It is that time of year where the weather is cold and sitting at a cafe drinking coffee (in my case hot chocolate) and eating cake is appealing.  So, lets have a Coffee break and talk. 

   I would start the conversation by saying that I've had it rough in language school the last couple of weeks.  I'd tell you that the chapters we'd covered were all new to me and I was understanding very little.  I'd also share that at one point I was ready to pack up and return home.  But I have not.  I am still here.  In the roughest moments I reminded myself that I was here because of God's plan for my life.  As long as it is God's plan, then I must remain no matter how hard or despairing it gets.  We'd talk about God's strength and how God will help us through the hard times.  We'd quote some Bible verse such as: 

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Psalm 46:1   God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

     Then I would talk about how I sought God's strength to get through the tough times.  How I had quit feeling friendly and how I wanted to just shut down.  How at one point I had wanted to tell my table partner, sweet Alena, that if she corrected me one more time I was going to slap that pretty face right off her head.  (We'd just learned body parts the week before so I could have said this in German....but God held my tongue and I did not.)   I would also share that I had started dreading conversations with another classmate, Alexandra, because she was only coming up to me and talking about the things I'd done wrong in class and telling me how I needed to listen in class!  I wanted to say, I am listening....I just am not processing!  I'm really not as dumb as I appear to be!  And then shake her.  But again, God helped hold my tongue and arms and hands.  And so, I'd pray, "Lord help me to be friendly.  Let your light shine despite the frustrations I have in class."  Only as God can do in his amazing ways did He present me as friendly to my classmates.  I don't know what they see, but it has got to be God, because it is not me.  I am still dealing with frustrations. 
      As God leads one classmate after another to talk with me, I open up and am friendly with them.  Alena, continues to be my friend despite my "dumbness."  Alexandra has had two conversations with me where we talk about life.  She is from Belarus and speaks Russian and some French.  She is an only child and her mother misses her fiercely.  She talks with her mother regularly by skype.  It will be Christmas before she can go visit her mom.  She is here in hopes of a better life. She has met a German and she hopes to marry him one day.  He has several siblings.  One is a younger brother who is about 7 years old.  He deals with diabetes.  He has a pump that regulates his insulin intake.  He is going to school now and the family is concerned about how well he will do with school and the insulin regulations.  This little fellow has a special place in Alexandra's heart. 
    I have also had several conversations with Kamilla.  She is from Hungary.  Kamilla bikes to school every day.  The ride into Lorrach takes about 20 minutes so when it rains, she does not come to school.  She too has come for a better life.  She must learn German in order to find a job.  She is discourage that she can not work right now....due to lack of language....but looks forward to the day she can work.  She is a bit envious of me that I already have a job.  I have a company that will pay for my language education and that there will be a position waiting for me when I complete my class.  She also thinks I am a special person to love on the school children as I do.
      I'd follow up with Feray who paid me a complement this past week.  She called me her friend and asked to have her photo taken with me.  We have had several conversations.  She likes to just have conversations to help each of us improve upon our German.  She focuses much on getting the language correct.  She wants to excel at learning German.  She is often frustrated with the learning just as I am.  The class moves quickly for her at times.  I know just how she feels.  She gets frustrated with the delinquents when they try to act up in class.  She has no tolerance for them.  We are here to learn!  Not play.  I totally get it.  She is a really neat person that I'd love to get to know better. 

   So, I've talked your ears off.  Now it is your turn.  What would you share?  What have you been dealing with lately that has been troubling you?  How has God helped you through your hardships?