Good and Bad

In the last weeks, there was, as with most things, good and bad.

Good was the church family retreat with 27 adults and 23 children, many of whom were taking first steps to learn more about faith. Several non-believers attended with their spouses and most remained for the services and prayer times. One made the comment, "my experience and notion of church, sermons and worship had nothing practical to do with life. But what you preach, the Bible, loving your neighbor you live out authentically. That is something new for us (he and his wife)." Another said that he felt God was trying to reach him and he needed to listen. Click on this picture and go to the Stoddard's web site. Then click on "Gemeindefreizeit" and see the pictures from our weekend at the beach on the Baltic Sea, 3 hours north of Berlin.


Good this past week of children's conference was sitting at the team meetings in the evening with 22 other leaders to discuss and pray for the next day's events during the Children's conference. As I looked around the table and counted faces, I saw that 16 of the young people there had grown up in our ministry programs and I had had the privilege of seeing many of them come to Christ and then grow in their faith. Bad was being very aware that I was the "grandmother" of the group, with my creaky knees and back! I tried to explain the idea of a "backhanded compliment" to one of my German friends. She didn't quite seem to understand why I thought it may not have been such a great compliment when one of the women (43) said, "Oh, we're so glad someone old like you is along!"


Good was the amazing performance of the young leaders who were creative, committed and caring as they planned, prepared and staffed the children's conference. Bad was getting there and finding out I was expected to lead the evening programs for the youngest group. Surprise!

One of the workshops they led produced a wonderful blacklight performance of "Who Am I?"

Good was the incredible beauty of the country through which I traveled to the Baltic Sea with the church family retreat, then to the Black Forest with the children's conference.

Good was getting back home to my own bed after a church family weekend, back to back with the children's conference. Bad was bringing home the stomach virus and sinus headache that kept me in bed for a couple of days.

Good was realizing the good Bible study I was able to have with one of my women friends. Bad was realizing that I hadn't kept the journal I had committed to trying to develop the spiritual discipline I desired.

Good was seeing the progress being made on gutting the space we have rented for our future church. Bad… was not there to be seen.


Good is learning fun, active, new children's songs. Bad is hearing a part of them over and over in your head long after the music stops… and you can't get the right word.

Good was meeting with my girl's club, baking muffins, reading a Bible story and making photo albums. Bad was that one child's grandmother is dying. Good was being able to talk about the sorrow that God helps us with when someone we love dies and that God has made a way to see them again in heaven.


Good is God is good!

Tis the Season!

What a wonderful time this Christmas in Berlin was! Full of celebrations of all kinds but mostly of relationships, old and new. I really enjoyed our combined Christmas Eve service with another local church where i got to share the Christmas story with the children. Afterwards I went to the home of our partner church's pastor, where I shared their Christmas eve dinner and family time. We opened gifts, sang carols and hymns, read Christmas stories to one another and then finished after midnight with baked apples and prayer. I loved being with this family who have come to mean so much to me. Especially with Friedemann, now 26, freshly graduated from seminary and getting married on the 4th and 12th of January. That's right! here you get married at the state office, then for believer's there is a church wedding, too. I will be there to celebrate both. Friedemann and I met when he was sixteen and he has been one of my dearest friends and co-workers in Luke's church. Christmas morning was breakfast with the Stoddards, then a family day together. The second day of Christmas I spent with the Matlacks, (our team leader) and his sister's family. Tammie pulled out pictures of the first Christmas I spent in Berlin, and it was with them as well. Two days later I celebrated Hanne's 44th birthday at the cafe in the church we planted in Friedrichshain where it all began, again until 2 AM. Then came Silvester (New Year's Eve). The Stoddards and Ben, a colleague, came to dinner, then later a new friend from the church plant. Two year old Emma loved the snacks best and took a handful home for later. At 11 PM we walked to Elizabeth's apartment under the roof top, six floors up. We climbed a ladder to the flat roof and watched fireworks explode around us in the air until well after midnight. Here fireworks are legal and there are incredible displays. From the rooftop we had a 360º view of Berlin. I lasted up there for about an hour but was glad to get warm again inside. We shot off the last of the fireworks at 2:30 AM and I walked the mile or so home in the cold smokey air. Firework debris lay everywhere and I thought of the street cleaners who would clear it all away over the next few hours. I woke New Year's Day to a beautiful fall of fat snowflakes and magical landscape of white lace and comforters lain over the previous night's debris. I went for a walk in the local "citizen's park" where dozens of families were creating snowmen, pushing baby carriages, pulling sleds and enjoying the day. I took some pictures and then went home singing praises to the Lord. What a joy it is to have the friends I have found here and to see how God has so enriched my life through them in the last ten years. I wish I could be a twin and be in both places, Berlin and home. I would love to have both my worlds and families next door to each other; to hug you all and share the hours. I send you these pictures, with lots of love and prayers of thanksgiving and blessing for you in the new year.

Vision for the church

HOW MUCH VISION DO YOU NEED TO PLANT A CHURCH?

We are loking for space for our growing "baby" church. We need a good location with walk-by traffic. We need as a minimum: space for worship for 45, two classrooms for children, an entrance area, a small useable kitchen, and toilets. It must have a place to park baby wagons and bicycles. It needs to have a courtyard or access to a park for the children to play. It needs to be accessible by public transportation and private autos without being drowned out by street noise. It must be a ground floor and have neighbors who will tolerate our noise. It needs to have windows that let in light and air (there's no air-conditioning). It must be affordable. 

We think we have found something. We are meeting with the realtor on Friday. Here are a few interior pictures. Incredible? Inspiring? Previously a restaurant on a very busy corner, it has been closed for four years, but has possibilities. We are excited. 

What do you think? Can you see it? Do you have vision for us? Do you see Sunday worship services? A kid's club? English classes? Bible studies? Film evenings? Women's breakfasts? Alpha courses? If this is it or not it, we need your prayers for clear vision, favor with the realtors and neighbors, a good contract, and a united spirit! 

Downtown Pankow at sunset

December 23,

I got on a tram tonight to go to our worship service and it was crowded with about 50 or more people. We were driving through the center of town and all the Christmas decorations were shining. Most people were out doing some Christmas shopping. The stores were open though that is not usually true on Sunday. I looked back at them all and thought that the chances were rather high that I was the only believer on the train. I was reminded again yesterday of how thankful I am that I know Jesus.

December 22, 

I was invited to an evening of coffee and cake with my godson and his family. He is a miracle of health and fun at almost 6. His mother was very ill during her pregnancy, spending part of it in the hospital. We spent a lot of time praying and talking. She was one of the first children's workers with whom I worked.

I was late as usual, but I was trying to get our church newsletter printed out at a copy shop before they all closed. There was a long line of people and so I was going to be an hour later than they expected me. Then I had to get back to the right bus, tram, then train and then walk. Not too easy to get there because they live on a peninsula in the middle of the river in East Berlin. I decided to pay the $20 for a taxi and went outside and threw my hand up in the air. I frantically waved at the only taxi in sight and it went on by. I was praying, "Dear Jesus, get me there soon!" And this total stranger pulled over. It was a very nice looking woman, about 50, German. She rolled down the window and asked me with a smile, "Where do you want to go?" I was totally shocked! Nobody does this in Berlin. I told her the next train station, and she said get in, and began throwing packages and papers in the back seat. I got in. I know, I can't believe it either, but I was in shock. She had to be an angel! She introduced herself, said she was a lawyer from Munich 9 hours away, and in Berlin to visit family. She had spent too many hours standing on street corners hoping a taxi would stop. When she saw me, seconds after I came out of the store, she just had to stop. I told her why I was in a rush, that I had to copy our paper for church the next day and then get to my godson's. She began to tell me about her numerous visits and stays in the US and how much she liked Americans and that she had had a good experience with Samaritan's Purse. She had organized a group of people from her firm to go to Louisiana to rebuild houses after Katrina. I was able to tell her I had acted as a volunteer with them over 30 years ago. Meanwhile her navigation system kept telling her she was past her turn, she had to turn around, etc. She just reached over and turned it off. Then she drove me all the way to the house door! It was a 20 minute drive instead of an hour. She drove totally out of her way to a dead end destination that couldn't have helped her at all! We exchanged email address and I look forward to hearing from her! Amazing! God sent me an angel. Just that morning I was feeling somewhat discouraged with everything that has been going wrong around me. I was talking to God and just said, "It would be really nice if you could just show me that you really are there and know what's going on." (I know, not too trusting.) So this is what He does: he sends me an angel in a car. I had a great visit with M. and his parents. They  talked again about what it was like growing up in Communist Berlin and the emptiness of all the answers they were given for the reason why we are here (to work for the good of the state, or worldwide communism) and what happens when we die. (there is nothing).God is so good to me. I am so thankful for you all and for Him. May God send you all angels through the year. But more than that, know  that He sends you Himself!

Well I did it again.... I was praying at team time today and asked God to give us a unit of spirity. 

Sounds almost theological doesn't it?

Here are some more  fotos: Can you put the right one with the right caption?

 

My birthday party with German friends in my new apartment. We had a great time of fellowship and fun catching up with all that has happened in the last fourteen months. They brought me what I asked for my birthday... each brought me a bag of potting soil... I planted a few dozen spring bulbs in boxes for my balcony. (They all know I am a bit 'different'). 

This is a picture from our fellowship time following the dedication of Heike and Henry's youngest child, Ari. 

Doro and I do the children's Sunday school together. She reads a Bible story and the children and very attentive. Except maybe Emma... can you find her? She is in a phase where she automatically says "no" or does the opposite. When we were out to dinner one evening I asked her mother how the children were doing. "They're all (five) doing well. Emma's having a little problem with the soviets..." "The Soviets!!!???" "Yes, the soviets." "The Soviets? How can a two year old have trouble with the Soviets?" "No Judi, not soviets; she's having trouble with disobedience."  Well, I guess my hearing is going, too. (or my mind. :))

We had a good time celebrating Thanksgiving at David and Eowyn's home. They invited about 25 English speaking Germans and Americans to participate in  the dinner and time of fellowship afterwards. David read the Thanksgiving story.