Posted in Home by Jessica Bauman on 12/2/2009
We went to the tree farm to
pick out the perfect
Christmas tree and last night trimmed it while listening to the tunes of the season in the background and the playful banter going on between my parents. I love the holiday season! I am so thankful I am able to be home for it and enjoy it with my family!
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!
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Posted in Home by Jessica Bauman on 12/2/2009
 Its been a week now, since I've been home and things are just now settling down after the chaos of Thanksgiving that always occurs at my house. Imagine 7 children under the age of 8 running around and getting into  everything! Then, of course, there are my brothers and I who stay up way too late playing games and whatever else we find ourselves doing late into the night. It wasn't until Sunday that all my nieces and nephews left and now it is just my parents, my two younger brothers and I.
I've missed my country home and the walks down the dirt roads, the sunsets over the wheat fields, fishing with my dad, and bike riding with my little brother. As the rest of Tikvah knows, I've been craving them for so long! And its been such gorgeous weather  that I've been able to really enjoy them.
I loved getting to see most of my family and catch up on the last year of our lives. I am surprised, though, that it doesn't really feel like I have been gone. It's like I just slipped back into the picture with no awkward transition. I am beginning  to miss my world race family, though. I am working on organizing my pictures and reminiscing about the last 11 months. In a couple weeks, it may feel weird that I am not packing up and moving to the next location...but for now, I am enjoying just being here with no where else to go.
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Posted in General Articles by Jessica Bauman on 11/22/2009
"Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I'm lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I've got to go home."
Yes, I have enjoyed my world travels and my fellow companions along the way...but it is time to come home. For all who don't know already, I am flying back to the states tomorrow! Then after a couple more days of stateside transit, I will make it home just in time for Thanksgiving with the family. I don't know yet what is in store for me next, but I trust that God will provide for me and guide me in my next steps. A big thank you for all of my blog readers, prayer supporters and financial backers....I could have never done it without you! I will probably continue to blog for awhile to tell some stories that never got told or just ramble about my thoughts over the last year...so please feel free to keep reading! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
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Posted in Vienna by Jessica Bauman on 11/21/2009
Over the last couple of weeks is Vienna, we have gotten the opportunities to go sight-seeing, hang-out, enjoy the city and each other, and just chill.
There are parks to walk around in and feed the ducks...
Palaces to walk around in and view the city from...
Bikes to rent real cheap (Free for one hour after registering into the system for one Euro!)...
Christmas markets to walk around in and enjoy the lights, traditional Christmas drinks, and the local crafts stands...
And of course, Tikvah is all back together to enjoy each other's company!
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Posted in Vienna by Jessica Bauman on 11/21/2009
 While in Vienna, our small team of four connected with an American-born missionary named Reggy, who ministers to refugees from other countries around the world who have somehow managed to all find there way to Vienna. People from Nigeria, Bulgaria, Uganda, and many other places around the world.
I was sure I had eaten my last meal of seema (the staple in Africa), a few months back...but I was wrong! We were living in the youth center that Reggy uses for the Bible studies and hangout sessions she has with these refugees and we had a housemate named Moses. Moses is originally from Nigeria, and twice he offered me some of his seema (or I guess in Nigeria it is called, "pop") and meet sauce. I, of course didn't want to be rude, so I ate it. I must say, his version is much better than anything I ate in Malawi or Mozambique! (Even if I found out I was eating cow intestine!)
 Our main ministry the almost 12 days we were working with Reggy, was simply to help her with any physical work she wanted us to help with (I.e. painting, organizing, cleaning) and then hanging out with anyone who came to the youth center while it was open 4 times a week. We played ping-pong, pool, made crafts, and joined in there Bible study and church services. It was a lot of fun and Reggy seemed thrilled to have a few extra hands around for the week.
A big thanks goes out to Reggy and to Moses for letting us stay and help with this wonderful ministry. Please keep this ministry and the people who come to the youth center in your prayers!
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Posted in Vienna by Jessica Bauman on 11/8/2009
  After a little over a week in Munich, we packed our bags and hopped on a train to Vienna! Traveling through Europe on the trains can be both entertaining and a headache. We had to continually change trains and sometimes had to wait for an hour or so before our next train arrived. This time it wasn't overnight at least.   We got to enjoy the beautiful scenery out the train windows and see the Alps in the distance. And as usual, I loved getting to see the gorgeous sunset over the hills!
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Posted in Germany by Jessica Bauman on 11/8/2009
The last full day in Munich, the Pastor's wife insisted that we do a little of the touristy stuff near the city. So the Pastor spend his day taking us to the Dachau concentration camp, a local and very old beer hall for a German lunch, and an art museum.
  Everyone says you need to see a concentration camp in Germany to understand the history and what this country has been through. It was a very depressing morning, but I agree that it does help to be able to feel empathy and to understand a little more about the trials and hardships people went through and what affect it has had not only on Germany, but on the entire world!
Lunch at the Hofbrauhaus was excellent...even if I ordered an orangeade and Natalie ordered a Lemonade and we got orange soda and sprite! I ordered German Goulash with dumplings and it was delicious!The art museum was alright, though I personally am not a big art person. It was interesting to listen to some of the audio commentary, though.
Overall it wasn't a bad way to spend the day. I felt like I got to experience some of the culture of Germany and we had great company to do it with!
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Posted in Germany by Jessica Bauman on 11/8/2009
 Sunday in Munich was spent experiencing the local favorite Sunday breakfast of some kind of white sausage and some scrambled pancakes with applesauce. The traditional drink is, of course, beer...but I don't like beer so I shied away from that! The pancakes were great and the sausage wasn't bad, an enjoyable way to start the day!
 After breakfast we watched the Glockenspiel put on its display...that is the clock on the community hall that has some figurines that dance around at the stroke 12. It wasn't has impressive as I was hoping, but nice none the less.
 The afternoon was spent at the English Garden Park, supposedly bigger than Central Park. It was beautiful with all the fall colors and the families and dogs everywhere just set the mood for a relaxing Sunday afternoon. I walked around enjoying the weather and then sat and did some reflecting and realized how much I miss home right now. I cannot wait to spend a Sunday afternoon at home!
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Posted in Germany by Jessica Bauman on 11/8/2009
 Over our lunch breaks in Munich we enjoyed spending time hanging out in the local park eating our sandwiches and chips. That is when the weather permitted. It is quite chilly in Germany compared to everywhere else we've been this year! We had some quality time together and just laughed and sometimes acted like kids again! (Natalie ran to the swings in a frenzy ready to reminisce her childhood days!)
  It hasn't been the same since we don't have Chris and Holli with us this month (they are on a separate worship team this month)...but we're still having a great time and are hoping and praying they are as well! We miss you guys!
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Posted in Germany by Jessica Bauman on 11/8/2009
 Munich...supposedly the most expensive city in Germany (and its not hard to believe!), but thanks to the help and blessings of Munich International Community Church we were able to afford to stay there for a week on our World Race budget. We were able to stay with families and members of the church who were willing to step out in faith and accept complete strangers into their homes. A big thanks goes out to Dennis, Thomas, Angelika, Elzanne, and the Hendersons, as well as all the others who helped us! Thank you so much!I don't feel like we did a whole lot to earn our keep but they seemed thrilled to have us come and help them clean out and paint there old office building that they are moving out of. We enjoyed ourselves and had funwith each other and some good conversations while all decked out in our lovely painting uniforms. We also, of course, took our occassional breaks and just relaxed on the floor. Hopefully the landlord thinks our painting was good enough!
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