21 years and the same address

January 8 marks the anniversary of our official arrival in Switzerland 21 years ago. It was the day we became permanent foreigners.

We questioned our staying power about 5 years after our arrival. Doubts also pop up when members leave, or when we’ve suffered a major defeat, or when ideas refuse to flow, or our hearts grow stubborn to change, or when people we’ve counted on suspect our motives.

Wife’s Father told me in 1983 that it would take 30 to 35 years for the church to be mature enough to make it on its own. He said too many people had come for 2, 5 or 10 years and then left before the work was done. I can understand why. But most of us stay “here” because this is where we were put, and after a while roots go down too deep to leave. You get used to being a foreigner. And you think maybe this is where God wants you for now.

Just think, 1095 Sundays with the same preacher! What a patient Body!

Sometimes people ask us what we miss most about the USA. For me, it’s the 4 F-s: Family, Fellowship, Football and FCostco.

Thanks for stopping by.