Tuesday, January 17, 2012

A New Year with One New Brother

The Spring semester has gotten off to a surprisingly fantastic start.  It is wonderful to feel so much further along on the learning curve than I felt last semester.  This semester I know better what combination of things make the German washing-machine run; how to ask where the vanilla is in the market; who to call when I do not understand German driver's details; how to appreciate a movie more from teen guys' perspectives; when to refrain from affirmation; why some guys hung all over each other and have a hard time even giving me a high five.

Man, I love my guys!  Over break I had to keep a fellow RA's dorm dad's advice in my head: "Just get back on the plane."  Once the momentum stopped and I was in a different environment for a while, the thought of complex relationships, menial tasks, and bleak winters sounded unappealing.  But with a little sleep and some simple, yet profound conversations, God has grown in me an appreciation of being here again.  
God, please renew my vision for this place.

With the change of the calendar also came a change in the dorm.  We now have 22 guys in Maugenhard!

Josiah (in blue) with Maugenhard folks at basketball game
Josiah moved into our dorm for his last semester before graduation; Lord willing, it will be a better fit.
He is from Holland and loves photography and computer things.


  • Please pray that he will adjust well and that the guys' hearts will be opened to receiving him into the dorm as one of their own.  
  • Pray also that our staff will have discernment on how to best love and serve him as well as the other guys.  
  • Everyday life stuff is a matter of their hearts...and ours.  Please pray for that.
Thanks for your love and support!
Michelle

Thursday, January 5, 2012

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Indeed - Scotland/Germany

Even though I did not go back to the States for Christmas, I thought of you all.  I had a fantastic break on this side of the Ocean.

The first half I spent in Edinburgh with some Scottish friends, who I met at Moody in Chicago (they and there family just took me in as part of the family - it was touching!);---[see right]

and in the second half of break, I recruited for Belfast Bible College (where I studied abroad there in 2007) and participated at the European Mission-Net conference in Germany [see photos].  Overall, I loved my time and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know life-giving people from all over Europe.

God knew I needed this time to reorient and be encouraged; although I enjoy my role in the dorm here in Germany, there is some comfort that I probably won't work with teenage boys forever. :)  In the meantime, I am seeking to be faithful in my work here while I do.

I start up again with my responsibilities on Saturday and the guys return on Monday. :)
Happy New Year to all! 
Love, Michelle

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Reorienting Reflections from the Movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE


It's A Wonderful Life

Rescuing a drowning wingless angel begins George Bailey on the road to renewed life. Viewing his life from the outside looking in is weird enough as it is without the shock of “George Bailey” suddenly ceasing to exist.

The '90s pop, radio hit, captures George's realization: “you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.” Reflecting on It's A Wonderful Life is a powerful reminder that life is worth living in part because we do not have a clue what mark we leave on the people, places and circumstances around us.
So, we live.
We live to the full.
We live, knowing that God has us continue filling voids that are unique to us; someone else would pass it up.
But the heart, the passion, the drive, the sacrifice of one – of us – could be all that is needed for someone – anyone – to have a second chance at life and living.
And we may be just the ones to hand them God's key.

-Mi

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Novemeber here and Student Spotlight: Introducing Josh and Josh


 


          MaugenHard Monthly Update -

               Greetings from Michelle Waters at Maugenhard!  The cold, damp winter weather is rolling in and kids are starting get tired of school and look forward to Christmas break in a little over a month.  The guys are making use of their two female RAs for Christmas Banquet girl tips and gifts.  It is touching to see how the guys are learning to honor the lady friends in their lives.  It is exciting to see how the guys are becoming more comfortable sharing themselves with me and the other staff.  I am encouraged by how I feel more confident in the cultural and practical responsibilities in the German community.  Soon I will be studying for my German driver's license.  In the meantime, I am continuing to do mom tasks and be available to students.  It is an honor to get to know the guys.  I want to share with you another two of my guys now:
 
Maugenhard Student Spotlight - Introducing Josh and Josh…

(Interested in reading more?  For security purposes, please email mwaters@teachbeyond.org to receive a 1-page doc. with their spotlight.)
Love, Michelle

Friday, October 21, 2011

Student Spotlights | John and Will

Happy October from Maugenhard dorm!
        Autumn is a festive time here. Apples and pumpkins are plentiful and provide surprising bonding opportunities with some of the students. When I first arrived in July, a fellow staff reminded me that the best way to connect with the male students would be through doing projects “side by side” with them. Some of the best conversations to-date have been while picking apples, driving places, or sitting around on couches before bed.

A Maugenhard Spotlight
         Since July you have heard about “Maugenhard” and “the guys,” but I would like you to start getting to know them more as individuals; for individual students make this place what it is. In order to do this, each month I plan to spotlight two Maugenhard guys, where they are from, what makes them unique, and some ways you can pray for them.


Introducing John and Will...

*For privacy purposes, I will not post the full newsletter here.  Email me at mwaters@teachbeyond.org if you'd like an attached 1-pg. student spotlight newsletter!


I look forward to hearing from you all!  Fill me in on life for you.

Peace be with you,
--
Michelle Waters

Monday, September 26, 2011

Photo-Journal: Goodbye, Summer

Photo-Journal:
"Goodbye, Summer!" Moments at
Maugenhard Dorm


Greetings from Deutschland!

How can I capture my world here?  Written descriptions seem trite and simplisitc, so I gather a gallery of visual stories, a few glimpses of faces and places that shape my world here in Germany (see below).

It is amazing that once you move to a different world, you'd long to relay stories to the people back home.  But, when I have breaks, I feel like sleeping, listening to music, walking, laying in the grass, zoning out - almost anything other than talking to people about what it is like here because life here is full and rich, forward motion, full of the joy and pain that comes with "parenthood."  Supposedly, these feelings are fairly normal for the adjustment to so much new at once.  Plus, I get the blessed privledge of being an instant new mother of 21 guys.  Suddenly new mothers make sense to me; who knew that one's heart can change in a moment?  I love the guys so much and their joys and pains are becoming my own. 

The lyrics of this song encourages my heart, when I struggle with wondering if the little things I do matter.   One Heartbeat At A Time - Music Video

You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
And you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Oh, maybe you just don't know
Or maybe you've forgotten

You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"
Every tear that you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
They're just like the drops of rain over time
They become a river
...


Simply put: "It was the best of times and it was the worst of time." (A Tale of Two Cities).    






Thursday, September 8, 2011

Photo-Journal: September Flies In

The Annual football games - Maug dorm contra mundo (aka the other guy dorms): Corey, RA, gives inspirational speech

Saturday morning Crepe-making with a student from France (He is a good cook!)

Painting a birthday banner with a student from Spain for Zach's (from the Middle East) 16th birthday

One of my favorite nearby trails that I use for a little bit of alone time on my afternoon breaks

The town where some of my Dad's Mom's family is from: Büche family
(For more picture albums of Maug life, see Mark Powell, FB)