Thursday, May 29, 2008

Campaign update and "Retreat Report, Part I"

The word that best describes my life right now is the same as it was last week and the week before: busy.

Three mornings last week I met with the Harding students to talk about German culture and life in Bremen and then discussed the first studies (from Ecclesiastes) they will work through with people. Then on Friday and Saturday evenings we had "get-to-know-you" parties so that the people who had called about the English studies could meet the students and they could arrange appointments. On Friday 10 people came, and everyone seemed to have a good time. A few people came in saying they were nervous about speaking in English, but they all overcame their jitters and were able to talk with the students. On Saturday we had expected 7 or 8 to come, but only 2 showed up. We made the most of it, though, and still had a good evening.

On Monday I went through the beginning of the second series of studies (from John) with the students, and later that day the first studies took place. Aside from the very first appointment not showing up, as far as I know all of the other people have come and are doing well with the studies so far. The students also seem to be handling the varying English levels well.

Please continue to pray for the campaign. We're asking that God might open hearts and prepare the harvest. Right now we only have 15 people meeting with the students, which is a far smaller number than during past campaigns, but "quality" is more important than quantity, so perhaps these studies will prove to be more fruitful since the students will have more time to meet with each of the readers.

*****

Tomorrow morning Liesel, Sergej, and I leave for Chemnitz for the ETM regional meeting. Elsa took the train to Bern, Switzerland, yesterday for the regional meeting that will take place there. I have to say, I'm ready for ETM to be over, just because of all of the different things that have been going on lately. Between the ladies' retreat, the campaign, and finishing ETM, May has been packed full for me. All of these things have been wonderful; I know that ETM in particular has helped me grow in a number of ways and has given me the opportunity to get to know so many different people whom I'm looking forward to seeing again. But I'm simply in need of a break.

*****

And now for the part I'm sure you've all been itching to hear about....

Nine of us from Bremen took the train down to Neckarzimmern on May 12th (3 others went by car). The trip was going very smoothly until an announcement was made saying that we would arrive in Würzburg (where we were supposed to change trains) about 30 minutes late. A couple of weeks earlier a train tried to go through a tunnel at the same time as a herd of sheep. Apparently there was a big mess to clean up, including the derailed train. As it happened, we were supposed to go through this same tunnel but had to take a detour because of the on-going clean-up and reconstruction project. Hence the delay in getting to Würzburg.

The delay, though, caused us to miss our connecting train, giving us a 2-hour stay in Würzburg until we could catch the next one. We made the most of the time, though. As we wandered around in front of the train station, a kind man directed us to a nearby park , and we headed over there. We spent some time practicing the skits we were scheduled to perform that evening (I can only imagine what passersby thought of us!), and then I took the opportunity to go for a walk, camera in hand. After sitting in a train for about five hours, it was nice to move around, and I always like to explore new places.


This, oddly enough, is a giant sequoia. (No, I'm not a botanist. There was a sign nearby.) I've never seen one in the U.S., so it was especially weird to me to come across one in the middle of Germany.


This is the Würzburg Residence, a palace built in the 1700s which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like close to 90% of the rest of Würzburg, it was heavily damaged during a British air raid in March 1945 but has been restored.

I think I'll visit Würzburg again when I can have more time to see things. As it was I got a lecture from Rotraud about making her nervous that I wouldn't come back in time to catch the train. :) She was afraid I'd gotten lost and wouldn't be able to find the train station again.

We did make the next train connection and arrived safely in Neckarzimmern. Since we were in charge of planning the retreat, we had a number of things to do that first evening, but everything went smoothly. Elsa said she was surprisingly relaxed in comparison with other times she's helped plan retreats. Our skits the first evening humorously introduced the week's theme of "Your will be done" and were a big hit, as was the mixer we played to help everyone get to know each other.

One thing I noticed right away was how much more comfortable I felt this year than I did last year after first arriving. I think there are several reasons for that:

1) My German is better. Last year I could hardly understand the Swiss women, even when they spoke in High German; this time I rarely had problems. I think the fact that I spent the ETM Intensive Week listening to the accents of four different Swiss helped a lot. I also understood a lot more during the Bible classes and speeches than last year, and a number of people told me my German had improved.

2) I already knew many of the women. When we arrived last year, I only knew the four others from Bremen, a woman from Augsburg whose husband speaks in Bremen a couple times a year, and one or two women from Hamburg who'd been at a different retreat a couple of months before. Last year's retreat was even the first time I'd met Elsa's daughter, Karin. Because most of the women come year after year, this time I got to see again most of the ones I'd met last year. It's easier to feel at ease when you're not walking into a roomful of complete strangers.

3) I have more self-confidence. My German skills contribute to this, but in general I'm more confident than I was even a few months ago. I think ETM has helped. I've gotten to know myself more and accept who I am. I'm trying to apply my strengths and work on my weaknesses. When you're comfortable with yourself it's easier to be comfortable around other people.

Okay, that's enough for this installment of the Retreat Report. More to come after the weekend in Chemnitz....

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Busy, busy, busy....

This is going to be quick because I'm tired. :)

We had a great time last week at the ladies' retreat in Neckarzimmern. I believe there were 61 of us from all over Germany and Switzerland. Everyone seemed to really get into the theme for the week ("Your will be done"), and all of the speakers and Bible class teachers did an excellent job preparing for and presenting their individual topics.

Each morning we had a short devotional before breakfast, and I led the devo on Wednesday morning. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure if my stomach was going to be able to handle my nervousness, but I got through it. A number of people came up to me later and said I had done a great job and presented good thoughts on "God as Father." I was just glad it was over. I know, though, that it was good for me. It was a challenge that God helped me tackle and overcome. And I'm sure the next time (if there is one) will be a little bit easier.

I'll share more about the retreat along with some pictures HOPEFULLY by the end of the week.

The campaign group from Harding arrived in Bremen on Monday evening. So far they've been learning how to find their way around the city and use the public transportation system. They're also, of course, battling a bit of jet lag :), but I think that shouldn't last too much longer. This morning I met with them and shared some general information about German culture and life in Bremen. Tomorrow we'll meet again to discuss the get-to-know-you parties we'll have on Friday and Saturday with the people who have called about the English Bible studies, and I also hope to begin discussing the studies themselves, like how the meetings will work, what they'll study, etc. At the parties this weekend the students will be paired up with the "readers" and will make study appointments beginning next week.

Honestly, it's a bit strange for me to be involved with the campaign from this side. I was here in 2003 with a campaign group, but for the last 19 months (yes, as of yesterday it's been that long. Hard to believe.) I've been living here and working with the congregation, so I have to backtrack a bit and remember what it was like as a campaigner and during my first weeks after moving to Bremen. So far it's been an interesting experience.

Other than that, I'm also trying to get my ETM work finished. Friday next week Liesel, Sergej, and I will take the train to Chemnitz for the regional meeting where we'll discuss the assignments we've been working on since the Intensive Week ended in April. Each of us will also give a 20-minute presentation based on a chapter from the book "Ordering Your Private World" by Gordon MacDonald with each presentation followed by group discussion. I'm looking forward to seeing the other "ETMers" again, though the five from Switzerland and the one woman from Munich will meet in Bern, Switzerland. I saw two of the Swiss women last week at the retreat, and I hope to be able to visit the others sometime in the coming months.

I mentioned in my last post that I'm teaching the youngest Sunday school class this month, and this week I agreed to take over teaching the class on a regular basis. Katerina will teach in June and then I'll take over in July. Her baby is due in August, so hopefully this will give her some time to rest before having to care for a newborn.

So, as usual, there's lots going on. A part of me keeps thinking, if I can only get through May.... But as we all know, there's never really a time when life stops sending you things to do. After May is over I'm sure there will be other activities to occupy my time.

Please continue to pray for the people who will study with the campaigners that their hearts might be open.

Please pray for the students that they might have the words to answer questions that will surely come up and that they might be able to share the love of Christ with their readers.

Please pray for me that I might have the strength to finish the tasks I have to do right now. Life's usually not THIS busy, and I'm trying to get through this time but to enjoy it as well instead of wishing it were over.

Thanks for stopping by the ole blog again. May God be with you and bless you wherever you are and in whatever you are doing.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Continued busyness...and some news

So, I thought it was about time for me to let everyone know what I've been up to lately.

Once again, things have been busy.

A group of us is leaving tomorrow morning for the ladies' retreat in Neckarzimmern. I've mentioned before that the women in Bremen are in charge of planning this year's retreat, so we've been running around this week trying to get last minute details worked out and making sure we have everything we need to take with us. We're expecting 62 women from all over Germany and Switzerland. Last year's retreat was very good, and I'm hoping this year's will be as well. My German is better now than it was last year, so that should help. :)

We get back from the retreat on Friday, and then next Monday the campaign group from Harding arrives. Once again, we've been busy trying to get details settled and prepare the church building so they can stay there. Since we won't have much time after getting back from the retreat before they come, we're trying to get as many things done now as possible. We have 18 people so far who want to meet with the students for English Bible studies, and Rüdiger is being kind enough to take the phone calls while I'm gone this week. Please pray that God will work in the hearts of those who meet with the students, as well as those who are considering participating.

I've been meeting a couple times a week with a woman named Jessica ("yes-ih-kuh" in German) who called a couple weeks ago about the ad for English studies. She didn't seem too thrilled with the idea of reading in the Bible and was wanting to begin meeting with a native English speaker as soon as possible because she's begun teaching English here in town and wants to improve her speaking skills. So, I agreed to meet with her. I've helped her with correcting some papers her students have written and have just spent some time getting to know her. I'm hoping she'll also meet with the students as she's become rather curious about them, but even if she doesn't, I think it's good that I can meet with her.

This past Monday Elsa got back from the U.S. She seemed to have a really good trip. Her class at the Pepperdine Lectureships went well, and she was given Pepperdine's Distinguished Christian Service Award for her 35 years of mission work in Germany. Of course the award is a bit bittersweet since Jim would have received it alongside her and his name would have been on the plaque as well.

On May 1st the congregations in northern Germany got together for the annual "Erster Mai Treffen." Like last year, we met in Bergkirchen, a little village about 20 or so miles west of Hannover. There were about 50 people who came from congregations in Bremen, Kiel, Hamburg, Peine, Hildesheim, Braunschweig, and Berlin. Especially because the congregations are so far apart, May 1, when just about everyone is off of school or work, is a great time for everyone to get together for singing, Bible study, and fellowship. Several of the congregations are rather small (I know Braunschweig only has 9 members, and I believe Hamburg has about the same), so I think the time with other Christians is especially good for them.

We had beautiful weather that day, so a group of us went for a walk in the countryside.



I love this time of year when the fields turn that brilliant shade of gold with the blooming rapeseed. A picture can't capture the color well enough to do it justice.


This month I'm teaching the youngest Sunday school class like I did back in March. Katerina, the usual teacher, and I have been alternating months teaching, but I think I'm going to take over teaching the class later this summer. Katerina is expecting a baby in August, and she won't be able to teach the class and care for the baby at the same time, so she's looking for someone to take her place teaching on a regular basis. I enjoy the class (though admittedly it can be a bit stressful with the little kids), and I think teaching could be a good long-term "project" for me to help with in the congregation.

In other BIG news...I mentioned a while back that I was considering what direction my life should take in the coming months, and I've decided to extend my time in Bremen by a year. My sponsoring congregation in the States has agreed to continue sponsoring and supporting me until August 2009, so I'm working on making sure I'll have the remaining financial support that I need. My landlord has already said that I can stay in my apartment for as long as I want as long as I notify her a couple months before moving out (a common practice here), so that's one less thing to worry about. In the fall I'll have to renew my residency permit, which expires on December 1st, but I've heard it shouldn't be a problem to do that. Thank you for your prayers for wisdom in this decision-making process, and please pray that I will continue to have the funding that I need.

On a personal note, my uncle, Scott, had a massive heart attack yesterday and is in intensive care in Oklahoma City. The hospital called my grandparents and said they needed to come, so they flew out there yesterday from Ohio. Another uncle also arrived yesterday, and my dad's flying to Oklahoma today. From what my dad said, Scott's heart currently is functioning at 15-25% of its normal rate. PLEASE PRAY for Scott. He's only 45, and while things like this are difficult anyway, for my dad it's complicated by the fact that his brother is not a Christian.

Thank you all for continuing to check in on me and for praying for me and the work in Bremen. You're part of the "team." Those of us here in Bremen couldn't do what we're doing without your prayer and financial assistance. It may sound cliché at this point, but it remains true that mission work is a team effort. Some go, some send, and all pray. God uses all of us. Gott mit Euch.

And happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Especially mine. :) I love and miss you, Mom. Thanks for putting up with me for all these years! Wish I could be there with you today.