Skipping around a little here...there are some more pictures from Berlin I want to include here and caption so I won't forget this experience. As it is, the pictures are limited and this is just a taste of those 5 days but I want to document what I have at least.
Closest to Italy I've ever been and I could tell. This little Cucina Italiana was truly authentic and my tastebuds knew it!! Wish I took a picture of my meal but I think it would make me salivate like crazy right now. Pasta was homemade, marinara was perfect and simple and wine was oh. so. good. Yep, the tastes of Europe...good stuff! It was a cozy spot with real from-Italy Italians serving and cooking. Definitely a favorite find!
This was also our first dinner in Berlin and the only one we had alone so it was sweet time despite our jetlag.
This fun bunch of people are the ones we spent most of our time with. A mix of ReachNational folks that Shane serves alongside, US and global pastors and a couple of the missionaries that are currently living in Berlin a.k.a. our walking history books and windows to real-life Berlin. Yep, we had a lot of fun together.
Jeff and Michelle. Jeff is on the Reach National team with Shane as the Director of Church Planting. Michelle is his wife who I really enjoyed getting to know. They live in Duluth, MN so they are not local to us and this is the first time I had ever met either of them...had to get to Europe to meet them apparently. We had a great time exploring the city, hanging out and having great conversations with these two over lots of meals shared. I so appreciated Michelle's compassionate heart and effervescent personality!
"Kristina". I don't remember her German pronunciation and she said to just call her that as most Americans do. She was a last-minute fill-in for a history of the church in Berlin. How very insightful and rare to hear the history of Germany from the mouth and perspective of a true German. She was honest and funny and captivating. Her words and the heart that shone through spoke of the power of God's redemptive plan that does not exclude Berlin. It is a tolerant and secular city but God has not abandoned its people. She is an active prayer warrior for Berlin and for Germany and she is not alone. I remember walking away feeling so thankful to have heard her unique and honest perspective of her country's history and hope anew that God IS NOT DEAD.
Reichstag Building. We missed out on the tour of this which I know would have been so cool.
Brandenburg lit up at dusk.
Berlin Cathedral Church. Largest Church in Berlin. It is beautiful on the outside. We didn't go in for the tour. Hard thing about these beautuful old buildings is knowing the lifelessness within.
Museum. I forget which one.
Pergamom Museum. The one museum we did enter. This was the most magnificent part of it -
King Nebuchadnezzar 's Ishtar Gate of Babylon. This is the gate that the Israelite captives would have walked through. It was AMAZING!
Fun night in Potsdamer Platz. Wish I had more people shots! These were all taken with Shane's phone because I am lousy at taking pictures when I am in the moment.
Another yummy Italian dinner...Could not get enough!!
German fare night meant good local dark beer.
A missionary couple in Berlin. They recently opened a music cafe in the neighborhood they live in. They are teaming with others to create a gospel initiative in their community, that their lives may intersect with others in need of Jesus' saving light and love. Inspiring to us. They have poured so much time, energy and prayer and are offering it to God for His kingdom's sake.
Berlin selfies.
So very grateful for this man. Thankful for the adventures God takes us on and for the privilege of traveling to Berlin together to give our minds and hearts a bigger picture of the world and of God who IS at work always, everywhere.
