neuwigkeit

got to skype with Alina and Monika yesterday

and got to speak on the phone with Alina this morning. 

practicing deutsch....getting the dirt on Viennese life

1. 

obviously i already posted that we are officially an association in Austria

(im still smiling)

2. 

one day before I left, the diocese decided that the electricity in the entire apartment was dangerous because it was so old and that they were going to replace all of it (even the cost of it was approved by the parish priest in charge of our apartment which we were really surprised to hear. 

("Economical" would be the considerate way of describing him...but a synonym to this word in his case would be "parsimonious")

Three days after I left, the men practically moved into the apartment to begin the work. It didn't take them very long considering all the work they needed to do (that means all outlets, light fixtures, etc. which is good because some were falling out of the walls). Alina told me yesterday that they were indeed finished...but left behind so much dirt and debris (the didn't clean up anything or fix any of the walls or floors or ceilings that they had deconstructed in order to do their job) that made Alina understand exactly why God had sent me away for a month (she is so cute...direct quote..."I'm so glad you aren't here. Its just better for your sanity"...of course, auf deutsch). 

This morning when I spoke with her, she was getting ready to head to the store to purchase some cement with Fr. Jacques. Yes, that means they are rebuilding walls because the parish priest decided the repair of the electricity was so expensive that he would refuse to make any more repairs in the kitchen and the bathroom--please refer to previous pictures...this is now our reality without hope of help from the diocese. Oh well, it will all mean so much more and cause us to learn so much more if we have to do it ourselves. Just pray that we do in fact remain sane (well, i'm in Amerika so that isn't so much of an issue for me) and that we end up having enough funds to enable us to repair what still needs to be repaired. Alina said that they haven't been able to eat in the apartment for 2 weeks because of all the work and dust. 

3.

Monika found a new apartment. She has been wanting to move so badly for the past 4 months and she is really seeking to live with some other young women so that she's not entirely alone anymore and so that she can afford to live in a bigger apartment. The apartment she found was 2 floors above us!!! Funny right! Her apartment is almost identical to ours, but bigger and completely renovated. She has found two other roommates, is still looking for a third, and was completely set on the decision. 

That is...until the parish priest decided yesterday to up the rent considerably. The reason he gave her was because of us, and all the expenses that we have caused him with our apartment (aka the electricity which was not even our decision to have done) and that since she was helping us so much, he raised the rent. 

umm...lets just pray for him. 

and for Monika that she figures out what God wills for her right now. 

She has an amazing trust in God...and is completely a model of peace and trust when things aren't going as well as you would like.