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Berger_Forever
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Name: Amber
Birthday: 4/19/1983
Gender: Female
Interests: Scrapbooking...water skiing...going to new and exciting places (like Uganda!)...watching football
Some things I am NOT interested in: talking on the phone (I don't care how much I like ya, I guarantee I don't like talking on the phone to you), and shopping
Expertise: I'm really good at being indecisive! ...at least I think I am--I'm not really sure.
Occupation: Retired
Industry: Textiles
Message: message me
AIM:  SauceDogg83
MSN: alklein83
Member Since:
9/29/2005
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| Hmm, almost forgot how to do this. My sister informed me a couple months ago that she has officially "quit' my blog since I never write. I have a hunch that it's still her home page and that it'll show up next time she gets on the internet and she'll see it...but she has given up on Berger Forever.
Just figured I should catch you (if there are any "you's" out there yet) up on life and ministry and whatever is next. It seems as though my support-raising, newsletter writing days aren't as 'over' as I might've thought a year ago when I was planning on heading back to the States. For now, Matthew and I are planning on heading out to Minneapolis after we get hitched in November.
What?! You want to know what we're doing and where we're living TOO...shoot, I thought I was doing good to have a country and state to update you on. That's where it gets a little foggy but we're working towards figuring it out. I think God is just keeping us flexible to prepare us for potential future missionary life and all of the ambiguity that comes with that. We don't have concrete plans yet but we're shooting for living in Minneapolis and doing some sort of ministry with Somali people there--that's why the choice in location, there is a very large Somali population there and we'd try to get involved in ministry of some sort. This most likely wouldn't be a full time thing--I plan to get an accounting job that can get me some more experience and Matthew will probably substitute teach part time and do ministry part time as well. Doing this, we can stay on with AIM and keep all of our stuff active, then, sometime in the future, we'll maybe head back to Africa.
So, I'm sure once we get things more figured out we'll send out some information about what we're doing...no point in doing that now really, since we don't know much. But you could certainly be praying for that--that we would be led to a useful ministry there in Minneapolis. One thing I really desire is to figure out what the needs are out there with the African folks who live in the Twin Cities and somehow cater to that. I don't think it does any good for us to go in with our grand ideas of what 'work' we want to do...I think the place to start is with what the needs are, then try to figure out what we can do to fill some of those needs.
But, that's hard to do from so far away and while we've been e-mailing and talking to people out there for the last couple months...it's really hard to get a feel for what's happening on the ground when you're not there and talking to people face to face. So you could be praying for the communication for some of that to happen, even long distance. And also for some patience in the meantime--hard to go to a place without really having a concrete plan and having everything laid out for us. I know...we were missionaries in Africa--we should be good at that by now, but it's a constant struggle to be at peace with the unknown.
K, let me quit for now. Thanks for reading. Part of me wonders if anyone (apart from those who get notified when I post something) will ever read it but in case someone does...thought I'd throw it out there... | | |
| Ok ok...I was criticized the other day that if I don't post about this news someone is going to be offended. I think it's ok cuz he doesn't read this anyway but here you go. But first, let me back up...
About a year and a half ago this guy came through our office in Uganda...headed up to Sudan but came through Kampala for orientation. Course a place with an overabundance of single ladies like the missions field tends to be, the single guys on the way get scoped out by our office long before they reach Africa. There were two in this group (highly unusual, by the way...the missions field is something like 20-1 girl to guy ratio for single folks) and I remember the day they came...Megan went over to the guest house and evaluated the situation. (I won't tell her initial impressions.) I hid out in my office like I always do but met them eventually.
Anyway...fast forward about six months and this guy out of the blue says he's interested in getting to know me better. Totally caught me off guard. Fast forward another year--hundreds of e-mails, Skype conversations, week-long visits when actually in the same country every few months...and he just met the family about a month ago as he was on a three week holiday over Easter.
Have I caught you up with my life now? K, good, cuz there's more. At some point during that three week visit we got engaged! Apparently we thought the family visits went well enough; weren't any red flags and no family members ran us out of the other's place so we didn't think we needed any more time to think it over. I dunno...it's not ideal, getting engaged to a guy your family has only known for a week, that's for sure. I guess when you live in different countries the whole duration of your relationship, nothing is going to end up being too 'ideal'. The whole thing has had it's share of oddities so surprising a few people isn't bad.
Ok...so maybe it's more than a few people. Honestly, don't be hurt or offended that you haven't been hearing about this for the last year. My immediate family is about all that knew. It's not that I'm a poor communicator...I think I'm just very selective in what I choose to communicate and for whatever reason, chose to keep this one to myself. So sorry if you're one of those people who like to be in the loop...I, personally, like surprises : )
So, who is this guy? Here's the one-minute version. His name is Matthew--and yes, that's my brother-in-law's name and yes again, that confuses things slightly. We've had all sorts of suggestions for nicknames to keep them separate so we'll see what sticks. Go ahead and ask McKayla if she's already got a "Matt" picked out...chances are she's heard that a few times already that day! He's from Lincoln, Nebraska. Oldest of five siblings. Social Studies teacher. He spent a couple years in Kenya, then one in Sudan.
Some frequently asked questions: No date yet...still trying to figure one out that works for all of the crucial people. So far pretty much the only one that works before the end of the year is in November so we may not have much of an option there. Not planning on going back to Africa anytime in the near future. We both obviously love the place and there'd be a strong chance we'd end up there someday...but not for a few years for sure. While we know we'll end up in the Midwest some place after that yet-to-be-determined wedding date--no idea where exactly that will be at this point.
K, this is more than I've blogged in about four months...people are going to be overwhelmed so I better quit! Feel free to harass me if I haven't given enough details for you. It was kind of a lot of information to supply in one post. My fault entirely.
It's like it's really official now that the Bergerworld knows...
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| No way! Is today the 27th already...that means it's been a month since writing. I do promise to write really really soon (not that I have much of anything exciting to say or anything...) but just wanted to say quickly in the meantime that I'm talking in church (Bethel) this Sunday night. McKayla and Samantha are sharing some about their recent trip to Liberia and then I'm wrapping up my last two years in Uganda. I dunno...people have maybe given up on me so this blog memo might not do any good but if there still are some readers out there and you're interested in coming...This Sunday, 6:30pm.
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| Yep...it's official. I'm a hopelessly pathetic blogger over on this side of the ocean. Sorry for that. Figured I should put forth another effort though...life is awfully busy for someone who doesn't have a real job, that's for sure. Last week they asked me to coach the throwers for the track team at JVC. I think they were pretty desperate...my throwing days were a long time ago. But...I agreed to help out and it's been lots of fun so far. Our first meet is next Thursday so we'll see how we're doing then I guess. I'm also helping out with some finance stuff at a local Bible camp...a bit overwhelming as I try to sort out how it all works and what all there is to get done. And then apart from those things...just keeping busy around home. Always something to do. My thoughts are especially with my old office this week as they're being audited this week and next. I know what a busy time that is and it's all of my old work that's being checked and dug into so maybe that's why I'm a bit anxious. I've gotten one question so far but there may be others.
Well, better quit for now. Am taking off here soon to go down to Kansas to visit Kris with my aunt and cousin. I've been an only child here for the week as McKayla is gone to Liberia on a short missions trip. Don't think that's happened since I was about two. Won't last for long, though, Mc is back next week. K...bye for now.
Where'd spring go?!?!
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| Sorry I'm so hopelessly pathetic at this. I told my sister I'd write on here today and I'm about to leave the house and just remembered--woops! Not sure if anyone still reads this anymore now that I'm back in the country, but apparently she still does. Oh boy, but where to I start with my exciting life?? Been good being back so far...have enjoyed some down time and catching up with people and all the other stuff I neglected in my busy state the last few weeks before leaving Uganda. Just went out to Minneapolis last weekend to see some friends there and had a really nice time. Spoke at chapel at JVC last Friday and AWANA at Bethesda the Wednesday before that. Nice to get to share a bit about what's on my heart regarding missions and my time in Uganda. Been trying to run or exercise every day...Megan is convinced I'm going to gain weight in this land of plenty and I'm determined to prove her wrong. Been taking in tons of basketball. The girls are done now but the boys are still playing. Trying to endure the cold somehow...though it's not easy. I love the 40 degree days when I can run outside and you can go out without feeling near death from the cold. (Exaggerating, I know, but Uganda was SOOO warm!) Braving the blizzard-like day to go run on my aunts treadmill like yesterday...yeah, not liking those days so much. But...it's March and I'm sure spring is coming...sometime...
K, better git. Kris, if no one else reads this...I should've just called you...
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