wow, i dont really know where to begin and although i wanted to avoid writing on here i think it would be good to put an update out there just so y'all would know whats going on...
so yesterday the cross country coach here at bitburg died. he was out running with kids and collapsed and ended up suffocating. i've never before had to be the one to tell someone that someone died but yesterday i had to do that for the first time, it was really hard. i didnt really know the guy (i had only met him in the hall when the girl i went to get lunch was showing me around)so it didnt really affect me but some of the kids here in bitburg are really struggling with the loss. the school is doing a great job of providing support for the students and making people available to talk. unfortunately i dont really know many kids so there isnt much that i'm able to do. however, john (my boss/community director, he hates when i say boss, he's a bit like michael scott in that) is pretty connected at the school (hes a football coach and the football guys were practicing when it happened and several of them saw the whole thing happen) so john will be at the school with kids helping out the counselors. although this really doesnt affect me much it does affect our kids and some of them are having a really hard time, please pray for our community as we cope with this loss and pray for wisdom for john as hes with students, also, pray for open doors for the gospel to be shared in the midst of all of this. thanks.

i dont know if its appropriate to transition to something less intense after that but i'm not necessarily known for being the most appropriate person so i'm just going to do it...
i've gotten a chance to look at four different apartments (all in about the same price range). i like all of them but only two are practical enough for me. both have really great things about them and both have things that i really dont like but could live with. i really have no idea what i'm going to do but i'm going to keep praying about it and i'll let you know what happens.
today i went to burnkastle with the kirks (jen's family). it was a good day trip. the kirks are amazing, they have totally opened up their home to me (i've been there almost everyday this week) and just allowed me to be a part of the family. while it is hard not having a ton of friends it has been so wonderful having a support family like that. jen's dad comes home from iraq on tuesday (the 11th) after it getting pushed back several times, so i'm excited to meet him and they are excited to have their dad/husband back. they are relieved to have him out of a zone where his base was getting bombed at daily and into a safer transition base. the military lifestyle is so much different than anything i've ever experienced in california. its so strange to have so many kids with a parent thats gone for like six months at a time because they are in iraq. but thats just a part of life here.
this entry is long. perhaps too long. but a lot is going on, both good and bad. thank you to those of you that have been praying, God is faithful.