Week Seven
This last week we didn’t have school on Thursday or Friday; Germany was celebrating the 30th anniversary of their reunification. There was a something akin to a little carnival at the Brandenburg Gate. They had dozens of stands selling food, three or four stages performing music, and a ferris wheel opposite of the gate. It was packed and loud, but I’m glad I was able to go and see it.
Today I was blessed to be able to attend Paul Gerhardt Gemeinde again for church. WELS, to my knowledge, has no congregations here, but our sister synod, the ELFK, does. Paul Gerhardt Gemeinde is a congregation within the ELFK and has been serving me here in Germany for the majority of my stay. During the services we use the same hymnals as we did in professor Danell’s Luther German course, so it wasn’t completely foreign to me. In addition to the services, a Bible study is held there most Thursdays. Both church and the Bible study have also introduced me to some pleasant people. It has been wonderful to hear the Word and receive the sacrament, despite being so far away from home.
By the next time I post, midterms will be finished here.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers.
God bless your day.
Caleb Raasch
September
Hello from Germany!
About six weeks ago I arrived here in Berlin for a semester of school at Freie Universität Berlin. Up until now, I’ve been busying myself with my studies and with the occasional traveling. The acclimation to the time change was surprisingly easy and getting used to the culture has been going well too.
The above image is of my host family’s home. They have been wonderful, not only providing for and taking care of me, but also helping me improve my German.
Tonight I had the opportunity through the FU-BEST program to attend the Berlin Philharmonic. (The concert hall is shown above.) It was a lovely experience, getting to listen to the final chorus from Carmina Burana among other pieces.
I’m signing off here for now, but I hope to post much more frequently.
Please keep me in your prayers.
God bless your day.
Caleb Raasch
28 hours in Paris
Just like any other college student during reading week, my friends and I decided to spend a week traveling to five different countries instead of studying for exams. First stop was Paris, France with one of my good friends. Although we were a little nervous going to the city with protests happening, Paris was stunning in every way possible. We fell in love with the gorgeous Palace of Versailles before heading to the Eiffel Tower. After Rachel and I toured both locations for some time, we saw the Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, and enjoyed a baguette by the river. We did all this before we headed back to the Eiffel Tower to view it once it was all lit up. And yes, I cried because it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Paris was a great start to our week of travels.
Brussels and Copenhagen
Off to Brussels, country number 2 of 5. We arrived in the morning to meet up with Sarah and another friend. The four of us spent the whole day eating as much chocolate, waffles, and fries as possible! Brussels really put us all in the Christmas spirit with its delightful Christmas market and decorations throughout the city. We may not have been in Brussels for 24 hours, but we admired the gorgeous architecture.
The next morning we flew to Copenhagen, Denmark. This city was my favorite to visit! We enjoyed our morning sipping coffee in the cutest cafe and watching the changing of the guards at Amalienborg Palace. We wondered and found ourselves spending most of our time in the area around Nyhavn. Oh, we also saw the little mermaid!
