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
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