Midwesterners meet!

Stacey and Amy Flammer

Joe and Amy

Joanna (going to Hungary) & Kristina (going to Romania)


Today has been jammed packed with worship, group exercises, a field trip to Focus on the Family (where the kids recorded their own Adventures in Odyssey CD), personal coaching time, a "community" meeting...where we planned upcoming events like a movie night, a bowling night and a group talent show...then we went to go get ice cream!
That was when the adventure began...

So we were getting ready to go get ice cream and started talking with another couple who are here getting ready to serve in New Zealand as church planters...as we were talking, we discovered that Amy is from BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL and went to the same church where I went(Eastview Christian Church) and that I was a youth sponsor when she was in JR. HIGH! Is that too weird or what! The funny thing is, we both felt a connection to each other as soon as we met(must be because we are "normal" HA!)...we also are in the same growth group together! (which is our bible study group) It seems pretty unreal to come all the way to CO for cross-cultural training and run into someone who has some of the same favorite mid-western places as me! It is a little present from the Lord...having a heart connection because you have shared similar experiences and know and love some of the same people. She and her husband Joe, are an awesome couple who really have a contagious energy for the Lord! I have a feeling that our mid-western connection could bond us for life and I look forward with great anticipation to see what the Lord is going to do in New Zealand as a result of their faithfulness!

I wish I could describe our adventure to go get ice cream...as we literally went over the river and through the woods...but writing about it won't do it justice! You had to be there to experience the trials of walking 3 miles with the children, crossing railroad tracks and barbed wire fences...at least the ice cream was cheap and good! Thanks Joe, for running back to get the car as you sacrificed your sweatshirt and proper digestion of your 18 scoops of ice cream! Something I will always remember and smile when I think about it!

Update on Levi's health

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed: perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken:, struck down, but not destroyed...
I feel a little like a clay pot that God is shaping and molding...hopefully in the end to look more like Christ! Yesterday, it was hard for me not to be discouraged when Levi started running a high fever. I think he has the same virus that Abby and I had
last week, so at least I know what to expect. We have set up a make-shift bed in the back of our classroom and Levi has been resting comfortably while he watches movies with a set of headphones. So far we really haven't had to miss anything, so we are grateful for his flexibility.

Luke and Abby are loving it out here. Luke has already started to make friends with some boys his age and both of them could hardly wait to get to their classes this morning. Tomorrow they are taking a field trip to the Focus on the Family headquarters.

We have also been encouraged by a single woman named Joanna. She will be serving in Budapest which is only a few hour train ride away from us once we get to Vienna. She has offered to help with the kids while we are here at MTI, so Brad and I can have a few moments to actually process all that we are learning. We are greatly encouraged by her generousity and her willingness to want to love on us! Thanks for checking in on us and for praying for our family!

Levi lounging all day watching Looney Tunes...over and over again!


Here is Abby with one of her teacher's...Miss Colleen



This is the view when we walk outside...not too shabby eh!

More from CO

Good morning...or afternoon...or something! With this time difference, I can't seem to get it together! We had a relaxing morning here at the Best Western. We slept in until 7 (CO time) which was pretty good, then we enjoyed a complimentary bowl of Lucky Charms and then we were off to run and play in the strip of grass on the side of the Best Western parking lot. Doesn't take much to make the kids happy these days! We had fun races and then everyone was complaining of being cold! It is in the high 50's maybe low 60's...beautiful actually! So then the kids and Brad were off to to indoor pool to frolic while I rearranged all of the suitcases for the 20th time...so we could at least have a walking path! There is stuff everywhere...but I can't find anything! Ever felt like that!:)
The kids are really doing well...aside from the fact that Abby is missing the luxury of a fridge and is wanting some salami of all things! We are ordering Chinese for lunch...so that should make her happy. Without a car and no places within walking distance...we'll have to suck it up and order something! Ha!
Thought I might give you all the website of where we are heading this afternoon, so you can check it out:
www.MTI.org. The kids are curious as to what to expect, and so are we. We do know that there are 30 kids in this group and 28 adults. I'll try to write more about the specifics tomorrow...but the website should be helpful!

I'll close with a few little travel tips that have helped us already...
1. Put drawstring/elastic waistband pants on all of the kids while traveling. (Makes for easier up and down in an airplane bathroom!)

2. Splurge on the personal DVD player. We put two headsets in one and it worked great! (Our kids have loved Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes)

3. Everybody has the same waterbottle...but with their name in a place on it that is visible! They are in charge of their own drinks and we have been going on ''ice runs" to the ice machine!

4. Bring lots of lotions and vaseline when traveling to CO. It really is dry out here! (thanks for the tip Joanna!) Mom, you would be proud...I am shoving vaseline up my nose just like you....who'd a thought!

5. When in doubt, put it in a Ziploc! They really are my best friend! You never know when something might spill!

6. If at all possible bring your own pillows! We basically brought an entire suitcase of pillows for everyone, but we slept really well as a result of doing that!

7. Crocs are the perfect travel shoe!

8. Bring snacks...lots of snacks!

9. Whenever possible..keep your sense of humor!

We made it to Colorado!

The day has finally come! After literally years of preparation, we finally are on our way to Vienna. No more house, no more cars, no more stuff (except what is in our suitcases) Feels very weird! Exciting, crazy and terrifying too! Many of you have walked beside us on this journey, and we are thankful for you! Yesterday, our church had a commissioning service for us. It was absolutely beautiful. We have been so well loved! Thank you for your prayers, gifts, food, scrapbooks and tributes! It was so very moving. I didn't know I could cry so hard and for so long! My nose is still raw from blowing it so many times yesterday! It is a day we will forever hold in our hearts! It was very hard to say "goodbye"...but now we look forward to this new adventure!
So we tearfully said our goodbyes to the moms this morning...and we took off for Colorado Springs with about 14 bags! Gordon Woolard needed the church van to get us AND our bags to the airport! Thanks Gordon! We appreciate all that you and Marilyn have done for us! :)


We really had an unbelievably good day of traveling! The kids did great, all of our luggage made it, and the flights were smooth! We really felt and appreciated your prayers today! A big thank you to everyone who lifted us up!
Here is a shot of Abby checking out the view of Pike's Peak from the airport window. The kids can't believe there is snow on top of it!


It just happened to work out perfectly, that my Aunt Norma and Uncle Roger (from California) were in town visiting my cousin Karl. We hadn't seen them since Brad and I got married almost 10 years ago! Now Karl is a grown man with more facial hair than my dear husband! Wow time flies!


We had a great picnic dinner at a beautiful park, and the kids got to burn off some energy too! It was great catching up!
Levi fell asleep right after we left the parking lot of the park! He definitely was worn out...notice the drool on the seatbelt! We all are pretty worn out, so I will say goodnight for now and will do my best to keep you updated while we are at MTI. If you want to touch base with us...you can reach us on the same cell numbers that we had in FL! Love to you all!

MeMoos World

My mom just got with the program and started her own blog...check it out!

www.memoosworld.blogspot.com

What have we been doing?

Enjoying the luxuries of Neena and MeMoo's place

10th Anniversary Party at Mai Kai

Boys weekend getaway

Mother's Day breakfast
Enjoying a visit with Great Grandma and Grandpa
Playing at Ft. Lauderdale Beach







Luke's baseball team playing for the championship
Abby's first ballet recital


Abby graduates from Kindergarten



Girls Getaway to Lake Placid





Celebrating Auntie Dede and Great Grandpa's birthday

Keep Breathing...

Who saw the season finale of Grey's Anatomy? Who heard the haunting song played over and over again..."Keep breathing"? Who felt like the wind got knocked out of them as they watched all of the twisted endings that you weren't expecting?

This journey to Vienna has been full of twists and turns...some good and some bad...some days it feels like all I can concentrate on is breathing.

Thankfully when I have one of those days...my Heavenly Father is more than willing to carry my burdens and breath new life into my weak and fragile body.

I don't know the ending of this journey for us...some days I would like to. It is an adventure we are just beginning. Daily learning to trust that His mercies are new every morning..and that through this process He is refining us...refining us to look more like Christ.

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am doing a new thing:
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert...
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
that they may declare my praise.

Isaiah 41:10

For the last few weeks, this verse has been posted to my bathroom mirror. When I have been overwhelmed, fearful, exhausted and doubting it has been a great reminder that it is the Lord who is with me-who will strengthen me-help me and uphold me. We have felt your prayers for our family and God has done some mighty and exciting things during these last few days! (We will be writing more on this in an upcoming prayer update, so stay tuned!)

On Monday and Tuesday, the last boxes were packed and put into storage until we get the proper paperwork for our visas. Our last night in the house, we sat around the kitchen table with the kids and the grandmas reminiscing about all the fun and not so fun times at the house! We laughed and cried and rejoiced over those special memories that will live forever in our hearts...and when we forget, I have vowed to make a "Florida Favorites" book of pictures and stories of our time in Florida. ( We'll see if it gets done before we leave! ) We are living with the Glam Grams until we leave for training in Colorado on May 28th.

Many of you have asked about an update on Abby's schooling situation. As of now, she got the last spot in the German speaking only class, and is on the waiting list for the bi-lingual class if a spot opens up. We were told that her teacher speaks very good English and that she would be able to help Abby during this time of transition. We are very thankful for this and trusting that God has what is best for our Abby girl.

The kids are being troopers, sleeping in the same room together and adjusting to where to find their underwear, now that everything is displaced. Overall, things are going great and they are enjoying time with Neena and Memoo. Life isn't too bad here as MeMoo has taught Levi how to heat up his blanket in the dryer...all by himself!





Brad is already missing his fruit plantation, but his mom is keeping him busy with a "to do list" before we leave. We have heard back from the University of Wien, basically asking us to be patient, as registration for the summer is just beginning...and the woman assigned to us is now on vacation until May 21st. I think there will be a few more hoops to jump through than we first expected...please keep praying and checking in on us! We have appreciated all of the encouragement many of you have sent our way!

Too busy not to ask people to pray

Brad and I were talking yesterday about sending out a prayer letter, but with all that's been on our plates we said we're too busy, and that we'd get one out next week. Then we started the day discouraged by the news that Abby had lost her spot at the bi-lingual school, we are in the midst of moving even though we haven't received an acceptance letter from the University of Vienna yet, making it impossibe for us to get our visas and we have $500 remaining in our monthly support needs. So we called on our prayer team to pray for us. We were overwhelmed by the number of you who took the time today to pray for our requests. We received many e-mails of encouragement...two in particular I want to share with you.

The first one was from the church we asked you to pray for...who was considering partnering with us...we heard back from them today that they have decided to partner with us! Praise God! This put us at 99%. The second e-mail came thirteen minutes later from a young woman who was the first person to support us with a one time gift. We hadn't heard much from her until today. After reading our requests, she and her husband felt led to support us for the EXACT AMOUNT we needed to reach 100% of monthly needs!

So while we continue to wait on the Lord for our visas and schooling for Abby, we have reason to rejoice and hope in a God who cares deeply for us. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

p.s. If you don't get our email prayer updates, contact us at viennahunters@gmail.com and we'll add you to the list.

FREE TO GOOD HOME

Ahhh, the joys of moving! The fun of going through things you didn't even know you had! This post is a desperate plea to get rid of these mantles that were once owned by Brad's grandmother. He "ripped" them out of her old house with his BARE hands when she had to re-locate...and since then, they have been a source of contention with us! You see, we HAVE NO ROOM for them and no one else in the family WANTS THEM! I'm sure they remind him of his sweet childhood in that house...but I think it is time to part with them. PLEASE! SOMEONE! ANYONE! HELP me get them to a good home!
*****Update*****
The mantles found good homes! Brad can rest easy now and KISS THEM GOODBYE! Thank you!

Extended family...

Rowan Smith had her 1st birthday party today. It was a celebration of her first year of life...and it also was a celebration of friends and family sharing memories just like old times. This group of friends truly is an extension of what we consider family. We love you and thank our gracious God for you! (There were too many great pictures to choose from, so you'll have to click below to see more)

Rowan's 1st Birthday Party

Muffins worth making

It is a little after 8 pm. The house is quiet with all of the children in bed and there is a scent of cinnamon and nutmeg in the air! I should be packing, but I am making Paula Dean's Apple Raisin Muffins instead. These are definitely muffins worth making! I joked with my mom that these will probably be the last things I bake in this oven, with next week being so crazy. Sad to think about! I think I'm gonna turn in myself...but before I do, I'm gonna have another muffin and drown my sorrows in a big glass of milk!:)
I'll close with a picture taken this afternoon. Abby, Elisabeth (my 11 year old niece) and I had a girls' day out. We went to see the off-Broadway production of "The Lion King". This was my second time seeing it and I had forgotten how great it is! If you get a chance, go! We made a pact that our new tradition when we come home from Austria (on vacation or home ministry assignment) would be to see more plays together...just us GIRLS!

A Friend loves at all times...

God has known just what I have needed today. In the midst of trying to organize, pack and purge...I received a phone call from our missionary friends, the Dossetts. Mark and Karen ( and their 4 boys) have faithfully served in Vienna for over 13 years with International Teams, working with Iranian and Afghan refugees. They were the couple who actually introduced Brad and me, and we have been really encouraged by their family and ministry over the years. It was great to share our struggles, fears and even pray together. God knew I needed someone who knew exactly what I am going through to love on me today!

Then I got a call from another friend, as I was getting ready to go into Bed, Bath and Beyond to get some "Space Bags" for all of our winter clothes. She said, "call me when you get home so I can run a little something by"...that little something was a dozen of the BEST chocolate covered strawberries ever! (check out Croissan'Time if you would like to indulge a little) Thanks Tanners!

We have been well loved by so many of our friends! Some have watched our children, some have taken our "stuff" off of our hands, some have offered to type out my recipes, some have helped us pack, and many of you have prayed! A big heart-felt THANK YOU to all of you who have sacrificed to make this move a little easier on us! We truly are grateful!

Coral Ridge Mission Conference

All of this week, we have had the opportunity to attend the Coral Ridge Mission Conference. Brad and I have been sharing our story of how God has called us to Vienna with anyone who will listen! We have attended worship services, Sunday school classes, luncheons, dinners and classrooms...we have talked with young and old and are excited by the questions that have been asked and the prayers and support that have been given on our behalf.

We also have had the privilege of meeting seasoned missionaries from around the world that Coral Ridge supports and we even have had the chance to talk with some of them about how to make this new transition easier for our family. Yesterday at a luncheon for the Women in the Church, Carol Arnold (Co-founder of Equipping Pastors Int'l) ministered to me on a heart level. She shared about how "God gives you the grace as you need it", and I have been reminded this week just how much grace has been abundantly poured out on our family and will continue to be lavishly given to us...as we need it! Our God is so gracious in equipping the body with many gifts and talents and desires of the heart that can be used for HIS Glory! We are so thankful for Coral Ridge and all of the churches and individuals that are partnering with us on this journey to Vienna!