Black Forest Academy: A place where being "different" is normal

Laura

Joshua

Our Liel Home

Bob and Sue Kummer, Liel Dorm Parents, on August 22--Arrival Day!

The children are here! Today at Black Forest Academy, all 313 students were welcomed back for the 2010-2011 school year. As the President of the Senior class explained, "It feels so good to be back at the place where being 'different' is normal." Grades 1-12 represented over 50 countries and 40 languages today. These children are delightful and they come to BFA with powerful stories of faith and incredible talents. Let me tell you about our 10 students at Liel:

• G.I.'s parents are Korean medical missionaries in the Middle East. He is a piano player and he is known for his hugs around campus.
• Josh's parents are workers in Turkey and minister to the Turks through the use of media and photography. Josh reads and writes in four languages!
• A.J.'s parents are missionaries in Italy and he found out yesterday that a spot opened up for him in our dorm. He is now en-route to Italy to get all of his things so that he can return tomorrow night and be ready for the third day of school...AJ is profoundly flexible!
• Luke's parents are missionaries in France and he accepted Christ here at BFA.
• Priscilla's family work in Germany and the surrounding countries with Jews for Jesus
• Joyce's parents are the pastors at a church in Zurich, Switzerland. Joyce sings in the middle school chapel band and has a lovely voice.
• Kaelah's parents are missionaries in Sarajevo and she loves being creative...in fact, she made a pair of earrings for her roommate this afternoon.
• Laura's father works for the US military in Maledova. Laura is 12 years old and runs a 6:30 minute mile...we plan on discovering some running trails around Liel together.
• Han Seung's parents are working in Seoul, Korea. She has a contagious smile.
• Ira's parents are also working in the Middle East and she has translated her father's sermons from Korean to Russian. Wow.

I am so excited to begin serving these students. They are so young and my heart breaks that they had to say goodbye to their families today. BUT they are so strong and their strength is a result of their faith in Christ. They love it here... they are safe, they are fed, they are cared for, and they have a whole community of believers beside them who have come from all over the world to serve them.

And I am here to simply to be present. Yes, I cook and I clean, but I am here. Today, I was able to have a tea party with Kaelah and Laura and talk about all the places they have been and the little things they miss about America (Skittles and Chic-Fil-A).

Later, I took Priscilla and Joyce for a walk through the town of Liel and up through one of the orchards where we could see a full moon to our right, rising over the pines, and then to our left, the remains of an orange and purple sunset. After a brief snack, Joyce asked me if I would be up to say good night. I was delighted...honored...flattered, to be asked to tuck them in. And so, they picked one of my favorite children's book about God's gift of purity (The Princess and the Kiss) to read and it was wonderful...my favorite line in the book is by the common man that was captivated by the princess because her "purity sparkled like diamonds." The girls and I talked for a bit and then we prayed together, that the Lord would make our purity too sparkle like diamonds.

And so, I am here to walk with them, to pray with them, to sip tea with them, and it is glorious. I love it and I am so grateful that the Faithful One is renewing my spirit and encouraging me through the prayers, emails, and letters of people like you. Thank you for all the prayers, for the financial support, and for your concern for these children. May your hearts be continually burdened to pray for them and their families. This week will seem like summer camp for them and then, the length of their time here will become more of a reality. Pray for their spirits. Pray that Bob, Sue, and I would be made perfect in our weaknesses and weariness. Pray for community, that this would be a house that serves the Lord. Pray for the health of the children too, some are getting fevers that are only worsened by the stress caused by the separation from their families. Pray also that I would remember that the time I spend with these children is far more important that what I am doing for them.

More to come soon.

To the Faithful One,

Lauren

Wilkommen!

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Three weeks after leaving the States, I now give great thanks for the beautiful friends I have made in Aurich and Dabringhausen and the wonderful position I received today as the middle school resident assistant at the Liel dormitory...

A brief update:

July 19-23

Coached and encouraged the PACKERS flag-football team in Dabringhausen, Germany...pictures 2-4

July 24-31

Coached and encouraged the ORIOLES baseball team in Aurich, Germany...picture 1

*Both of these sports ministry camps were an incredible time of getting to know German youth, some of whom were Christians and some of whom were not. I felt completely inadequate in my limited football and baseball skills and German language knowledge, BUT the Lord humbled me and my position on each team became one of an encourager more than a coach who gave tips or a bible study leader that could pray. I was present for these young Germans...and that was all that God required of me. More to come on what I learned in Northern Germany and the family that God has provided there.

August 1
Arrived at Black Forest Academy.

*These past five days have been spent in orientation with other new BFA staff. I have been receiving German language and culture lessons in the mornings followed by driving lessons on a standard in the afternoon. I am currently living in a dorm with the other BFA resident assistants and it has been a precious time of fellowship as we have had much time to hear about how God captivated all of our hearts and as a result...led us to BFA. In pictures 5 and 6, several residence life staff took us to the highest point in town, where we could see the Rhine river, the mountains of France, the city of Basel, Switzerland, and a vague outline of the Swiss Alps. The last picture is of the new RA staff...there are six of us: Laura, Me, Anne, Taylor, Amy, and Michael.

It is truly beautiful here and this forest is a constant encouragement to me to grow and pursue what is life...Jesus. For it is only when I am abiding in Him and remaining rooted in Him that I am truly living. To be a part from my Jesus would be death and I want to stand tall like these trees. I want to breathe in the fresh Spirit of God that is clean and pure and good all the time.

August 5

After much anticipation, all of the new BFA resident assistants received our dorm assignments this afternoon. I AM SO EXCITED to tell you that I will be working in the new and only middle school dorm called Liel this year with 10 students, ages 13-15. I will be living on a hall with six beautiful young ladies. On the floor below me, my dorm parents, Bob and Sue Kummer, will be living with four boys and their son/the "Liel dorm brother" :), Marshall (age 14 and entering his freshman year at BFA).

I am so excited about Liel because it is the first year at BFA where Residence Life will offer a dorm specifically for middle schoolers, which has been a developing need. Please pray for these 10 residents as they will be saying goodbye to their families on August 22 and beginning school in just a few short weeks. Pray that they might be open to being loved and cared for by Bob, Sue, Marshall, and myself.

Because the dorm is being opened to middle schoolers for the first time this year...we still have a lot to do to prepare it. A lot of renovations were completed this summer, but Sue and I will have our hands full. Sue's husband, Bob, had to go home to the States last night to care for his mother and will not be returning to Liel until the day before the students arrive. Please pray, we need the prayer.

I continue giving thanks for God calling me to Himself and leading me to this school to care for His children. Please know that I am doing so well. I am wrapped in our Father's arms and He has already begun to provide me with a spiritual family here....

And my wonderful friend, Heather Brown, from Grove City College and a new missionary to BFA herself...will be living only 3 km away. God is so sweet.

To Jesus,

Lauren