Why Are We In Europe This Summer? (2020)

We are spending 2 months in Europe this Summer in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Why?

The short answer

We want to live in Europe one day, so this is a vision trip!

We have narrowed down our desired areas to the Alps and nearby regions, and have been planning this vision trip since January 2020 to help us further clarify where that might be (and when, and how, etc.).

The long answer

Honeymoon: We honeymooned to the romantic Swiss Alps in June 2012. The Alps captivated us so much that we returned home already planning our next trip.

19 months: But a vacation to Europe is expensive! After lots of research and planning, we learned that slow-traveling by house and pet sitting was our ticket to an extended stay on a budget, and we spent January 2016-July 2017 traveling Europe!

The people: Of course we loved every second we spent in those 19 months and 20 countries. But the biggest impact wasn’t the iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum. It was the people we met.

International churches: We house and pet sat to have free accommodations and to meet locals. (Read more about housesitting here.) And we attended international churches, which is how we got connected with countless new friends from around the globe!

Pivotal conversation: While in Paris, France for 3 weeks, we had a pivotal conversation with the pastor of the international church. We were like toddlers, asking him question after question about religion and life and culture in Paris.

What he said stuck with us, and it changed the course of our lives.

“You don’t have to be a missionary to make a difference here. We just need normal families to move here and do normal life here, and to live out the gospel in real and tangible ways.â€

So you’re telling us that we don’t have to be missionaries in the jungle? And you’re offering us an alternative to praying for and financially supporting those who do? And you’re saying that there is something in the middle of those two besides a short-term mission trip?

Mind. Blown.

Since that conversation in February 2016, our life’s trajectory has shifted.

We want to move to Europe as everyday missionaries.

But not as missionaries with a specific church, ministry, or organization. And not as missionaries with a 2-year term. And not as missionaries 100% supported by generous donations.

We want to be everyday missionaries. We want to work normal jobs to support ourselves and send our (future) kids to the local school and meet other families in our neighborhood. We want to be on mission every single day in the ordinary moments. (It doesn’t sound so grand when you put it that way, right?)

Isn’t that what Jesus calls us to do? To love God, love others, and make disciples—everyday, everywhere?

Where: It just so happens that Europe is our “where.” We have narrowed down from Europe to the Alpine regions (the mountainous areas of Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia). And this summer we are further exploring the Alps to refine that location even more.

Other reasons: Besides our love of Europe, here are a few other indicators that make this vision a possible reality:

• Jana has Italian citizenship. Which means our family can move, live, and work anywhere in the EU. (Read: no visas or jumping through long, procedural hoops required!)
• We started learning Italian a few years ago. Although we can only carry a very basic level of conversation, it’s something! And there have been plenty of times when we needed to communicate and someone didn’t speak English but they did speak Italian!
• We are debt free and financially responsible. No need to disclose all of our financial details here, but the reality is that we have chosen to orient our lives around the idea of moving to Europe one day. So our 20 year-old house, original cars that we got when we were 16 years old, and a simple lifestyle have allowed us to save money.
• Over the last few years, we have transitioned our careers and work. Jana works part-time as a copywriter and content editor—all remote positions. She also teaches private flute lessons, which can be done online or in-person anywhere in the world. Brett works remotely in business operations for our church in Tennessee, and is also a consultant for gymnast businesses.

Our hope for this summer

Covid curveballs: Covid-19 threw some unexpected curveballs our way. We planned to spend June-July in Europe—when Jana naturally has a break from teaching flute in the schools—but that shifted to July-August.

Immerse ourselves here: Nonetheless, our goal is to immerse ourselves in the Alpine regions. Ever since we returned home from our Swiss honeymoon in 2012, our prayer has been for God to either open the door wide or to slam it shut. We are praying the same things this summer.

29 Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation.
30 I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
31 I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; God, don’t let me down!
32 I’ll run the course you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how.
–Psalm 119:29-32, the MSG

We have invited a small group of family and friends to join us in praying for clarity as we observe, pray, ask, and consider what our future in Europe might look like. It would be a joy to have you join us in prayer and to encourage us along our journey!

Lastly, we just love being in Europe! While we are here on a vision trip, it’s a treat for us to see, savor, and share our adventures with you.

• We promise to keep sharing daily Instagram posts and stories of our adventures for our Instagram friends.
• Plus we will keep writing fun blogs (like DIY Chocolate Tasting in Brugge, Belgium, or our DIY Food Tour in Amsterdam). Subscribe to our email list to read our latest blogs!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCdBd_QDZmw/