but in February we took the girls on a weekend trip to the east side of Germany to see Wittenberg.. The castle church is still there and even though much has changed, the city still has been deeply marked by the Reformation. We spent a few days as a family seeing the sights and hearing about the old days and adventures of "Marty" and his gang of rebels whole turned the course of world history by reading the Bible and making the Gospel known across the Empire. We also enjoyed just getting away from Kaiserslautern and spending time watching the Olympics.
Other than our time in Saxony-Anhalt, we have had some changes around at home. Recently, we were approached by acquaintances from another local church about helping some people more intensively. We have been in touch with a lot of refugees over the past years who have come to Germany for various reasons. One group of people who we regularly encounter is new Iranian converts to the Way. Because no one at our church can speak much Farsi, our capacity to help is limited. Then our Father gave us the opportunity to give religious asylum to a single woman for 10 days as well as two new couples who will be living in our house for some months. Since we began hosting these people we have been showered with blessings. One reason these people come to Germany is because they face torture and summary executions. This isn't something we're used to here in the west. So as a church we decided not to allow our brothers and sisters to be sent back to this fate. As an organization we can take them in until the designated time runs out making the German government responsible for them. Of course, this isn't a sure thing. Asylum is usually granted to Iranian Christians by the government here, but there were special treaties in Europe saying our new friends could have been sent to Italy where they entered the EU. Italy sends Iranians back. This was the only way. Please pray for us as we face a bit of a financial burden providing for extra mouths.
Recently we had the chance to use our vacation time to go to Holland. The springtime in the Netherlands is a mixed bag of rain and sunshine. We had both, but that gave us the opportunity to ride bike on the dikes, play in the sand dunes, see some seals (which the girls went ape for), and of course there was a pool. We had to swim! It was a good idea to go and relax. As we sat at the beach and threw rocks at an old decaying pylon pounded years ago into the salty brine, Roberta asked what the date was. "The 26th" I said. She verbalized what just came to my mind. It was the tenth anniversary of our arrival to Germany. So much has changed.
The trip to Holland was a a good idea to get away and get some family time before I (Mike) leave for three weeks to Moldova this weekend. The yearly trip to Moldova is a bit of routine for us now. It's always hard to leave Bird and the ladies for such a long time, but on the other hand I get to invest intensively in the young people in our discipleship program. After going there so many times (I think this makes it 7 or 8 times), I've begun to pick up bits and pieces of Romanian. They speak a dialect there and I don't understand it all, but things are getting easier to understand every time I come back. We just want to go there and be a blessing to the churches there that we visit and not a burden to put up with until we leave again. We have built some great relationships through the years. We're not the only ones making the effort to go for a visit, but our people over there have been here a few times too. Please pray for clear opportunities to share the Good News with the people of southern Moldova.
As I write and reflect on the past ten years I'm a bit awed by God's faithfulness. He has carried us through so much. I could make a list, but it would be far too weak and I would forget so many little things. He is a good good Father. Also, we can't forget to thank all of those back home who give so much to make it possible for us to be here. Some days are great, some aren't. Your generosity makes it possible for us to be on location to make disciples here in Europe. There are so many opportunities and we're seeing fruit come from it. Thank you. May Jesus bless you as you have blessed us. We long and pray for a new reformation in Germany to shake Europe and this country will have a new reputation among it's neighbors as a blessing instead of a curse. We're seeing amazing thing even ten years ago we never would have dreamed about.
His kingdom come, His will be done in Europe as it is in heaven.
peace,
Mike
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