Last month we had the privilege of going to visit Switzerland. We went to the Interlaken area because there is a Christian Retreat centre that is run by the same brotherhood that serve at the Vanga hospital that MAF flies to quite often. 
We arrived in Geneva at the same time as my Mom, we eventually found each other, our rental car and went on our way to Interlaken. On the way we stopped at the Cailler Chocolate factory and had an amazing tour with tons of history ending with all you can eat Chocolate.

The guest house Ralligen was booked for our first week we were planning to be in Switzerland, so we found this adorable place in a town called Isenfluh. This little town was beautiful, peaceful and very very steep. Haha it was a great leg workout being there but so fun to be staying right in the mountains with hiking right outside our back door. We drove the rest of the way to Isenfluh and the Vanbooms had already been there for a few hours. 

There seemed to be a never ending supply of amazing things to do and see around Interlaken. The Kids (and the adults) had a blast going to see a castle in Thun.













































































Then a whole day adventure going up Schilthorn, where the James Bond movie "In Her Majesty's Secret Service" was filmed 50 years ago. 

 

 

We found some amazing waterfalls inside a mountain! 

Went for a beautiful all day walk from Isenfluh to Lauterbrunnen.

After the VanBooms headed back to Canada we went and stayed at Ralligen. Which was just an amazing retreat, it was so peaceful and full of God that you could not help but be pulled into deeper relationship with him. Brother Thomas, who runs the guest house spent 3 years in Vanga a few years ago so it was great to be able to see him again.

The first few days we were there were quiet, Nick and I went for a tour of the Pilatus factory. Which was so cool (though we could not take any pictures). 

And we went to an awesome outdoor museum called Ballenberg. Which had houses and history from all over Switzerland. We could have spent 3 whole days exploring this place.




































The last few days we were at Ralligen, there was a large group there for an Easter Celebration. They had all sorts of different things going on and we were able to participate in some of them. They did the stages of the cross all around the property with a different lesson at each stage. It was a really cool thing to do with the kids and be able to talk to them about why Jesus died for us and for them to see the different things he went through, through the different demonstrations. 

Then on the last day before we left, as Nicks birthday present to me, we got to go Paragliding! Which was probably one of the most peaceful things I have ever done. If I lived in the mountains this would quickly become a hobby! 

Lastly we dropped my mom off in Geneva and after a month and a half of living with other people, it was just the 4 of us. We had 2 days in a beautiful farmhouse on the French side of Geneva before Nick flew off to Idaho for 2 weeks of meetings. 

It was so restoring to get away to let some of the heavy things that cling on and weigh us down, fall away and help realign our thinking. If you ever have a chance to go Switzerland is a beautiful beautiful place! We may just have to go back one day ;-)