WonderFULL Family

In April, our family made the decision to be a host family for a student exchange program. We looked through many profiles, had lots of conversations, prayed together, and then told our AYUSA representative “We want Victoria.” Three months later, Victoria is HERE!!! During those months of preparation, we got to send many e-mails back and forth with this wonderFULL German family, getting to know each other, and coming to feel very comfortable as two families together. The eight of us were also able to have conversations on Skype, which helped us to know each other even more.

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for Dad & Mum to say “Good-bye” to their daughter, send her off to live with a family for an entire school year, but they have done it, and we feel immensely privileged by this special opportunity. Over the next year, I will be using this blog to keep Victoria’s parents updated on the many adventures we are having!

This was our first look at Victoria (in white sweatshirt) – straight off the airplane after 12 l-o-n-g hours of travel. Mark (in white and to the left) received a special pass to go up to the gate to meet her, but the rest of us had to wait on the other side of security ... with balloons and a big “Welcome VICKY!” sign, of course!

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It is only our first full day together, and already we are feeling so much a part of each other. Tonight Vicky gave gifts to our family that she’d brought from Germany, Dad & Mum. It was all too much – and made me cry. Not that we need a reminder, but it is touching to our hearts to read the letter from Dad & Mum telling how much they treasure this opportunity for her daughter, and they are entrusting her to our care for the year. There were candies & cookies, bread in a can, a heart waffle maker, sports jerseys from the World Cup (Germany placed 3rd!!), a coffee mug from Cologne, a traditional game, jewelry for the girls --- and all so much. THANK YOU, Dad & Mum for all your sweetness to us – we are overwhelmed by your generosity. You have been most gracious to allow us this blessing of bringing your daughter into our home and our hearts. Though our time together is so new, we are already falling in love, and it makes us sad to think of having to say ‘Good-Bye’ when Vicky returns to her home in Germany.

There are MANY adventures just now beginning, and we want to share them from us to Germany right here on our little Wintercreek blog. To Dad & Mum in Germany we say, “Lassen wir das Abenteuer beginnen! Alle zusammen als eine grosse Familie!”