Steve & Kathy in Austria

Steve serving lasagna under the watchful eye of our Italian chef

On Saturday morning all thirty-four of us traveling from Costa Mesa got on a motor coach in Florence for the 8 hour trip (because of the multiple stops) to the Calvary Chapel's conference center on Lake Millstatt in Austria.

On the bus

We drove north through Bologna where we skirted the bridge that had been destroyed on Wednesday by a collision between a tractor-trailer carrying propane and another carrying solvent. On our bike tour on Thursday, Piero showed us the photos in the paper. 

We then skirted around Venice and headed north on some smaller roads (to avoid a local traffic jam), finally picking up the freeway through the mountains. We got to Millstatt around 4:30 where we unloaded the luggage and everyone was assigned to a B&B (Pension) in town.

Unloading in Millstatt

After putting our luggage in the room, we all walked the 1.5 KM up to the "Castle," Schloss Heroldeck, for dinner and orientation.

Kathy and Steve in front of the sign for the conference center

During the orientation, we were divided into work crews and given our assignments for the week. I'm serving lunch and dinner in the outside dining area, while Kathy is emceeing and doing book reviews for the women's morning sessions.

Introduction to the Refresh Europe Conference

The weather was sunny and beautiful on Saturday, especially after the heat of Florence. I was really torn between enjoying the view and checking my email.

Lake Millstatt vs. Email

We climbed up the turret and looked out over the lake.

View from the top of the castle

Then, before walking back home for the evening, we sat around a bit and just relaxed before the conference guests began arriving the next day at noon. The picture above was taken from the top of the tower pictured below.

Steve, Tamara Allee, and Ken James watching the lake

On Sunday, the guests were scheduled to arrive starting at noon. We ate breakfast at our Pension, and then all met up at the Castle for church with the workers from the other churches at 10:00 AM. 

Brian bringing the Sunday message at Millstatt

After lunch, Kathy decided to help Linda Rourke with registration, but not before the four ladies who made the trip to Ireland in February got together for a reunion photo.

Cheryl Brodersen, Ellie James, Kathy, and Linda Rourke at Millstaatt

Over the next few days, here are some of the people that we met.

Kathy and Sebastian Nuno

Kathy says, "This is my new friend Sebastian. He is part of the leadership team here at Calvary's Castle. She also says that she's "thrilled to finally get my picture taken with Pastor Ed Taylor."

Ed Taylor and Kathy

At breakfast on Tuesday, we met up with two couples we had visited on our previous trips. We met Chris Wilks, his wife Sandi, and their daughters on our trip to Poland. They have been serving in Tarnobrzeg, a city of about 50,000 on the banks of the Vistula in Eastern Poland. 

Sandi and Chris Wilks along with Kathy

On our trip in Poland, we couldn't find a good rail connection to visit them, and so they drove into Krakow for the day with their whole family so we could fellowship. It was really nice to see them, and two of their daughters, again.

On that same trip, we visited Greece, and flew home from Athens. Frank Gonzales picked us up at the airport after our flight from Santorini. He and his wife Suzie then took us to a traditional lamb restaurant for lunch. 

Frank and Suzie Gonzales with Kathy

In the last year, Frank and Suzie turned their church in Athens over to a local pastor and have begun a church plant in southwest Germany, in the town of Kandertal.