So now I am at the Schloss (castle) in Mittersil, Austria.

We arrived at night several days ago, and I felt a peace as soon as we got here, almost like we were home-I know it's the presence of Christ.
It is probably one of the most gorgeous places on earth. I will post pictures as soon as I have an opportune moment. Basically, I am on top of a mountain surrounded by more of the Alps. They look different every moment. I saw the most spectacular sunset last night from the roof of the castle (we're not REALLY supposed to go up there, but if I'd fallen off, I'd land on a balcony below that's not THAT far). I feel so blessed the I get to watch the sunset behind the Alps from the roof of a castle.

It's not just any castle, either.
The Schloss was originally built in the 1100's! There was a fire about 100 years later, so much of it had to be rebuilt. Through the centuries, it was owned by wealthy nobles. It was eventually bought by some rich guy in the 20th century who turned it into a hunting and skiing club for the rich and famous--pay a flat fee of some thousand dollars, and you're in for life. The Prince and Princess of Norway were regulars, Bob Hope still sent Christmas cards up until a few years ago, and Clark Gable's golf clubs are sitting in the storage closet. Eventually, the guy who owned the club divorced his wife, who's husband before him started Avon, so he became broke and had to sell the castle to a guy looking for a place for a Christian retreat center.
Since then, the Schloss has become a place for Christians from all over the world to come together in fellowship to learn and network and such.
There are some fun workers here from Germany, Sweden (two couples named Simon and Sara and Simon and Sara! HA!), Spain, England, Canada, Poland, Wales, the U.S., and I know in the past they've had people from so many random places.

Also, there is a dark side to the castle-oooooh!

There is a torture chamber/dungeon that was used in witch hunts/issues. It actually made me very sad to hear the details of such happenings, and stand in the room where incredibly evil things went on. The caretaker of the Schloss admitted that for a while there was something just not right about the room, but it has been prayed over and worshipped in, and since redeemed.

Also, the Schloss was used some in WWII by the Nazis-12 Polish women were held prisoner here, but no one knows what happened to them-their records end here.

There are also stories of one of the noble's wives ordering that three rooms be locked and boarded up for some traumatic reason, but we don't know why and the rooms have never been opened.

Dun dun dun!

As far as what I've been doing the last few days, we've had real class this week. Other than that, just hangin' out and doing homework.

And God has been good. I am trying to memorize Isaiah 43:1-7.

Please continue praying and letting me know what's been going on in your lives. I love you all so much and miss you.