Christmas with Family!
This Christmas, we felt so blessed to be able to see both of our families! We’ve been in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the last few weeks since we’ve been back--JB’s parents have hosted us graciously all through the holiday season! On Christmas day, Abbie’s family drove up for just a few days, so we got to see them, too! Since last Christmas, there has also been a new addition to the family--JB’s sister is engaged! It was great to spend Christmas with her finance, too!
Windle / Robinson family picture!
Double Portion
We got back to the US about two weeks ago. Since we’ve been back, it’s been a lot of fun getting to re-connect with friends and family, and even get involved in ministry at our church, since we’ve got a little extra time in between assignments. We chose to spend some time working with a ministry called “Double Portion.” Our church, along with some other churches in the area, is part of this ministry, which serves a hot meal to anyone who needs it three times a week, operates a food pantry, and also repairs and gives away clothing. We’ve gotten to know a lot of great people, and have had a lot of fun working there!
Abbie making sandwiches for one of the meals.
Friends in Germany
On our flight home, we had two layovers between Moscow and good old Appleton, WI--our first layover was in Frankfurt, Germany and our second was in Chicago, IL.
During JB’s last year of university, we hung out with a lot of international students from JB’s campus. That year, we met an international student from Germany named Simon. We became friends, and have kept in touch over the past year and a half...so when our travel agent told us that we could extend our layover in Germany for free, we jumped at the chance to go see old friends!
We spent three days with Simon and his wife Kadda in a small university town in the south of Germany called Tuebingen. It was so fun!
Tuebingen is an old town with beautiful old architecture in its downtown area.
Russian street performers singing at an open-air Christmas Market. Germany is famous for them (the Christmas Markets, not Russian singers…
Abbie, Kadda, and Simon together in Tuebingen!