Wanted: Shot in arm
If I would have lived a couple hundred years ago my newsletters would be really something. They would come at least twice a year and explain the highlights of the past months. But we live in the post-modern era when we could send a newsletter every few hours is needed. We are so connected with the whole world, but I can't seem to get to my computer to let you all know what is going on here. Please forgive my neglect.
Since school has started we have been going crazy trying to get adjusted to the schedule. Anika is in fourth grade, Naomi has begun her academic career in first grade and Maddie is in pre-school every day. They're healthy, smart, beautiful girls and we love them to death. It's an adjustment sending two girls to school, but it's working out. Both love to go and it's not to bad getting them out of bed. I'm really grateful for that. I hated getting on a bus and going to school when I was a kid. I'm glad they enjoy it.
Around the same time we welcomed a new discipleship team to Kaiserslautern. Five ladies and one young man will spend a year with us and serve throughout the city at jobs in pre-schools, schools and working with elderly people. Every year is a challenge and this year was no exception. We had two weeks of all-day seminars. It can be a drain on a person when you always give and give. I'm not out of gas, I'm just a little empty.
Another drag is our longtime colleague Anna G. decided to call it quits. We've worked with Anna for seven and a half years investing in our young people and leading the little church here in the Elim Zentrum. She warned us in January and in October it became reality. So at the end of September we hosted a weekend where all previous participants could come and say thanks and goodbye to Anna for all she has done over the past 7 years. We were amazed to have 26 people out of 50+ come to Kaiserslautern. It was a lot of fun to see so many old faces and hear the stories of what has happened in their lives since they left. That Sunday we also celebrated a missions-fest with our sister churches and said dankeschön to Anna.
That day was bittersweet. Was were 'losing' Anna, but somehow gaining an Anna. What? Annas replacement is also named Anna, but we will call her Anna-Geraldine. A.G. came from a neighbor church just in time to save our butts from a lot of pain and frustration. Just as we were contemplating if we could actually pull off another year without Anna Number One, I was approached by Anna Number Two and asked if the position is still available. A couple days later she had an interview and we knew we could have our discipleship team for at least one more year. So, to make things short, we are very pleased to have a new colleague around the Elim Zentrum who has a heart for Jesus and making disciples.
This coming weekend we have invited a preacher to come from Austria to give a day-workshop on stress-management. It should be an awesome and extremely fitting seminar for us right now. I'm excited to hear what he has to say. He's supposed to be good.
So now you know that we're still alive and kicking. Thanks for supporting us and our work here in Germany. I hope and pray there will be a boost to our souls sometime soon. We could use a nice shot in the arm. But we're not hopeless, just a bit tired after a bust season.
Peace,
Mike
Since school has started we have been going crazy trying to get adjusted to the schedule. Anika is in fourth grade, Naomi has begun her academic career in first grade and Maddie is in pre-school every day. They're healthy, smart, beautiful girls and we love them to death. It's an adjustment sending two girls to school, but it's working out. Both love to go and it's not to bad getting them out of bed. I'm really grateful for that. I hated getting on a bus and going to school when I was a kid. I'm glad they enjoy it.
Around the same time we welcomed a new discipleship team to Kaiserslautern. Five ladies and one young man will spend a year with us and serve throughout the city at jobs in pre-schools, schools and working with elderly people. Every year is a challenge and this year was no exception. We had two weeks of all-day seminars. It can be a drain on a person when you always give and give. I'm not out of gas, I'm just a little empty.
Another drag is our longtime colleague Anna G. decided to call it quits. We've worked with Anna for seven and a half years investing in our young people and leading the little church here in the Elim Zentrum. She warned us in January and in October it became reality. So at the end of September we hosted a weekend where all previous participants could come and say thanks and goodbye to Anna for all she has done over the past 7 years. We were amazed to have 26 people out of 50+ come to Kaiserslautern. It was a lot of fun to see so many old faces and hear the stories of what has happened in their lives since they left. That Sunday we also celebrated a missions-fest with our sister churches and said dankeschön to Anna.
That day was bittersweet. Was were 'losing' Anna, but somehow gaining an Anna. What? Annas replacement is also named Anna, but we will call her Anna-Geraldine. A.G. came from a neighbor church just in time to save our butts from a lot of pain and frustration. Just as we were contemplating if we could actually pull off another year without Anna Number One, I was approached by Anna Number Two and asked if the position is still available. A couple days later she had an interview and we knew we could have our discipleship team for at least one more year. So, to make things short, we are very pleased to have a new colleague around the Elim Zentrum who has a heart for Jesus and making disciples.
This coming weekend we have invited a preacher to come from Austria to give a day-workshop on stress-management. It should be an awesome and extremely fitting seminar for us right now. I'm excited to hear what he has to say. He's supposed to be good.
So now you know that we're still alive and kicking. Thanks for supporting us and our work here in Germany. I hope and pray there will be a boost to our souls sometime soon. We could use a nice shot in the arm. But we're not hopeless, just a bit tired after a bust season.
Peace,
Mike
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