So I am sitting here talking to Johannes. We just watched The Hunger Games (the first one), him for the first time and me for the second, but it's been awhile. We were both teary at various stages of the film, and the story touched us both pretty deeply. "You know, talking about being a 'follower' of Jesus and not a fan...it's things like this that make me want to be more radical," he says, "We're sitting here watching a movie, crying for characters, when the world really is that bad. We're sitting here behind a 900€ laptop, with everything we could ever want and need and ask for at the tip of our fingers, complaining about the stupidest things in our everyday lives." Last night I was honored as a receiver of a pretty cool scholarship at the Uni Heidelberg. We stayed out late, we both were tired. Today we both had jobs to go to. I have homework to do. We have exams to study for. These things somehow drag us down. These are spoiled-people problems. We didn't want to cook dinner so we ordered pizza. Food delivered to our door and cash enough to pay for it without feeling remotely burdened. It was just so easy. We have it so easy. We want a change. We want to be radical followers of Christ. It's uncomfortable to talk about, to think about. But God sees our hearts, and I ask that He keeps this realization we had tonight on the forefront of our minds. Me, I complain about school being hard, about writing essays in German, about having to study harder for exams than my peers because of the language barriers...when I am getting an Ivy League education for next to nothing. Those complaints need to stop!! Joh complains about experiments in the lab going wrong, about being tired, when he is about to become a doctor with no debt to show for it. The whole world is at our feet We are BLESSED. We want to bless others. God, please teach us obedience.

Hello blog world again! My little sister started her blog, and it's inspired me to start keeping up with mine a little better. How are you? How's it going? I'm in Heidelberg, Germany, studying psychology at the Universität Heidelberg. I'll be here for three years at least! The semester just started three weeks ago, and so far I am really enjoying it. I look forward to being able to use my opportunity for education to help people! Classes are in German, which is sometimes not the easiest thing. I am very grateful for the blessing of the Internet that, while more often serving as a distraction than a help, has been an awesome tool for delving deeper into subject matter discussed in the lectures. I'm currently working at the Marsilius-Kolleg of the university, which is an interdisciplinary organisation that bridges the gaps between all possible subjects. I really love my job, called a "Hiwi-Job" by native speakers. "Hiwi" stands for "Hilfswissenschaftler", and for most folks that means they are helping professors and scholars in their work. I suppose I am doing that, as well, but with a slightly different spin. I'm the translator! Websites, publications, you name it, I'm deciphering it. It's a job I know I'm good at, and my office space is probably the most wonderful I will ever have in my entire life: a room in an 18th century villa, with a huge window overlooking the courtyard and, towering high above, the famous Heidelberg Castle. I can't complain, and I won't complain. :) I rent a little room about a half-hour outside the city. My balcony is bigger than my room, and the glass door lets in a wonderful amount of sunlight in comparison to the last place I was living. About a one minute walk brings me to a small lake that takes about 20 minutes to circumvent. Trees line the banks and stretch even further into a wooded area of their own, and as fall is fully underway, every possible shade of orange, red, yellow, and green are getting their respective moments of glory, all at the same time. It really is wonderful. Now I will decide what to do first---tidy up my room, exercise, or study? Til next time!

Epitome

In the best of company... :)

A prayer of my heart. Psalm 143

Oh Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for mercy. In your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgement, for no one living is righteous before you. The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground, he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead, so my spirit grows faint within me! My heart within me is dismayed! I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Answer me quickly, oh Lord, my spirit fails! Do not hide your face from me, or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, oh Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good spirit lead me on level ground. For your name's sake, oh Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Spring...will you be here soon??

I just got back from ICS, teaching music classes...today was so much fun. I´m loving this job!!! Right now, with the older kids, we're learning about all kinds of instruments. I'm starting with ones that are easily recognizable by most everyone, then I think I'll move on to more ethnic instruments. They're all so excited, so eager in my class. It's a really fun job.

The cold you´ve been hearing about in Europe (as many people have told me, it´s worldwide news!) is true...it´s really been crazy. People dying, and the Neckar river is frozen. Joh and I were running by it and just had to stop and say, whoah. It´s like nothing we´ve ever seen before. Apparently it´s been over 50 years since the last time it happened. But it´s starting to warm up, finally!

This past weekend I spent in Mannheim with Johannes, and something really cool happened. His friend Stefen was over, and we were all on Skype with my family, and Rohan was singing Amazing Grace. The next night, Stefen called and invited us to come over for a movie and coffee, and, the goofball he is, started singing that song on the phone to me just to prove he could. I told him, that we had just sung that song that night at church! And Stefen, not knowing it was a praise song, asked why, what was it about?? Joh was immediately eyes-wide, mouthing "share the gospel!!!"...I, with my not-quite-perfect German, couldn't really get out what I was trying to say...so Joh took the phone and started to tell him what it was about. And I just prayed then and there. That God would speak to Stefen's heart. And amazingly, the conversation progressed to talking about the Bible, and praying, and how the decision whether we would be for or against God is the biggest decision we will ever make.

We were both tired, but I told Johannes I thought we should take him up on his offer to go over. And that we should bring a German Bible with us, so we did. We got there, and the movie, of all movies that Stefen would want to watch, was A Walk to Remember. WHAT?!?!?!? Yeah. So we watched it. And cried. Johannes cried, I cried, Stefen is a sap...haha. But what was nuts, is how this girl in the movie loves God, you know?? So we left the Bible at his house and Joh was like, read it, man, seriously! Besides, the movie was so encouraging for Johannes and I as to how beautiful a pure relationship can be. It was such great inspiration. All that to say, we are continuing to pray that God uses us, individually and separately...and he's already been able to talk to two more friends about God in the last week.. And Stefen is reading his Bible. Crazy crazy.

My boy spoiled me with a new running jacket and underarmor, so that I didn't have any excuse for running against the cold. :) Then he proceeded to kick my butt for an hour and a half on a run...he is gifted in the art of tough love. It was really fun, though, and I've gone three times this week on my own. On Friday I had a thing called Upper Room. In my Thursday group we're talking about prayer and how to pray properly, with honor and respect to the Lord...and so Friday we all fasted and prayed, and then that night came together in an amazing communion to pray and honor God in our conversations about what he's doing in our lives. I was so excited all day to meet with fellow believers. Well, it's just...AWESOME. What a feast it was. It made me so excited for the wedding feast of all the saints and Jesus!! Can you imagine??!?! Ahhhhh. And my dear friend Justin, who, a year ago, wasn´t a believer, had his first communion that night, fully explained by Landon. It was so very awesome.

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Now Lent is underway, and my sister and I are both giving up sweets. That is going to be sooo hard for me, but I'm excited to see how God uses it. I love you Mimi.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, especially!! I am so blessed to know that you are there and love me and are bringing me before the Lord!

The EP really is being slowly completed! We don´t have that much more to do before it´s off to the presses, so to say. Today I´m home and studying, and researching options for school. I´m looking into taking a semester-long (or two semesters long) German course in order to prep for school. It´s at the university and will be starting in the fall. I need to apply for that as soon as possible! So much to do, so many tabs open on my laptop...But life really is good, all things considered. God is providing and working and moving.

My roommate and I have been praying together whenever we can, before bed! It´s awesome to be a team with her and keep updated in how God is working in our lives. I also just made a friend who will be part of my small group -- her name is Susanne (pronounced Su-za-neh) and she is German and awesome and I look forward to getting to know her better as we pray and talk and have fun!!

Joh has five exams this week, so he is working exceptionally hard on his studies. I wasn´t able to see him this past weekend, but this weekend we are going skiing with his uncle for two days in Austria.

My 21st birthday is coming up soon, which will be really NOT THE SAME without you all over in the States. I´ve been so homesick the past couple of days, feeling like the people I love the most are always on the other side of the computer screen. So if anyone is ever on Skype, and I'm online, please call me! If I don´t answer it´s cuz I´m away from my computer. I'm going to try and have a big party. If anyone feels like flying over spontaneously, I would definitely not object. Otherwise, birthday cards are also welcome.

My address is:

Fr. Ciera Fisher

Nobelstraße 11

70569 Stuttgart

Deutschland

I bought a bike the other day in honor of the beautiful weather.

I am loving life, really... I have been blessed beyond imagining. And I keep being reminded that the time of struggle and missing people, even though it´s so very, very tough at times, is something that God is willing to put us through for the glory of his kingdom. If you think of me, pray for the work of my, and my roommate´s, and Johannes´s, and my church´s hands, as we seek His will for our lives.

Sorry for the ramble. Thinking of you all very often, hating the time difference, and hoping you are healthy and strong and able to find something to look forward to in every day!

Love,

Ciera

Leave it to Jesus...

...to speak to me REALLY intensely...through a Justin Bieber song. I was listening to the song and wondering why it was hitting me so hard, until I realized Jesus was saying "LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!!!!! I WANT TO TELL YOU THESE THINGS!" And hey, maybe he's telling you to listen, too!

Here are the lyrics:

You’ve got that smile,
That only heaven can make.
I pray to God everyday,
That you keep that smile.

You are my dream
There’s not a thing I won’t do.
I’ll give my life up for you,
Cos you are my dream.

And baby, everything that I have is yours,
You will never go cold or hungry.
I’ll be there when you’re insecure,
Let you know that you’re always lovely, girl...

One day when the sky is falling,
I’ll be standing right next to you, right next to you.
Nothing will ever come between us,
I’ll be standing right next to you, right next to you...

We’re made for one another
Me and you
And I have no fear
I know we’ll make it through

One day when the sky is falling
I’ll be standing right next to you, right next to you.
Nothing will ever come between us,
I’ll be standing right next to you, right next to you.

Oh yeah

Stand by my side
When the sky falls, I’ll be there

You’ve got that smile,
That only heaven can make.
I pray to God everyday,
To keep you forever.

post!!

Hi everyone!

Thank you SO much for such a wonderful Christmas (albeit short) in Colorado. It was awesome to surprise everyone and spend a little bit of time with those that I hold dear across the pond! I got to spend lots of time with siblings...they are now almost all taller than me...and I'm amazed how many people got packed into that little week!! I love all you very much, and Joh can vouch for the fact that I am often groaning over missing somebody or another. I'm back in Stuttgart and finally over the jet lag. :) As I promised (I'm really trying, Bethy!), since my blog is private now, I will write much more!

I enjoyed a wonderful and adventurous New Years Eve (Silvester) here with Joh and friends! We had raclette again...so yummy...but so cheesy...

Stuttgart is so gorgeous with the fireworks, but it really is a war zone sometimes! We brought in the new year with lots of dancing and laughs.

This week I've really enjoyed spending time with the boy...going for long, beautiful walks in the woods, and especially cooking together. It's one of our favorite activities!! Doesn't hurt that we both know how, and love to experiment. We've also spent some awesome time with our newly engaged friend, Justin. Life is so exciting for everyone!!

My apartment looks super-chic now. We have an awesome dining table set, and now we got matching "leather"couches for the living room.

The view out my window right now...SNOW!! FINALLY!! It looks like a blizzard! But it's freezing.....This apartment is, unnervingly, quite difficult to heat. Both my roommates are gone til next week, and so it's little old cold me trying to keep some blood-flow...

Well, Gina Buzzetta is coming for a whole week to visit me from Romania...I can't wait! Time to go get things ready for her.

All the best,

Ciera