A REVERENT CELEBRATION

We read about the festivities in the U.S. celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and recognize that we are missing something quite extraordinary. For us here in Bad Homburg, this 4^th of July weekend is like any other summer weekend, except for the request by Church leaders back home that we fast today in thanks for the religious liberty that we enjoy in the U.S. (like in many other countries of the world), with the hope and prayer that the same liberties may be extended to all of God’s children wherever they may live.

By the time I (Russell) return from this mission I will be almost 72 years old.  I will have lived outside the U.S. for over 9 years, an eighth of my life: over 5 years in Europe and almost 4 years in Asia. As a young man having lived in Southeast Asia, I returned home from my first mission with a much greater appreciation for the freedoms, opportunities, and material abundance that I enjoyed simply because of the fact of where I had been born. I came home loving the United States of America! A period of living without the benefits it afforded me made me realize how truly blessed I was. 

When I was working in Belgium 27 years ago, I had a conversation with several other officers of our company regarding the taxation of stock options. They were citizens of several different European countries, all living in Belgium.  I was the only American. I remember them asking me why I didn’t just move to a different country and renounce my citizenship to avoid paying taxes. The thought had never even entered my mind and was repulsive. I remember thinking I would rather be economically broke but with my U.S. passport than a wealthy citizen of any other country. That was one of only several of my closely held beliefs that gave my new colleagues reason to think I was slightly crazy. And I still feel that way today.

What I have noticed change over the years, more so recently, is the attitudes of non-Americans toward me and other U.S. citizens. Just a week ago one of our couples were asked by some men if they were Americans.  When they replied yes, they were subjected to an explicative laced barrage of verbiage that laid bare feelings that most Europeans are too proper to express directly. 

When I was in Belgium over Easter weekend, I met with a former colleague that I have been quite close with over the years.  He asked me if things felt different than when I was here 10 years ago. He proceeded to tell Eileen and I that he could feel a change in how he is viewed by his neighbors and other professional acquaintances because they know he works for a company headquartered in the U.S. Due to my friend’s professional position, he is  required to have a clear understanding of the world around him. He advised me to be aware of the change in attitude and was grateful that we had not had any problems.

               Typically on the 4th of July we go to the Centerville Parade. It is basically a small town parade with a jet flyover. In the evening we watch the fireworks.  It was different not having either of those events to attend this year.  

On Saturday we went to a city in Western Germany called Trier.  This city is the oldest city in Germany, founded in 16 BC. This gate is called the Porta Nigra is the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, built around 170 AD.  

Karl Marx was born in Trier in 1818. 

In the main square in Trier. 

The Trier Cathedral, was first built around 326 AD.

The cloisters at the Trier Cathedral. 

Read gold pieces from the Roman times are shown in the archaeological museum. 

This is the Polydus mosaic unearthed from a former Roman villa in Trier. It is from the 3rd century and has been made from  thousands of tiny cut cubes made from stone, marbles and limestone. 

This mosaic was made in the beginning of the 3rd century and discovered during an excavation in 1811. 

The Roman Baths in Trier were built in the early 4th century during the reign of Constantine. The baths consist of 10 acres of subterranean  caverns which remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

On of the corridors in the baths.

Eileen got a chance to visit with some guys playing gladiators in the Trier Roman Coliseum/Amphitheater. 

21,000 steps later we stopped for a burger, fresh lemonade and shake. 

                               

The Romerbruke Bridge - The seven stone pillars for the bridge were put in place between 142-152 AD.  The first wooden bridge at this crossing was 17 BC.

Last week we went to a German ward. Normally we go to the International Ward, however since it has no AC and it has been terribly hot, we went to the Friedrichsdorf Ward which has AC.  I got permission from the organist to film his postlude today. I thought he was pretty incredible.