I left Barneveld and spent the weekend in Amsterdam before departing for Vienna the following Monday. Amsterdam was...interesting, shall we say. It's not on my list of places to return. The city was beautiful and the canals lovely, but there's a vibe about Amsterdam having to do with the tourist attractions that didn't sit right with me. I walked around most of Saturday and stayed in the straight and narrow part of the town, but still saw things I'd rather not have seen. I decided to stay in on Sunday and just take it easy.
Monday brought me to Vienna and meeting Christine from TWR at the airport. The moment I saw her, I was wrapped in her arms before I knew it and it was like seeing an old friend. Christine radiates the love of Christ! She's about my age, with three sons of her own and a beautiful woman of God. She got me settled in and the next day we went grocery shopping and moved into the apartment a delightful missionary couple from Finland generously offered me free for a month while they returned home. I've been in the office most days from 9 - 3, out a couple when not feeling well, and loving getting to know the TWR missionaries. Every where I go, TWR people are amazing!
Adjusting to Vienna, actually we're in Perchtoldsdorf (a southern suburb of Vienna), has been interesting. Only stores and some offices are air conditioned. My first days here were quite warm, in the upper 80's but humidity generally around 60%. Still, walking up 3 flights of stairs to the apartment and my office has been an adjustment, especially in the heat. I'll admit to being a spoiled American whiner the first few days. I'm not the only American who seeks out the A/C; I have comrades who join me daily, LOL! Apparently it only gets warm for a few weeks out of the year so the Austrians just suffer through it. I think I've finally adjusted. I've learned to keep all the windows open at night, get a nice cross breeze, and then close up in the mornings. It works quite nicely.
The only problem with keeping the windows open at night is the sun rudely shines bright in my bedroom window when it rises at 4:15 every morning! For those who know me, I used to be a night owl. Not any longer. Every morning when the sun rises I begin my prayer time. Sometimes I go back to sleep till 5:30. Sometimes I just get up. I still think that's an ungodly hour to be awake, but I'm beginning to enjoy having my coffee in the cool of the morning before the sun gets too high and heats up the day. I believe a leopard can change it's spots.
All of this probably seems pretty insignificant, but actually it's a big cultural adjustment. If it weren't for Christine helping me fill my pantry and refrigerator, I might have had a melt down at the grocery store because everything was in German and nothing had English subtitles. That's actually stressful when you're thrown into that situation. None of my usual go-to foods are here. Trying to figure out what to make for just myself was a bit much. It's called culture shock and you just do the best you can to survive. If it were in French or Spanish, I'd have a much easier time figuring out the language, but German is not a latin based language and I have no experience with it as I do French. Yes, Google Translate is a big help but it takes time to use.
Using public transportation is the other big cultural adjustment. Here people think nothing of walking twenty minutes to their destination. At home I drive to the grocery store that is literally around the corner of my residence. I wondered even before I came if when I returned home, would I walk to the grocery store as I know is the European way? Then I realised I'd be returning home in early September and it will still be hot and humid so I doubt I will walk! If the temperature was like it is here, then I'd walk. Today has been beautiful, 82 and 65% humidity. I worked from home and had my windows open all day, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I know the bus schedule to get to the office, yet so far some one has offered me a ride every day. That's not going to last for long, but for now I'll gladly take it.
I have joined a world wide group called InterNations which is for people who live in other countries besides their own. I'm in the Vienna group. There are many different sub groups depending on various interests. This past weekend someone created a trap and skeet group and I gladly joined. Now I've been invited to go along with a group of gentlemen for a Saturday outing of sporting clays a week from Saturday. Austria isn't big on guns, but I've been offered the use of their shot guns and I'm excited to go. Funny how I'm not motivated to go to the wine tastings and events like those but I'm really looking forward to shooting some skeet! The only downside is I think they only have 12 gauge and that's going to bruise my shoulder pretty bad. I'm used to a 28 gauge. Big difference. But it's worth a shot, pun intended, LOL! I'm still excited!
This cultural adjustment/culture shock thing has been very interesting. I've found myself a couple of times very emotional. It's caught me off guard. Very unlike me. All the sudden I find myself overwhelmed with emotions, like the day I moved into Eevie and Jari's apartment and thought of their kindness and generosity. I started crying. VERY unlike me. Of course I was extremely grateful, but the emotions ran deeper than that. I didn't even know the source of them. When I shared this with one of the TWR missionaries at dinner, she just said "it's normal, just let the tears come, don't hold it in, it'll only make it worse". So, the next time it surfaced, I let it flow.
I think it has something to do with being in a foreign place, somewhat helpless, not knowing the language, and at the mercy of others for daily living help. Kind of reminds me that in our weakness, HE is made strong. I traveled 6 hours back in time (east) to be made weak in order to see HIS strength. I see it in HIS body (TWR), through HIS Spirit in me; I hear it in HIS still small voice, in HIS Word, in music, in a million small things. HE is all around me and in my weakness, I find strength for each new day.
Today was a long day of working non-stop in Excel spreadsheets. I'm cross-eyed. Tomorrow will be more of the same. I do have to go with Christine to a cellular store and get an Austrian SIM card for my phone. Paying Verizon $10 a day for the International plan must stop. Then it's back to the spreadsheets. But that's why I'm here. TWR needs accountants. A global ministry must be good stewards of the Lord's finances and that means they need people like me. So for every person who donates to TWR, they can have peace knowing that every penny is accounted for and used wisely.
The other interesting thing I read recently about using radio to broadcast the gospel is the millions of illiterate people who would never know the gospel if they had to rely on reading bibles. There are so many millions who hear the gospel via radio, even so many who can hear it privately in anti-Christian countries where they'd be murdered if a bible were discovered, yet via radio it's completely private. I never thought of it like that. With that, I'll say goodnight and God bless!
Michelle (Missy) Plum
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Thursday, June 15, 2017
I made it to Barneveld, Netherlands!
Sunday June 11th, departure day, came and went without any problem. My girlfriend and her three kids drove me to the airport and hugged me as they sent me off on my next missionary adventure serving with TWR. The flight was really easy and went by so fast. It's amazing how 7 hours can fly by, pun intended. The next thing I knew I was getting off the plane in Amsterdam, going through passport control, gathering my luggage and making my way to the airport storage lockers to drop a bag before finding the train headed to Barneveld where the TWR headquarters are located. I was a bit nervous about taking a train that required me getting off and onto a different train, but everyone I encountered in the Netherlands was so friendly and helpful that it was really easy. And unlike some people, ahem, I have no problem asking for directions. :)
Before I knew it, I was meeting Tijmen, my European Finance boss in Barneveld as I stepped off the train in Barneveld. It was great to finally meet him in person after working with him through email for the past couple weeks. Funny how you can sort of get an idea of a someone's personality through email, and how great it is when you finally meet them and can laugh knowing that your perception was accurate. He's so much fun; a young guy with four kids and clearly a godly devoted husband and father. Not to mention extremely gifted professionally. I already love working for and with him and know I'm going to learn a lot from him.
That was Monday. Tijmen delivered me to the B&B where I'm staying while training in Barneveld. I hadn't slept at all on the plane and not for lack of trying. By the time I reached the B&B, I'd been awake for 26 hours straight. By the time I got to the room, I felt a full collapse coming on. I told Tijmen not to expect to hear from me until Tuesday. Good thing I had a full breakfast in Amsterdam before getting on the train because I didn't wake up until Tuesday morning. I remember getting up for the breakfast here, and then went back to bed. Tuesday evening Harry and Eileen from the States took me to dinner. They introduced me to a traditional Dutch Pannekoek meal, which is a crepe with various ingredients. I had ham, cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers in mine. At first it didn't sound very good to me, but then I thought it sounded more like an omelette and decided to give it a try. Wow!! It was amazing! I'm actually still craving another one. I don't know how I could get another one....hmmmm... maybe I should ask someone if there's a place in Barneveld that makes them.
Wednesday I tried to get up to go to the office, but the time change still was difficult. Being six hours ahead, 9:00 a.m. Barneveld time was 3:00 a.m. Florida time. So I text Tijmen and told him noon was more like it. We went to lunch and spent the afternoon working on a project. The weather here is wonderful! It's like March in Florida. Low 70's and 60-70% humidity. Today, Thursday, was my first full day at the office, well sort of full day if you count 9:15 - 4:30. Rather nice hours. Tomorrow will be my last day here, then I leave Saturday morning for Amsterdam where I'll spend Saturday and Sunday wandering around Amsterdam. I want to see the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. Then on Monday comes the last leg of my journey as I fly to Vienna and will get settled there.
I'm actually a bit sad about leaving Barneveld. I really like working with the people here. But I'm sure I'll find it the same in Vienna; I hope anyway. Plus I'm looking forward to visiting some of the international churches in Vienna and finding one that suits me and getting involved. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me, but my heart has already been touched by the people here and I imagine it will be touched again and again. I just pray that the Lord will use me to touch others as well. Let me serve You Lord wherever I go; let me be Your ambassador to bring hope, peace and joy to those You put in my path.
God bless to all!
Michelle (Missy) Plum
Before I knew it, I was meeting Tijmen, my European Finance boss in Barneveld as I stepped off the train in Barneveld. It was great to finally meet him in person after working with him through email for the past couple weeks. Funny how you can sort of get an idea of a someone's personality through email, and how great it is when you finally meet them and can laugh knowing that your perception was accurate. He's so much fun; a young guy with four kids and clearly a godly devoted husband and father. Not to mention extremely gifted professionally. I already love working for and with him and know I'm going to learn a lot from him.
That was Monday. Tijmen delivered me to the B&B where I'm staying while training in Barneveld. I hadn't slept at all on the plane and not for lack of trying. By the time I reached the B&B, I'd been awake for 26 hours straight. By the time I got to the room, I felt a full collapse coming on. I told Tijmen not to expect to hear from me until Tuesday. Good thing I had a full breakfast in Amsterdam before getting on the train because I didn't wake up until Tuesday morning. I remember getting up for the breakfast here, and then went back to bed. Tuesday evening Harry and Eileen from the States took me to dinner. They introduced me to a traditional Dutch Pannekoek meal, which is a crepe with various ingredients. I had ham, cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers in mine. At first it didn't sound very good to me, but then I thought it sounded more like an omelette and decided to give it a try. Wow!! It was amazing! I'm actually still craving another one. I don't know how I could get another one....hmmmm... maybe I should ask someone if there's a place in Barneveld that makes them.
Wednesday I tried to get up to go to the office, but the time change still was difficult. Being six hours ahead, 9:00 a.m. Barneveld time was 3:00 a.m. Florida time. So I text Tijmen and told him noon was more like it. We went to lunch and spent the afternoon working on a project. The weather here is wonderful! It's like March in Florida. Low 70's and 60-70% humidity. Today, Thursday, was my first full day at the office, well sort of full day if you count 9:15 - 4:30. Rather nice hours. Tomorrow will be my last day here, then I leave Saturday morning for Amsterdam where I'll spend Saturday and Sunday wandering around Amsterdam. I want to see the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. Then on Monday comes the last leg of my journey as I fly to Vienna and will get settled there.
I'm actually a bit sad about leaving Barneveld. I really like working with the people here. But I'm sure I'll find it the same in Vienna; I hope anyway. Plus I'm looking forward to visiting some of the international churches in Vienna and finding one that suits me and getting involved. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me, but my heart has already been touched by the people here and I imagine it will be touched again and again. I just pray that the Lord will use me to touch others as well. Let me serve You Lord wherever I go; let me be Your ambassador to bring hope, peace and joy to those You put in my path.
God bless to all!
Michelle (Missy) Plum
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
A New Adventure Awaits
Wow! I haven't looked at this blog since last May. Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2017 and I'm in count down mode preparing to depart Sunday, June 11th at 2 p.m. from Tampa headed to Amsterdam for a new missionary assignment.
I just finished reading my last entry and SO much has happened since then and now. First off, I'm laughing at myself from my last post stating that I hadn't experienced any culture shock. Bahahah!!! Oh Missy, you're too funny! And the whole time I was thinking it was some kind of prayer covering that was responsible for the giddy feeling I had the entire time I was in Greece. Well, most of it was, but I DEFINITELY was experiencing some culture shock. After attending the UMC missionary training last January in Nashville and reading the books and training journals, I learned about what culture shock really is. Silly girl!! One does not know they are experiencing culture shock until AFTER it's over and they're home. Or in this girl's case, when I'm sitting in the missionary training class and all of the sudden it all comes together and I realise what I really experienced in Greece.
I went to Greece last year totally led by the Lord. Everything fell into place and I just sort of walked through and it was an amazing journey. But even after I returned, I continued to learn from my experience. It seemed to culminate at the UMC missionary training where we studied the importance of being culturally sensitive. Cross Culture Servanthood was the name of the main book. Light bulb after light bulb kept going off for me of what I'd experienced in Greece. Oh how I wished I'd been able to read that book first, but then again, it's something that you don't really understand until you experience it. So I'm not sure which should come first. Who am I to question God. He wanted me to experience Greece first, then learn about being a cross culture servant.
Okay, so back to today. Well, I suppose some context is important. Last October I sat on my parents sofa and emailed some ministries, sending them my resume and a recent photo. I asked them if they had need of my skills. Two got back with me immediately and said yes. I went forward and applied to both, was accepted and proceeded to meet them both. I did the training with the UMC but they had no position for my skills.
But the second, which I had a feeling from the beginning, had a definite need. That one is Trans World Radio, headquartered in Cary, N.C. but operating in 160 different countries and 230 different languages. TWR is a global NGO (Non-Government Organisation). They're operating on four major continents spreading the Word to the ends of the earth. They're bringing the voice of hope through the airwaves in the middle of the night when so many are without hope in poor and destitute countries. You can't keep them out with a wall. Radio waves are God's creation and an incredible resource for sharing hope to the hopeless.
I went and met the Finance staff in February, knew it was the right place for me and officially signed on, then began preparing my timing to join the Europe Finance Team sometime in May for three months. I went back to Cary for training in May and returned home only to fall to the flu. Fall hard!
My original planned departure date of May 25th was postponed to now June 11th. I was hit hard. Two weeks I spent alone in my place, just me and God. I call it my Isolation. Every morning I asked the Lord how we were going to spend the day. Only to go to sleep and get up and do the same thing over. One can't rush the flu. You wait it out. Thank God for girlfriends who drop groceries & water at your doorstep, even though they do run...I would too! But two weeks with the Lord are an incredible thing, especially if you're willing to let Him work. Absolutely nothing was wasted. Not one tear. Every one was a cleansing and necessary. All necessary to truly prepare me for a new work.
Sunday I leave at 2:00 p.m. from Tampa and will arrive in Amsterdam at 7:15 a.m Monday morning. I'll spend two days adjusting to the time change in Barneveld where the European Finance Team is headquartered, then join them for three days in their office. The Netherlands (for those of you who don't know, Holland is not a country; the country is the Netherlands; Holland is just one section) does not allow tourists to work, not even volunteer. Thus I will be working from the Vienna office. After I'm finished working in the Barneveld office, I'll have two days in Amsterdam before departing for Vienna. I want to see the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. I arrive in Vienna on Monday, June 19th and there I will stay until I return home in September.
So last time I was talking about how I finally returned home (after I really didn't want to come home) and now I'm talking about my new adventure as I prepare to leave for Vienna working with Trans World Radio. One thing I especially love about TWR is that after I've completed the three months in Vienna, I will continue working with them remotely, do special projects, and sometimes visit up to headquarters in Cary, NC to work. I know that I know that I'm in with TWR for the long haul and I'm absolutely thrilled to be so honoured to work with such an incredible ministry. I love what I do, why I do it and who I work with. It's absolutely fulfilling and I feel such joy when I'm serving in this capacity.
That's it for tonight. I still have a list to complete before departure on Sunday.
God bless,
Missy (Michelle)
I just finished reading my last entry and SO much has happened since then and now. First off, I'm laughing at myself from my last post stating that I hadn't experienced any culture shock. Bahahah!!! Oh Missy, you're too funny! And the whole time I was thinking it was some kind of prayer covering that was responsible for the giddy feeling I had the entire time I was in Greece. Well, most of it was, but I DEFINITELY was experiencing some culture shock. After attending the UMC missionary training last January in Nashville and reading the books and training journals, I learned about what culture shock really is. Silly girl!! One does not know they are experiencing culture shock until AFTER it's over and they're home. Or in this girl's case, when I'm sitting in the missionary training class and all of the sudden it all comes together and I realise what I really experienced in Greece.
I went to Greece last year totally led by the Lord. Everything fell into place and I just sort of walked through and it was an amazing journey. But even after I returned, I continued to learn from my experience. It seemed to culminate at the UMC missionary training where we studied the importance of being culturally sensitive. Cross Culture Servanthood was the name of the main book. Light bulb after light bulb kept going off for me of what I'd experienced in Greece. Oh how I wished I'd been able to read that book first, but then again, it's something that you don't really understand until you experience it. So I'm not sure which should come first. Who am I to question God. He wanted me to experience Greece first, then learn about being a cross culture servant.
Okay, so back to today. Well, I suppose some context is important. Last October I sat on my parents sofa and emailed some ministries, sending them my resume and a recent photo. I asked them if they had need of my skills. Two got back with me immediately and said yes. I went forward and applied to both, was accepted and proceeded to meet them both. I did the training with the UMC but they had no position for my skills.
But the second, which I had a feeling from the beginning, had a definite need. That one is Trans World Radio, headquartered in Cary, N.C. but operating in 160 different countries and 230 different languages. TWR is a global NGO (Non-Government Organisation). They're operating on four major continents spreading the Word to the ends of the earth. They're bringing the voice of hope through the airwaves in the middle of the night when so many are without hope in poor and destitute countries. You can't keep them out with a wall. Radio waves are God's creation and an incredible resource for sharing hope to the hopeless.
I went and met the Finance staff in February, knew it was the right place for me and officially signed on, then began preparing my timing to join the Europe Finance Team sometime in May for three months. I went back to Cary for training in May and returned home only to fall to the flu. Fall hard!
My original planned departure date of May 25th was postponed to now June 11th. I was hit hard. Two weeks I spent alone in my place, just me and God. I call it my Isolation. Every morning I asked the Lord how we were going to spend the day. Only to go to sleep and get up and do the same thing over. One can't rush the flu. You wait it out. Thank God for girlfriends who drop groceries & water at your doorstep, even though they do run...I would too! But two weeks with the Lord are an incredible thing, especially if you're willing to let Him work. Absolutely nothing was wasted. Not one tear. Every one was a cleansing and necessary. All necessary to truly prepare me for a new work.
Sunday I leave at 2:00 p.m. from Tampa and will arrive in Amsterdam at 7:15 a.m Monday morning. I'll spend two days adjusting to the time change in Barneveld where the European Finance Team is headquartered, then join them for three days in their office. The Netherlands (for those of you who don't know, Holland is not a country; the country is the Netherlands; Holland is just one section) does not allow tourists to work, not even volunteer. Thus I will be working from the Vienna office. After I'm finished working in the Barneveld office, I'll have two days in Amsterdam before departing for Vienna. I want to see the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. I arrive in Vienna on Monday, June 19th and there I will stay until I return home in September.
So last time I was talking about how I finally returned home (after I really didn't want to come home) and now I'm talking about my new adventure as I prepare to leave for Vienna working with Trans World Radio. One thing I especially love about TWR is that after I've completed the three months in Vienna, I will continue working with them remotely, do special projects, and sometimes visit up to headquarters in Cary, NC to work. I know that I know that I'm in with TWR for the long haul and I'm absolutely thrilled to be so honoured to work with such an incredible ministry. I love what I do, why I do it and who I work with. It's absolutely fulfilling and I feel such joy when I'm serving in this capacity.
That's it for tonight. I still have a list to complete before departure on Sunday.
God bless,
Missy (Michelle)
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