Michelle's March Maugenhard Update

Dear friends and family,

Greetings from Germany!  Local farmers are preparing their fields for planting. The now frequent sun and cool weather is good for the morale of the students and the staff alike. 

Between the high school talent show,

first home soccer games,

two different birthday celebrations,

and Josh's parents visiting, 

it was a full but rich weekend.  

• I got to help with stage make-up for our guys' talent show act.  Everyone had a blast, and they got 1st place!  The hugs that do not come often came that night.  I will treasure these small moments of bonding with my guys. 

• Overall, when parents visit it is extra work for the staff.  Yet, Josh's parents are such an encouragement to us all.  Josh's mom cooks amazing Korean food and his dad takes photos for us.  Talking to them about what they do in the Middle East and how much they appreciate the ministry of us at BFA reminds me of why I am here.  They deeply thank us for our care of Josh and the others. Thank you for helping to make it a reality for me to be here and a part of this ministry to Josh and others.

This is the last week of school before two weeks of Spring Break for the students.  It is evident that everyone is ready for a break from their routine, work, and environment.

• A handful of our guys are going on various international mission trips
• Others are going back to their families
• But everyone will be out of the dorms, so the dorm staff can have a much needed break as well.

In preparing for the next year, BFA staff asks for prayer.  

• There are still some significant roles to be filled for the fall: dorm parents and RAs, especially.  
• My dorm parents will be returning, but both of my co-RAs will not be.  Guy staff are sometimes hard to recruit, but we need some quality guy RAs to be good older brothers for the guys.
• Please pray that God will provide who He wants for each dorm, so that the teams are honoring to God and good for the students.  
• The communications team at BFA are working on a video to help recruit dorm parents in particular.  It is featuring my dorm parents here at Maug, which I am excited about.  I will post the video link once it comes out, so you can see and share it.

Thank you for your love and support!  I am working on getting MailChimp set up, so I can be a better communicator with you all State-side.  But until then, enjoy this!

I'd love to hear from you (mwaters@teachbeyond.org)!  Keep me posted on life.

Love,

Michelle

Maugenhard Student Spotlight: Zach

Dear Friends and Family,

Here at Black Forest Academy in Germany we just ended the third quarter of the school year.  This weekend is the High School Retreat (and my birthday! Woot!).  Please pray for receptive hearts and good rest for the students and staff during the retreat.  I am excited because I get to help out with a group of girls for discussions and rest otherwise. :o)

God is teaching me a great deal right now about life, love, and vision.  God is using unexpected staff and students to do it.  Even though seasonal illness has not been fun, I have had the opportunity to spend more time with various students at the dorm or doctors' offices.  One of these students is Zach.  I've grown to really appreciate Zach.  He is a gem, who is clearly maturing a great deal and needs a lot of encouragement during this season.  

Maugenhard Student Spotlight:

Introducing... 

Zach from the Middle East/Oregon

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(If you are interested in reading the full 1-page Maugenhard Student Spotlight, please email me: mwaters@teachbeyond.org.) 

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Thank you for your prayer, care and support!  I'd love to hear from you and how you are doing.  Please pray that I will be able to love the guys like they need, rather than what I need to feel good about myself.  

Peace be with you,

Michelle Waters

mwaters@teachbeyond.org

The Stomach Bug Strikes Again

Prayer update:

Although the snow is beautiful here, the winter sicknesses are here full on.  We have a bad case of the flu going around. One of our guys had to go to the emergency room the other night because of what seemed like Appendicitis, which was really this "bug" that's hitting really badly.

Staff is trying to keep immune systems boosted and illness quarantined.  Please pray for healing, encouragement and additional energy as we take turns doing what extra caring needs to be done.   It is a fantastic opportunity for us staff  to serve and love on these guys in a personal way in their time of weakness.

Overall, I am doing better.  I had a much needed break this weekend, where I was able to experience simple, yet profound, hospitality from my Spanish friend's family and members of a church plant in that city; even though I am fighting some sickness myself, my soul is refreshed from experiencing the Body of Christ in that way.  Thank you, God, for providing what you knew I needed!

Thanks for your care and support!

Michelle Waters

Such a blessing!

Thank God!

And thank you for praying! 

I passed my theoretical driving test for my German license today.

I now have my German/EU license in hand!

After much studying, my dear friend Lauren offered to drive me to my test and then later to get my license card from another place.  Such a blessing!

After I got the results of the test and didn't understand how to proceed with getting my actual card, a German young lady took a long time and graciously helped me figure out what to do next.  Such a blessing!

After calling to get clarification of where to drop off my test results form, the office for the licenses was still open and the lady processed me quickly...and even gave me the copy of my license to take with me right then in exchange for my US one.  People usually have to wait days after their test to get theirs!!!  Such a blessing!

After having study resources given to me and taking copious notes, I am able to bequeath these resources to another friend, who will get to study herself. Plus, I have further empathy for all those who struggle through this process and the consequent experiences of frustration and feelings of inferiority and "stuckness" in the meantime.  Such a blessing!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support and being such a blessing!

Love, Michelle

A Mini Michelle Update

We are getting back in the swing of things here.  It is nice to have a foundation already laid here and getting the privilege to build on that.  I have greater appreciation for caring, disciplined, and sacrificial parents now that I am in this position.  It is hard to love, discipline, and guide teenagers, but it is so rewarding to know these guys and learn from the other staff, too.  I am studying to re-take my driving theory test for Germany on Monday; who knew I could learn so much about car physics, German pedisterian law, and situation responses to priority driving?  Until I pass this again, I am not driving for now in order to be legal.  Germany is cool like that.  But in the meantime I am getting to do more relational and household related things on top of studying.  Good times.  I also get a weekend break coming up, which will be fun.

Love ya,

Michelle

6 Months Ago :)

January 27 
...6 months ago on June 27 
I moved to Germany!


...Thus ends my 6 months of 
my American-driver's-license-driving in Germany.

- - - -

January 28 
...Begins my no-driving period.  
...The driving-theory studying continues.  
I am learning a great deal about the German laws of the road and physics of cars. 
Interesting stuff, indeed.


My test re-take date is TBA. :)


Love,
Michelle

Driving Test

Hey y'all - 


Here's the scoop - I did well in recall of what I studied for my driving theory test for Germany but there is far more to study and learn. Consequently, I did NOT yet pass. 2 more questions or so needed to be correct at least. I am going to research how long I need to wait to take it again.  Jan. 27th will be 6 months from when I first moved to Germany, so after that I won't be able to drive until I pass this test.  I will keep you posted on when I get to re-take the test.  In the meantime, back to studying. :) Thanks for praying!  I appreciate everyone's care and support.


Love, Michelle - Future EU/German License holder :)