Leaving Mainz, Part 1

I know, I promised a Halle blog post, but I got lazy and the weather there was terrible.  I froze most of the time.  So, I am going to try to make up for it by posting once or twice before I leave for the States on Monday. ...that's right Monday.  Wow.

Ok, but before I get into the present condition of my life, a little review is necessary.  I did go to Halle, the hotbed of Pietist studies.  And, though I froze the whole time, I did get some work done.  First, I got a tattoo.

Yeah, yeah, it washed off a week later, but that was a big step for me.  [Kristi D., you're much braver than I... but we already knew that.]  The chance to tat' my forearm came during one of my lovely visits to Thea's house.  Her daughter and I were playing around, and all of a sudden I had a wet cloth on my arm with a tattoo underneath. The one thing I will say, the rest of the time researching I kept looking at it.  I don't know if the amusement lasts long, but if I wanted to have a constant reminder of ....say...the Cross, the forearm is apparently the most "remindful" place I could probably put it.  And I need only remind you of this when it comes to the cool uses of tattoos.

As for the research, I got quite a bit done.  I ended my time in the archive by reading through several sermons on baptism and grace.  It gave me some extra footing in the sections I am currently writing on Francke's baptismal theology.  Before looking at those sermons, I also transcribed a manuscript of one of Francke's few attempts at an English sermon.  It appears from the introductory page that someone else translated it, but all in all whoever-it-was had decent English.  I did, although, come away feeling a lot better about my German.

But I need your help.  Here is the only word I am semi-unsure about in my transcription.  First photo is the word, the second is its context.

Here is what the sentence looks like without the word: "Look into your selves you that make your boast in the Lord, prove and examine your selves, whether yee are in faith or noe, prove your own selves, if Christ in you, and look well to your ______, least yee be reprobrates."

What do you think?  Take note of the shape of the last two letters, and find that a word with that same letter and compare them.  Post comments as you feel necessary.

After the trip to Halle, I came back and took my fishing exam.

Needless to say after a few days of cramming and a whole lot of worrying, I passed and went fly fishing a week later (after getting all the loose bureaucratic ends tied).  Here's my first official German trout.

With that said, I fly out on Monday, and plan on getting my fill of Germnanness before I leave.  I have that sad-stomach feeling right now, but it's mixed with excitement for the next four months.  Between seeing some great friends, working with da' chi'drens, and getting this chapter done, the time will be....well...