Greetings, from the land of Schnitzel, Lederhosen, & Edelweiss! Okay, I’ll have to admit the schnitzel is quite tasty here…but that’s beside the point.
I’ve been in Austria for 3 weeks now, and life has been a whirlwind ever since. I could write pages retelling specific events, but for now I will stick to a brief summary…
Arriving at Tauernhof
I arrived in Schladming on the evening of September 19th, following a short stay in Munich, Germany. It was so exciting to meet the fellow students who I will be spending this fall term with! A neat aspect about this school is the opportunity to experience & interact with Christians of different cultures & backgrounds. There are just under 60 students, ranging in age from 18-28. A good majority of the student body is German, as are most of the staff. The remaining students are from Canada, The United States, and a few from various other European countries. On the first evening we joined together for worship and shared testimonies…it was truly a joy to see the body of Christ unite from an international perspective.
Throughout the first week of Bible School, the Lord has consistently shown me that this was where He wants me to be. It has been refreshing to spend time studying His word each day, surrounded by His people in these beautiful mountains. Despite knowing practically nobody prior to the start of the school, God has given me the opportunity to connect with several of my classmates on a spiritual level, engaging in deep fellowship –whether that be in prayer, sharing testimonies, or just talking about Jesus! The staff at the Bible school also feel like a second family, and immensely value encouraging us students in our relationship to Christ. I feel so blessed that God has carried me to this exact place –He is so, so GOOD!
Weekend Outings
The campus is located at the base of a ski slope, with a gondola directly behind our chalet. This makes mountain access quite convenient, especially when ski season rolls around. But for now, the autumn weather has been lovely. Over the first couple weekends, I’ve had the opportunity to explore the nearby mountains on several picturesque hikes. The hiking highlights thus far have been Ahornsse, a pristine alpine lake, and Wilde Wasser, a path of winding bridges stretching through an alpine valley of cascading rivers and waterfalls.
In addition to hiking, I also ventured out on a day trip to the city with some friends. Salzburg is one of the prettiest cities I’ve seen, featuring historical architecture, awe-inspiring churches, beautiful gardens, and a towering castle. My favorite parts were visiting filming locations for The Sound of Music and eating Schnitzel on top of the Hohensalzburg castle.
Praise & Prayer Requests
Praise: As I mentioned in my previous post, the Lord has been faithful in the Visa process so far. Just this last week, I traveled to a nearby town to submit my application, opened a European bank account, and got the health insurance I needed. Praise the Lord for his providence in the completion of the first part of this process!
Prayer: Please pray for God to work in the hearts & minds of the student body here at Taurenhof. Pray that I would be used as an encouragement to others and a leader in discipleship among the other students. Also, pray for the health of the student body –for continued protection from Covid & other sicknesses.
Thank you for your prayers & for taking the time to read this update. Please leave a comment or pm me your prayer requests and I would love to pray for you.
The Joyful Enthusiast 