Pardon the Dust / Back Again!

We are experiencing network issues - again!  We Will supposedly have a new and improved connection on the 19th.  Until Then I'll write my entries on WORD and post them whenever I can get on the internet!     Where oh where is that anonymous techie who suggested a pow wow?

We are grateful for and we are enjoying our Danish class, but I am wondering how much longer we will be able to keep it up.  It is an enormous time commitment, and by the time we finish there on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday...and then go to the center until sometimes very late at night, our days are pretty much full.  When we get home at night it is late, and I post something on the blog and then we fall into bed.

Most extra time we have these days is taken up with planning, shopping and baking for the meals and refreshments at the center.  That is our primary focus so we don't want to scrimp on our commitment to our mission.  But in the meantime, the Danish course is very useful and very helpful with pronunciation and learning the language.....and THE TEST is looming!

You may remember that four months into our time in Danmark we have to take an oral test to see if we can understand and speak the language.  It covers a range of topics, but is heavy on Danish laws.  There is also a section where we have to listen to a few dialogues and then answer questions about them.  It takes 2 weeks to correct and return to the test taker, and so if I fail, I have to take it again and leave 2 weeks to correct it AGAIN in order to stay in the country.  If I fail, or if I take it too close to the 6 month mark to correct (an automatic failure) I will be invited to leave Danmark!  So if you see me walking around Gilbert in April, don't mention the test!!!!

Tonight we had lasagne, garlic bread, green salad and cream puffs....all of which I am so happy to report were a success.  Jello brand Instant pudding...which I love to use to thicken the cream filling is another item not found in Danmark (Erin, add that to your list) so I was a little unsure how they would turn out.  The pudding I found here was different but good and all turned out well.  Many had never had a cream puff before and seemed to really enjoy them.  They are technically eclairs....with chocolate icing.  And of course they are much smaller than what you would normally get in a bakery.

Now, I need to start working on a menu for next week.  This was our 6th meal tonight....I think it is getting a little easier.  But there is still the question of whether we will have 20 to serve or 50, and if we have enough or way too much.  I think we served about 25, and I thought we had enough for 40....yet nearly all of it was eaten.  So far, what we have had has always been enough.  Maybe we are just experiencing little miracles.  I know we are experiencing little miracles in more ways that the meals we serve.  We have been greatly blessed.