tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1875902518265995442024-03-04T21:15:21.148-08:00Coffee with the MillersMusings along the journeyCoffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-7907672683217912112023-08-16T08:12:00.002-07:002023-08-16T08:12:45.764-07:00Back from Germany Camps!<span style="font-size: medium;">Even though we are now in the Czech Republic, we still have the privilege of doing camps in Germany!</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first camp was an English camp with our church in Leipzig. There were 19 campers and we had a bit of a rocky start, as some of the older boys weren't really sure if they wanted to be there. We ended up having some good talks individually with each of them and they each responded well. We also had 3 Ukrainian kids. By the end of camp 2 kids accepted Jesus and a couple of others want to get baptized. God certainly changed what we thought at the first of the week would be a disaster, into a camp where He truly worked in the lives of the kids. </span><div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCC0AZ3FVJ5p6rQayBS2w_gXsZdkeOmbv9FE7BtwaoM-c2p6YW4r9pXznXKw2o3vCycma_iJVSH4IgggbM7IwoVpvl7m_MZ43RNaA3IHmfPWBkZz3jmxTBZUVR6BvF1blPHaSLpfRMYUHAx87zX4Gs6H_MKZtD1eY2R8PdDPIeEP_KyAqFm6ZJPJJwb8M/s4624/20230725_135850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="4624" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCC0AZ3FVJ5p6rQayBS2w_gXsZdkeOmbv9FE7BtwaoM-c2p6YW4r9pXznXKw2o3vCycma_iJVSH4IgggbM7IwoVpvl7m_MZ43RNaA3IHmfPWBkZz3jmxTBZUVR6BvF1blPHaSLpfRMYUHAx87zX4Gs6H_MKZtD1eY2R8PdDPIeEP_KyAqFm6ZJPJJwb8M/w640-h296/20230725_135850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The group on our hike day</span></b><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiZHKG2aj2VFSkwgCW9RR29G2grk82l413YyqfoCf9t-awTQm0pgp8OCbxm52GIPYLFhgvxrV6AVF5k1omA_wh_GpzG-My9lELfKq4prPCnAyc6NoH1MceRIiKWSDo81ptjvi-lWdH-hdbwQnMfPeWdNw-aBL4BkfL87l3A8dvXpiEA4GlUolQASlo9Bv/s4624/20230724_210642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="4624" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiZHKG2aj2VFSkwgCW9RR29G2grk82l413YyqfoCf9t-awTQm0pgp8OCbxm52GIPYLFhgvxrV6AVF5k1omA_wh_GpzG-My9lELfKq4prPCnAyc6NoH1MceRIiKWSDo81ptjvi-lWdH-hdbwQnMfPeWdNw-aBL4BkfL87l3A8dvXpiEA4GlUolQASlo9Bv/w640-h296/20230724_210642.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Doing the Mexican Hat Dance at Mexican Fiesta Night</span></b><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">We ended up changing the second camp into a Discipleship Camp just a couple of weeks before it started. (the campers were 19 - 29 years old) This was pretty stressful, as we made the final decision only 2 or 3 days before we left for the first camp, so had very little time to figure out what to make as the theme. It ended up being an incredible time, as we went through the Psalms with one of Dave Patty's teachings called Burden to Blessing. We did the talks ourselves (you could watch Dave's original ones <a href="https://www.josiahventure.com/media/2022-spring-conference-burden-to-blessing" target="_blank">here</a> if you want), then had small-group discussions in the evening after the talks, an hour every morning for personal journaling time with questions on the talk, then getting back into small-groups to talk about their times with God. It was soooo good! Even the unbelievers enjoyed and got a lot out of each part of the program. We also had afternoon sports, as well as late-night party-type activities. Emily did all of the PowerPoints and graphics for the camp book/journals from Bangladesh! We couldn't have done it without her! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the young men got baptized in the lake. We also had some young adults that have attended our English camps for 4-5 years and have never made a decision. One of them said she now believes in God! After we decided to make it a discipleship camp, some of the young adults go so excited, they invited their non-believing friends! It was a very sweet time! Almost all of the young people seemed to make movement toward God! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1CS3xyP_Xw0poZeEhIWMjMRE-Fo3ur2-NqyoW9VH8BhBnP85jXm6bX59X_fIYIWwQMLEmkDY6_YYyDDMxxkH-F45r7hi8B7qqEIkK_nvnVZkT9X-dLSdAX3hQK2eflcMKdgI8C3QGuA-8H4pC87YwwNM3YOcwO_JqGf5Iz_JaDIOcRXi81Es2rEcGaI5/s1560/IMG-20230814-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1CS3xyP_Xw0poZeEhIWMjMRE-Fo3ur2-NqyoW9VH8BhBnP85jXm6bX59X_fIYIWwQMLEmkDY6_YYyDDMxxkH-F45r7hi8B7qqEIkK_nvnVZkT9X-dLSdAX3hQK2eflcMKdgI8C3QGuA-8H4pC87YwwNM3YOcwO_JqGf5Iz_JaDIOcRXi81Es2rEcGaI5/w640-h640/IMG-20230814-WA0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcoming everyone the first night with a Rain Gutter Banana Split!!!</span></b><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfuPaVg7nrQvBzOO_QWj_v3k-bd4AdvZzmlmd2qzZx6zHAxwrkvMoq4-GZwQ7z_lzAAtG43VNRoCd77qKzFSjjzcPSBBHyZJwjGNq9h42u0BH0Ww7oz55oPo06kZ1WNVPUWmODkFvMYKKoOqrr3VQ_HT9o2A4w9TMK2ThkwRO91NADNxmjsFzbffooY61/s2040/IMG-20230812-WA0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="1530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfuPaVg7nrQvBzOO_QWj_v3k-bd4AdvZzmlmd2qzZx6zHAxwrkvMoq4-GZwQ7z_lzAAtG43VNRoCd77qKzFSjjzcPSBBHyZJwjGNq9h42u0BH0Ww7oz55oPo06kZ1WNVPUWmODkFvMYKKoOqrr3VQ_HT9o2A4w9TMK2ThkwRO91NADNxmjsFzbffooY61/w480-h640/IMG-20230812-WA0010.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Who gets food like this at camp? The Kitchen staff out-did themselves for banquet night!</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />We're pretty exhausted now and trying to unpack all the camp supplies, but feel so blessed to still be part of what God is doing in Germany!</span></div></div></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-6080754821482461772023-03-13T07:22:00.000-07:002023-03-13T07:22:27.617-07:00My Favorite Cup of Coffee<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We've had "Coffee in Leipzig" for such a long time, it has been hard for me to change that. God gave us such a blessed ministry, life, and community in Leipzig, that it seemed too hard to think of giving it up. Then, I re-read my very first post on this blog:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDfVngUyB5ix6MZD1lzV2O66Z_nJZHED8rwzoHst8N-XuuQyv7h8IkTKtrWrfruUS6egbJHhGN4xX8u6NpWcUcjovU-BE049xmY4qx-WClmFS6XEmjHhgFCvAzyS3HrJvmrmX_AAd3tApEMZ7E2LeLDPxKfHDyKVaE0RhkXTo25UckmTZ033uZrxZBQ/s4000/IMG_20220918_085701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDfVngUyB5ix6MZD1lzV2O66Z_nJZHED8rwzoHst8N-XuuQyv7h8IkTKtrWrfruUS6egbJHhGN4xX8u6NpWcUcjovU-BE049xmY4qx-WClmFS6XEmjHhgFCvAzyS3HrJvmrmX_AAd3tApEMZ7E2LeLDPxKfHDyKVaE0RhkXTo25UckmTZ033uZrxZBQ/w180-h400/IMG_20220918_085701.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My new coffee space in our house!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>"Last year when we were visiting Leipzig for the first time, we met with a man from a local ministry. He asked what our plans were. As we shared our vision, we talked about the importance of learning the German language and culture as relationships are of such importance to us as we anticipate ministry. He listened and said, "So, you will be starting your coffee ministry."</i></span></i></div><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I liked that! Coffee speaks to me of relationships. How often have I told a friend, "Let's get together for coffee!" It's not the coffee, it's the conversation, the ease with which we can drop our facades and be real. The abandonment we feel with a coffee cup in our hands as it seems to give us a kind of license to say things you wouldn't normally say."</span></i></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Wow! That was back on May 25, 2014! A lot has changed since then, but my love for coffee and relationships has not changed, and I realize just how much of these God has provided in this new season! </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We have so many new relationships!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, that's right! We are so excited that God is allowing us to work in our "sweet spot"! We are the Shepherd Care Providers for all the KAM Second Culture missionaries. Let me define a few of these terms. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"KAM" - (Křesťanská akademie mladých - Christian Academy of Youth) Much easier to say "KAM", right? KAM is the Czech entity of Josiah Venture, making it a legal and viable ministry here in Czech.<br /><br />"Second Culture Missionaries" - any missionary that ministers in Czech, but comes from a different culture (such as the US).<br /><br />"Shepherd Care Providers" - building relationships and caring for the missionaries (yes, drinking coffee), as well as looking to set up a long-term care framework that goes beyond our time here (yes, we are grandparents now and have to realize we are getting a bit older and will not be here forever).<br /><br />We have the joy and responsibility of shepherding 51 missionaries, including adults and children! What a blessing! We have already started visiting each family individually, as well as connecting at conferences.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0lPsEknstYM1HiedkI8lgvNnXzz00Y5EnLepii1N9-s3AYEJ_AQROi1E1CckiREvroxHD7W0_zfgkF6Ik8p22X4t5tcwzbRMKc6EXtJmAQR3Ac1q8xduQNpXsj9AEQdE87W_CQdCuqk88MGVG102fF1D-9kP4cxnHC0Tgiwl-eGnrbx2zaHkTNuM3A/s4080/20230227_164740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0lPsEknstYM1HiedkI8lgvNnXzz00Y5EnLepii1N9-s3AYEJ_AQROi1E1CckiREvroxHD7W0_zfgkF6Ik8p22X4t5tcwzbRMKc6EXtJmAQR3Ac1q8xduQNpXsj9AEQdE87W_CQdCuqk88MGVG102fF1D-9kP4cxnHC0Tgiwl-eGnrbx2zaHkTNuM3A/w640-h480/20230227_164740.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of our incredible KAM missionary families</span>!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We don't have to give up our Germany relationships!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, it's true, we still get to spend 20% of our time on the Germany ministry! This means that we will still have 2 German camps this summer, as well as various trainings, retreats, on-line mentoring and continued networking and search for a German JV Country Leader. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, our job description and place of residence has changed, but our relationship building has not!<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBZgyW4MJ8HkD2NbWQg4iNeldl0NTOkOcV27oqTJWdQjBs1Ad5zKzIXkms9Hqbkr0M48Nm07IlUiATm18KaHYE6hRHs1_X-BsgXvkTheFEqDa5QhXTLf4Pao8ZzDYIMksgbivVPmmhl1EO_mXmFp1H7KVzRzxV2dUyKxOrS7ytGbjSAbhDOvRzgE-HA/s2000/IMG-20230219-WA0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBZgyW4MJ8HkD2NbWQg4iNeldl0NTOkOcV27oqTJWdQjBs1Ad5zKzIXkms9Hqbkr0M48Nm07IlUiATm18KaHYE6hRHs1_X-BsgXvkTheFEqDa5QhXTLf4Pao8ZzDYIMksgbivVPmmhl1EO_mXmFp1H7KVzRzxV2dUyKxOrS7ytGbjSAbhDOvRzgE-HA/w400-h225/IMG-20230219-WA0036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JFe-ZdtM0pRsYx3902XdhlTAZyW3f6ZgC1OfwKg2Zw132ezl42jxRITCsmAMLQGLZZ65Sx5EFCy627zDDaLLfTdj5VOOXsuYA0osJ9s9SadOJmGTgN40waqW9dTlEzSMz2rooUdDQ7cTQ_xN-kFcYJ9HGn9NM7bybPLBuPoUTod9FjlmK9vqhDJWHA/s1600/IMG-20230219-WA0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JFe-ZdtM0pRsYx3902XdhlTAZyW3f6ZgC1OfwKg2Zw132ezl42jxRITCsmAMLQGLZZ65Sx5EFCy627zDDaLLfTdj5VOOXsuYA0osJ9s9SadOJmGTgN40waqW9dTlEzSMz2rooUdDQ7cTQ_xN-kFcYJ9HGn9NM7bybPLBuPoUTod9FjlmK9vqhDJWHA/w400-h300/IMG-20230219-WA0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A recent retreat in Guban, Germany!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">We have expanded grandparenting relationships!</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You didn't think you would get out of here without "Omi" sharing pictures of her grandchildren, did you? Our newest grandson was born less than a week ago to Nate and Caitlin. Emma Grace is so proud of her new baby brother "Alaric Joseph"!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, here are the pictures:<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh9Q7kvfVmtdMomds5O0bPGEQIaL5dYv2lhuAK1zrSpJSt78hY_CuWI7Mui_gjqwYvner0NwnFq70xyF0xY52K2Rb-rHFAbrrezYDRh2FtCnDITIJwViakTDGoIVQmHOfjBx8h8-Lfmbgv-lILmFe_WMKSPCYyQB9UCBna5gJo9pvpj0jiRFXPtz6gg/s1600/IMG-20230307-WA0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh9Q7kvfVmtdMomds5O0bPGEQIaL5dYv2lhuAK1zrSpJSt78hY_CuWI7Mui_gjqwYvner0NwnFq70xyF0xY52K2Rb-rHFAbrrezYDRh2FtCnDITIJwViakTDGoIVQmHOfjBx8h8-Lfmbgv-lILmFe_WMKSPCYyQB9UCBna5gJo9pvpj0jiRFXPtz6gg/w360-h640/IMG-20230307-WA0019.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alaric Joseph Miller, born March 7, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfln9jJ5pih7EMKL-vPjA_4vRrP8dJTOW--hGTcqRD9pkbDmKfA4kYl6BVMViYNg09e19FqKm1RmOMuUgxax1EnW9IkxHtFpJ-mKxBubEi9yzX6HcLiLy9qVQGJHFLcAeWyYcnEVV-rKFT89R5gmBKRXavVjAelMyNTsHdHEyGlwi5hZI1hG3jW_Y2RA/s1600/IMG-20230311-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfln9jJ5pih7EMKL-vPjA_4vRrP8dJTOW--hGTcqRD9pkbDmKfA4kYl6BVMViYNg09e19FqKm1RmOMuUgxax1EnW9IkxHtFpJ-mKxBubEi9yzX6HcLiLy9qVQGJHFLcAeWyYcnEVV-rKFT89R5gmBKRXavVjAelMyNTsHdHEyGlwi5hZI1hG3jW_Y2RA/w300-h400/IMG-20230311-WA0000.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Emma with her new baby brother. She is obsessed!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9_74Tv1GQ6hcS3y6ah4d47MBIn3SunsRLjjT34PTVI2VxBUEQfdBXZFJH7u444_BxqzHjDgdQojXIN2eMIrpVyxys-Tvh1BENM1H1xC96Dy06y-p4b_FZWUhJlKY6XSo-H8oj7Lm3T6Sqj1XoH_qjSkDZsIz31UowK3bcjeCEPLIfu41YqUc21VBxg/s1160/IMG-20230307-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="653" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9_74Tv1GQ6hcS3y6ah4d47MBIn3SunsRLjjT34PTVI2VxBUEQfdBXZFJH7u444_BxqzHjDgdQojXIN2eMIrpVyxys-Tvh1BENM1H1xC96Dy06y-p4b_FZWUhJlKY6XSo-H8oj7Lm3T6Sqj1XoH_qjSkDZsIz31UowK3bcjeCEPLIfu41YqUc21VBxg/w360-h640/IMG-20230307-WA0000.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A very colorful Noah!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We love our relationships with YOU!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you so much for your continued support, prayers, and most of all, relationships. We are so thankful for each one of you.</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer Points:</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for each of our KAM missionaries, that God will continue to use them and that He will use us to help strengthen their resilience. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for our two German camps, Leipzig and Brandenburg, that God will start working in the hearts of the young people He wants to attend.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for health and strengthening of Emma Grace's heart and lungs.</span></li></ul><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Praises:</span></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Healthy delivery and birth of Alaric Joseph.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Jim's and my settling in well to our new roles and living here in Czechia.</span></li></ul></div><p></p>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-1557698310919441142022-07-14T07:17:00.025-07:002022-07-14T07:53:19.634-07:00Ministry and Location Change and Summer Camp News<div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Ministry and Location Change (Important update from Jim)</b></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div>This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The past few weeks I have awoken each morning quoting Psalm 118:24. No matter what the day may hold it realigns my confidence in the LORD who holds me fast. We are in the midst of our busy summer season. Five interns, four Americans and one Slovak, are serving with excellence alongside us as we have taken part in a week of school visits and completed our first of three evangelistic English camps. We have jumped back into ministry wholeheartedly here in eastern Germany after our one year exile from the country to remain compliant with the Social Security Agreement between Germany and the USA. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1lHjp8R7gW8rnYS-958cZWSSmiYOwJfszU5YqHDv3mFP2PqVx9h0bCqz12iK43lGlxEnUGbnZwJu4hsGNx44f-bufdgK8P5PGD59-tVH7I9ki9IQN6_lYGVVTfXX1Bn0qctTtpX8hZrEC3SiNeFMAWyAHCbdaP5HpjeznDrKsNwP6OrZUJ05Hn9LQ/s450/czech_republic_country_map.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="450" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1lHjp8R7gW8rnYS-958cZWSSmiYOwJfszU5YqHDv3mFP2PqVx9h0bCqz12iK43lGlxEnUGbnZwJu4hsGNx44f-bufdgK8P5PGD59-tVH7I9ki9IQN6_lYGVVTfXX1Bn0qctTtpX8hZrEC3SiNeFMAWyAHCbdaP5HpjeznDrKsNwP6OrZUJ05Hn9LQ/s320/czech_republic_country_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Upon our return Josiah Venture leadership approached Lina and me asking us to step into a role of providing missionary member care for the KAM team, Josiah Venture’s flagship national organization in the Czech Republic. In the process of seeking the Lord, He is going before us and opening the way. We are excited for this opportunity. There are some 75 members on that team and we are being asked to join them to provide needed shepherding and care. Lina holds a Master’s Degree in Missionary Member Care and currently serves on the JV Member Care team. Just this last weekend the Lord provided a flat in a house with a large garden. This will mean a move to Ostrava, Czech Republic in mid-September.</div></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gF98DDI2Ue1Vz-AQJ5mEH82EGBLi4W5QaCfBLi5iFTHKhqkEvQYdgOd_FeUhwJw9qV9vJCQf4codbvPKsf-wMqXiEy09vwEtHNLSGTE8weK39eC3G-bGnswyCW417B7XHeJPasycw485NwgqidB0OcJFaZQRcGbGLrh3Dd496yvGbh2voo0JLfTGhA/s1599/Cz%20house.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gF98DDI2Ue1Vz-AQJ5mEH82EGBLi4W5QaCfBLi5iFTHKhqkEvQYdgOd_FeUhwJw9qV9vJCQf4codbvPKsf-wMqXiEy09vwEtHNLSGTE8weK39eC3G-bGnswyCW417B7XHeJPasycw485NwgqidB0OcJFaZQRcGbGLrh3Dd496yvGbh2voo0JLfTGhA/s320/Cz%20house.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second floor of the house where we will live in the Czech Republic.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div>What does that mean for Josiah Venture in eastern Germany? Dave Patty, Josiah Venture President, and I have stepped up our search for a German national country leader. We have been meeting a number of German leaders in search for whom the Lord has prepared in advance to take Josiah Venture Germany forward. As part of this process we have asked Matthias Richter to come on half-time to begin doing youth leader training here in the eastern part of Germany. Matthias has such a heart for youth and volunteer youth leaders. We are excited to have him on board with us. </div><div><br /></div><div> In the interim, I am being asked to maintain the relationships we have established in Germany, to include periodic in-person visits to this region. Dave Patty is taking point on strategy and vision. Matthias will begin doing training seminars. </div><div><br /></div><div> The harvest here is plentiful and the workers are few. Would you pray with us that the Lord of the Harvest would raise up a German national JV Country Leader. We are both excited about what God is taking us to in the Czech Republic and saying good-bye well to all of our relationships here in Leipzig. God has and continues to open doors in this region and we are seeing His movement advance. </div><div><br /></div><div> Thank you for standing with us in prayer and financial support. God is so very faithful and we are rejoicing in all that He is doing here.</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Summer Camp News</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCx-Y3rYa9wrCmxt9hggTFe1HQuMwVa45arSiRx2Y4eJPoFd0zAt2HRFpZAZrDAinQZZYD5If1rGgEfXTbaktAjWIsyndSipCHc-A2JyYoKyu9X66u6nahDjgYVkBFsoFlhj0QGxp7pOItvtw-qLRPZETYu_WkZXFVRk8YqMZEmQOOoo-t4IJoLyMwg/s4032/Camp%20Hike.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCx-Y3rYa9wrCmxt9hggTFe1HQuMwVa45arSiRx2Y4eJPoFd0zAt2HRFpZAZrDAinQZZYD5If1rGgEfXTbaktAjWIsyndSipCHc-A2JyYoKyu9X66u6nahDjgYVkBFsoFlhj0QGxp7pOItvtw-qLRPZETYu_WkZXFVRk8YqMZEmQOOoo-t4IJoLyMwg/s320/Camp%20Hike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We are so thankful for our 5 Summer Interns! Because the schools have such a late summer vacation start in Germany, last week we were able helped with a camp in Slovenia. Over 50% of the campers were Ukrainian who are just learning the Slovene Language and understand little or no English. This led to some unique challenges, such as double translating of every talk and instruction. The first two days were pretty discouraging and overwhelming, but we had a great group of camp leaders that were willing to be flexible and change many big pieces of the camp to better fit the campers. God truly used this, and by the end of camp, many of the campers began to be open to talking about, and even the possibility of believing in God!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVXV98k49kMucrA_PVP0VTzVSighHq2m_fTJ8pq9moauW9PoFduUNmeIPKYlm7Yo5IgPxuVsaXh6QcykA-7wK2KHDKC9QCOTkVwjTvqdTsCm8pqYPwSbLMH-8RFFac-P9cTnZ_EfCgx49U1q7iqeuvFeZuCKfLGXVBzco2lnXhDXmwN3bKGfSEBDeKA/s4032/Camp%20Water.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVXV98k49kMucrA_PVP0VTzVSighHq2m_fTJ8pq9moauW9PoFduUNmeIPKYlm7Yo5IgPxuVsaXh6QcykA-7wK2KHDKC9QCOTkVwjTvqdTsCm8pqYPwSbLMH-8RFFac-P9cTnZ_EfCgx49U1q7iqeuvFeZuCKfLGXVBzco2lnXhDXmwN3bKGfSEBDeKA/s320/Camp%20Water.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>This week-end we are doing an outreach to Ukrainian teenagers here in Leipzig - going kayaking, having games and a bbq in a local park, and doing a big in-city scavenger hunt! Pray that many young people will come and that we can invite them to the camp with our Leipzig church and get them connected with our youth group community!</div><div><br /></div><div>We have two more camps before our interns leave on August 17: July 25-30 is our camp in Brandenburg, near Berlin, and August 5-12 is our camp with our church here in Leipzig. We have a Short Term Team coming from Knott Avenue Christian Church in Anaheim, CA coming to help out with our Leipzig camp!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Update on Emma</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVBqkpAeVh1PndZIWkV8sgV4qeJdkKbrj5-0u4sxSxSP93nUPdAu9rGgnpyANXF2WBW8mzdawO9FOrkkqTe4Id6SI9jZYaJ94kb0qCeOoVeyAGce08eah-04xyYnWOCn3neLrwoJXcANJsVC8pIohD_lMX8qMStJee288zx90nuMXldayiPjtoJyhHg/s2048/Emma%20with%20Flower%20Headband.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1574" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVBqkpAeVh1PndZIWkV8sgV4qeJdkKbrj5-0u4sxSxSP93nUPdAu9rGgnpyANXF2WBW8mzdawO9FOrkkqTe4Id6SI9jZYaJ94kb0qCeOoVeyAGce08eah-04xyYnWOCn3neLrwoJXcANJsVC8pIohD_lMX8qMStJee288zx90nuMXldayiPjtoJyhHg/s320/Emma%20with%20Flower%20Headband.jpeg" width="246" /></a></div><br />Emma continues to be fragile yet resilient! We are so thankful for her medical team, but mostly for her incredible parents. Nate and Caitlin are continually so positive in every situation. When told that Emma will probably have to wear glasses, Caitlin said, "Oh, that's ok. Nate and I both wear glasses." When told that they will have to have an appointment in August to see if she has any long-term hearing loss, Caitlin said, "Oh, that's ok. She can wear a hearing aid and Nate and I have been wanting to learn ASL (American Sign Language) anyway." They continually amaze me with their attitudes toward "everything Emma"! Please, continue to pray for her heart, that she will soon be able to get off of oxygen, and that she will be able to get off of her feeding tube. She is such a delightful and happy baby, but no wonder with such delightful and positive parents! God has truly blessed us!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrXh-e_Qu-UF43GzWw2-Z5BJ1MbpuQnIvkzP9F52yIVQ8xiskorywkoBY1leNu4N8v0c-hES2gK84nu3PEkAafAI1PcomvR_Ycn_lj9ajpXrgZY4ezxxR62lpVZ5AzM6tDt1cUTwvhCOIMzXRkSNM6ks1MGUxIHJ8lUMPnglASaPskRrbyhn57090ew/s1600/Noah%20in%20Baseball%20Hat.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrXh-e_Qu-UF43GzWw2-Z5BJ1MbpuQnIvkzP9F52yIVQ8xiskorywkoBY1leNu4N8v0c-hES2gK84nu3PEkAafAI1PcomvR_Ycn_lj9ajpXrgZY4ezxxR62lpVZ5AzM6tDt1cUTwvhCOIMzXRkSNM6ks1MGUxIHJ8lUMPnglASaPskRrbyhn57090ew/s320/Noah%20in%20Baseball%20Hat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Of course, if we have a picture of our precious Emma, we must also include one of Noah!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Prayer Points:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Pray for our Ukrainian outreach July 15-17</li><li>Pray for our Brandenburg Camp July 25-30</li><li>Pray for our Leipzig Camp August 5-12</li><li>Pray for us as we will be packing up and moving to Czech over the next 2 months (We plan move to by September 15)</li><li>Pray for continued healing and health for Emma</li></ul><div>Please, let us know if you have any questions.</div><div>Thank you for your ongoing prayers!</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-69871758355254887422022-03-29T10:21:00.001-07:002022-03-29T10:21:22.893-07:00Back in Germany and Emma Grace<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Leipzig</b> <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes! We are back in Leipzig! It is so good to be home. We have reconnected with people every day, had youth group twice, and been to church twice! I am reminded again about how blessed we are to be here and with all the incredible relationships! </span></div></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjqVe2S3hreFL4w2p_3rjmZa9-cETUYgnESb-JIRJVRSClzYj_AAjPAKA-Nrl5II6Vg25NoKUV5SY57znE3CSnLKgl3kLfh9C6-EHjF-LFZhhhcNHNdRG6dKyg9riPAW6CIVFRCS1iP2fUq0VkeJBl5SWv4l1wTZ0XgSl9N3ADG3MobTGvx1lNwS3Lg/s1600/FEG%20Youth%20Group.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjqVe2S3hreFL4w2p_3rjmZa9-cETUYgnESb-JIRJVRSClzYj_AAjPAKA-Nrl5II6Vg25NoKUV5SY57znE3CSnLKgl3kLfh9C6-EHjF-LFZhhhcNHNdRG6dKyg9riPAW6CIVFRCS1iP2fUq0VkeJBl5SWv4l1wTZ0XgSl9N3ADG3MobTGvx1lNwS3Lg/w640-h360/FEG%20Youth%20Group.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent Game Night at Youth Group<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ukraine</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Josiah Venture is very immersed in helping with the refugee situation. As of Saturday, March 26, Josiah Venture has sent <b>38 buses</b> into Ukraine with over <b>92 tons of food, medical, and various supplies. </b>The food brought and transported <b>provided over 245,000 meals.</b> Once the buses arrived, they are unloaded and returned, filled with refugees. We have five hubs where <b>over 1,600 women and children</b> have entered, been cared for, and are being placed in semi-permanent locations.<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since being back, Jim has driven almost 600 km helping move Ukrainian Refugees. There are many refugees here in Leipzig and we look forward to getting to meet some of them. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ2C4oGY9YVFyKZKQYscfjqT_rptPORIRN_axVhD-xBupkZ7VsrYRp8MjTwkU_j_SHchs1dcbQNbs5WZeRkikP5HTnhLuUVHp3HhZdmB_kXA1XDu3QycIfMDJ0UH8aDLONan2x2PEPiJE-cp_pIz2XJt1UtWcP9XA5zXPSmuaNNvZmBBrv8lIvc_kTQ/s1280/Ukraine%20Promise%20Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ2C4oGY9YVFyKZKQYscfjqT_rptPORIRN_axVhD-xBupkZ7VsrYRp8MjTwkU_j_SHchs1dcbQNbs5WZeRkikP5HTnhLuUVHp3HhZdmB_kXA1XDu3QycIfMDJ0UH8aDLONan2x2PEPiJE-cp_pIz2XJt1UtWcP9XA5zXPSmuaNNvZmBBrv8lIvc_kTQ/w640-h426/Ukraine%20Promise%20Books.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this moment, Josiah Venture has distributed over 65,000 printed booklets called "22 Days of Encouragement in Difficult Times" to Ukrainians. Every Psalm has a title at the top (such as "Hope") and an intro paragraph to prepare them for the Psalm. Pray that God's Word would speak powerfully to each soul who reads it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Summer Interns</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are also very excited that we will have 5 interns coming to help with camps this summer! Please pray that God will provide all the financial and prayer support they need to minister this summer, and that God will use them in a mighty way. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They will arrive May 25 and after a week of training in the Czech Republic, will be with us until August 17. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYmuUxh4mxcEmLi1l_j45fNNkldDV91Ts7_f8V45yekSUtY67iq34m5cY7RnAWvZinXaFE2bA1AxfNZTi1fUW5QD53_61HzmCQyw-DDr5RsIx_ugVp1ySkfByi-jE_IAo5SqIRIGso8b1jbklE-zTtJX59ptcoEggvpMi_P00Tx-iR8JKgRnhZr3YgA/s1280/Inters%20with%20Names.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYmuUxh4mxcEmLi1l_j45fNNkldDV91Ts7_f8V45yekSUtY67iq34m5cY7RnAWvZinXaFE2bA1AxfNZTi1fUW5QD53_61HzmCQyw-DDr5RsIx_ugVp1ySkfByi-jE_IAo5SqIRIGso8b1jbklE-zTtJX59ptcoEggvpMi_P00Tx-iR8JKgRnhZr3YgA/w640-h360/Inters%20with%20Names.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Emma Grace</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that many of you have been praying for our precious granddaughter, Emma Grace. Here is the latest update from yesterday (March 28) from her mom, Caitlin: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Emma had her next procedure. She just came out of the operating room and is in recovery here. We are getting ready to move her to a room for over night. We are being told that we will most likely be able to go home tomorrow!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Her procedure told us that she has still a very severe case, but we are attacking it head on. She doesn't have a large main pulmonary vein on her right side (since it detached) but there are two smaller ones that are trying to keep up. One of the smaller veins was open while the other was not, so a stent was placed in the unopen one to help it. So now Emma has two stents, one on each side of her heart. We are still praying for a miracle for her to keep her veins going." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please continue to pray for Emma, as the next few weeks and months are critical.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iOn7k8NFt2U6Xo_aLRxpnxnzTphEGe9m2zrVGu554IUo3vcYCVwWP9HNAtcrwENCKR-vPvxxUOOwxVH3Vo3VVSgoFY-T3kbSa3du4yvCV8WJddYaIMOfV8bZ0BIwLr0qS6YPWvhcqtjzAaaEsB83QidQxNg-CxeMVzFwp0j4TS0zXbMx6WS_dkoRNQ/s2016/Emma%20in%20Hospital.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iOn7k8NFt2U6Xo_aLRxpnxnzTphEGe9m2zrVGu554IUo3vcYCVwWP9HNAtcrwENCKR-vPvxxUOOwxVH3Vo3VVSgoFY-T3kbSa3du4yvCV8WJddYaIMOfV8bZ0BIwLr0qS6YPWvhcqtjzAaaEsB83QidQxNg-CxeMVzFwp0j4TS0zXbMx6WS_dkoRNQ/w640-h480/Emma%20in%20Hospital.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Emma after returning to her hospital room after the procedure.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some prayer points:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Continue to pray for Emma, that her blood vessels will grow strong, open, and flexible and stay attached to her heart.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for us as we continue to reconnect with people and our ministry here in Germany.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for our 5 Summer Interns, that they will raise all the support they need to come help with camp ministries this summer.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for the people of Ukraine, that God will protect them, that Believers will be strong be witnesses, and that the war will end.</span></li></ol></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-68203691559788814302022-03-04T04:06:00.000-08:002022-03-04T04:06:47.114-08:00Back in Europe<p> Our one year out of Germany is almost finished! We are spending the last 2 weeks in the Czech Republic. Over and over again during this year, we have seen God's perfect timing. We would plan something, and our plans would be blown away, yet when the dust settled, we always saw God's hand leading us to the right place in exactly the right time. Even coming back to Czech. We had no idea when we planned coming back at this time that Josiah Venture would be receiving refugees from Ukraine and that we would be able to help in this.</p><p>Please, pray for all the refugees from Ukraine, for all their family members staying behind to fight for their country, and that God will protect Ukraine and keep it free from oppression.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfuqZxruJ05qktpPUpKYxsRQdtCOL0qnc8mr1hFWPpDv9eQearkGSMStjEWTqhZta9fMnWyuaP0IvDIHjdx1Cqw8SPRZRa4tl-NxSXn4Fd3VAEw6CkGwcPWBOj5sa-QGz67PczKyDshNyxM34mUWyU5FoDUBjRgEsbT1SbjANkVu5hDpLuNlh5gitlZw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfuqZxruJ05qktpPUpKYxsRQdtCOL0qnc8mr1hFWPpDv9eQearkGSMStjEWTqhZta9fMnWyuaP0IvDIHjdx1Cqw8SPRZRa4tl-NxSXn4Fd3VAEw6CkGwcPWBOj5sa-QGz67PczKyDshNyxM34mUWyU5FoDUBjRgEsbT1SbjANkVu5hDpLuNlh5gitlZw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukrainian Refugees on Bus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Coming back to Europe also means leaving family and loved ones in the US and Bangladesh. What an incredible gift from God that we were able to spend so much time with both of our grandchildren.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjexyeFYWX4mPNkktYsFkFGbY9fQj7F6EUCuCR9x77YNHW5XyuIqQ59NgjXTRzCuU-nFSzrpvsdZHBl75hbbOEMuaGaApNwnDV6oYuLS2V3MQ43W20NGSlK8fJGB3nDWm-KPlrocraB2y_UMwkl8iJVZW3U2DMA8WWQgu7QxIAxGlhaeUcTft5gnwR4w=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjexyeFYWX4mPNkktYsFkFGbY9fQj7F6EUCuCR9x77YNHW5XyuIqQ59NgjXTRzCuU-nFSzrpvsdZHBl75hbbOEMuaGaApNwnDV6oYuLS2V3MQ43W20NGSlK8fJGB3nDWm-KPlrocraB2y_UMwkl8iJVZW3U2DMA8WWQgu7QxIAxGlhaeUcTft5gnwR4w=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah watching TV with Daddy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj42CCQ9OQYOxFP6tMk-CXGhxHJpkkORV6s2_DUCOYhlt6P--gGKFgRBVj8zds32rnayHsToQeasChmAr9mI4A4rs2UleCyxct-nKRZg-PfwB8Glgl5S_HHnxRPVwJniGIgp9SS6foIUnSkrAq2Q0kZtxAJDCCdbYpPkZQW8gt5Qx-p4IbwrIdQL2BKZw=s1440" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj42CCQ9OQYOxFP6tMk-CXGhxHJpkkORV6s2_DUCOYhlt6P--gGKFgRBVj8zds32rnayHsToQeasChmAr9mI4A4rs2UleCyxct-nKRZg-PfwB8Glgl5S_HHnxRPVwJniGIgp9SS6foIUnSkrAq2Q0kZtxAJDCCdbYpPkZQW8gt5Qx-p4IbwrIdQL2BKZw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Catching up on her reading in the hospital</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Please, continue to pray for our little Emma Grace. She is 11 months old now and weighs 15 lbs.! What a blessing to see her grow. She is still on oxygen and a feeding tube. Pray for her heart, as the blood vessels attached to the heart are very fragile. Pray that they will strengthen and stay strongly attached. She had a stent put into one of the vessels last month and that has vastly improved her oxygen levels. We are so thankful for the good medical and therapy care that she is receiving.</p><p>We will be able to return to Germany on March 16! We are so excited to continue ministry in person, rather than on zoom. We already have two retreats planned with two of our youth groups over the next few weeks.</p><p>We are also gearing up for summer camps. We have 5 interns coming to help us out. Pray for them as they raise their support over the next few months.</p><p>We are so thankful to God for each one of you and that we had the opportunity to see so many of you in person over this last year. So many of you hosted us and provided things that we needed during our time there, including letting us borrow your autos! We are so thankful for the family of God all over the world.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJB4yr-A0c1scVi7n0_knag68g06rMGUDhTBKjd9qy7hK_ktiIoGoB9so85S9Ga09CqlLQWGRjARXNNV1exmvWKGeRY449ACOxViU1Y5oGGoHURbHegcNZkrz9GBMy5VkqJPDRHiZiX1fm-rsqEoWyFqFJOt0_WEqjgPxblknmzyWa8ktWQwk1ay5FmA=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJB4yr-A0c1scVi7n0_knag68g06rMGUDhTBKjd9qy7hK_ktiIoGoB9so85S9Ga09CqlLQWGRjARXNNV1exmvWKGeRY449ACOxViU1Y5oGGoHURbHegcNZkrz9GBMy5VkqJPDRHiZiX1fm-rsqEoWyFqFJOt0_WEqjgPxblknmzyWa8ktWQwk1ay5FmA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimberlee Cather and her husband Doug open their home to us for the entire time we were in Colorado. Here is "Auntie Kimba" holding Emma Grace with Nate and Caitlin.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-71953805306178738532021-12-21T05:28:00.000-08:002021-12-21T05:28:23.844-08:00Merry Christmas from the Millers!!!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW9YOQ-SkHMSVj8pIQMun6twa04xZKfgTbH1hHai2UrFCbVn16p48UBlKMjLXViVTlojoR9Tw0BeYbBP-zLNhSEPih7AV187tBvY05GheDgOOjGQ3Cq4S3TEOhhjDTsrDsDfgNizmlLPEp8hQEfrrKtt4BsRRKD-PTDU6o3gPkOS5KLqJpXurKus5F7g=s1023" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1023" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW9YOQ-SkHMSVj8pIQMun6twa04xZKfgTbH1hHai2UrFCbVn16p48UBlKMjLXViVTlojoR9Tw0BeYbBP-zLNhSEPih7AV187tBvY05GheDgOOjGQ3Cq4S3TEOhhjDTsrDsDfgNizmlLPEp8hQEfrrKtt4BsRRKD-PTDU6o3gPkOS5KLqJpXurKus5F7g=w604-h412" width="604" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizptFms-mePfowM5KQDR1nMpySUb_CKuloduxnFfXmG1GcgoYjRxOKxJa2c4QMF1LMdAmlTggmWzcbKs2vou87UwvA_UCU4XfkXO7u44gHhw4Em_yzAWy_JzUi5Kw75uGGfewhCnb3VxuOwISIkTGr1SDbPFilb37hrWkcy-Wl06k3umgi_Xqp2rfXNw=s859" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="859" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizptFms-mePfowM5KQDR1nMpySUb_CKuloduxnFfXmG1GcgoYjRxOKxJa2c4QMF1LMdAmlTggmWzcbKs2vou87UwvA_UCU4XfkXO7u44gHhw4Em_yzAWy_JzUi5Kw75uGGfewhCnb3VxuOwISIkTGr1SDbPFilb37hrWkcy-Wl06k3umgi_Xqp2rfXNw=w604-h260" width="604" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5qi4PR4JmVxucVGG6v3OLMwouSfKUv69TgOVXUkL4Owvs9fWcmYWv9afFCKEdrsNIAvFyWELbldKlFq4OYSWt0qMglcRvZZDN94gc1heIQTVkR_gYHHDMIvljKPN7j1KSbSYsI109QybnMSF8fSEHhOUFSkIFooF4_uRlpmgn9lQuVZu0tfqiNZZrlA=s901" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="901" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5qi4PR4JmVxucVGG6v3OLMwouSfKUv69TgOVXUkL4Owvs9fWcmYWv9afFCKEdrsNIAvFyWELbldKlFq4OYSWt0qMglcRvZZDN94gc1heIQTVkR_gYHHDMIvljKPN7j1KSbSYsI109QybnMSF8fSEHhOUFSkIFooF4_uRlpmgn9lQuVZu0tfqiNZZrlA=w602-h456" width="602" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFJDvNyZGOE69KBDYMvDC44LFm3TxTQ6u1D60_UiWuNOqq_OZX2CSX00FYgIihQAxxYBL4NOha0qehFQi78eVdxmwdubRNCeHcJaXOufvr4XxaFBHBPfxea4WampGtL5jElCOqfcHzssNglgtZgESj_CBxvicTKs8IGc1nR90uur7D30Ikc5ieNiBkyg=s984" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="984" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFJDvNyZGOE69KBDYMvDC44LFm3TxTQ6u1D60_UiWuNOqq_OZX2CSX00FYgIihQAxxYBL4NOha0qehFQi78eVdxmwdubRNCeHcJaXOufvr4XxaFBHBPfxea4WampGtL5jElCOqfcHzssNglgtZgESj_CBxvicTKs8IGc1nR90uur7D30Ikc5ieNiBkyg=w601-h365" width="601" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-24399439511355913672021-06-02T14:23:00.000-07:002021-06-02T14:23:24.868-07:00Where in the World are Jim and Lina Miller?We are in the eleventh week of our one year "exile" from Germany. Just to remind you, we need to be out of Germany for one year every 5-8 years, in order to retain our US Social Security. So, here I sit in Chicago reflecting on the last 11 weeks of homelessness! <div><br /><div>Last time I wrote, we were in Bangladesh with our daughter and son-in-law, Emily and Alpha, along with our incredible grandson, Noah. We were to be there for 4 weeks, but just about 24 hours before we were to fly out, the airport was closed because of Covid, and we were able to stay for 2 more weeks! What a joyous time as we watched Noah learn to crawl, take his first steps, and get his first tooth! His Omi and Poppy truly love him!
</div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAhJKxIknoSyOZrP1L8oDGwwUa0FRUw6PaGDqFLPEfnzgtrhqJnlCAL4PyZQNpUYEHfTzqKDXFdq3O3GPpfIgFIcgKxcctv7jkl2gSwrIbdbe0NvBn-mFRXteoYLYOGfFAKw8ikr4PaNB/s2048/IMG_20210414_101003+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAhJKxIknoSyOZrP1L8oDGwwUa0FRUw6PaGDqFLPEfnzgtrhqJnlCAL4PyZQNpUYEHfTzqKDXFdq3O3GPpfIgFIcgKxcctv7jkl2gSwrIbdbe0NvBn-mFRXteoYLYOGfFAKw8ikr4PaNB/w640-h342/IMG_20210414_101003+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim working hard in Bangladesh with Emily, Noah, and Ember (the dog) keeping him company!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Leaving Bangladesh 2 weeks later than planned meant we missed the time we were to spend in Idaho with Jim's parents and sister's family, as well as one of our supporting churches. We are looking to make up that trip a little later on.</div><div><br /></div><div>We landed in Chicago May 4 and took off the next day for our Josiah Venture Spring Conference at Gull Lake in Michigan. The conference was online so that everyone from the 16 countries of Josiah Venture could attend, but we were able to gather with the over 50 other missionaries that were here in the States at the time to experience the conference together. What a blessing, especially after not being able to gather together for over a year!</div><div><br /></div><div>From there, we visited family and supporters in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. During this time we celebrated Jim's 60th birthday, and our three kids got together and bought tickets for us to visit the Noah's Ark Encounter in Kentucky! What an incredible place!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3grLDjv4qR919Jl6PMKgti-9dtzaLQPlCcbRGTq3jyA6AiNTX6lsvnJwYMYbXzD_1JevT_uval3yHX3twfv4kQvZheXUxppuFpVUCrDrR1fWiFAccv6HODgzDz7Pi47I1OIXNjxLgoeu/s2643/IMG_20210516_141127__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2643" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3grLDjv4qR919Jl6PMKgti-9dtzaLQPlCcbRGTq3jyA6AiNTX6lsvnJwYMYbXzD_1JevT_uval3yHX3twfv4kQvZheXUxppuFpVUCrDrR1fWiFAccv6HODgzDz7Pi47I1OIXNjxLgoeu/w640-h288/IMG_20210516_141127__01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Noah's Ark replica was huge and built to the size as recorded in the Bible!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>We returned to Chicago for a few days before flying out to the Josiah Venture Leaders' Meeting in Cappadocia, Turkey. Again, after over a year of not being together, the leadership team was able to meet in person. The meetings were held in Turkey because the leaders from each of the 16 countries were able to travel there while other boarders and countries were closed to many of us. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Cappadocia is such an intriguing place! Along with the "other worldly" rock formations crowding the landscape, it is also the place where the Church Fathers hammered out the Doctrine of the Trinity! What rich history!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX96mdMVbXsDdwy9Y2s1JiI0WOJZGzdLu6wvOZ_hiaIEGQMas6M0YpuotjdeJsgMmUluEbRSnbDEJgGRbl-1HmZRQ4_85HMmPQGh7oinLOBgtialcxPkt1Wu7UyWVJb4UmE1Y75tUSx9Z2/s1130/5cc305f3c03c0e264c998b7b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1130" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX96mdMVbXsDdwy9Y2s1JiI0WOJZGzdLu6wvOZ_hiaIEGQMas6M0YpuotjdeJsgMmUluEbRSnbDEJgGRbl-1HmZRQ4_85HMmPQGh7oinLOBgtialcxPkt1Wu7UyWVJb4UmE1Y75tUSx9Z2/w640-h360/5cc305f3c03c0e264c998b7b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cappadocia is know for its rock formations and its hot air balloons!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCZvUlQ_k9cLDM80WAqgffImkY461hxk6PxSVpSUaELMTpAqHRTjib9kXcILX0cuWd_Qvf4pq3_wWKpNOg8HZfma0uK3gHSvbDw8fikwBe1RS6wlul72Q37pZFrIeT7olPIqJMVwUHxc7/s2643/IMG_20210527_053834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="1189" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCZvUlQ_k9cLDM80WAqgffImkY461hxk6PxSVpSUaELMTpAqHRTjib9kXcILX0cuWd_Qvf4pq3_wWKpNOg8HZfma0uK3gHSvbDw8fikwBe1RS6wlul72Q37pZFrIeT7olPIqJMVwUHxc7/w288-h640/IMG_20210527_053834.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The people of Cappadocia would carve out the large "Fairy Towers" for their houses and even their churches! We saw many beautiful frescoes on the ancient church walls!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j5mLlD1xwvje00-grtPxREIHfzY80e1wD4Yryn-9xtkpwU1w_5YqUQHJZIroK_4lSv0rw2N7XH-Gx8Ka02FR93_r76K-DVXlye2E9Zt7lnMRD9ZZnHNHWxH2-KhuIIS6UETk7bykj5Tg/s2048/Turkey.G%25C3%25B6reme038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j5mLlD1xwvje00-grtPxREIHfzY80e1wD4Yryn-9xtkpwU1w_5YqUQHJZIroK_4lSv0rw2N7XH-Gx8Ka02FR93_r76K-DVXlye2E9Zt7lnMRD9ZZnHNHWxH2-KhuIIS6UETk7bykj5Tg/w640-h422/Turkey.G%25C3%25B6reme038.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">By Georges Jansoone JoJan - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2642263</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We are now back in Chicago since Sunday, May 30, and leave tomorrow for one week in Colorado, then 2 weeks in California, then back to Colorado to stay until September. We are so looking forward to meeting our little granddaughter, Emma Grace. Being born on April 15, almost 3 months early and only slightly over one pound, she is growing fast and doing so well!!! She is now 3 pounds 3 ounces!!!!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8eOdNXUIKIO1oDS_m1bGnHRLKYOFVSbP7RwaWQzYYTMJ6TNOeVuH4CDTkFTQrbLS16F5IDqqpWgiRxs45Sh4Ln7g2HbHxKvRegVJBg5XTjqwfzZM3tkZ968e3m54GJDtdPIA2za-P4Pd/s533/Emma+May+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="533" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8eOdNXUIKIO1oDS_m1bGnHRLKYOFVSbP7RwaWQzYYTMJ6TNOeVuH4CDTkFTQrbLS16F5IDqqpWgiRxs45Sh4Ln7g2HbHxKvRegVJBg5XTjqwfzZM3tkZ968e3m54GJDtdPIA2za-P4Pd/w640-h480/Emma+May+23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Grace on May 23. </td></tr></tbody></table>Prayer Points:<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Please continue to pray for Emma Grace, that she will continue to grow and will be able to get out of the hospital on her due date, July 4.</li><li>Pray for us as we continue discipleship and training sessions online with our dear friends in Germany.</li><li>Pray for our teammate, Rachael, as she will be heading up the two camps we will be having this summer.</li><li>Pray for Julie, our summer intern, that this will be a rich summer for her as she partners with Rachel to help out with the camps.</li><li>Pray that the camps will be able to happen and that God will bring many young people and touch their lives through the camps.</li><li>Pray for our busy travel schedule, that God will continue to give us health and strength.</li></ul></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-75015748129733593422021-04-17T03:09:00.001-07:002021-04-17T03:21:42.491-07:00Our New Granddaughter and Extended Time in Bangladesh<p> We are so excited that our granddaughter, Emma Grace Miller, was born two days ago, on April 15. She was so impatient to meet everyone that she came early. She was born at 28 weeks and 4 days and weighed in at 1.19 pounds and 11.5" long and is superseding everything the doctors could hope for! </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStlMLr9nOFwCMcC6eAjRMZqFnsyA09h6lG_t3In3E3GqaBWWL289cayZeyvCPd7_yLQOmuDFkIXNI_I5xmfYhTH7r5DuqG-6PgWttKEiSriAkWdsfDtV90D_B1oGmorcz88tq28FooP4g/s2048/processed-30.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStlMLr9nOFwCMcC6eAjRMZqFnsyA09h6lG_t3In3E3GqaBWWL289cayZeyvCPd7_yLQOmuDFkIXNI_I5xmfYhTH7r5DuqG-6PgWttKEiSriAkWdsfDtV90D_B1oGmorcz88tq28FooP4g/w480-h640/processed-30.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Emma Grace with Caitlin's hand.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Emma never had to be intubated, but was just on an oxygen-rich CPAP machine. She is breathing so well that she has now been moved to having "room air" which is just the regular oxygen mix that each of us breath in a regular room! She has been taking some of Mamma's breast milk in her mouth on the end of a Q-tip! We are so thankful for how God is growing and developing this little baby!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlcnTd9_u40ypcWZomjC1W6jwiQRJU9BxZvdj6CXkm4jHoi4YdZOqPkYz0kRDaAFTxhwy2-pAXCnZT2XR55V7SNM5jxG2zsk9LyK2X5S84Q_7E7acLFktfPE_ro-HloAs4tRtImxaWyZw/s2048/0_processed-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlcnTd9_u40ypcWZomjC1W6jwiQRJU9BxZvdj6CXkm4jHoi4YdZOqPkYz0kRDaAFTxhwy2-pAXCnZT2XR55V7SNM5jxG2zsk9LyK2X5S84Q_7E7acLFktfPE_ro-HloAs4tRtImxaWyZw/w480-h640/0_processed-1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caitlin feeding Emma with a Q-tip.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>Nate and Caitlin are such great parents. Caitlin is recovering well from her C-section. The hospital there in Colorado Springs is wonderful. Emma is in a private room with a bed for Nate and Caitlin in the room! Nate has stayed with her since she was born and Caitlin will move over once she is recovered well enough from her C-section and is released from the other side of the hospital, but she is able to be wheeled over every day to spend time with Emma.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTOfXGzM4Opc9aCQ4MGMh4ZdsZ9Q6i1YcDs08QM_3PB5mmbkiNeXTDQsV36aV7EQirXy4ZkulTNs2Mgu74UwNAbDDgI24j8WD84v0g2TS-1QOxhYMv_kBeC-A8f_31kYcKivsUZcTvClI/s2048/1618561654921_0_processed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTOfXGzM4Opc9aCQ4MGMh4ZdsZ9Q6i1YcDs08QM_3PB5mmbkiNeXTDQsV36aV7EQirXy4ZkulTNs2Mgu74UwNAbDDgI24j8WD84v0g2TS-1QOxhYMv_kBeC-A8f_31kYcKivsUZcTvClI/w640-h480/1618561654921_0_processed.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate and Caitlin with Emma Grace!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJKcEfkKrjA-31O91PHM3B0lt2B_tS5b5_Lp-IVMRB01gSO2kD4UN1v-tRna6ZnzN23h8SujWaVXMRR0edUsCd-TQ3JSwqCpLRGReRZnFXiN_giXaAPCZZnFNy7YVALGCI1Kc4oBoYowX/s2643/IMG_20210409_105938_010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="1189" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJKcEfkKrjA-31O91PHM3B0lt2B_tS5b5_Lp-IVMRB01gSO2kD4UN1v-tRna6ZnzN23h8SujWaVXMRR0edUsCd-TQ3JSwqCpLRGReRZnFXiN_giXaAPCZZnFNy7YVALGCI1Kc4oBoYowX/w288-h640/IMG_20210409_105938_010.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>In other news, Jim and I are still in Bangladesh! Our flight was cancelled 27 hours before we were to fly out on April 15, due to Covid and the graciousness of our Heavenly Father! Although we were scrambling and changing all kinds of plans, I now see what a blessing it is that we are here with Emily and Alpha while receiving all the news and updates about Emma Grace, instead of being in the air and in airports during the almost 2 days of travel it takes to get from here to the US! Plus, we get to spend more time with Noah!!! <div><br /></div><div>Although we are still working while being here in Bangladesh, it has been in the context of Noah getting his first tooth, starting to crawl, standing on his own for a short time, and taking his first steps!!!! How can a baby change so much in such a short time.<div><div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUC8HyAxbC_JAFd37RbIr5W5sMZZrjJQn2gtaNZlkptZnQO753ZiyVMLD9ye3Subca1erOqXgwHAdKWg7P6naDNw7_IpAcZ_nG4iVkOn7dXKXBHu_GrWo_j944EmLZswIqoMmBCiJQrNi/s2643/IMG_20210413_142225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="1189" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUC8HyAxbC_JAFd37RbIr5W5sMZZrjJQn2gtaNZlkptZnQO753ZiyVMLD9ye3Subca1erOqXgwHAdKWg7P6naDNw7_IpAcZ_nG4iVkOn7dXKXBHu_GrWo_j944EmLZswIqoMmBCiJQrNi/w288-h640/IMG_20210413_142225.jpg" width="288" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSYqpsG3J-VlYeJ6RvDqdLucE7br3-tEcSCoRIn8psJhMWPyibAAJwusXlW0BD09kad94uOsE7fD_pLJjFHhJ4eWjC_EGS88HnyMg3_3oTjp9ZP9iErNAjpU8qfPfauvbwLkBSMqCS64k/s2643/IMG_20210415_163528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="1189" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSYqpsG3J-VlYeJ6RvDqdLucE7br3-tEcSCoRIn8psJhMWPyibAAJwusXlW0BD09kad94uOsE7fD_pLJjFHhJ4eWjC_EGS88HnyMg3_3oTjp9ZP9iErNAjpU8qfPfauvbwLkBSMqCS64k/w288-h640/IMG_20210415_163528.jpg" width="288" /></a></div></div>It has also been an incredible opportuning for hanging out with the guys in Alpha and Emily's band, as well as the young people who live on their compound. Jim has become the "Bible go-to Man" for every Bible related question! It's so fun to see him in theological conversations with the young people here. He also has become "Pastor Jim" to the church here and has preached 4 times, 2 at church and 2 during Alpha Studio's online "Worship Live".</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8WKOHYRMFFzyzUXJo5NmDx0llEF9iGyIaxvTEPd1VhZJEqr7A6LGZhOTo1EtVS0OVZf59zDstYdkdfncZR_3GVvH_C8UNooCQjtlMxdQen0WjoWkG_qCOyiZDnjHVZwjnfSUCocHPOML/s2643/IMG_20210404_110404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2643" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8WKOHYRMFFzyzUXJo5NmDx0llEF9iGyIaxvTEPd1VhZJEqr7A6LGZhOTo1EtVS0OVZf59zDstYdkdfncZR_3GVvH_C8UNooCQjtlMxdQen0WjoWkG_qCOyiZDnjHVZwjnfSUCocHPOML/w640-h288/IMG_20210404_110404.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and me with the girls in our Sarees ready for church.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiQBF2Za3QhXfb8IzbW0IttoXzY5Hvj7pN7Ty0ph_boP3P9IoS6lw2D0otCCSwWTHuITTngPijNvOsS53G1TT9N_xUcqaCwvOfI-KBxJISSljKH9zq4vmceKUSNUdSOK9U7m5araMIjQQ/s2643/IMG_20210416_204623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2643" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiQBF2Za3QhXfb8IzbW0IttoXzY5Hvj7pN7Ty0ph_boP3P9IoS6lw2D0otCCSwWTHuITTngPijNvOsS53G1TT9N_xUcqaCwvOfI-KBxJISSljKH9zq4vmceKUSNUdSOK9U7m5araMIjQQ/w640-h288/IMG_20210416_204623.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating and hanging out with the young people at the church.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz036Was9AyDvbNVdPSOAMWGIknhq2yRKZmLSoehL3mcdNaRp6m8efUG7lGTG8jzI_iR-iTnOwCxFo6pZOF1edYyyABvpsc6GwEUeFfS7HLqY_Szw6JGDHGBu3G12ZEvrTdVjg5nVKT5F/s1280/Shelving+with+Sorouv%252C+Joy+and+Sinthia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz036Was9AyDvbNVdPSOAMWGIknhq2yRKZmLSoehL3mcdNaRp6m8efUG7lGTG8jzI_iR-iTnOwCxFo6pZOF1edYyyABvpsc6GwEUeFfS7HLqY_Szw6JGDHGBu3G12ZEvrTdVjg5nVKT5F/w640-h480/Shelving+with+Sorouv%252C+Joy+and+Sinthia.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim built a shelving unit for Emily and Alpha. Sorouv, one of the boys on the compound, worked with Jim on the unit, sanding, sealing, and varnishing. He is the one in the shelving unit. The others are Sinthia, holding Noah, and Joy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm1KFZZsLa5rl3IqolNn_UHTOmBxLEfHfdSuTP4hEfPciPzB2cMQeGQrPHZuDBcHgAjaoT_rCWeRU-WnMb3zFyZ8Bmu39KydwTp2Z_HGgquU7PfgUnkEqyq1UlHamQL7gvrWqz-Icb8dE/s1280/Washing+Machine+Shelving.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm1KFZZsLa5rl3IqolNn_UHTOmBxLEfHfdSuTP4hEfPciPzB2cMQeGQrPHZuDBcHgAjaoT_rCWeRU-WnMb3zFyZ8Bmu39KydwTp2Z_HGgquU7PfgUnkEqyq1UlHamQL7gvrWqz-Icb8dE/w480-h640/Washing+Machine+Shelving.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unit installed in Emily's laundry area. It adds a whole lot of much needed storage space!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p>We look forward to eventually resuming our travel plans, hopefully within the next week, but since things seem to change every day, we are thankful to hang out here with family!</p><p>Prayer Points:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Pray for continued growth and health of Emma Grace. If you want to keep up on updates, you can go to her <a href="https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/milleremmagrace?fbclid=IwAR1EwNrGlQtn3J-21OeXVTXqlHh5Irw84akzG0zuXfe9oy3hFmJlcaAdUww">CaringBridge</a> site where we will post the most up-to-date information. </li><li>Pray for Caitlin's recovery and for her and Nate as they stay with Emma Grace in the hospital until, most likely, the first part of July.</li><li>Pray that we will be able to start traveling, and that we will stay safe, healthy and Covid-free!</li><li>Pray for JV Germany as we continue to minister from afar during these next 11 months!</li></ul><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><p></p></div></div></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-65656714631481406882021-03-16T04:14:00.001-07:002021-03-16T05:04:22.807-07:00Leaving Germany for One Year!<p><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Today you will hear from Jim about our up-coming plans for the next 12 months: </span></p><p><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">We hope this finds you well and looking forward to Spring. We are still currently under a tight Covid Lockdown here in Germany. Yet the Gospel is unchained as we minister online and one-on-one with individual students.</span></span></p><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="gmail_default"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ95HcIchkNsi2_hXnj7C_iz2omM6amxKY6YJsXrGDqQdV2dAIqKWNoFWY-o8zj2JikfbFra0Jd-uoz2Lw7_kwD-l6I0QeZQDv_0T5SUGRIzR1bE-8FwLsERkAIrr3TN3GPA8hjg32KSQ/s2048/Empty+Closet+2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ95HcIchkNsi2_hXnj7C_iz2omM6amxKY6YJsXrGDqQdV2dAIqKWNoFWY-o8zj2JikfbFra0Jd-uoz2Lw7_kwD-l6I0QeZQDv_0T5SUGRIzR1bE-8FwLsERkAIrr3TN3GPA8hjg32KSQ/s320/Empty+Closet+2.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Empty Closets for a family to live in our home for one year.</span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We are writing to you today to inform you of some decisions that are impacting our plans for the coming 12 months. There is something called the "Totalization Agreement" between Germany and the United States. It is a document meant to coordinate and protect nationals living in the other country from being double taxed for Social Security.</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This document stipulates that a person may live and work in another country and maintain their payment to and anticipated payment from their home country in regards to Social Security income. This is typically 5 years with the option, here in Germany, of requesting a 3 year extension. </span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We have been compliant with these requirements and were anticipating having to begin our one year exile from Germany in October 2022. Yet in conjunction with Josiah Venture (JV) leadership, we are aware that we currently have two families raising support to join JV Germany and us in 2022. With that knowledge the decision was made to have us go earlier rather than later. So that means we will do our exile now, in hopes of returning just as the families will be ready to move to Germany.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This has been a relatively short decision making process. We are making preparations to leave Germany March 16. We will continue to work remotely online with our contacts here in Germany during this year. We will also be able to take some time to visit our daughter Emily and Alpha and our new grandson, Noah in Bangladesh. Then we are planning on spending the summer in the States before returning to work from Czech in September through the end of our exile (March 17, 2022). In addition to working with our contacts here in Germany we will be working with JV leadership in areas of HR and Member Care across the 16 different JV countries.</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E75tRKM8CYqcTRocMHIpT5FsMgf8FhSXSFJ2gMv92cRwd4wDv3xFBBe0zx-RXnquhkO5XCFUtoh_2gJOAq4yhK2x7xGIvEHr-bsJm_Ncp118OefepHuvlu5muMPQIYJnyZDcf3bsrs9T/s2048/Jim+packing+van.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E75tRKM8CYqcTRocMHIpT5FsMgf8FhSXSFJ2gMv92cRwd4wDv3xFBBe0zx-RXnquhkO5XCFUtoh_2gJOAq4yhK2x7xGIvEHr-bsJm_Ncp118OefepHuvlu5muMPQIYJnyZDcf3bsrs9T/s320/Jim+packing+van.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Jim packing van.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">All of the other Josiah Venture countries affected by this Totalization Agreement only have to leave for 6 months. Germany is special in that we have to leave for one year. Yet at the end we will be granted a new certificate of coverage for 5 more years.</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">During the previous three weeks I have sought information from other mission organizations with Americans working in Germany hoping to find an exception. But in the end they all said this is what you must do to remain compliant and eligible for Social Security in the United States upon reaching retirement age.</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We are trusting the Lord to accomplish His will in our lives and the ministries that we are partnered with. We are so thankful that Rachel Berkebile, our teammate will be here working during our exile. She will host two evangelistic camps this summer, Lord willing.</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In personal news, Lina had her gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago. She is recovering, tired, but doing well. </span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL66rmz54vfTZuANfPojPZFMX41unSNy9YUmWwc_S7uLXZzC9XS3xOO3aK6mH8o0J0a9USAfi5Kqp2eyE25OQ5lh9dqMSawyUtplH3e4QHg8_pA4tMF0ilJHCzqS-xIEGI7wRjhf7LTdK/s2048/Packing+Van.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL66rmz54vfTZuANfPojPZFMX41unSNy9YUmWwc_S7uLXZzC9XS3xOO3aK6mH8o0J0a9USAfi5Kqp2eyE25OQ5lh9dqMSawyUtplH3e4QHg8_pA4tMF0ilJHCzqS-xIEGI7wRjhf7LTdK/s320/Packing+Van.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Our friend, Simeon, helping us pack our van.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In short:</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We must leave Germany for one year, beginning March 16, 2020 through March 17, 2022.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We will be in Bangladesh for one month, March 18 - April 15.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We will be in the States working remotely, traveling, and being there for new granddaughter to be born, April 17 - Sept 14.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We will be living in and working from the Czech Republic Sept. 15, 1021 - March 17, 2022.</span></li></ul><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Prayer Points:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Pray for us as we travel, especially with all the Covid 19 restrictions, that we will be able to cross boarders and travel without a problem and with good health.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Pray for Lina as she is still recovering from gallbladder surgery.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Pray for time with family and friends while in the States.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Pray for continued good connections with young people we are discipling, youth workers we are training, and youth groups we are involved with in Germany.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Pray for a healthy rest of pregnancy and delivery of Nate and Caitlin's little baby girl.</span></li></ul></div></div></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-60100721193935683912021-02-27T03:09:00.000-08:002021-02-27T03:09:17.416-08:00A Few Months Late, but Not Short on News!<p>Do you know how easy it is to get out of a good habit? Really easy! I've been doing this blog at least once a month for the last 5 years! Yes, 81 blog posts, and yet, the last few months... (crickets sound here)... I will assure you that it is not because nothing has been happening!</p><p>October was full of wedding travel and preparation, and ended with Nate and Caitlin's delightful wedding! It was beautiful, intimate, and so much fun! We are so blessed with Caitlin as our daughter-in-law! Of course I must include one funny story. A woman came up to me and very excitedly told me how happy she was to be there and to see me! I smiled at her, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out who she was. I politely said, "I'm so sorry, can you remind me of your name?" She pulled down her mask and I instantly recognized my cousin, Pam!!!! Oh, the trials and tribulations of a Covid wedding!!!!!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ivAucZYNmdrNfFlMXFilUOrNfed4-Mb_W-CgqZpOS_nUrdXgeypNCFR1SDWsbSwbIXJHwjR_YMrDnt7C69A5diJjlWC0K60gJo66mDR94skaLvYzozwbNiuzhLKXFd41OdEdMYz1OTWq/s1536/Nate+%2526+Caitlin+Wedding+Clock+Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ivAucZYNmdrNfFlMXFilUOrNfed4-Mb_W-CgqZpOS_nUrdXgeypNCFR1SDWsbSwbIXJHwjR_YMrDnt7C69A5diJjlWC0K60gJo66mDR94skaLvYzozwbNiuzhLKXFd41OdEdMYz1OTWq/w426-h640/Nate+%2526+Caitlin+Wedding+Clock+Tower.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a beautiful wedding and absolute joy to our family!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfEP4edF_XzNw1KimIFgEmvt5QzP_tmbCg-yTayJ8wNz-L7NhWkKcp_2xaMusPPvhbNJHyfFa-mNI0jPew82fgtrWh8k2V7UaiA-w40XQS5-ZSzuXCnpuerFhNWTCe2D-Ig9OMP-MoRua/s1440/N%2526C+Wedding+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfEP4edF_XzNw1KimIFgEmvt5QzP_tmbCg-yTayJ8wNz-L7NhWkKcp_2xaMusPPvhbNJHyfFa-mNI0jPew82fgtrWh8k2V7UaiA-w40XQS5-ZSzuXCnpuerFhNWTCe2D-Ig9OMP-MoRua/w640-h426/N%2526C+Wedding+Party.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedding Party. Yes, that is Jared next to Nathan.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We returned to Germany and dove right back into ministry! Most of our meetings are online, but we are allowed to meet with one person face-to-face at a time, so we have been taking full advantage of that! I admit we have cut it very close a few times! One day, Jim and I each planned a meeting, without the other knowing it and, although one of us can usually go for a walk in the park with our "one person", this day was way too cold. So Jim headed over to Steffen's house, rather than Steffen coming to us, and Lisa came up the stairs just as Jim left. We were having a wonderful time, when suddenly the doorbell rang, and Elli was at the door. She was off work early that day and was here an hour before I expected her! What to do! I now have 2 people in my house! We socially distanced, prayed together over a cup of tea, then Lisa quickly left and we were legal again! </p><p>I have also been taking an Intensive German course 4 mornings a week since November. This has really helped push my German forward! Last Friday, February 19, I had my gallbladder removed and was in the hospital for 4 days. I few months ago this would have been much more stressful, but I was able to handle it all in German! I am recovering well and taking it a bit easy over the next week, but I was so encouraged by being able to communicate and understand in a very important situation!</p><p>The next few weeks are busy, as we plan the coming year. We are excited about what God is doing and will continue to do in our ministry here. We will update you on a few things over the next few weeks as plans start to solidify.</p><p>Oh, and one last thing, I can't leave without a picture of our new grandchildren...yes, that's right, grandchildren!!!! (Can you say happy Grandma!)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumw0bEXjEFBpingIi_VToRHaBytl8XkYOpGRU-3oW5mVPtpW-FnbtIsPTCKY09JEMphsopFwN_C-l39G5PP30tmi8gJ2ETtlHSjbpsAEU6cLVcAxgpGMJy8aAY21yXSb58vbB-Wom3m3D/s2015/Emma+Jane+Ultrasound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="1504" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumw0bEXjEFBpingIi_VToRHaBytl8XkYOpGRU-3oW5mVPtpW-FnbtIsPTCKY09JEMphsopFwN_C-l39G5PP30tmi8gJ2ETtlHSjbpsAEU6cLVcAxgpGMJy8aAY21yXSb58vbB-Wom3m3D/w478-h640/Emma+Jane+Ultrasound.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate and Caitlin's little girl coming this summer!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTxzEAbzRLmHaIFKtE4Ia8SRjHwR6LtAHtK-CFa8vjlWzna1HEJbaNnYHLSxHmNAxi7Wu0OdmMzt9tLlaoEFXUaEU4JHnwpaubBfTtTcu4n9Z3aYGo2n3xSh0oUOA6NiiZq6DiIMY3KJw/s1280/Noah+sitting+up.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTxzEAbzRLmHaIFKtE4Ia8SRjHwR6LtAHtK-CFa8vjlWzna1HEJbaNnYHLSxHmNAxi7Wu0OdmMzt9tLlaoEFXUaEU4JHnwpaubBfTtTcu4n9Z3aYGo2n3xSh0oUOA6NiiZq6DiIMY3KJw/w480-h640/Noah+sitting+up.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and Alpha's Noah, soon to be 6 months old!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Prayer Points:<br /><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Pray for my continued recovery from Gallbladder surgery.</li><li>Pray for us as we finalize plans for our coming year.</li><li>Pray for our ministry as we continue meeting online and restrictedly in person.</li></ol><p></p><p> </p>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-70560566448684747212020-09-26T15:55:00.000-07:002020-09-26T15:55:11.658-07:00Thoughts from a Grandmother<p>This will be the most unsurprising post from a grandmother. It will be filled with 3 things: </p><p>First of all, God provided my visa to fly to Bangladesh! Thank you to so many of you for praying for that! It was such a privilege to be there. </p><p>Secondly, we are now in the States, preparing to celebrate Jim's parents' 60th anniversary and our son, Nathan's, marriage to Caitlin Henry (I'm sure next blog post will be filled with pictures from that!) </p><p>Lastly, pictures of Noah Ullash Samaddar and his incredible parents, Alpha and Emily. Really, there aren't all that many. Only a dozen or so!</p><p>So, without further ado...</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBas_yH8j8-7SS-mH_Zhu670wrZpZZffDZ4gbRDozqeZZlKhyphenhyphenKRjD-_y6NoyUeIhBKgqZnWWqS_nC3PoQDE3e7IgBi5tgOtBXCVOUaGkxjI1OBLrhYI2Srr1bJyIEAcJGEfcoMDLQdOd6n/s2048/20200922_143122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBas_yH8j8-7SS-mH_Zhu670wrZpZZffDZ4gbRDozqeZZlKhyphenhyphenKRjD-_y6NoyUeIhBKgqZnWWqS_nC3PoQDE3e7IgBi5tgOtBXCVOUaGkxjI1OBLrhYI2Srr1bJyIEAcJGEfcoMDLQdOd6n/w640-h480/20200922_143122.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpha, Emily and Noah<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1147" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9S4dYs3RFUnRXW_5oP-6UNkm6mfoBXexzaMA_e2VSlggmv4BknaMhGGZzPHh1jqgHV3ZFuFJocr1DZ2_jFawphCuT0n62tCoXKO68JUWKeFdKB9V8vU3GfJJH3cwXAE0YS5w636wwddN/w358-h640/received_2520383358252288.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;" width="358" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpha's first glimpse of Noah</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqgZMu-oaVgaTh8XZ6-fRidPd4NFGBLw24L6-VnSySnhpN11t6htoOtkbOBTGM2HKNRLNpm67DGvm39QSvOINAwDqDbfGS0FIdgbblcM45p-95nysr1mqV7YP7IisydYqtQ4QjDKntaAU/s2048/IMG_20200912_143225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqgZMu-oaVgaTh8XZ6-fRidPd4NFGBLw24L6-VnSySnhpN11t6htoOtkbOBTGM2HKNRLNpm67DGvm39QSvOINAwDqDbfGS0FIdgbblcM45p-95nysr1mqV7YP7IisydYqtQ4QjDKntaAU/w480-h640/IMG_20200912_143225.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrapped up in Grandma, Anjuli's Saris </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8tAygSpWgEEJuEf-E-DLHT0IzhFBWcdb4qtknfyMp4naDMr5jjDelOe_JqFRzXql5LYJjho_SR39T2r7JsESTg6-y1sm1NBzCWjWf2muZ5585H3t-xAhuymD_UZf6gQSrpEbJzJ63VwT/w480-h640/IMG_20200909_185156.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever notice how long you can just stare at a new baby?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YdryUZS4kjh3Pmye-7ZKG_ybNQLHSa2Q8-ekS9pQJautpxFZw0lw1DVtTKLR21As2oWFpnileSvWB6B2pMRHBG1y25-EBOs3P03mQ2PWPPzyvNHg0w6gzIg1wOzaeEdyUX7bOJWLCHwb/s2048/IMG_20200913_121302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YdryUZS4kjh3Pmye-7ZKG_ybNQLHSa2Q8-ekS9pQJautpxFZw0lw1DVtTKLR21As2oWFpnileSvWB6B2pMRHBG1y25-EBOs3P03mQ2PWPPzyvNHg0w6gzIg1wOzaeEdyUX7bOJWLCHwb/w480-h640/IMG_20200913_121302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we ask Ember (the dog) where his puppy is, he runs over and licks Noah's feet!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YdryUZS4kjh3Pmye-7ZKG_ybNQLHSa2Q8-ekS9pQJautpxFZw0lw1DVtTKLR21As2oWFpnileSvWB6B2pMRHBG1y25-EBOs3P03mQ2PWPPzyvNHg0w6gzIg1wOzaeEdyUX7bOJWLCHwb/s2048/IMG_20200913_121302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIG7mFO6d_-KhFCmHgzo5BnB0p9s28PkHNNTvEiUi5PQQXhLSHngTA6VCMzWzDKi3TjzEyDpfQTfgeRPO1tq7IiYA7XgPjCsHroWoBdAoA2SmKb1ocBwfoQsIPxiECh9XmnIIju8aby8QV/s2048/IMG_20200914_195023_365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIG7mFO6d_-KhFCmHgzo5BnB0p9s28PkHNNTvEiUi5PQQXhLSHngTA6VCMzWzDKi3TjzEyDpfQTfgeRPO1tq7IiYA7XgPjCsHroWoBdAoA2SmKb1ocBwfoQsIPxiECh9XmnIIju8aby8QV/w640-h640/IMG_20200914_195023_365.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressed up to match for the picture. Two minutes later he spit up all over his photo outfit!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLszZRQqWXl_A6dfQnM5yv09wN4FAzQrwdzmfDRP0B4FIKbL2aY01Ue9pjf44SQ9Co_DepgZ-hcbNlZXKybn739AE3romMjrEdTCPC3JHf0DqUcGNm3Nk5WeH7WbEpLUxOIheXjhRRZVj/s2048/20200911_105239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLszZRQqWXl_A6dfQnM5yv09wN4FAzQrwdzmfDRP0B4FIKbL2aY01Ue9pjf44SQ9Co_DepgZ-hcbNlZXKybn739AE3romMjrEdTCPC3JHf0DqUcGNm3Nk5WeH7WbEpLUxOIheXjhRRZVj/w480-h640/20200911_105239.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma, Anjuli and Grandpa, Arabindu<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN5imLZ9Ut_r-QXSjcRHxZoElSaCzXyFGdRlryk-8b8niQD14FEbI9kRGyqKZVJTql285zr0i_jPi-8_zwXctz-S0pHRe6KoKN4LymtxxrdNuX-gLTR9ti5YwBZrrgYoMzJnYOeJxW6cx/s2048/20200912_174508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN5imLZ9Ut_r-QXSjcRHxZoElSaCzXyFGdRlryk-8b8niQD14FEbI9kRGyqKZVJTql285zr0i_jPi-8_zwXctz-S0pHRe6KoKN4LymtxxrdNuX-gLTR9ti5YwBZrrgYoMzJnYOeJxW6cx/w480-h640/20200912_174508.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, still looking!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpD5mRG9_9NN9UC0FIHEEqxXchLA2hxyB-zQPL1RyXn3JVA4QNCvRe_NlaaxBVmwGMj2bzYhF4kX3Or3L_9XSEo4do7mQWklY6xcPKRrYfBGLhEYIYj5yCQL77EYEnc5HP2c_-jJGEvN9/s2048/IMG_20200922_142139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpD5mRG9_9NN9UC0FIHEEqxXchLA2hxyB-zQPL1RyXn3JVA4QNCvRe_NlaaxBVmwGMj2bzYhF4kX3Or3L_9XSEo4do7mQWklY6xcPKRrYfBGLhEYIYj5yCQL77EYEnc5HP2c_-jJGEvN9/w480-h640/IMG_20200922_142139.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The praying baby</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPLs0EbpB8CzMTP3QVPZgVn0EmpDKvbbhy6yrNjrorlPghr1psQNdUxdrFoBv1lJrYcXDT_P0LrUgGTRrFbHOaG7faEBjEyzvDiDs5dy7bATAZZKs9pYcNm5GK1sBLUACyeaThXMgQkym/s2048/IMG_20200922_142758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPLs0EbpB8CzMTP3QVPZgVn0EmpDKvbbhy6yrNjrorlPghr1psQNdUxdrFoBv1lJrYcXDT_P0LrUgGTRrFbHOaG7faEBjEyzvDiDs5dy7bATAZZKs9pYcNm5GK1sBLUACyeaThXMgQkym/w640-h480/IMG_20200922_142758.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma (Omi), Mom and Smiley baby!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAhacQD5WhH-M9pLh__Jltajvtfr-Z9cf0cVDtDIVCfxAFx00fYfoUuXI53X4LXO6njWkZLKoMVGBLWmIaNzn1u_Ed7Fi2uyPM7OKnL7g1wS7yKrmsQoJBxv0uqV4peOoK3AmvaKLCA3T/s2048/IMG_20200924_131053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAhacQD5WhH-M9pLh__Jltajvtfr-Z9cf0cVDtDIVCfxAFx00fYfoUuXI53X4LXO6njWkZLKoMVGBLWmIaNzn1u_Ed7Fi2uyPM7OKnL7g1wS7yKrmsQoJBxv0uqV4peOoK3AmvaKLCA3T/w480-h640/IMG_20200924_131053.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like an angel holding him.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgOOEsLs1elZaW67o1fiCIveJgXmYJK2cHyhrxyf1OSOLIel8PFPDyevEFX8uk1T8XqZpGDUbo5kodxUGmV7lwpL1YkJo5WGkw7t70qDvvsWIHjO7su6O3YIkUCXxsiPzo904kpOCiLBU/s2048/20200920_143017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgOOEsLs1elZaW67o1fiCIveJgXmYJK2cHyhrxyf1OSOLIel8PFPDyevEFX8uk1T8XqZpGDUbo5kodxUGmV7lwpL1YkJo5WGkw7t70qDvvsWIHjO7su6O3YIkUCXxsiPzo904kpOCiLBU/w480-h640/20200920_143017.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, last one (for now)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Stay tuned next post for wedding pictures!<br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-84359388319553388122020-08-03T05:43:00.000-07:002020-08-03T06:15:50.819-07:00End of Summer? How can that be?!?!?!?For a summer that started out looking like we may not have much of a chance for contact ministry, we sure had a surprise waiting for us! Originally we thought we would have 4-5 camps and 4-5 interns. Then we thought we would have zero camps and zero interns. My, weren't we surprised!<br />
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Though neither our US interns nor our US church teams could come, God provided us with two incredible "twinterns". Our Ukraine-born, German twin-sister interns, Anna and Sofia, graduated from German high school this year. Together with another young man, they have been leading the youth groups in Eisenhüttenstadt and Guben the last two years. We are so thankful for them!!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11WkY49JQKjF3Lc2toRqSy1CPEd_JTUQm5eI9bAPg6vgE8DHOGYR24RaedNMRwtJlxweMyaauppq1TEEE10AaXwbhKXNfmeqUW-p_3GN54m4GcJbmGtJg2hrogsrKXJWf62oqRRfS5i_L/s1600/Anna+and+Sofia+Graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11WkY49JQKjF3Lc2toRqSy1CPEd_JTUQm5eI9bAPg6vgE8DHOGYR24RaedNMRwtJlxweMyaauppq1TEEE10AaXwbhKXNfmeqUW-p_3GN54m4GcJbmGtJg2hrogsrKXJWf62oqRRfS5i_L/s640/Anna+and+Sofia+Graduation.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna and Sofia on Graduation Day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqkJjopp2Wsh86FpUCxifzQi85H6gSOrL-6e0pzab4oUPaCsXBMTDeCVMXCp8Stf45QxBdR8KdAKF1-YFkesAPHxJUaZl-Tfp_eZFhhrJK2OqTLvapo1RNUm4r_ZZUX9fQtKEbCUIOCuG/s1600/Covid+Graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="775" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqkJjopp2Wsh86FpUCxifzQi85H6gSOrL-6e0pzab4oUPaCsXBMTDeCVMXCp8Stf45QxBdR8KdAKF1-YFkesAPHxJUaZl-Tfp_eZFhhrJK2OqTLvapo1RNUm4r_ZZUX9fQtKEbCUIOCuG/s640/Covid+Graduation.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new style in Graduation Attire!</td></tr>
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We also ended up having an INCREDIBLE camp, with the Twinterns' youth groups, as well as three other youth groups. You may have heard us refer to this as the Brandenburg Area. We have been doing this camp for 4 years, and feel so blessed to have had it again this summer! We had 32 campers, over half of which are not yet believers! We sure love these kids and have enjoyed our two follow-up activities of a lake-side Bar-B-Que and a Kayaking day!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70iMjYfrf60tK7VdCnVONQXDD4M3lv71gW1kt651Z1TzvA5r0rYmCQiJyMoKnx_tDmkO8iGOtH6IapVm-90AVepRj8E4qO9eTug-IxnEIdYM4cIYSfmS0f0lBtJwPkE2F6kBViIqJuNQa/s1600/Maskerade+Dinner+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="618" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70iMjYfrf60tK7VdCnVONQXDD4M3lv71gW1kt651Z1TzvA5r0rYmCQiJyMoKnx_tDmkO8iGOtH6IapVm-90AVepRj8E4qO9eTug-IxnEIdYM4cIYSfmS0f0lBtJwPkE2F6kBViIqJuNQa/s640/Maskerade+Dinner+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun play on the mask theme, we had a Masquerade Dinner!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6G2HrDMM8GasheU5DHmRTH0w9IIo8VaYOn1nhHKEg-l2RB63k3CUU-B58qHn5XwVMwJduFiH4ioUDUHOcT_dsjbygYlLHSA4zwtYmQuPkCQbP0PpjJaNvAT6CXWeoYIsppRem1hUwYXF/s1600/Serving+with+Masks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6G2HrDMM8GasheU5DHmRTH0w9IIo8VaYOn1nhHKEg-l2RB63k3CUU-B58qHn5XwVMwJduFiH4ioUDUHOcT_dsjbygYlLHSA4zwtYmQuPkCQbP0PpjJaNvAT6CXWeoYIsppRem1hUwYXF/s640/Serving+with+Masks.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">True Covid proofing food service!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHwT0y_Mh0EFCvvXoRQRtqvVZG6dm4k3tlKLdWKn-mEjKSuSwUYVdi0eFA4j_kPi4ggvssOm48en4p5rlYKtP05BEAdgO2dAwr7akTzlsyvNyh4TBNQOCRUhtS81o7zHB6UEtL35QThlz/s1600/E+Camp+Group.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHwT0y_Mh0EFCvvXoRQRtqvVZG6dm4k3tlKLdWKn-mEjKSuSwUYVdi0eFA4j_kPi4ggvssOm48en4p5rlYKtP05BEAdgO2dAwr7akTzlsyvNyh4TBNQOCRUhtS81o7zHB6UEtL35QThlz/s640/E+Camp+Group.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a great group of kids!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5pH5L3bvecfuZYjYDJ_LFPWwZszf3XDC6d_A2l-9IHJjWGMCmZJrukude7LN0hNxUisG9NVLXzPmoVuMBezhpIONzZW7mFGkczKqNFqXETWQ4fyYA2HK_2nD6IyKGwxfQRamzavY2wCI/s1600/Jim+Kayaking.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5pH5L3bvecfuZYjYDJ_LFPWwZszf3XDC6d_A2l-9IHJjWGMCmZJrukude7LN0hNxUisG9NVLXzPmoVuMBezhpIONzZW7mFGkczKqNFqXETWQ4fyYA2HK_2nD6IyKGwxfQRamzavY2wCI/s640/Jim+Kayaking.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim, the Kayak-King!</td></tr>
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We also saw 5 of our students from our Leipzig youth group graduate and the Leipzig youth band did a concert for some new youth groups in another city in Germany.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2UjcXsRyxXp_bO4e-oJpNeYoRP7jco00wykFDMc4kyK1z2GIkTJSdx1GEkchOtge4ltIuWMko59JP7KHNe41__dPbjDIcb2hiTFw8DDTcnwjTnTHMLcX_ZNDdgU9Xzcf26x1Idkw1DDx/s1600/Youth+Band1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1347" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2UjcXsRyxXp_bO4e-oJpNeYoRP7jco00wykFDMc4kyK1z2GIkTJSdx1GEkchOtge4ltIuWMko59JP7KHNe41__dPbjDIcb2hiTFw8DDTcnwjTnTHMLcX_ZNDdgU9Xzcf26x1Idkw1DDx/s640/Youth+Band1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leipzig youth band leading worship at youth group.</td></tr>
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All in all, it has been an incredible summer of unexpected ministry. We feel so blessed to be here and be used of God in these young peoples' lives.<br />
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Prayer Requests:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Pray for us as we finish up our summer ministry with some "Action Days", a three-day, in-city camp in Magdeburg.</li>
<li>Pray that Lina will be able to get her visa to go to Bangladesh on August 23 to be with Emily as our first grandchild is born. (Emily and yet-to-be-born baby boy are doing great!)</li>
<li>Pray for our Twinterns, Anna and Sofia, as they leave us and start University.</li>
</ul>
Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-72385707371693232912020-05-23T03:52:00.000-07:002020-05-23T04:46:07.194-07:00Personal Time During IsolationI've given you a window into what ministry time looks like for us under lock-down, but...and I know this will surprise you...I also have been doing some fun personal things during this time.<br />
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As you know, Emily and Alpha are expecting, so I have been able to merge two of my favorite things into my free time...creativity and babies!!!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWH22eVLsU46brr62x2SVIAH91Zvp9NjeDZ_BPcWXE8sSr5dw6ZeTOElh7AGIKSrPFYnVEz4U3sp9zPQZtT5M5ZrhwlN1ndrMWsxXG86U0ray4GS8Pk8VR9CRyS593OSpKg50BlhqojbS/s1600/Emily+pregnant+on+rooftop.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWH22eVLsU46brr62x2SVIAH91Zvp9NjeDZ_BPcWXE8sSr5dw6ZeTOElh7AGIKSrPFYnVEz4U3sp9zPQZtT5M5ZrhwlN1ndrMWsxXG86U0ray4GS8Pk8VR9CRyS593OSpKg50BlhqojbS/s640/Emily+pregnant+on+rooftop.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily on their rooftop, starting her third trimester.</td></tr>
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So, the sewing machine has come out, and not just for my grandson, but for other babies as well!<br />
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It all started while we were in Bangladesh over Christmas. Emily and I each made a quilt, then I just couldn't stop! So here is a quick window into my happy times here:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5kOUflvPdNZGlHIU7IsNdpcQY1fVUYr12vRfy-N5tE3260Ih3yIFsADmrIoXo6ehQxFni-IVbmxQ6-A5RIjI-YkfKxsXCk65jlSD3tmKOOqL1_O2uin1BiNAs84hGijvSMFCd8KTUXEf/s1600/Bunny+Hear+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1312" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5kOUflvPdNZGlHIU7IsNdpcQY1fVUYr12vRfy-N5tE3260Ih3yIFsADmrIoXo6ehQxFni-IVbmxQ6-A5RIjI-YkfKxsXCk65jlSD3tmKOOqL1_O2uin1BiNAs84hGijvSMFCd8KTUXEf/s640/Bunny+Hear+Quilt.jpg" width="521" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, this is the Bunny/Heart quilt before baby.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFri1J_TIOcObHTs9bOfKN8dlGCV72IrU9qm3U_UZsfNc6p9CrG2eRSz2ULYpsDJwxESlghLJM4qMzUPlsv2mT60k1QrOQ_EreLGRzli5d5DleiMSHvi_8msToZeGSDP3anwqmoVKS9nw/s1600/Hannah+on+Baby+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFri1J_TIOcObHTs9bOfKN8dlGCV72IrU9qm3U_UZsfNc6p9CrG2eRSz2ULYpsDJwxESlghLJM4qMzUPlsv2mT60k1QrOQ_EreLGRzli5d5DleiMSHvi_8msToZeGSDP3anwqmoVKS9nw/s640/Hannah+on+Baby+Quilt.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is after baby!!! This is Hannah Abigail Roney, daughter of David and Katka Roney! But just wait...there's more!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HxeTtl3Tnk2XhmADxAq1wGkfHbZXWGovgHlzgNIVXmOa65krGRe2U0yRv4xy6pkElFH5e2AlZ9tgqbn9y0eAX_gmhgfVMkEPxNfvQwO7In6PcGNdtztc5kX1vlrI-AuCXJ1x9lKzZGDd/s1600/Dream+Big+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HxeTtl3Tnk2XhmADxAq1wGkfHbZXWGovgHlzgNIVXmOa65krGRe2U0yRv4xy6pkElFH5e2AlZ9tgqbn9y0eAX_gmhgfVMkEPxNfvQwO7In6PcGNdtztc5kX1vlrI-AuCXJ1x9lKzZGDd/s640/Dream+Big+Quilt.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream Big quilt before baby...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsT2NaiYLsj1N8nIlumVMMmKzlw4jsozJPNCPsGlD7OhWeNN-8OqinlzQgl_lM2PxFvblAdh2VrHsLSrrb_-HzsBOpvtgEcxhZWsyEwp7JNbfGYmh4D0QcWCpVg6omaaBmCFzc12AoUq/s1600/Timothy+on+Baby+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsT2NaiYLsj1N8nIlumVMMmKzlw4jsozJPNCPsGlD7OhWeNN-8OqinlzQgl_lM2PxFvblAdh2VrHsLSrrb_-HzsBOpvtgEcxhZWsyEwp7JNbfGYmh4D0QcWCpVg6omaaBmCFzc12AoUq/s640/Timothy+on+Baby+Quilt.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is after baby! Timothy David! Hannah's twin brother!!! Soooo precious!!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YP9YgTud0hSlKSPQh2Ph6g9_aRWNLZKT5WqutLaurzc-DIfGuRAOqWdAfL9nymFcG9ABvxPBc_UNYJk2lAfmpkFHLMJI0ltk02dQII2KHnqsmjHGg6_43O6Z0zsQfuSPNMJ_S5WoTdKf/s1600/Puff+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YP9YgTud0hSlKSPQh2Ph6g9_aRWNLZKT5WqutLaurzc-DIfGuRAOqWdAfL9nymFcG9ABvxPBc_UNYJk2lAfmpkFHLMJI0ltk02dQII2KHnqsmjHGg6_43O6Z0zsQfuSPNMJ_S5WoTdKf/s400/Puff+Quilt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a puff quilt I made for our little grandson as a floor mat for him to lie on to soften their tiled floors! Pooh Bear is trying it out!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOobYFkY6CGr38vJhAeGuzV_Q5zWBqkMSdGgYLghHXU14Ja7j53kAN37oU-lcDM-1TaoFgT4cy1Jz_PpGcwKeI92kigoqvpDC14Da10kCOrzQ5uWaCAGhOqRUhibFBWdbAQyidRoFA1Mlt/s1600/Emily%2527s+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1469" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOobYFkY6CGr38vJhAeGuzV_Q5zWBqkMSdGgYLghHXU14Ja7j53kAN37oU-lcDM-1TaoFgT4cy1Jz_PpGcwKeI92kigoqvpDC14Da10kCOrzQ5uWaCAGhOqRUhibFBWdbAQyidRoFA1Mlt/s400/Emily%2527s+Quilt.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the quilt Emily made for her little boy while we were there over Christmas, with some fabric I brought from the US, as well as some from Bangladesh! A mixture of the two, just like he will be!!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q-D0H-K7jL5E18N1AHd5vRDGRoPig66EnjyKNNbgq1jX8l8pVaqzekOD5Qdv7NZb0VuUgsLjWHd7nr_7DgMb_jZw0B6OwOxdSkO3Q98FFjDSCDjk0yAm1M5fnZtKAHYtUPSIV-fTzXid/s1600/Christmas+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q-D0H-K7jL5E18N1AHd5vRDGRoPig66EnjyKNNbgq1jX8l8pVaqzekOD5Qdv7NZb0VuUgsLjWHd7nr_7DgMb_jZw0B6OwOxdSkO3Q98FFjDSCDjk0yAm1M5fnZtKAHYtUPSIV-fTzXid/s400/Christmas+Quilt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course, you can't have a lock-down without pulling out an old UFO (Un-Finished Object). Yes, this was started when Nate and Emily were toddlers and, hopefully, will be finished today!</td></tr>
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Emily and I also had fun doing an online class together making these two cuties!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-QxBTWKnZ1Av1z9eJnqjehZO9QWtv1No_ZNAo7jaNjA4Mcv6ejI-pEBBwRZGogJ3-hBXLauwTFzjOigZXnfcAckEuM7_QWhgsfrLchIevusC36xcPl58sUPTejBQZeUrViTFfy8wkoDO/s1600/Brother+Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-QxBTWKnZ1Av1z9eJnqjehZO9QWtv1No_ZNAo7jaNjA4Mcv6ejI-pEBBwRZGogJ3-hBXLauwTFzjOigZXnfcAckEuM7_QWhgsfrLchIevusC36xcPl58sUPTejBQZeUrViTFfy8wkoDO/s1600/Brother+Fox.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Brother Fox</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bkv1yiqvkGJ6-GKACjluru5fmC18snAuOglHI69DVzVqs4GTnwjNSbzoXmxyR9yIUJdbuM_LZht8-IXeEEiipNqrYu8aQFHdrBNDNPFodGJ9UIOTH9v93U2oHtG_kFhAfzatDNEwUFWs/s320/Emily+Toy+Puppy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily's Puppy Dog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So, what is next? I'm starting a 30 day quilt challenge, making 1 square a day for 30 days. But don't worry, it should only take me about 130 days, since I DO need to continue working, too! So, this is what is it supposed to look like when it's through. I'll let you know, but don't hold your breath!!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bkv1yiqvkGJ6-GKACjluru5fmC18snAuOglHI69DVzVqs4GTnwjNSbzoXmxyR9yIUJdbuM_LZht8-IXeEEiipNqrYu8aQFHdrBNDNPFodGJ9UIOTH9v93U2oHtG_kFhAfzatDNEwUFWs/s1600/Emily+Toy+Puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG6fMXb8Jp2ozqSYzP-pvvSPcDkZn8MkjNRQq6pXFCCwe3MvepyG9SJe9IUoKax2KtreVm6exs9qLK_lE8686wgA_3r9FQPZqbi2ZGFH2bSVk3pIMBB1OjxHWey8NOm326T0aZlGvXhpF/s1600/Dear+Diary+Quilt+Original.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG6fMXb8Jp2ozqSYzP-pvvSPcDkZn8MkjNRQq6pXFCCwe3MvepyG9SJe9IUoKax2KtreVm6exs9qLK_lE8686wgA_3r9FQPZqbi2ZGFH2bSVk3pIMBB1OjxHWey8NOm326T0aZlGvXhpF/s640/Dear+Diary+Quilt+Original.GIF" width="520" /></a></div>
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By the way, if you would like to participate in an online shower I am doing for Emily, you can find her Amazon Baby Wish List <a href="https://www.amazon.de/baby-reg/emily-samaddar-lina-miller-september-2020-leipzig/2O5UNEDQMS9XK">here</a>. </div>
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Just be aware that this is the Amazon German site. To translate it into English, click the icon to the right of the search bar at the top of the site. We are asking that you stick to the list, as I will be taking the items over and have a weight limit (and you know how that is with all these quilts to take!!) You can also purchase a Gift Card on the wish list. It is called "Geschenkkarte".</div>
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Also, we would love to have you send a gift of words for Emily, Alpha, and their baby, a childhood memory, a memory of one of your children, a blessing, a prayer, advice, etc. We will be putting these in a book for her. You can send it to my email <a href="mailto:lmiller@josiahventure.com">here</a>.</div>
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So, have some fun in your own happy places during this crazy, beautiful time!!!</div>
Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-71156375097806837672020-04-20T08:09:00.000-07:002020-04-20T08:30:40.599-07:00We Even Made Them Think!Many years ago, there was a TV show called "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFXti_KRcLw">Kids Say the Darndest Things</a>". This week, during our youth leader training, I just had to take some notes, because it felt like "Teens Say the Darndest Things"! Our young leaders were telling how their Good Friday youth group went. One of the girls said that there were three guys in the Zoom group that they didn't know. The 2 girls that lead the group were so excited about this and one of them said, "<i>We even made them think!</i>"<br />
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They went on to tell us that one of the guys was a skeptic and was making all kinds of crazy arguments, just for the sake of arguing. The incredible thing was that one of the guys that has been coming to youth group since camp last year, but is not yet a Believer, started speaking up and defending the girls and what they were saying about the Bible! We all had to laugh a bit and get excited about how God is using this isolation time in very unexpected ways!<br />
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It seems like there is not much to tell about during this time. Sometimes the days all seem to blur into each other, but there are definitely some moments that sparkle! Spring has truly come to Leipzig and I have been able to enjoy some wonderful times on my balcony. Sometimes it's talking to God and sometimes it's talking to someone else on Skype! I am so thankful for our beautiful balcony.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVXrwkNLoSqz4KrhPFMwfc9G2kN6Ap0z4hMIT7FxDdLiu4b9_pLNP1llD65B37mft0tGZiW1-GzWhPz-PJ-jCzUyiFgKekU5NrJhk6UOzct_XuBc9Bq_hU0HqyCQFYzeV2NfLcqxmeZ2X/s1600/Balcony+Prayer+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVXrwkNLoSqz4KrhPFMwfc9G2kN6Ap0z4hMIT7FxDdLiu4b9_pLNP1llD65B37mft0tGZiW1-GzWhPz-PJ-jCzUyiFgKekU5NrJhk6UOzct_XuBc9Bq_hU0HqyCQFYzeV2NfLcqxmeZ2X/s640/Balcony+Prayer+Room.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on our balcony, praying in the Josiah Venture online <a href="https://pray.josiahventure.com/">Prayer Room</a></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7ADhMu_4I0DNcEEmji-9_seTuIgnrTO5-2yoipvrfsTfDhxk0Jzj4yK2zZKDshj0f2o09tWsTpAaH7LykAjIWQy0eUqEbGSPCoIqgkw229Vw4IlkFeEMYZOTW2zQafdILuUXcui7r7-l/s1600/Emmy%2527s+Puppy.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7ADhMu_4I0DNcEEmji-9_seTuIgnrTO5-2yoipvrfsTfDhxk0Jzj4yK2zZKDshj0f2o09tWsTpAaH7LykAjIWQy0eUqEbGSPCoIqgkw229Vw4IlkFeEMYZOTW2zQafdILuUXcui7r7-l/s320/Emmy%2527s+Puppy.JPEG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily's Puppy </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX9sfzq1GmDUKXG7O2MOvkgX30u2OP3EPY9t5ovauXX-NTEWrFnsCYisYJpuba-EEfpdnS6m2Zer7Gkt_xoHvUGeuUPH6KQwKAHFfZB7etHS1SNrVPI4JdRcmznHfFhBhbeO_wO080F0_/s1600/Brother+Fox+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX9sfzq1GmDUKXG7O2MOvkgX30u2OP3EPY9t5ovauXX-NTEWrFnsCYisYJpuba-EEfpdnS6m2Zer7Gkt_xoHvUGeuUPH6KQwKAHFfZB7etHS1SNrVPI4JdRcmznHfFhBhbeO_wO080F0_/s320/Brother+Fox+Photo.jpg" width="144" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Fox</td></tr>
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Another fun thing is that our daughter, Emily, and I have taken an online crafting class together. For those of you who don't know, Emily and her husband, Alpha, are missionaries in Bangladesh. Here is what we made together across the thousands of miles!<br />
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No one knows how long this will last or what life will look like when the isolating is over, but I am so thankful that God has not isolated Himself and that He is still working and still giving good gifts!<br />
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<b>Prayer Points:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Pray for our summer ministry. We have no idea what it will look like, but we know that God has a plan.</li>
<li>We have had to cancel all our Short Term Church Teams coming from North America to help with camps this summer. Pray for each of the team members that will be home this summer, that God will use them where they are.</li>
<li>Pray for our Interns. We will make a final decision on May 15 if our North American Summer Interns will come for the summer. Whether or not they come, our 2 German Interns are still planning on doing ministry with us this summer. Pray for their support raising. You can click here for <a href="https://josiahventure.webconnex.com/intern?intern_name=Anna%20Sherer&account_number=1460742">Anna</a> and here for <a href="https://josiahventure.webconnex.com/intern?intern_name=Sofia%20Sherer&account_number=1460743">Sophia</a>, if you would like to give toward their ministry.</li>
</ul>
Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-86937837489739403142020-03-19T10:36:00.002-07:002020-03-19T10:36:42.573-07:00Coronavirus and the Millers<br />
Just as many of you, we are working from our home these days. Here in Germany most of our borders are closed, schools are closed and all but "essential businesses" are closed. (Interesting fact, dry cleaners and hair salons are considered essential businesses here!) All our church meetings, including youth group, are disbanded for awhile.<br />
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So what does ministry look like during this time for us. Most of the time it looks like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aq3WuBYXjz0s4eSwNKkoj6N8J4TaPKh70in28OxnOdKWIEXWSNbpf02V2E7o1PlN32tWQG66AN5cOAUSAUpbbtE8OwGhC992ZNS3c8ucbmWxxUWTnHm8h-Q0_ZK4b6SVy1_M-fBVTQtl/s1600/Capture+2.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aq3WuBYXjz0s4eSwNKkoj6N8J4TaPKh70in28OxnOdKWIEXWSNbpf02V2E7o1PlN32tWQG66AN5cOAUSAUpbbtE8OwGhC992ZNS3c8ucbmWxxUWTnHm8h-Q0_ZK4b6SVy1_M-fBVTQtl/s640/Capture+2.GIF" width="640" /></a></div>
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I feel so privileged to be part of this Bible Study made up mostly of young mothers in our church. This week we met online and, yes, the children were still playing in the background and crawling on moms' laps, just as they do when we meet together.<br />
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Right now, Jim is on a Skype call with one of the boys in one of our youth groups who is still seeking for answers. They are starting an online Bible reading time together. We continue to think of and try creative ways to continue ministering to the people God has call us to here!<br />
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We have a monument in Leipzig that commemorates the "Battle of the Nations", where multiple nations came together to fight and defeat a common enemy, Napoleon. Today, as I was watching the news, it seemed to me that we are now in a situation where we are doing the same thing, coming together to fight a common enemy, Coronavirus, only with one great difference. We are coming together to fight, and yet we are divided from each other, as we do not know if the one fighting next to us actually has the enemy in them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX9lKvKYZ8iyL0EX_Pb35O4j53Nq-OvbEskoB8czLWxORro-X5RoGQRDJMg1FiS1fAMpWlezoZKdMSPVA3umMrDib3ekciCT4-PZVJoPOT0eJZuKxdtwI8BBvGyQIWUcnD45-2sf6S2GP/s1600/Battle+of+Nations.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="895" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX9lKvKYZ8iyL0EX_Pb35O4j53Nq-OvbEskoB8czLWxORro-X5RoGQRDJMg1FiS1fAMpWlezoZKdMSPVA3umMrDib3ekciCT4-PZVJoPOT0eJZuKxdtwI8BBvGyQIWUcnD45-2sf6S2GP/s400/Battle+of+Nations.GIF" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to Battle of the Nations in Leipzig.</td></tr>
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So how about you? What are you doing during this uncertain time. I would love to hear about what God is doing and any ideas about how you are reaching out to others!!!<br />
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Please, pray for us as Josiah Venture is making some decisions about what summer ministry will look like here. I will keep you updated on that. Please, continue to pray for us, as we continue to pray for you!Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-31449483237585758692020-02-23T12:12:00.000-08:002020-02-25T13:28:12.685-08:00You Want to Study What?!?!When we asked our youth group kids what they wanted to study at their Winter Retreat, they said, "The Wrath of God". Well, that sounds like a fun retreat, don't you think? When I first heard, I wondered how in the world we where going to cover this, but what an interesting time it turned out to be! We asked questions such as, "Would you want a God who could not get angry?" "Is there such a thing as righteous anger?" "How do I balance the shame I feel about my country's history and the anger I feel toward what happened?" It was an incredible time with the incredible kids of our youth group!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgUH5pRfbq1Q6FB-QRdFhYTXX_bQC9PT7Ebt830Ez_uD6FA1MKUXSwNxwYZhWiMzfuiEcOqjIEEdDyjxJYc8YprjLzTNB18m5k38-hw-d667hsgARySthAtnqDIxEy616xrnGWq7xmKF9/s1600/Jungen+Winterfreizeit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1599" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgUH5pRfbq1Q6FB-QRdFhYTXX_bQC9PT7Ebt830Ez_uD6FA1MKUXSwNxwYZhWiMzfuiEcOqjIEEdDyjxJYc8YprjLzTNB18m5k38-hw-d667hsgARySthAtnqDIxEy616xrnGWq7xmKF9/s640/Jungen+Winterfreizeit.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Winter Retreat Group</td></tr>
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Finally...our teammate, Rachel, arrived just a little over a week ago, and she is already going strong! We are so thankful for her! We are exploring the possibility that she will be living about 1 1/2 hour away in Magdeburg, working with a youth group there, as well as being our Summer Intern Director and oh, so many, other things! Thank you so much for your prayers in getting her here!!!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNzYtF_SEXZgFtRWla4-6-UE6xUDcDGtWgjKA23871D-36Oa39ImyfNlsVj3VumMdzLhKZj4GsJBymnFL-dIWp0Avuh0BHQvQxaHj1M4HYNbiaFqbg2g6acKMgtEqI2JRT00k9BgJnCDB/s1600/Rachel+at+Airport.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNzYtF_SEXZgFtRWla4-6-UE6xUDcDGtWgjKA23871D-36Oa39ImyfNlsVj3VumMdzLhKZj4GsJBymnFL-dIWp0Avuh0BHQvQxaHj1M4HYNbiaFqbg2g6acKMgtEqI2JRT00k9BgJnCDB/s640/Rachel+at+Airport.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel arriving at the Berlin Airport. Can you tell I'm excited?!?!?!</td></tr>
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We feel so blessed! God is so good to us in every way! On top of all these blessings, Jim and I get to go to a Marriage Conference that Josiah Venture puts on for us, their missionaries, every few years. We will leave tomorrow and spend 4 days in Krakow, Poland, getting time with our spouses and getting opportunities to work on our marriages. There will be 108 Josiah Venture couples there, as well as counselors and marriage coaches. This year, Jim and I have the privilege of being Marriage Coaches for 2 couples during the conference, as well.<br />
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Please, pray for us:<br />
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<ul>
<li>That Jim and I will have a wonderful time strengthening our marriage at the Marriage Conference</li>
<li>That Rachel will settle in well and find the right apartment.</li>
<li>For Jim and I as we prepare to teach a Workshop on Marriage at the European Member Care Conference in Malaga, Spain, March 16-19. You can read about the speakers <a href="https://www.membercare.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Speaker-bios.pdf">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-45213990728263267442020-02-05T05:17:00.002-08:002020-02-05T05:17:44.220-08:00So, What are We Really Doing in Germany?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ever wonder what Jim and Lina are really doing in Germany? Sometimes it's hard to explain, but some of our young people made this incredible video for us that will help you understand! It's less than 4 minutes long and well worth the time!</div>
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<br /><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/JlH5nVgfvOQ"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JlH5nVgfvOQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JlH5nVgfvOQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></a></div>
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Not only that, but we are finally getting our first FULL TIME team mate!!!!! We are so excited that Rachel Birkabile will arrive February 12! Thank you everyone who had helped make this possible! I know many of you have been praying with us about this for a long time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFvhodgml7KF35NmBLH0HnBIMR0eUgtWJWk6_LWVK0pbuSj20xjKDt5Zsu9XZGty0i3NjLo3mvF0TVqcGJtvhWZZV3OjU8ntaNdioF8jopYvJuhWFI68EF-ZnQluR7GBq-hed5z_t3hcR/s1600/Rachel+100%2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFvhodgml7KF35NmBLH0HnBIMR0eUgtWJWk6_LWVK0pbuSj20xjKDt5Zsu9XZGty0i3NjLo3mvF0TVqcGJtvhWZZV3OjU8ntaNdioF8jopYvJuhWFI68EF-ZnQluR7GBq-hed5z_t3hcR/s640/Rachel+100%2525.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Prayer Points:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Pray for Rachel as she arrives, that she will settle in well and integrate quickly to culture and ministry.</li>
<li>Pray for us as we are in the midst of Camp Planning Season, that things will go smoothly and that many young people will come to camps this summer!</li>
</ol>
Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-71380570836815678822020-01-19T06:17:00.001-08:002020-01-19T07:25:44.734-08:00A Bridge Between Texas and Germany<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7tpGBPqzHCD_ECN1I0dWIrpAjRHY6JsRmze4-wpZuRbzkqbnTgkZ2qYz4ufHxyfRpJYv20a08WGVTDgNFR8EHJhtX_tBEypNG5JJyqWnIyJblnXjKsOq31LZkHYjCTD2j_jihOGv5Ezw/s1600/Texas+Waffel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7tpGBPqzHCD_ECN1I0dWIrpAjRHY6JsRmze4-wpZuRbzkqbnTgkZ2qYz4ufHxyfRpJYv20a08WGVTDgNFR8EHJhtX_tBEypNG5JJyqWnIyJblnXjKsOq31LZkHYjCTD2j_jihOGv5Ezw/s320/Texas+Waffel.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything's bigger in Texas, even connections!</td></tr>
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Thirty-one years ago, I was a single girl, freshly moved up to Germany for Spain. God had been teaching me many things over the past few years in Spain, one of which was that I liked to be in control of my life and often used manipulation to bring about what I wanted. I spent much time repenting and praying about this, but realized how prone I was to fall back into relying on manipulation, rather than trusting God.<br />
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Enter an incredible man sitting at the computer opposite me in my new office in Germany and my good friend "Brenny Brewer"! I won't go into the whole story here, but it finally came down to a late-night bareing of my heart to Brenny, telling her I liked this incredible man (yes, you may have guessed that it was Jim) and telling her that I didn't want to manipulate the situation in any way, but wanted to totally rely on God. At this point, Brenny said, "I think I'll take Jim out for dinner on Sunday night and find out what he thinks." I panicked! I told her not to do that, as I really wanted this to be from God if it were to happen. At this point Brenny said, "Oh, I'll be subtle." My reply? "Brenny, there is not a subtle bone in your body!" Well, needless to say, that dinner did happen, Brenny was not subtle, and 31 years later I am still married to that incredible man!<br />
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We had the joy of seeing Brenny (Brenda) and her father in San Antonio during our Home Assignment! What a joyous time time we had remembering and laughing and sharing what God had done in all of our lives since those Germany days! Thanks, Brenny, for that not-so-subtle dinner!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNIL_3u6EeL5_pmX0U0iXRxD5KG2_HUelSM1nWTsFmY-WNZPGE6NrXOWomU8eEUONNP8WsQjyQFEjGkN3lF-XuDjBSoAWWBETLXgCfGnhCudAGiFMnrB7uV1PWMZuqGaKdNYlOQGgKD5E/s1600/Brenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNIL_3u6EeL5_pmX0U0iXRxD5KG2_HUelSM1nWTsFmY-WNZPGE6NrXOWomU8eEUONNP8WsQjyQFEjGkN3lF-XuDjBSoAWWBETLXgCfGnhCudAGiFMnrB7uV1PWMZuqGaKdNYlOQGgKD5E/s640/Brenny.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenny, in front of the Alamo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefrW21-fidp7lWR8QPRL4zJEyREpDT_UTaGqV4buKVYFThO7cutXeQvCJoeiLW69cUAsV0-3ugb9m7VfRxJKxtdmwfZaz5htg5Ni2IHw-6yVqWDVMJA1hnx3exTT5xYyceNqsORazVWT3/s1600/Fire+Pole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefrW21-fidp7lWR8QPRL4zJEyREpDT_UTaGqV4buKVYFThO7cutXeQvCJoeiLW69cUAsV0-3ugb9m7VfRxJKxtdmwfZaz5htg5Ni2IHw-6yVqWDVMJA1hnx3exTT5xYyceNqsORazVWT3/s640/Fire+Pole.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Firehouse Museum where Brenny's dad, Walt, works.</td></tr>
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A few years after that fateful dinner, we were invited over to our Chaplain's house, Rick and Helga Needham, near Heidelberg, Germany. Still being newly married, Jim and I sat on their love seat, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. (Ok, I may be overdoing it on the mush here!) Nine months later, our son Nathan was born! We took baby Nathan over to the Needham's house for dinner one night, and two exhausted new parents fell, glassy eyed onto that same love seat. Nine months later our daughter, Emily was born! Believe me, when we visited Rick and Helga this fall in their Texas home, we made sure we did NOT sit on their love seat! What a joyous time time we had remembering and laughing and sharing what God had done in all of our lives since those Germany days! Thanks, Rick and Helga for sharing your home and your love seat with us!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_Hea9US96iIyoNvwZq_QJ4TeS7RXM6LFMmfjRsfUYKSVgSzV2l9mPjW0v87rs2_TT12iBX4JcqmvmgOUPgLTMcj-ALAEHbFqpfxAGbkkoO_Kr-rDOmIF9lZcEDZ7k4AspUhRMkHLwGWg/s1600/Needhams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_Hea9US96iIyoNvwZq_QJ4TeS7RXM6LFMmfjRsfUYKSVgSzV2l9mPjW0v87rs2_TT12iBX4JcqmvmgOUPgLTMcj-ALAEHbFqpfxAGbkkoO_Kr-rDOmIF9lZcEDZ7k4AspUhRMkHLwGWg/s640/Needhams.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of Needham's house, minus love seat!</td></tr>
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Texas was full of Germany connections. Visiting Ron and Linda Franklin, the parents of some of our former Heidelberg youth group kids. Stopping by for an hour to see the son of a couple we served with in Germany, who is now married to a girl I had the privilege of mentoring for a while when she was serving with Josiah Venture in Serbia a few years ago! What a privilege to see you, Regent and Traci Perez!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WpfLwYTUdHtWARUH-RgmkJSnkb24FjYbskc2F5PR0j6f4WEXQbrqeC8wmRJ3mCI8cdUViVHA292VSB2anGAtXkxNjlLbKICUBbWyGlexwkilRINZ0XK1AmChcdebdYtgz8qBJpjCWKnP/s1600/Franklin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WpfLwYTUdHtWARUH-RgmkJSnkb24FjYbskc2F5PR0j6f4WEXQbrqeC8wmRJ3mCI8cdUViVHA292VSB2anGAtXkxNjlLbKICUBbWyGlexwkilRINZ0XK1AmChcdebdYtgz8qBJpjCWKnP/s640/Franklin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron and Linda Franklin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AbMOO1ESOxFi_C2CHumkXN8jsG9mO9bvGOKeHeGu0bwJIfaK9WSxPgRQz1iJhIS-kLFo-6IaKHkd26SV7pN9FE6jjzRu5s5uCSnKPXmPfP9fVbLvkVMYuXdYiB42N5ynaQEkiU9fAKfL/s1600/Perez+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1600" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AbMOO1ESOxFi_C2CHumkXN8jsG9mO9bvGOKeHeGu0bwJIfaK9WSxPgRQz1iJhIS-kLFo-6IaKHkd26SV7pN9FE6jjzRu5s5uCSnKPXmPfP9fVbLvkVMYuXdYiB42N5ynaQEkiU9fAKfL/s640/Perez+Photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traci and Regent Perez</td></tr>
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Germans have a saying, "Die Welt ist ein Dorf", "the world is a village". We experienced that over and over again as we visited dear "family" in so many states, from so many parts of our past! God is so good!<br />
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Here are some things to pray about for us over the next few weeks:<br />
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<li>We still need to find facilities for 2 of our 6 camps that we are planning this summer. Pray that God will lead us to the right places, with the right dates available, at the right price.</li>
<li>Pray for our NEW TEAM MATE Rachel Berkebile, as she continues to prepare to join us full time in February. Pray for everything to come together on her end there in the States, as well as all the logistics for receiving here here in Germany. Check out Rachel's Bio <a href="https://www.josiahventure.com/people-and-places/germany/22729">here</a>.</li>
<li>Pray for our 4 interns, Claire, Lemuel, Anna, and Sofia, as they raise support to serve with us this summer. Check them out <a href="https://www.josiahventure.com/people-and-places/interns?countryId=5071">here</a>.</li>
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Thanks for being part of our "Dorf"!</div>
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<br />Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-27336643231585710882020-01-10T02:57:00.000-08:002020-01-10T03:03:19.419-08:00Back in Leipzig and Back to "Normal" LifeI have never assumed my life would be "normal". In fact, most people looking at my life the past 35 years would say it is quite "abnormal", but after 3 months of traveling and living out of suitcases, I am so happy to be back to my "abnormal normalcy"! One of my most cherished "normal" rituals is my early morning coffee and time in the Word, often skyping with my daughter, Emily!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-y3B6qqMlQezigyshW53k0hZok0ruxb-1J7ViNm_F8020B8AZC8OX82ne6RIprgBPp2xtLtN9Xqd2M2c2wfqmNGZ_qg4yLAyJvzCEBlVqtIeTR8YciUg-NOlInDxIP8o91-20hxmzvCE/s1600/Coffee+Blog+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1191" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-y3B6qqMlQezigyshW53k0hZok0ruxb-1J7ViNm_F8020B8AZC8OX82ne6RIprgBPp2xtLtN9Xqd2M2c2wfqmNGZ_qg4yLAyJvzCEBlVqtIeTR8YciUg-NOlInDxIP8o91-20hxmzvCE/s640/Coffee+Blog+Pic.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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Oh, but the "abnormal" was so rich and beautiful! We traveled 12 states in the US, spoke in or met with staff from each of our 6 supporting churches, and had incredible times of telling and listening to "God stories" with about 40 of our supporters! We loved our time with each, many of them YOU!<br />
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We got so much special family time, seeing each of our children and our parents, and most of our siblings! We celebrated Thanksgiving with Jim's family and Christmas with Emily and Alpha in Bangladesh!<br />
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Since we've been back, Jim has attended the "Revive Europe" Conference with some our youth group young people, and we have started having camp meetings!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujdqZtlxl5TC13JgVOf_rzFC5NamX4EHbo841bfMxXPT8QUdDd1t6Ehhy3JRo9-DgoXKgdzHS-X1MgaAtlyyOD8Iwi2SyEIh1Y5YvAPo2x1tkOF3Zkposx-N1ftZjuv8OsmkgWQ4X1Nk-/s1600/Revive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujdqZtlxl5TC13JgVOf_rzFC5NamX4EHbo841bfMxXPT8QUdDd1t6Ehhy3JRo9-DgoXKgdzHS-X1MgaAtlyyOD8Iwi2SyEIh1Y5YvAPo2x1tkOF3Zkposx-N1ftZjuv8OsmkgWQ4X1Nk-/s640/Revive.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim and youth group kids, driving back from "Revive".</td></tr>
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So many things happened during our "abnormal" that I want to share with you, so I will be sharing snippets over the next few weeks, as well as letting you know what's going on here!<br />
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Pray for us as we settle back in. We are filled to over-flowing!<br />
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<br />Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-66550864441668801512019-09-10T09:01:00.002-07:002019-09-10T09:03:28.434-07:00Summer's End!Summer has officially ended! We were with friends at a lake on August 31 and they said, "Well today is the last day of summer. It will be too cold to swim from now on." I totally didn't believe them, as it was so hot that day (that day being 82), but sure enough, September 1 hit and out came the long pants and jackets!<br />
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The weather is not the only change around here, of course. Our camp season is over and we are full-throttle into fall ministry! That means following up with newly established youth groups, youth-leader training, continued discipleship, and back-to-school youth programs!<br />
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We ended the summer involved in 4 full camps and 1 week-end camp, reaching over 130 teens, about half of which are not yet believers. What a privilege to do this work God has call us to and thank you so much for your part in it through your faithful prayers and financial support!<br />
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I want to give a shout out to our incredible interns this summer. Take a look at them in action:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rwNBdWcXjI7GrtYWVc2oCpfEEd8DSY8sugy4CDYTCZ7BZNIrMdREi0DK2Hl6KEdh5dPSnK1VTw6pNwhmAR9tZk_5ivlOATX31l202PepOCfQuQlUmkxWwzJefPI1jRY6c2u2eV7nadVR/s1600/Interns+Germany+TShirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rwNBdWcXjI7GrtYWVc2oCpfEEd8DSY8sugy4CDYTCZ7BZNIrMdREi0DK2Hl6KEdh5dPSnK1VTw6pNwhmAR9tZk_5ivlOATX31l202PepOCfQuQlUmkxWwzJefPI1jRY6c2u2eV7nadVR/s640/Interns+Germany+TShirts.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Claire from Oklahoma, Joel from Arkansas, and Pavel from the Czech Republic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ADsi0ZZGB-W6GdVl2c-vk0do-UNQ24fTczsp8PA0dUQYMvvRYoCkZsF8HrEpAJa6hm-bVo-HZsJDGV0LBaVq8X_PgLn2OzRtHSRmsfzzYkbjbK4LEKRN9OjEy1WuLCdaQU06BtQLVNqS/s1600/Interns+Ice+Cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ADsi0ZZGB-W6GdVl2c-vk0do-UNQ24fTczsp8PA0dUQYMvvRYoCkZsF8HrEpAJa6hm-bVo-HZsJDGV0LBaVq8X_PgLn2OzRtHSRmsfzzYkbjbK4LEKRN9OjEy1WuLCdaQU06BtQLVNqS/s640/Interns+Ice+Cream.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the themes of the summer was eating! Downtown Leipzig enjoying an ice cream break!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCnJN3Uh4hrt54kal-jgUb2ovSlHVkOrW2btVbVnMNiMUvHrAC4GSTZylAMV3Nbs3SAIhpQCeEQrFAPOwdrOmDOQye-Oo5oab8Y4HCtc_TYR0jHlOpeOsk-8pMrLSfmP2dQzCjpg3TVPT/s1600/Claire+and+Hooded+Boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCnJN3Uh4hrt54kal-jgUb2ovSlHVkOrW2btVbVnMNiMUvHrAC4GSTZylAMV3Nbs3SAIhpQCeEQrFAPOwdrOmDOQye-Oo5oab8Y4HCtc_TYR0jHlOpeOsk-8pMrLSfmP2dQzCjpg3TVPT/s640/Claire+and+Hooded+Boys.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Claire, the only girl. But don't feel too sorry for her...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7-Jh_zXYIR_1t0yORERsBeRp2bUuAStOTurCkI6vbARFoEz09ouk6Ym2lpoHLLhz7kcjM8YQrJ7UDFx6i5cEVMcFcriuV8wJBI5EFJeeZXHq8JOQoXD61wVvqasKD2SRzJGjJPMi3Qo1/s1600/Intens+Making+Donuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7-Jh_zXYIR_1t0yORERsBeRp2bUuAStOTurCkI6vbARFoEz09ouk6Ym2lpoHLLhz7kcjM8YQrJ7UDFx6i5cEVMcFcriuV8wJBI5EFJeeZXHq8JOQoXD61wVvqasKD2SRzJGjJPMi3Qo1/s640/Intens+Making+Donuts.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not surprisingly, Jim taught them how to cook, namely, make donuts!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFCKJ5yLkVQJauFTjLA8ezos11BGNjQ_Br3c89pSPuHk6fV7MmvmCOTccf-QR0zwbFIrR19O2qRU2dp5g5LnbHTde9h9VCcAE3dzg-jIe4Hgj2AT3JNluOPwP7X8ZXmMvR5N0D_0k2jrD/s1600/Joel+camp+board+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFCKJ5yLkVQJauFTjLA8ezos11BGNjQ_Br3c89pSPuHk6fV7MmvmCOTccf-QR0zwbFIrR19O2qRU2dp5g5LnbHTde9h9VCcAE3dzg-jIe4Hgj2AT3JNluOPwP7X8ZXmMvR5N0D_0k2jrD/s640/Joel+camp+board+game.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joel hanging out, playing games with campers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMg4YkzEB-4o7mJmcJkW3u21RZSjz2JTKjKCyYh32J1tksbuK03bblbVGMvYJOFJWYvOJCFAJWArlh5IDfSwpVL56xS-Gditf1j5qfpKjgtZ64rTgslyvq_qNreTWWuQApy_x9AShr3SEq/s1600/Pavel%2527s+crazy+Sports+Team.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMg4YkzEB-4o7mJmcJkW3u21RZSjz2JTKjKCyYh32J1tksbuK03bblbVGMvYJOFJWYvOJCFAJWArlh5IDfSwpVL56xS-Gditf1j5qfpKjgtZ64rTgslyvq_qNreTWWuQApy_x9AShr3SEq/s640/Pavel%2527s+crazy+Sports+Team.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all games were quiet and well mannered! Here's Pavel's crazy sports team after a game of volleyball!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0BWaeIRH46EIJuk26As3F-joGaDUiqtNY45YOBoNn-OgjFBUegistil1xunrGGO1LWykYG22A-x4D2iDiBfFTj4OdK4EZ94JYdWPYO_cg-iaLI7Zo8n9klMcwpFFjk-U86nLo52Rg3Iw/s1600/Bon+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0BWaeIRH46EIJuk26As3F-joGaDUiqtNY45YOBoNn-OgjFBUegistil1xunrGGO1LWykYG22A-x4D2iDiBfFTj4OdK4EZ94JYdWPYO_cg-iaLI7Zo8n9klMcwpFFjk-U86nLo52Rg3Iw/s640/Bon+Fire.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thoughtful times, too, as seen with Pavel here singing worship songs around the camp fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-K6_L2oCF5zocSYobHO0M6szuWS3N_sojo04DyEGwHWrbYbERezZ-dZNf7fFt4AJWGnQo0WXEotz8J6U0IqhLWfj25FG-u0QOFKGaBZ85R9RzHVzj_1ufM009eOq36b76X0MBVQh57Sm/s1600/Claire+Baseball+score.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-K6_L2oCF5zocSYobHO0M6szuWS3N_sojo04DyEGwHWrbYbERezZ-dZNf7fFt4AJWGnQo0WXEotz8J6U0IqhLWfj25FG-u0QOFKGaBZ85R9RzHVzj_1ufM009eOq36b76X0MBVQh57Sm/s640/Claire+Baseball+score.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire, the best score-keeper around for a rousing game of American Baseball!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5wIjT5pbTCfQzyVvgK8xSyajbxtcRSkjRaWKD5BywGNbovhLPCQ3CRWoULy4RT-5pFkSNIInPlomgBCAY5gnUrVJs7Gy9biZz_7ufnizKhmVSkui7V7TpNa527fmwQnZzQ4pin-8o5-6/s1600/Claire+at+camp+follow-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5wIjT5pbTCfQzyVvgK8xSyajbxtcRSkjRaWKD5BywGNbovhLPCQ3CRWoULy4RT-5pFkSNIInPlomgBCAY5gnUrVJs7Gy9biZz_7ufnizKhmVSkui7V7TpNa527fmwQnZzQ4pin-8o5-6/s640/Claire+at+camp+follow-up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire at an after-camp follow-up time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4XyHC0KTF4Ll-eM-fAYoJhyY_ciISDR7LOd3F55BS4Cv1hjpyxlpgldRU3xNqvXIeQS7Kk3IBAw-Pe21ihk0282wKCMxcms9Nh_-KbZ0dW9NTa0NMpV4-vO0BRFQX1HgD-Csby9cXk0g/s1600/Joel+good+bye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4XyHC0KTF4Ll-eM-fAYoJhyY_ciISDR7LOd3F55BS4Cv1hjpyxlpgldRU3xNqvXIeQS7Kk3IBAw-Pe21ihk0282wKCMxcms9Nh_-KbZ0dW9NTa0NMpV4-vO0BRFQX1HgD-Csby9cXk0g/s640/Joel+good+bye.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Already time to say good bye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOWEL_JCIXLEyL7a70BVXeZ_Yy1iAUtmCpEx33-Gd642RcyG07ZEbBhEvvlNbrOz338Jkq2ekRDw5G9Hrujri-TBne_9Boef7MvV3uZMc1cfeXbbJWg5QV_Y49GEOZwi5iENhoX1NPl7F/s1600/Sad+Melli+and+Claire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOWEL_JCIXLEyL7a70BVXeZ_Yy1iAUtmCpEx33-Gd642RcyG07ZEbBhEvvlNbrOz338Jkq2ekRDw5G9Hrujri-TBne_9Boef7MvV3uZMc1cfeXbbJWg5QV_Y49GEOZwi5iENhoX1NPl7F/s640/Sad+Melli+and+Claire.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melli, one of our German Camp Leaders, and Claire, sad to say good bye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsri1Bm8tsbPQqrCGtVolrBJTn3C2CjZkDubtJ981s7khKIm2-CuuZUwJ8w5xizNydCd9TSknW2yyegY0ikMF1tX9qgigKiZyj3uCbnJxViDd5VZLY5t0FXFiEKlg8oRvUmUhmM_mgfH5/s1600/Intern+Family+Pic+croped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsri1Bm8tsbPQqrCGtVolrBJTn3C2CjZkDubtJ981s7khKIm2-CuuZUwJ8w5xizNydCd9TSknW2yyegY0ikMF1tX9qgigKiZyj3uCbnJxViDd5VZLY5t0FXFiEKlg8oRvUmUhmM_mgfH5/s640/Intern+Family+Pic+croped.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks, Interns! You were all a great addition to Team JV Germany and God used you in many lives! We miss you!</td></tr>
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So, there's a quick shout-out to our great interns. Stay tuned to our next blog post where we will be talking about our Home Assignment in the States. We may be visiting near you and we would love to see as many of you as possible!!!<br />
<br />Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-49339891644378775552019-07-31T01:06:00.000-07:002019-07-31T01:06:59.027-07:00God Continues to Amaze!!!So, the roller coaster ride continues, but it is definitely getting fun! Our camp last week was a twice-cancelled, and finally-realized camp! EXACTLY God's plan!<br />
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We had 9 teens, at least 4-5 of which were not believers and had never even really heard about or thought about God! How fun to see these kid warm up in the highly relational atmosphere and begin to ask incredible questions!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM7ZGc4k83KQsnw6ZucwytYdMRpaaNHkNvKjHnYfP320YMQVzxmG2HlOOQAgCzOb7lTUl5diFl9UTBen22-V0l9S23cgAUWfJ0oj2kIim1grk__ncNtk4gDepKrpSztNwNkYP85nC_V-n/s1600/Vanessa+camp+English+Class.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM7ZGc4k83KQsnw6ZucwytYdMRpaaNHkNvKjHnYfP320YMQVzxmG2HlOOQAgCzOb7lTUl5diFl9UTBen22-V0l9S23cgAUWfJ0oj2kIim1grk__ncNtk4gDepKrpSztNwNkYP85nC_V-n/s640/Vanessa+camp+English+Class.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the teens in English Class</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wSbRWw32x9jQmt000UqtqTn6WLS_bswnXPNIJyyGHcxjXx3wMNfPmcqSseCFYhIftpLMuxGk7MOGp0-KY7HQq1yR4ypGk8FlIaXSfJz4lwHMrgVJa1Qaxu796WazN5ng42E6slac-1j-/s1600/Vanessa+Camp+Band.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wSbRWw32x9jQmt000UqtqTn6WLS_bswnXPNIJyyGHcxjXx3wMNfPmcqSseCFYhIftpLMuxGk7MOGp0-KY7HQq1yR4ypGk8FlIaXSfJz4lwHMrgVJa1Qaxu796WazN5ng42E6slac-1j-/s640/Vanessa+Camp+Band.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Incredible Band! During the last session, we went around and had the teens share their favorite parts of camp and almost all of them included the Singing! How incredible to hear all of them singing Praise and Worship songs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWdMV_yXW_VgEPQH4cnTzLb20V26OQILOfaBNx077oVjHTUG9XVknD4ZpGOrz2VcM7s62qnejQ_vW-2XfobsJ4GLysw7D7qYd3FaIkgLnsacbJ1-rmAqi2ucmrWEsc3tPb9jmdSiQiqwn/s1600/Lucas+Baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWdMV_yXW_VgEPQH4cnTzLb20V26OQILOfaBNx077oVjHTUG9XVknD4ZpGOrz2VcM7s62qnejQ_vW-2XfobsJ4GLysw7D7qYd3FaIkgLnsacbJ1-rmAqi2ucmrWEsc3tPb9jmdSiQiqwn/s640/Lucas+Baseball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They LOVED playing "American Baseball"! We played it most every day with only one split-eyebrow, ball-in-the-face injury! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhwRzfjLwn3yvqrD1ttbT2ST3hAL7LGM_3etmzRDGM6PghqzkQt6lbVarqF4G8Z2qPzX5PpiJIW2Fce__ziofBC0ibSTSYiwLwi1Oz8qsrMuv9syo37WAy5reV6Uyc4guqVcde3tlfheE/s1600/Thomas+W+baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhwRzfjLwn3yvqrD1ttbT2ST3hAL7LGM_3etmzRDGM6PghqzkQt6lbVarqF4G8Z2qPzX5PpiJIW2Fce__ziofBC0ibSTSYiwLwi1Oz8qsrMuv9syo37WAy5reV6Uyc4guqVcde3tlfheE/s640/Thomas+W+baseball.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun surprise, we didn't know until our first face-to-face meeting with the team that this man, Thomas, former associate pastor at our church here in Leipzig, is the pastor of the church we were partnering with for the camp!!!</td></tr>
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Please, pray for the teens that attended the camp, that they will continue on their quest for God. We fell in love with these kids!<br />
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We leave tomorrow for another cancelled, now-scheduled camp! Pray for our time there that God will use us, will speak to the teens, and that He will renew our strength!<br />
<br />Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-2183238570035541332019-07-17T09:39:00.001-07:002019-07-17T09:39:25.167-07:00 Answers Coming In!So many of you wrote to tell me you were praying after my last post! Thank you! I am just now updating you because it seems that every few days, our summer changes!<br />
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We did a week-end retreat with a church in Magdeburg, near one of our canceled camps. What an exciting time! There were about 15 teens there, most of which were not believers! We will be doing more follow-up with them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlaxORW_cqkkXtPzvZiF6skDS5sfMr5gj45tczw3E-1LGp8wjh4_VfQL5unpZsMaVmcOxWBxVyEsIKzs7XoVgyzyB28hZWv1f6qVB9_o0pij3aTzWhI3cpDT6Bvd-b7QRukU4okyjpX5r/s1600/4c342be8-eeac-406e-ba80-ded8c0ddce8c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlaxORW_cqkkXtPzvZiF6skDS5sfMr5gj45tczw3E-1LGp8wjh4_VfQL5unpZsMaVmcOxWBxVyEsIKzs7XoVgyzyB28hZWv1f6qVB9_o0pij3aTzWhI3cpDT6Bvd-b7QRukU4okyjpX5r/s640/4c342be8-eeac-406e-ba80-ded8c0ddce8c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teens from our Magdeburg Week-end.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pavel, one of our interns, sharing his story.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirn_8HJq1gH6y8kGfhs08J5nsT5pnHdldYAH4UOYDFYMgvNgkxccb4WpVxkmKlKzYgad5AAAX_qA2ZYkl_7aA8ouTZXTlt-LM-nzXloftdEH7oZsb17q4CNbqMbxAing0imkdLazVyp57/s1600/f694deac-cebf-425b-8a25-14231679fa43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirn_8HJq1gH6y8kGfhs08J5nsT5pnHdldYAH4UOYDFYMgvNgkxccb4WpVxkmKlKzYgad5AAAX_qA2ZYkl_7aA8ouTZXTlt-LM-nzXloftdEH7oZsb17q4CNbqMbxAing0imkdLazVyp57/s640/f694deac-cebf-425b-8a25-14231679fa43.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone excited for Jim's BBQ!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to serve it up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKww6dvnuW9xgDGO1hYnYyTJIqRZ2eDp1CRKHO1q6S4K40KcTKiyzzZ9WnzERvht2NOMxdr13yc8uUZNrsEB_m3gCA4jL4-lxFjW_ZV22beiCLsgs2Y6g_ut7WzPARumxN5JI_VSkDbPG/s1600/408c9792-4a44-4070-aad8-bf389c37a37f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKww6dvnuW9xgDGO1hYnYyTJIqRZ2eDp1CRKHO1q6S4K40KcTKiyzzZ9WnzERvht2NOMxdr13yc8uUZNrsEB_m3gCA4jL4-lxFjW_ZV22beiCLsgs2Y6g_ut7WzPARumxN5JI_VSkDbPG/s640/408c9792-4a44-4070-aad8-bf389c37a37f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teens during one of the talks.</td></tr>
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This past week we finished our first week-long camp. This camp was in the Brandenburg area and draws from 4 communities, only one of which has a church with a pastor. This was very exciting, as we have been training the teens to run their own youth groups the past 2 years. The camp had 31 teens, about half of which are not believers and some who have never even thought about God before this week! It was so incredible to see most of them come to the individual churches in their villages the day after camp finished!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lina speaking at evening program</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz7iK6Zi6Mj9p4LZt_n2sp747RNGW2JfQDrxHFYEbOQirSNfsUGIJwg36buvrX8YTRrW_PsOgdbdj0IQ7Sqv2EbueF0by6hVSRPZt5xrBXrjD9wXFXmb96vv8eporsuSK9y3Hcak12xEL/s1600/0d639279-c9c4-4715-b369-bbf2f6cab063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz7iK6Zi6Mj9p4LZt_n2sp747RNGW2JfQDrxHFYEbOQirSNfsUGIJwg36buvrX8YTRrW_PsOgdbdj0IQ7Sqv2EbueF0by6hVSRPZt5xrBXrjD9wXFXmb96vv8eporsuSK9y3Hcak12xEL/s640/0d639279-c9c4-4715-b369-bbf2f6cab063.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that was Jim and Lina 30 years ago...Really, I was using it as an illustration!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieThiGrekSJVyifTdgLQGSo2BHaguPIYTQfU7wWmJDBaLcfVP_-DOL1wD-uMteTAlsZbTPe8LWhpTW5YqnHrxuNg9NfvmHz9l1lAeIyEs9Q0zSRPUVGDbDndt9QPI1WXojUg_5bjSg-fyf/s1600/30148f3d-52af-4e2b-8376-8dffe5a10869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1024" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieThiGrekSJVyifTdgLQGSo2BHaguPIYTQfU7wWmJDBaLcfVP_-DOL1wD-uMteTAlsZbTPe8LWhpTW5YqnHrxuNg9NfvmHz9l1lAeIyEs9Q0zSRPUVGDbDndt9QPI1WXojUg_5bjSg-fyf/s640/30148f3d-52af-4e2b-8376-8dffe5a10869.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, messy games!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxPifIuqLvLbuLvAAVRivETDTmbLVrZIvpUMjrAsALU5InNnAuS_Gv_dxYvWF_4R_-0c2h0CY4oDRxlAcFNcNNjT_WPNtUajxl2YKNxVvVS21n-Gv-0tAnVJVaCKyF3ehr1nEwSnBgW5O/s1600/23e7c7c8-9796-435e-93eb-cc95c019f48b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxPifIuqLvLbuLvAAVRivETDTmbLVrZIvpUMjrAsALU5InNnAuS_Gv_dxYvWF_4R_-0c2h0CY4oDRxlAcFNcNNjT_WPNtUajxl2YKNxVvVS21n-Gv-0tAnVJVaCKyF3ehr1nEwSnBgW5O/s640/23e7c7c8-9796-435e-93eb-cc95c019f48b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls dressed up for Banquet Night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Night!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AiiatoauO3aueD7mWLfaimtSAAfeg8DKd8pd1U5X2tlJ4YaYukOMnBxWdQO3jgesvP15jG0CTpwFKV7lGHvF33TXAUjqH7oPknqAY-G9uVffFWmKzgtB5jhkQmUMlDMVk4kNH559JP8p/s1600/Western+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AiiatoauO3aueD7mWLfaimtSAAfeg8DKd8pd1U5X2tlJ4YaYukOMnBxWdQO3jgesvP15jG0CTpwFKV7lGHvF33TXAUjqH7oPknqAY-G9uVffFWmKzgtB5jhkQmUMlDMVk4kNH559JP8p/s640/Western+sitting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campfire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHJpdDUc0_fs2urTZ1gn1mAWAI5eBIvwS2OR0LiimrIEBhnFk4bq-Ui5bt2QAjRm6ZNjVtLKQS1HFy95UDh1guHVocGMmEvwP9sKLhqwjj28IodEhBxkf0uxs524Ha4OJOm-IxAaEztsM/s1600/Cross1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHJpdDUc0_fs2urTZ1gn1mAWAI5eBIvwS2OR0LiimrIEBhnFk4bq-Ui5bt2QAjRm6ZNjVtLKQS1HFy95UDh1guHVocGMmEvwP9sKLhqwjj28IodEhBxkf0uxs524Ha4OJOm-IxAaEztsM/s640/Cross1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campers glued broken pieces to a cross during our afternoon Labyrinth experience.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken pieces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqwZ0VfSZHfKcZznY_-xYwkybVuVwVY2w-IcfYmPfbOGcLqB2zgnZ0rJA-tBH3Mo4bggw4tVvUNw5rzHhk2xxlTkmiiv-9jNVVpo4BWgWbGSnqqjiIS5jmlrsx48BmhfRBnImHSPrcGg5/s1600/3a45ee38-6188-46d3-aeca-236a48b9da98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqwZ0VfSZHfKcZznY_-xYwkybVuVwVY2w-IcfYmPfbOGcLqB2zgnZ0rJA-tBH3Mo4bggw4tVvUNw5rzHhk2xxlTkmiiv-9jNVVpo4BWgWbGSnqqjiIS5jmlrsx48BmhfRBnImHSPrcGg5/s640/3a45ee38-6188-46d3-aeca-236a48b9da98.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campers in Zeesen on Sunday after Camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iIMQ0BnKyXx5My3BnBmL8FJ2YfaZhpd76jrkXQjWopYPN4lh9cRl4qkJ7A0Btxr93A_4OjwchP4TUr4XChTM0gvMEYotlOyeYKFvfPVwr32qzvbqj1VUH5vAl9LMAJmAJGee5J1dL6dn/s1600/29a24f1c-4a93-421e-903e-738a9c931aae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iIMQ0BnKyXx5My3BnBmL8FJ2YfaZhpd76jrkXQjWopYPN4lh9cRl4qkJ7A0Btxr93A_4OjwchP4TUr4XChTM0gvMEYotlOyeYKFvfPVwr32qzvbqj1VUH5vAl9LMAJmAJGee5J1dL6dn/s640/29a24f1c-4a93-421e-903e-738a9c931aae.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campers at Guben church on Sunday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcqo9gNniUxKMaEL_NvQY3GARV7v6ZihACZA-C8yMHbz9g3p3MA-B53FuyBixoxXTyrc-VKgu1SxNbEiCZeKgvid8y9dv_tidQolt1-Gb38NmaGpDMjA_gZRN-kgL2FHFnxr1T8zSy_Z_/s1600/a2310fef-5fcd-4a31-8c09-e2413e945a3e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcqo9gNniUxKMaEL_NvQY3GARV7v6ZihACZA-C8yMHbz9g3p3MA-B53FuyBixoxXTyrc-VKgu1SxNbEiCZeKgvid8y9dv_tidQolt1-Gb38NmaGpDMjA_gZRN-kgL2FHFnxr1T8zSy_Z_/s640/a2310fef-5fcd-4a31-8c09-e2413e945a3e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campers at Eisenhűttenstadt church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3egf8-FFDtlFztu7F8eo_zWsxeJlxOTADD-q2dumd6BZXtMZVLsz0L5T9jlCqCHjh0uq2j_VD63F6hIKpArzB1PIMAn9cgx8XtQ-Mlg9yE2S7fnpbXNKFpclXl2-K4IYz-Mf0pKoQO5u/s1600/c6f1f618-f41a-492a-a282-180fd8e75810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3egf8-FFDtlFztu7F8eo_zWsxeJlxOTADD-q2dumd6BZXtMZVLsz0L5T9jlCqCHjh0uq2j_VD63F6hIKpArzB1PIMAn9cgx8XtQ-Mlg9yE2S7fnpbXNKFpclXl2-K4IYz-Mf0pKoQO5u/s640/c6f1f618-f41a-492a-a282-180fd8e75810.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campers at Cottbus Church</td></tr>
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Please, continue to pray. We will be doing a small 5-day camp next week and we are hoping to do more follow-up with each of the campers from all the camps over the next few weeks.<br />
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No, summer is not turning out how we originally planned, but we are CERTAIN it is turning out how God is planning!!!<br />
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Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-73463325741265448002019-06-08T01:43:00.000-07:002019-06-08T01:43:33.885-07:00Urgent Prayer Needed!<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are feeling the full-force of the enemy's attack against the ministry God has called us to this summer. Our 3 interns have arrived, we have 3 camps planned for the summer, but Satan is trying to shut things down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday we got word that the youth pastor for our second camp, July 20-26, was in a car accident and they are feeling that they should cancel the camp. We also got a call from the leaders of our third camp, August 4-11, saying that they feel that they may have to cancel their camp, as we only have 2 kids signed up and the principle of the local high school, where we have already done outreach for the camp, has said that we are not allowed to come on to campus again before camp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not surprising as to the timing. This week is Pentecost, the day Jesus sent His Spirit! They actually celebrate Pentecost here in Germany, but Satan has twisted it into his own holiday. Leipzig becomes the largest Gothic gathering in the world. According to Leipzig's city website it is "the world's largest meeting of the "black scene", which takes place annually since 1992 at Pentecost in Leipzig and attracts around 20,000 guests from all over the world."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdakKY3g4tTRP54VB7mpEoSjx5lS47tKzkcK9IcKPYpZ4oYQ-qz3fWKQMXFvNmo9VWQn1BTqKiYfyyDE269aAE7RILfwFFYn8dDtnvSA9ipIFJbAdTuFPqvHIdN0nHdF8cAVg3I31r0wp/s1600/20180520_162222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdakKY3g4tTRP54VB7mpEoSjx5lS47tKzkcK9IcKPYpZ4oYQ-qz3fWKQMXFvNmo9VWQn1BTqKiYfyyDE269aAE7RILfwFFYn8dDtnvSA9ipIFJbAdTuFPqvHIdN0nHdF8cAVg3I31r0wp/s640/20180520_162222.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This couple was the most disturbing for me, seeing the bondage the lady submitted herself to. It is such a picture of the bondage Satan has over the people here!</td></tr>
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Satan wants the young people of Germany for himself, be we are asking you to stand together with us against his schemes! We know that God has called us to promote His Kingdom this summer and to tell young people about Him!<div>
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Pray with us that these camps will not be canceled and, in fact that there will be such an outpouring of God's Spirit over the youth of eastern Germany that we will know that it is only because of God's power!</div>
Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-11892929984929015462019-04-26T14:30:00.000-07:002019-04-27T22:17:22.342-07:005 Years Ago Today!As we finished up lunch at our friend Steffen's house, he brought out my favorite dessert, WATERMELON, and said, "Today we are celebrating something." Jim and I looked at him in anticipation and he said, "5 years ago today, I met you when you came to Leipzig on your vision trip!" (This was the trip we made with my mother before we actually moved here the next November.)<br />
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WHAT! Time has flown by, yet so much has happened it seem it must have been 50 years ago! So, here we were on that visit to Leipzig.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FIRpz9kFKCssSdHR_MbjHJH5c_BiKT3PU6ylb05iq45YPfoC2MekLczrdBbu1FtmUezk-uuu_SXISitQ5Ubvoljdok82-JgDIzTLLdIFfja6Dba4ztC-7CKTHcHN_l7VKLZh4lbW5_62/s1600/2014-04-26+16.33.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FIRpz9kFKCssSdHR_MbjHJH5c_BiKT3PU6ylb05iq45YPfoC2MekLczrdBbu1FtmUezk-uuu_SXISitQ5Ubvoljdok82-JgDIzTLLdIFfja6Dba4ztC-7CKTHcHN_l7VKLZh4lbW5_62/s640/2014-04-26+16.33.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim, Lina, Steffen, David, Samuel, Anela, and Thomas</td></tr>
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Yes, that is Steffen standing next to me. We had no idea at the time that he would be such a "Rascal", but we've learned since then!<br />
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So, here we were today out in Steffen's garden, having an impromptu 5 year anniversary celebration!<br />
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So how about the rest of them? Well, believe it or not we are all still friends and doing ministry together!!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPwyIAwCNEyFJXDNm7agbo3ZWcakprVvtE6MAM75vDA523v2NBZl1IJrijGjLY3KJ4nFFcGb1w-GnU1ZG4hQEMrsrQ4P5GV1Z500LfbWcu0vJdmV2Hr8Els-21J-W68qazlmp0SA5hu9Q/s1600/20190329_191856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPwyIAwCNEyFJXDNm7agbo3ZWcakprVvtE6MAM75vDA523v2NBZl1IJrijGjLY3KJ4nFFcGb1w-GnU1ZG4hQEMrsrQ4P5GV1Z500LfbWcu0vJdmV2Hr8Els-21J-W68qazlmp0SA5hu9Q/s640/20190329_191856.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, here's David and me with "masks" on during a game at our recent Girls' Night at Youth Group. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf1CI8MqU3xg7br7SUEKH-eDhsTiZQYw_zGBSgfgpIXOGi3ncKRdKeNY976UySwVbxW7lS73qkMK7qyDl4TVljvtFuSJaX1vF-kmfwrVBCSadFSWG0GwcdYm0GcdBrYMqUdOn1M7K8ay6/s1600/Doc1-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="640" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf1CI8MqU3xg7br7SUEKH-eDhsTiZQYw_zGBSgfgpIXOGi3ncKRdKeNY976UySwVbxW7lS73qkMK7qyDl4TVljvtFuSJaX1vF-kmfwrVBCSadFSWG0GwcdYm0GcdBrYMqUdOn1M7K8ay6/s640/Doc1-page-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We help out with the youth group in Samuel and Anela's church plant and have English camp with them! They now have two kids and another one on the way! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas, our pastor at the time, is now married to Hannah and they have 2 boys. We are still in House Group with them!</td></tr>
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We are so thankful for all of them and the blessing of being here in Leipzig!<br />
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Please pray:<br />
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<li>Next week we go to Czech for our Spring Conference. Please, pray for safety and good connections.</li>
<li>We have three Summer Interns come to help us this summer. Please, pray for Pavel (from Czech), Clare, and Joel (both from the US).</li>
<li>Pray for many teens to register for the camps this summer.</li>
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Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187590251826599544.post-60785293566930983062019-03-12T05:02:00.001-07:002019-03-12T05:02:38.525-07:00So, Whose Birthday Is It?You've been praying for quite a long time for our team to grow. "So, Lina, tell us, is it just you and Jim in Germany, or is God adding to your team?"<br />
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Let me unpack that question a bit, but just so you know, it is not "unpacking" in the sense of unpacking your suitcase full of dirty clothes after a long trip. It's much more like unpacking all the presents on your birthday morning!<br />
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Let me tell you a bit about how we did birthdays with our kids when they were growing up. Before they would get up in the morning, we would blow up balloons and tape them all over their chair and hang a few from the light fixtures. We would stack their presents on the breakfast table at their place setting and we would set their place with a bright red "You are Special Today" plate. Jim would usually make their favorite breakfast - I'm talking full-blown with waffles, fruit, whipped cream, bacon, eggs...the whole nine yards! Then, as they would come into the kitchen, we would all sing "Happy Birthday"! As we all waited in anticipation of the tasty things to come, they would open each and every one of their Birthday presents! This was THEIR DAY!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwop6nHsLl7WyPM8ZMB23ZrhM6D58LtOdeALQF0ZFZtqErM8Y8G5tH0TJzEc2xgyU9klu1gaTtvorl8ZZFkIR_tsVwFDLSVA2xwEB8Tx08j6zvek4REcyZa9DsWXlUx5T0yQsUGaYY2jm/s1600/DSC00100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwop6nHsLl7WyPM8ZMB23ZrhM6D58LtOdeALQF0ZFZtqErM8Y8G5tH0TJzEc2xgyU9klu1gaTtvorl8ZZFkIR_tsVwFDLSVA2xwEB8Tx08j6zvek4REcyZa9DsWXlUx5T0yQsUGaYY2jm/s320/DSC00100.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQxf5duwlGI9p8T4c9WwoiXA8H7SA0ngd5nK73vbJkYAK57CtX37l7bOOYrhoeQq9v_e4eBMXDhy_cu7VypIxkSkfnSjCoK4VGglBCJczaJgyb3_s3Gbu4yp2l-Mq7V_unU2X3qbkeFTv/s1600/DSC00098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQxf5duwlGI9p8T4c9WwoiXA8H7SA0ngd5nK73vbJkYAK57CtX37l7bOOYrhoeQq9v_e4eBMXDhy_cu7VypIxkSkfnSjCoK4VGglBCJczaJgyb3_s3Gbu4yp2l-Mq7V_unU2X3qbkeFTv/s320/DSC00098.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What! Wii MarioKart?!?!? What 12 year-old boy could want more than that!!!! OK, so it was 2008 and Jared has moved on to building his own 3-D Printer, but still...COOL!!!!!!</td></tr>
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We're so excited that you have joined us at the breakfast table and can smell the waffles and bacon. So, let's start unpacking our Team gifts before we fill our "You Are Special Today" plate!</div>
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First gift - Rachael Berkebile! Wow! This is exciting and so much more that we could have anticipated when she came to serve with us as an Intern for 6 months last year! We are so thrilled that she has decided to join us full-time here in Germany! The next few months will be full of training and support raising before she joins us at the end of the year or early next year! (Sorry, Jared, this is better than MarioKart!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jL6x1c9ts1tMvRHHyHFmTqksZhMNgB8BO9kchd7o6VQUk6dUXYIBODaXrrXE0jvf_vCVOeB8eLBwYo4v-Ezh0_bYmUiaumlsSzmHXIhn9b7-jGU-LPEBfyPRF6BrVx9re0Phaiw_69-Y/s1600/52885538_10213207860447985_5745496550654607360_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="1465" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jL6x1c9ts1tMvRHHyHFmTqksZhMNgB8BO9kchd7o6VQUk6dUXYIBODaXrrXE0jvf_vCVOeB8eLBwYo4v-Ezh0_bYmUiaumlsSzmHXIhn9b7-jGU-LPEBfyPRF6BrVx9re0Phaiw_69-Y/s640/52885538_10213207860447985_5745496550654607360_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you want to read more about Rachel, check out her <a href="https://www.josiahventure.com/people-and-places/germany/22729">JV Web Page</a>.</td></tr>
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But wait...what are all these other gifts? Let's open this one with the incredible multi-colored wrapping. Whoa! What is that commotion come out of the box? Oh, there it is! Our group of Student Leaders we have the privilege of training to run their youth groups. Just look at all this activity going on...youth groups, worship nights, after-school sport outreach, oooh! even a Taco Night! Yes, this is certainly an incredible team gift, as it multiplies the impact we could have here in unimaginable ways!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbwAQXgsX_Scx4hXRzv2jyfWYN3uBRPwfk8SIQFUuSfjJm7jzoNULGpyHkNI9J2hGoFpdm_WhihnJ1lzADsBhjI8k-D3irc_PsLe5_Afe4sPtFhxUSfAcGvLbTnbtNN0VTJia_gIyXaUq/s1600/Combined+Youth+Group+Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbwAQXgsX_Scx4hXRzv2jyfWYN3uBRPwfk8SIQFUuSfjJm7jzoNULGpyHkNI9J2hGoFpdm_WhihnJ1lzADsBhjI8k-D3irc_PsLe5_Afe4sPtFhxUSfAcGvLbTnbtNN0VTJia_gIyXaUq/s640/Combined+Youth+Group+Night.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Student-Leader Training and Youth Group dinner in Cottbus.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcGkVugh3hSoeg_3zPTJaGocoTj6on3MpJwNz0WkMf-Ql1orWA4XVPsCpOzQRbSwHb7cyRH1J45-Jtv3KvTUXHtAtzeXmruWT7-evtkA5_vw1mdD8NFoWj-qvJe8Qizfj9yj6mujM5cuO/s1600/FEG+Youth+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcGkVugh3hSoeg_3zPTJaGocoTj6on3MpJwNz0WkMf-Ql1orWA4XVPsCpOzQRbSwHb7cyRH1J45-Jtv3KvTUXHtAtzeXmruWT7-evtkA5_vw1mdD8NFoWj-qvJe8Qizfj9yj6mujM5cuO/s640/FEG+Youth+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youth Group in Leipzig</td></tr>
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Let's move on to this Orange colored gift. Sounds like singing and teaching and lots of chatter coming out of this box. Oh, that's it! The greater Josiah Venture team. Wow, this gift is full of tickets to training events, invitations to coffee with friends, a CD of Multi-language Worship Music...so much more! What a rich and full package!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpIvzNCEw2ZTpjNQ5y_MhZNm4vQR1iW2whC3kHPz5IdDmOB6-E0sFgS9Ho56968X3KPkqMVLM8LHe-x3MrrU3_4cd_HZBfUVKXV0tDw_Sz47jbkFfhqBIEguly4KpjcYtPXUCfNfp-ENR/s1600/Winter+Academy+AY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpIvzNCEw2ZTpjNQ5y_MhZNm4vQR1iW2whC3kHPz5IdDmOB6-E0sFgS9Ho56968X3KPkqMVLM8LHe-x3MrrU3_4cd_HZBfUVKXV0tDw_Sz47jbkFfhqBIEguly4KpjcYtPXUCfNfp-ENR/s640/Winter+Academy+AY2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah Venture "Winter Academy" at Malenovice, Czech.</td></tr>
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Wow! What a birthday this has been! I am so filled up, but no...there's one more! This one looks interesting and seems to hold something very precious. It's a velvet covered box and flips open like one of those jewelry boxes from the stores I can't even afford to walk into! I crack it open slowly and out pours the most wonderful sound I have ever heard. It's an orchestra of prayers, encouragements, notes, living room visits...I hold my breath as I see every one of your faces paraded before me. Tears fill my eyes as I think about the hours upon hours you have invested in this ministry through prayer, through hard work at your job so you can give financially toward what God is doing here. You are this last precious team present I open as I humbly sit at the breakfast table wondering how God could love me so much that He would lavish me with these gifts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MZpvRIZj6M8pxecfd7DMaVkYZa_nnO6vXGDAi9Ad-OHMiGgTyWL4dWc4_mhkCzUGCa81KuW6XvB6QXNsaeNh5Ml9Vetk_72Nzb3W-vGD8N4WggumqnmeUXnrBkpOFY29X_wAIMyZ1LL3/s1600/Lears+praying+for+us+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MZpvRIZj6M8pxecfd7DMaVkYZa_nnO6vXGDAi9Ad-OHMiGgTyWL4dWc4_mhkCzUGCa81KuW6XvB6QXNsaeNh5Ml9Vetk_72Nzb3W-vGD8N4WggumqnmeUXnrBkpOFY29X_wAIMyZ1LL3/s640/Lears+praying+for+us+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faithful supporters, Don and Marge Lear as they pray for us during their daily morning devotional time.</td></tr>
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I sit back in my chair, feeling so overwhelmed and blessed. Thank you for joining me for this special breakfast. Now, would you, please, pass the bacon?</div>
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Coffee in Leipzighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576033610946381229noreply@blogger.com3