Well, I've missed my goal of weekly updates. I guess, though, that two and a half weeks is better than eight. We're making progress.
Today would have been Jim's 66th birthday. Even though it's not his first birthday since his death, my mood has been rather pensive today, and I know I'm not the only one who would say that. It's still hard to believe he's been gone for over a year. Please pray for Elsa, Diana, and Karin today.
Juergen's baptism two Sundays ago was an amazing experience. I have never met anyone else so convinced and sure in their faith at the time of their baptism as Juergen. Mark and Karen came into town for the day (Did I ever mention that they moved to Chemnitz at the end of August???), and Mark was the one who baptized him. When Mark asked Juergen if he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins and rose again, Juergen responded (my translation), "I am completely convinced of it." After the baptism, Juergen said a few words, acknowledging his new faith and how he came to this point, as well as thanking a number of people who God had used to guide and help him along the way. Most touching were his words to Simone, his wife, thanking her for the spiritual example she has set for him. Please pray for Juergen as he begins his life with the Lord and that he might stand strong against Satan's attacks.
The last weekend of October we had a gospel meeting with Josef Achatz of Augsburg. We had a number of guests, including a few who came to both sessions and then also to church on Sunday. Then last Saturday, Glenn Jones from Kiel came to town and conducted a seminar on the Holy Spirit. That seems to be one of those topics that we just generally avoid talking too much about, probably because there's so much about it that we don't seem to be able to wrap our human minds around. Glenn provided us with five pages of excellent notes and very helpful Scripture references, though it was a bit much to absorb in one day. A number of us walked away at the end of the day planning to study the subject further at home. I am very thankful that Glenn and his wife Angelika took the time and effort to come. It was good to see them again.
Elsa and I recently reexamined the work that I'm doing, as well as my weekly schedule. As I started thinking about the different things I've done over the past months, I realized that I've essentially been in response mode since Jim died. For the most part, I've reacted to whatever situation has come up and done what I could to help. I've been helping Elsa clean out and organize things at home. I helped with preparations for the campaign and then worked with the campaigners while they were here. After the campaign Elsa and I began meeting with those who wanted to continue studying and finding ways to maintain contact with those who didn't. The new goal is for me to be proactive in planning my activities. I've scaled back on meeting with several people, and we're making finishing the organization of Jim's library a priority. I'm working on the library from 9 to ca. 12 (or sometimes 1:30 or 2...) Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, and Mondays Elsa and I are taking a few hours to "weed" falling-apart, outdated, or just plain unneeded books from the collection. In the past two weeks we've gotten rid of over 230 books. It's great that books can be put on the curb with other paper to be picked up for recycling.
Elsa has also given me the task of at least once a week either visiting someone or inviting someone to visit me. These visits are not supposed to be the same as regular Bible studies that we've already scheduled but instead chances to just talk and get to know each other better. I have no problem visiting other people; asking people to visit me, though, is more difficult. Part of it has to do with my lingering perfectionism (which I've come a long way in battling) that says my apartment needs to be spotless before someone can come to visit me. Another thing is just my issue of needing to protect my personal space and feeling that that space is invaded if someone comes into my home. Don't get me wrong, a number of people have been to my apartment for Bible studies; Stefanie has come over a couple times to watch movies; and Mark and Karen were here several times while they lived in Bremen. It's just that each time someone comes I get stressed out, though it gets easier the more often a particular person comes. I think it may also have something to do with living alone. Who knows. Anyway, I'm working on it. :) I realized that Elsa had not even been to my apartment since right after I moved in (while her house is basically my second home; I don't even knock when I arrive but just use my key to go in). So, I invited her over for lunch recently as my first "guest" since starting this new "visit project." We had lots of good conversation and she even survived my cooking! Success. So, I'm in the process of making other appointments for people to come over.
We still have two men coming to our weekly English Bible studies. We've switched from studying John to reading Mark because John's Gospel was becoming too theological. Jim had no trouble explaining complicated theological issues, and let's just say that Elsa and I are not Jim. So, we've switched approaches to something that better fits our teaching and discussion styles. Kai and Rainer still seem to be very interested in what we're reading and are starting to compare and contrast what we're reading with what the state church teaches and what German society tends to think and believe. It's made for some wonderful discussions. Please pray for their continued interest in the Word and for their hearts to be opened to what they're reading.
My residency permit expires on December 1st, and I have an appointment at the Foreigners' Office on the 3rd to renew it. PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS GOES SMOOTHLY. Elsa doesn't expect there to be any problems, but it's hard for me to be so confident when dealing with bureaucracy. I'm trying to leave it in God's hands. I prayed extensively about my decision to stay for another year, and I'm certain it is God's will for me to still be here. If that's true, then the renewal should be approved because I can't legally stay without it. I guess I could always just take a trip to Switzerland for a few days and then come back to Bremen as a "tourist" for 3 months and start the process over again. :)
Please also be praying for me to have wisdom in making a few decisions before my appointment to renew my permit. I need to be able to tell them what I plan to do here in Bremen, and my role here has changed a lot since I first came and since Jim died. I really don't want to say anything more about it right now because I'm still figuring things out, but please pray for me to make wise decisions.
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers! Please keep them coming and let me know if there's anything specific I can pray about for you. I hope you're staying warm wherever you are (we may get some snow here tomorrow night!) and that you're not dealing with the colds, bronchitis, and stomach bugs that have been going around here. So far this autumn I have battled some sinus issues, which is normal for me, but have otherwise remained thankfully healthy. God bless you, and enjoy the rest of your week!
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