2 days

I miss Siloah.

I love being in Jena, though. It is fantastic seeing my host family again and being reunited with the group was a lot of fun and interesting. I look forward to hearing more about other people's service locations and sharing all about mine.

But quite honestly, I think I left my heart at Siloah.

My luggage is pretty much packed and doesn't weigh nearly as much as I thought it would. I can lift it with ease and I'm not too worried about it. It's crazy to think that I am packing to go home and not just to another part of Germany. I'm not sure if I'm ready to face the shock of being in a totally different setting. Germany has become so familiar to me. I'm comfortable here. At Siloah, when I found myself given the option of speaking to the American Team Missions group that was visiting there in English, I immediately wanted to go back to my German friends. It felt better that way. I'm scared of losing my German once I go home because I don't have anyone at home to speak with. My family speaks Spanish as a second language. I am the only German speaking Mexican I know!

Perhaps at Goshen that won't be much of a problem. There are plenty of German speakers on campus, including the people from my SST group. I want to keep it up just in case I actually do work at Siloah in two years. I don't want language to be an issue. Well, it wasn't really before.

The night before Nick, Matt, and I left Siloah, the mannschaft and the workers had a party for us in which we had pizza, conversation, and gifts down in the Kaminkeller (fireplace basement). I was able to take some pictures with people from the group and thanks was given all around for our hard work and their hospitality. The next morning, some of them actually woke up early to have breakfast with us (an usual thing, waking up early on a Saturday at Siloah) and gave us final hugs before we climbed in to the car to head towards Fröttstadt to catch a train to Jena. I gave my yoyo to Kathi, a fellow co-worker who has a place in my heart, because she was getting so good everytime she practiced with it. My yoyo had been my little trademark but she means so much to me that I felt she should have it.

Today is being spent relaxing and enjoying that all homework is done and there are no other priorities other than tomorrow's meeting and packing. Traveling back home is coming too soon. I am eager to see my family and friends and my beautiful Houston. First, I will come to Goshen via the traditional SST bus, and then stay in Goshen for a night with Rachel. The next morning I will catch a train out of Elkhart in to Chicago and from there I will fly in to Houston. I have a lot of traveling ahead of me and I hope I have the strength to get myself home. I think my excitement of being surrounded by people speaking English and the anticipation of seeing my family will keep me going.

So, Germany, Auf Wiedersehen. I know I will be coming back very soon. There is a wonderful opportunity here for me that I am willing to take. You have taught me a lot about myself and you will forever be a wonderful memory. I'm sorry that we are the last SST group here. Thank you to everyone I have met here and who have made me feel so welcomed.

Tschüs.