The people we never expected to meet in Bad Bruckenau.

HOW TO SET UP A HOTEL IN BAD BRUCKENAU

When I took my stuff from my apartment in Falkenstein to Bad Bruckenau I had to stay overnight in a local hotel.  Our newly purchased hotel didn’t even have running water set up or heat.  It had been closed down for a year while it was on the market.

As I was checking into a local hotel in Bad Bruckenau I explained myself to the clerk at the desk, a nice older man who spoke English.

I told him that I was the new person who’d just taken over Hotel Mariental across the way.

“Do you know it?”, I asked.  A smile slowly creeped across his face telling me that he was enjoying the moment for some unknown reason to me. “Yes, I know it”, he said.  He continued, “I use to run it.  For ten years I ran the hotel and restaurant”.  Wow.  He would become my first “friend” in Bad Bruckenau.  I wanted to sing, “Halelujah!”.  He told me he would be happy to sit down with me and let me ask him any questions I had about it.

Now, to me this was a very big deal.  I was arriving in a new town, I didn’t speak German (hardly), it is rare to find someone to talk to in English sometimes in small towns.  I was about to move into a big, old, hotel with my young son, all alone-just the two of us.  Where’s the police station?  The hospital?  The school? Who do I contact for heat, water, taxes, etc,?  What if something went wrong?  If I needed anything?  A plumber or whatever….. I didn’t have a phone or internet or any excess of money at my disposal. No one. No contacts.  It’s not that easy in a foreign country.  In Canada you could always start with Bell, or a government office.  What if you didn’t know what the signs on the buildings meant.  Phone books are useless…. and how do I even set up internet?  The realtor we dealt with didn’t even speak English.

This is why Herr Pfaff was my newest, bestest friend in the world.  He was my link to my future in Bad Bruckenau.

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THE MAN THAT COMES WITH YOUR BUILDING IS CALLED A HAUSMEISTER

We learned that our hotel was previously owned by an older man.  When he could no longer run the business he leased it to Herr Pfaff (above).  After that another person leased it for a time.  Then it went up for sale- for a year.  Someone (MORE LATER) almost bought it, but the deal fell through.

In the meantime, during the time the hotel was closed down, the owner employed a HAUSMEISTER.  Part of the reason we chose this hotel was because even though it was vacant we knew it was being well taken care of.  Some of the hotels we viewed had been vacant and they were suffering from mold, bad smells, broken water pipes, over-run grounds, etc.  BUT not ours.  It was very clean, made-up, and even relatively warm when we viewed it.  THANKS to the Hausmeister.  He looks after all of that and ordering oil (1,000 EU/month on average- we pay).  We asked that he be there the day the keys were handed over to go over the details of the building with him.  He and the Realtor were there with the keys.  Neither one spoke a word of English.  That’s just how it goes and I have just proven to you know why as a missionary or foreigner/immigrant you need to be flexible.

We have come to love and appreciate our Hausmeister dearly.  He and his wife have shown us so much kindness. They go above and beyond.  We kept the agreement to have him as our Hausmeister.  Mostly, our words are expressed over google translate and emails.  Our hand signals are expressed in person.

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THE TUTOR

In Falkenstein, the most painful part of everyday was homework.  All kids go to school from 7:45am – 12-1 pm.  Homework is a very big part of a student’s life.  And mine- with the “help” that google translate tries to offer.  For me, this was insufficient and try as best we could, our son would have to take the blame for what I was unable to help him with.  Problems had started in Grade 1.

German school is a serious business.  When students complete gr.4 they have to decide which next school they will attend.  The one that will get you into university or the one for college or the one for trade.  Of course, gymnasium (A gymnasium.  Therefore, it creates very high standards, in my opinion.

I knew when we moved that I needed a tutor to come daily to help my son with his homework.

The hausmeister invited my son and I for Sunday dinner our first week there.  We went. They don’t speak English. The food was delicious. We all tired of trying to communicate and we played video games.

Their son was so gentle and kind to my son and reminded me of my older son.  I had the bright idea to ask, “Would you be interested in being my son’s tutor?”

“Yes.”, they agreed he could.  Thank you God.  Another hurdle overrun!

Our tutor became our friend.  We even email him to ask questions for ourselves.  He helps with the mail too.  Remember NOTHING is in ENGLISH.

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A STRANGER AT THE DOOR

It was Sunday afternoon and we were each doing our own thing in the restaurant at tables.  I was on the computer and I heard someone at the door.  He knocked and called out. I was use to this by now.  Strangers coming for beer or food or a hotel room.

“Geschlossen.  Privat”

He said something.  Was that English?  Say it again….have to hear through the accent… “Yes.  I know.  I have emailed you.”

What?  What is he saying?   Is he the person who left a note?  A note that I didn’t respond to yet….so many things to do….I think he is a contractor.  Umm. I am thinking…we have no money and we know this place needs some.

Anyway, he is trying to explain himself so we invite him into the restaurant to give him a chance to tell us why he has come.

So, to cut the story short:  He is the guy who almost bought the place. Interesting.  He spent months considering it, hiring contractors to see what was wrong, getting quotes…What did he just say?

He said that he even buried a Euro (dollar) on the property and prayed that this place would be used for God’s purposes!  Now, in Canada this wouldn’t be as shocking, but here, what is shocking is that he speaks English, he is a believer and he has declared a “faith proclamation” on the property.  Now he has my full attention!

We sat for a couple of hours and heard him out.  What a pleasure to meet Peter!  He has become a dear friend.  His wife is also a sweet soul.  We have been to his home and him to ours.  We have eaten together, worshiped together and he has now introduced us to his friends.

Peter has a desire to live in community with believers.  Perhaps our visions will coincide one day.