Dear Readers,
Another week has gone by and so much seems to happen each and every day. This past weekend I took a train up to Berlin to visit Felix, a friend who was a foreign exchange student at Horizon for a year. Friday night (Oct. 30) I spent the night in the hostel while Felix was at work and met him the next day. He showed me a little more around Berlin that I hadn't seen the first time I had been up there. I was also introduced to my first German curry wurst followed by a Donner Kebab.We then spent the afternoon/evening hanging out, playing video games, and getting our Halloween costumes ready. We went out that night into Berlin as zombies, (some pretty legit costumes I might say), and went to different parties with all sorts of Halloween goodies, decorations, and the whole nine yards. It was a great time to catch up with Felix, I only wish I had longer. Sunday I headed back to Regensburg on the train to get ready for class the next day.
This past week has been quite a learning experience, going over German history during WW2 with and emphasis on the life of Bonhoeffer and others of the Confessing Church. Bonhoeffer is a great theologian and left quite a legacy of a life lived in difficult situations. I would highly recommend reading a little bio on his life as well as his book The Cost of Discipleship. This week, despite classes, has also been quite eventful in itself. It is fun to go work on homework in the old city and check out various cafes. Yesterday we visited Nuremberg and the rally grounds. The museum was very informational on the history behind the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party and their reign through the end of the war. I had no idea that Hitler had plans for so many monstrous buildings near and around the rally grounds, and had only completed the famous stadium and part of the "Colosseum-like" building where they had the rally commonly seen on WW2 films/documentaries. It was also interesting to learn that all Germans have to visit the site and learn about the Third Reich heritage at a certain point in their education as a measure of preventing similar events from repeating. The Germans are far from proud of their country during the Nazi era and work hard to hammer into their children how terrible of a time it was. It was not all serious though. We were able to go into the center of town and check out the old city and shops where the Christkindlesmarkt is held each year. We will return later this semester to go shopping there when it opens.
It just amazes me that it is already November. It has been a very fun semester, but has also challenged me in many ways. I know I can't see it yet, but God has me here for something more than just a fun cultural experience. Please continue to pray, and thank you again for your prayers.
In Christ,
Hayden
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