonderfully sweet and compassionate American couple from church hosted some of the YAG to their house for a Thanksgiving feast. Naturally I had secured one of the precious 15 spots for this evening! Precious is actually an appropriate adjective for this occasion. Delicious  relaxing, familiar, satisfying, joyful, and phenomenally fun work as well. We even had a retelling of the first Thanksgiving! See, now that's precious. There were a few other Americans in attendance, but most were from other countries. Some of those had already experienced a real American Thanksgiving. Some hadn't though, and it was for them that I was really excited! It was such a lovely evening, and I really did feel relaxed and like I was with family. This couple has three grown daughters who are all missionaries all over the world. They thought instead of celebrating the holiday by themselves, they'd rather have a house full of young adults and laughter and smiling faces and satisfied tummies! And I am so thankful for that because it was perfect.

I went home with one of my friends who is also working here as an au pair. She's from Canada and is just lovely! We stayed up late talking, and in the morning we had tea (because anything more would have put us over the edge- we were still that full!) and talked some more. It's always really nice and comforting talking to other au pairs because they just get it and understand. The girl who was working for her family before her was also part of the YAG, so her and I are like "the replacements," haha. It's kind of cool though :) In the afternoon we went into the city and headed straight for the Christkindlmarkts (Christmas markets). I'm not sure exactly how many there are in Vienna, but there are surely well over twenty. We went to four, so I think that's pretty good for one afternoon. We did a lot of scouting for things that would pack and ship easily. There were lots of times when we'd both agree that something was really pretty, but then we'd just look at each other and one of us would say, "Yeah, but too bad... that won't ship well." We were also trying to be savvy and do some comparison shopping as well because, well...hello, we're not trying to get completely ripped off here! They were all really nice though not to mention smelled delicious!

So many pretty Christmas things!! 

Scented wood balls that last 1 yr! They smelled really  good!

The nativity scene/story painted on the wall

Happy Christmas!

So many of the trees were decorated like this!

I'm really grateful that we're now in the Christmas season. I think I really need it. I need to be reminded that there are bigger and more important things in the world than me and my feelings and my life. There is a God who created everything and came as a baby to be the King of kings and Lord of lords and the Savior of the whole world. I feel like I was starting to get even more selfish and self focused, and I'm glad this season has started to turn my mind and my heart around in a more positive direction. Prayers on this matter would be appreciated if you are so inclined!!

Well, until the next time, I wish you all lots of merriment and good cheer :)

~Sarah