We went to lunch today with a couple from our church and another couple from the school. I had a delicious chicken schnitzel, and all was right with the world.
Upon arriving home, however, Beth realized her wallet was missing from her purse. After checking a few obvious places, we started to get a little nervous. This led to a few phone calls, the checking of a few more obscure places, and even a visit to the school to check there. Alas, the wallet was not to be found.
After our searches had proved fruitless, I feared the inevitable--that the wallet had been stolen. This was easily confirmed when I checked our online banking and saw that our U.S. credit card had been used to buy a one month city of Vienna public transportation pass earlier that afternoon. What a delightful discovery!
So, several phone calls and a few hours later, we've canceled Beth's U.S. debit/credit card, her Bank Austria card, and done a few other preventative things. The bad news is that her passport, U.S. driver's license, yearly Vienna public transportation pass, and other personal things (pictures, etc.) are likely gone forever. So, we're going to have to spend some time (and money) this week to get all this stuff sorted out, and hopefully replace what we can. We DO need to get the passport replaced as soon as possible, as Beth is now without any sort of photo ID. She also is going to need the passport to get her visa!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Obstacles
Our work here in Vienna has not been without its difficulties and problems. One of the difficulties we've had has been finding the best way to keep up with our friends and family. We've tried Skype, e-mailing, newsletters, blogging, mailings, and phone calls, but whatever we try just doesn't seem to fill the gap left by being far away from the folks we love. I guess I'm perplexed by this. In many ways the world we live in today is tiny, particularly when compared with the world as it was 100 or even 50 years ago. I can have instantaneous conversations with folks from just about anywhere in the world--complete with video--with the push of just a few buttons. But as cool as this is, no amount of technology seems able to replace a handshake or a hug. I guess the world is still a pretty huge place after all.
While talking about this strange paradox with a friend of mine the other day, we started thinking about what it must have been like to be in ministry during Jesus' day. Specifically, I've been thinking about Peter. The Bible tells us he was married, but I wonder if his wife was on board with his decision to follow Jesus? Did she come along with him during his travels? And what about Paul? He built his life around the edicts of Judaism, but must have had to leave friends and family behind after his experience on the road to Damascus. How did these and other folks back then do it? It's really a miracle that the fledgling early church gained any footholds at all in the Roman empire, especially considering that the message of Jesus' gospel was LITERALLY delivered from place to place on the backs and by the feet of just a small group of folks...
I guess the point is that nothing makes me feel like more of a wuss than to read about the new testament heroes who endured so much for the sake of the gospel. And if Paul could do it through letters, I suppose I can manage through blogging, emailing, and the like.
While talking about this strange paradox with a friend of mine the other day, we started thinking about what it must have been like to be in ministry during Jesus' day. Specifically, I've been thinking about Peter. The Bible tells us he was married, but I wonder if his wife was on board with his decision to follow Jesus? Did she come along with him during his travels? And what about Paul? He built his life around the edicts of Judaism, but must have had to leave friends and family behind after his experience on the road to Damascus. How did these and other folks back then do it? It's really a miracle that the fledgling early church gained any footholds at all in the Roman empire, especially considering that the message of Jesus' gospel was LITERALLY delivered from place to place on the backs and by the feet of just a small group of folks...
I guess the point is that nothing makes me feel like more of a wuss than to read about the new testament heroes who endured so much for the sake of the gospel. And if Paul could do it through letters, I suppose I can manage through blogging, emailing, and the like.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Good Morning!
Over the years I've learned there is a veritable smorgasbord of variables that help determine the quality of each and every morning. Here's a sample list, in no particular order: amount of coffee available, quality of said coffee, breakfast options available, quality of breakfast selection, number of hours slept, quality of sleep, hot shower availability, mood of pet, mood of wife (crucial), temperature of living quarters upon awakening, day of the week (hooray for weekends), amount of time available between waking up and first scheduled obligation, type and amount of toothpaste available, facial hair status (having to shave reduces any morning's enjoyment), schedule of the day's succeeding activities, and many more.
However, each of these factors pales in the face of what I've come to believe is the ultimate determinant for early morning happiness: the absence or presence of Jet Lag. I've traveled a bit over the last handful of years, but have never experienced a real Category 5 case of jet lag. At least, not until a few days ago. Now, however, I'm on my fourth consecutive day of waking up between the hours of 3 and 4 a.m. Here, in the midst of this maelstrom, I find myself longing for something as simple as being out of milk or having to deal with a hot water shortage. Perhaps I should view this as preparation for fatherhood? Or, perhaps more cynically, as a small glimpse into hell?
In any event, I'm starting to look more and more like one of the extras in Michael Jackson's "Thriller," except my dancing isn't quite as smooth (I blame lack of sleep). Hopefully I can get on some sort of regular schedule soon!
However, each of these factors pales in the face of what I've come to believe is the ultimate determinant for early morning happiness: the absence or presence of Jet Lag. I've traveled a bit over the last handful of years, but have never experienced a real Category 5 case of jet lag. At least, not until a few days ago. Now, however, I'm on my fourth consecutive day of waking up between the hours of 3 and 4 a.m. Here, in the midst of this maelstrom, I find myself longing for something as simple as being out of milk or having to deal with a hot water shortage. Perhaps I should view this as preparation for fatherhood? Or, perhaps more cynically, as a small glimpse into hell?
In any event, I'm starting to look more and more like one of the extras in Michael Jackson's "Thriller," except my dancing isn't quite as smooth (I blame lack of sleep). Hopefully I can get on some sort of regular schedule soon!
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