We're gone then

Intense weeks are behind us. And so much has changed in just one week.

Before leaving

Over the past 10 months, we have repeatedly battled with the problem with our car's cooling system together with several mechanics. We regularly lose several liters of coolant. Just a few days before our big trip to Minnesota, the leaks were getting bigger and bigger and the pressure in the cooling system was immense. We looked at our options with a mechanic and then tried to sell the car - which unfortunately didn't work. So we agreed to a major repair and had various seals replaced. With no 100% guarantee that the problems would be fixed, we set off on the long journey of 1,600 km.

Five weeks ago we filed our papers for the summer visa. We are still waiting for the answer.

The week before we left, we casually cut down a tree in the back yard.

During the journey

Sometimes our car feels like a ticking time bomb. How much longer will it drive us?

After about 500 km, we stopped to get gas. When Johann came out of the gas station after paying, he almost stopped in shock. There was a large puddle under our car and you could see it dripping heavily onto the ground close to the engine. His first thoughts were: “ Well, that's it. Over and out.” Would our journey really end here? We opened the hood and the coolant had dropped by more than half. When Johann looked for the leak, he discovered that the escaping liquid was not coolant, but “clear” water. It was condensation that had drained from the car's air conditioning system. Thank God, we were able to continue driving. We had already decided in advance to split the trip into several days. As Elijah took the drive really well, we were able to cover the long distance in two days.

Arriving in Minnesota

A few weeks before leaving, we were informed that we would not have our own apartment for various reasons. We would be living with the founder and pastor Jon and his family during the internship. Living together is as exciting as that sounds. Just imagine letting a family with a small child, who you don't really know and who also come from a different culture, live in your house for three months 😉 And living in the same house means we use the same living room, kitchen, bathroom etc. with Pastor Jon and his wife. We live together like a family 24/7 for the next three months. If you've ever wondered what a pastor does in his spare time? Ask us, we can tell you. 😄😉

The day after we arrived, it was Pastor Jon's birthday. We only knew that some guests were coming in the evening and that we were invited. In the morning, Debbie told us that it was Jon's birthday party and that her children were coming for dinner. So we were naturally integrated into family life. We had a lot of fun that evening. It felt like we had always been part of the community. We have to say that it was also made very easy for us.

Our internship officially starts on Monday, June 3, 2024, but Pastor Jon already offered Johann the chance to experience his everyday life this week. Johann did not want to miss out on this offer. As a result, we were fully involved in the goings-on just one day after our arrival. Over the next few weeks, we will tell you more about the different areas and share our experiences with you. So much has already happened that we will probably be posting here more often.

We are really looking forward to the next time. We are grateful to Pastor Jon and his wife Debbie, who are making it very easy for us to settle in. The problem with our car had already made the rounds here and people have offered to support us there. All the stress about the difficulties of the last few weeks has been wiped away. God is faithful and good!

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.  2.Cor 1,20 – ESV

P.s.: The small teaser that we announced in the last post has developed into a fairly large blog post. That's why we've decided to upload it at a later date.