Of the comings and goings of people...

Good morning, good evening, where ever you are!
I am down to my last few nights in Innsbruck, and I can count them on one hand, which is a little saddening!
On Friday I will be leaving for 12 days of travelling (as I have previously mentioned) and after that I will in Innsbruck for only one more night! This past week has been full of goodbyes and spending time with each other.  And the rest of the week will continue to be the same! Slowly, the internationals are going back to their countries, and the full-time students are going home for the semester break (or travelling). And this is what it is all about: people.
My time in Innsbruck has been what it is because of the people that I met and become friends with. I have met so many amazing people, through school and through church, and through clubs. Everyone is in Innsbruck for a different reason, but God has all brought us here at the same time, for a season. I so strongly believe that every relationship I encounter is from God. He is in them all. And that's what will make it so sad to leave Innsbruck. But then again, if I were to stay in Innsbruck many people would be gone in their own countries, or if I were to come back in a few years, my Austrian friends would be graduated from university and likely have moved on. It's also the reason that I am looking forward to going home. I am so excited to see so many people in Kamloops, but it's exactly what makes it so hard to leave.

Today is also the first ever Family Day in British Columbia. When I first heard about the holiday, I was quite amused. I thought it was funny that there is now a specific day to celebrate families. But really, it is a great day because it gives us all a chance to humbly remember our families, who we so often take for granted.

Relationships are also a living reminder of God. People give us different glimpses of who God really is. I heard once that we each have different abilities that God has given us, but all of these abilities together give us a larger glimpse of who God is as a whole!
Relationships are also a reminder of the frailty of life, and the comings and goings of people humbly remind us to make the most of what we have each day.

So, as the days go by of the rest of my time in Innsbruck, in Poland, in England and in Austria I will praise God for the people that he has placed in my life and I will praise him for the relationships that I have.

Christi

Enjoying the beautiful sun in Salzburg, with my soon to be travel partner (we're going to Poland together!)

  All ready for the  Wonderland party, can you guess what each of us are supposed to be!

We attempted to go sledding in the afternoon, but unfortunately, it was closed. This cheese (and the chocolate) Fondue was a good alternative!

AND it's the season of balls in Austria! Ready for the Feuerwehr Ball with my cousin, Anne, and some other family! What fun we had together!

Making cookies with Mr. Moose (who has travelled all the way from TRU with me!)