What else is new..

so... i haven't updated in a long time. i have been really busy, which is a good and bad thing. here's a list of things that have happened in the past few months (it doesn't feel like months though):

1. volleyball season was great-- it allowed me to meet a lot of amazing girls.
2. i have been really involved in yearbook-- my partner, aliza, and i work on the middle school and elementary school sections. we have so much fun with kids and love being annoying to the seniors in yearbook class.
3. i have improved my german a lot. my german friend, anna, would probably laugh at me but whatever. i love speaking german.
4. herbstmesse in basel-- 350 bfa kids took over the city and the bumpers cars. it was pretty fun :)
5. i have been introduced to a lot of awesome music i have never heard of.
6. i got my nose pierced :) which was awesome.
7. i am already sick of this cold weather.
8. i am feeling so at home and apparently a lot of people feel at home in my home-- i come home to a full living room most days. and people have started inviting themselves over.
9. i have enjoyed going to the dorms so much. storch-- my favorite girls dorm. sonne-- a guys dorm which has really sweet cool guys.
10. i have experienced drama, tears, laughing, sleepovers, hair-dying, getting troughed at storch (and freezing my butt off), walking EVERYWHERE, and being with so many chill friends.

so summary: i love where i live. i love almost everything about it. i love the people, the diversity, the amount of languages i hear in the hallways (which actually just makes me jealous), the random boringness of what to do after school.

unfortunately my camara is broken so i don't have many new recent pictures. but here are a few:

me and kimmy at herbstmesse














me, steph, kimmy (one of the coolest koreans ever) and debby fowler!! such amazing girls. i love them














me, ashling, and youjin














liza, me, ann ann, and meggy dressed as escaped convicts for Fall Party.

my yearbook class-- we changed our friend's facebook picture because he didn't logout.


























aliza and i at Sitzenkirch Thanksgiving. oh yes, we matched (and now have matching noses). we call ourselves lizadiff. it's awesome.

adjusting

1st day of school. today. I was so nervous when I walked up to the auditorium.. luckily, I got to take pictures of the opening ceremony for yearbook (yay!). which was cool-- the seniors walked in with flags from their home countries-- 48!!

today I met a lot of really cool people-- some returning, some new.

volleyball tryouts right after school. I think I did well. once again, met some new people.

as I'm sitting here typing, I'm realizing that I worry waaaaay too much about things like this. it was totally fine, and I'm already making some really good friends. 

thanks for the prayers. keep them coming!

love, mere

"..she reminds me of Lindsay.."

as you can imagine, being in an airport that's about to fly you away to a different continent isn't always the greatest place to be.

we arrived and met up with a new RA that was heading in our direction-- her name was Lizzy and as mom had said earlier, "Mere, she really reminds me of Lindsay."

at that point I could honestly care less. but I watched Lizzy; she was playing with Ethan, talking to Evan and I, and truly showing that she cared.

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now a couple weeks later, I find myself caring a whole lot. Lizzy has been my comfort these past few weeks. I can talk to her whenever, stop by her dorm whenever, or get a hug whenever. and she's an answer to prayer. many prayers. because being new is NOT easy. but I don't feel uncomfortable with her. her testimony is encouraging and her relationship with Jesus is something I really admire.

I love her. and I know that she doesn't find me annoying, or a tagalong. I'm lucky to have her so near by. and she really does remind me of Lindsay.  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

saying see you later

On August 2nd at 8 AM, a white truck pulled into the St. B's parking lot. 

Out came a family of five frightened, anxious, upset, somewhat nauseous, new missionaries.

they were immediately greeted by several family-friends: 6 teenage girls, 4 boys (ages varied), a few parents, an aunt and her beautiful daughter, and grandparents.

after socializing for a few minutes, the inevitable could not be pushed away any longer.

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I walked over to my best friend Lindsay and smiled. we hugged. for about 5 minutes. and cried.

I went around the group, mascara pouring down my cheeks-- I don't know why I try to wear make-up anymore-- hugging every possible person I could hug. telling every one of them "I love you"

pictures were taken (see my Facebook album). goodbyes were said. I gave Lindsay my pink chocolate cell-phone and charger. I gave Olivia her bra back. best friends share those kinds of things, you know?

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someone--I don't know who-- said a prayer for safety. the whole time I was squeezing Lindsay's hand. more mascara pouring down my cheeks-- I don't know why I try to wear make-up anymore. after more hugs (probably just to prolong the inevitable) I reluctantly joined my family in the big white church van. and composed myself. the tears stopped.

then I looked out the window to see Mrs. Darlene comforting Lindsay and Bethany, Mrs. Deeann comforting Jordan, Mr. Don Paul comforting Olivia, Mrs. Karen comforting Naomi, and the other Mrs. Karen comforting Caroline. I looked at Olivia's face-- red puffy eyes, trembling lips-- and broke down again. we waved goodbye. it took a 5 hour car ride to atlanta to regain my stamina.

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all this to say. I have THE most amazing friends. waking up waaaayyyy earlier than any teenager should to come to my seeing off party. sacrificing their sleep and time for me. ME. why? I'm not sure. all I know is I see God through them. I see God's love, and grace, and faithfulness, and loyalty, and friendship, and compassion. all of that I see through my best friends.