It has been really neat to be a part of God’s people abroad with people who are from all over the world! It is also interesting to see their different perspectives. The German service is a bit more traditional and definitely quieter, perhaps reserved would be a good word for it. I’ve enjoyed the sermons I’ve heard there. The English service (which is international) is a Baptist church and they are quite lively, with more clapping and I saw at least one person dancing. What is amazing is how, amidst the differences and even through the differences, Christ is quite evident. The way that they have welcomed me has been such a comfort and encouragement to me! It is one of the coolest things, to go to a far away place and find God at work there!
Below are some pictures of times with friends/acquaintances and exploration of the city of Hamburg:
This is the church that I’ve been attending.
- One of the people I met at this church, Eike, said she wanted to hang out and show me Blankenese. In Blankenese (a more affluent part of town) we saw this Lutheran church.
Inside the church.
I did not understand these interesting paintings in the church. The one on the far right is of a plan and a bunch of houses catastrophically stuck in the clouds.
Eike and I went to a beach along the Elbe river in Blankenese. It was beautiful!
View from the beach.
Eike and I at the beach.
- Grilling with some gals from church 🙂
I went on a bike ride tour through Hamburg on Saturday. The weather was perfect!
The weirdest thing I’ve seen in Hamburg was on this tour. It is a statue of Otto von Bismarck with a ram on his head. No one really knew why! Any theories?
After the tour we grilled at a park. Yummy!!!
This is where we started and ended the tour, which is also the church that I’ve been attending.
On Sunday morning before church I went to the famous “Fischmarkt,” which is a like a huge farmer’s market/flea market. We bought food for breakfast––fish and fruit!
The fish 🙂
After walking through the fish market we had a fish breakfast and watched a half-marathon from the balcony. I don’t know if I’d ever eaten a fish whole like that before!
This was the half Marathon. I heard there were 10,000 runners!
So, there are some snapshots!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice pics. Thanks for sharing
Mike Myers preached for us last Sunday Evening. We appreciate your pictures
Sounds like a very good adventure. The pictures give us a better idea of your situation there. Thanks!
Looks like you’re having a lot of fun! Although, I don’t really like the idea of fish and fruit for breakfast 🙂 I am so glad God has provided you with a welcoming church during your stay in Hamburg.
Thanks Audrey! Regarding the ram, my first thought was the ram from Daniel 8:4. I think that ram is supposed to be Persia, but maybe the metaphor of a ram is borrowed from Daniel.