How do you spell Switzerland? -> S – I – B – E – R – I – A

This weekend we traveled to Zug, Switzerland to visit a cousin of Fred’s.  To get there we traveled for about three hours on bus, train and foot. 

The first thing Lydia noticed was that she could understand the train station announcements that were in French –this was a great encouragement!  Fred noticed he could understand the Swiss-German language, it brought back memories of his time in Switzerland 10 years ago and of home (Fred’s parents and extended family are Swiss).

In Zug we visited Franz and Renata Muff-Muller and their three children.  These are cousins of Fred, who have a small farm within the township of Zug – fruit trees, cows, sheep, rabbits, and cats.  Fred had worked with them for a few months nine years ago milking cows, haying, picking cherries and playing with their three young kids.  The time was spent sharing stories, laughing and playing cards.  Renata had spent time in Ecuador working in a clinic for two years and the family had spent time in Papa New Guina for two years working with farmers.  Overall, it was a very enjoyable time.

During our stay we learned about an area in Switzerland known as the “Swiss Siberia” (La Brevine) that experienced -30.8 degrees C Saturday night.  We laughed and chuckled at the thought of it as we enjoyed the snow, sun and -5 degree C temperature of Zug.  Of interest, on our bus ride home to Les Ponts-de-Martel, we had a conversation with an elderly lady and learned the following things:

• Winter in Les Ponts-de-Martel lasts for 6 months (Nov to April)
• The temperature in Les Ponts-de-Martel dropped to –24.8 degress C during the night on Saturday (Yes we picked a good weekend to travel!)
• And La Brevine (“Swiss Siberia”) is just 10 km from us!!! (Yes, Fred is wearing shoes now and not sandals! For more information on Swiss Siberia – click here)

On a deeper note, our conversation with the elderly lady on the bus has been on my mind.  In particular, this lady, who worked very successfully with a large company and is now both retired and a widow, was in the process of telling a bit of her life story when she said “nobody remembers you any more when you are not working.”  Her statement reminded me of Psalms 103: 15-16 “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more.”  Transitions in life can be hard and more so if we place too much on our earthy successes and achievements.  The next question then is what should we strive for? Where is the line of balance?  In this, I often think of Galatians 5:16,22 “So I say, live by the Spirit . . . . . but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control”

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God Bless