This update has been very frustrating. I typed it yesterday and when I tried to publish it, the internet connection was interrupted and everything was lost. I clenched my teeth and started typing again. This time I only typed about one third of it and then tried to save it. Again, the connection was interrupted and everything was lost. I was not happy to say the least. So, here I am today to try again.
A couple weeks ago, I worked in Postovice, Czech, at the Teen Challenge center with a team from Crestview, Florida. It was great to be back in Czech and work with Teen Challenge once again. Teen Challenge is such a great ministry. It is always great to hear the testimonies of miracles and changed lives from the students there. This time, we even got to hear testimonies from some of the TC staff. It was amazing. We heard them tell of alcohol and heroin addiction, black market activity, robbery, prison terms, and hospital psychiatric wards. Then, by the grace of God, they found their way to Czech Teen Challenge. To know these guys now, and to hear these stories, it just doesn't seem possible that they are the same people. Well, they are the same people, but they are not the same! They have been saved and set free by the power of Jesus. And now they have given their lives to helping others with the same problems they used to have. Praise the Lord! That's why I am excited to be able to help them finish their much-needed facilities, so more people can go through this program and have an life-changing encounter with Jesus.
We had a very physically difficult task to do. We had many rooms that needed to be backfilled with stone to prepare for pouring the concrete floor. So, it was four days of building ramps and moving stone, one wheel barrow at a time. It was hard work but everyone did it with a smile. Some of the women also did some mortar work on a stone wall that surrounds the compound. God blessed us with wonderful weather and I think everyone had a great time.
We have had some frustrating things happening lately, the biggest of which concerned our visas. To make a long story short, we came through the border and a border control officer took a ballpoint pen and scribbled on the hologram on our visas, effectively canceling them. We don't know why. No one has been able to give us any reason or explanation. We didn't have enough empty pages in our passports to get new visas put in (they will do it for free), and I had to go to the Czech Republic to work with the Crestview team. I wasn't sure how that would work. But, thanks to your prayers, it went fine with no problems. After I got back from Czech, we had to make a trip to Berlin to the US consulate. They were able to add pages to our passports with no trouble. That was a good thing. Now, we have to go back to the visa office here in Dresden to get the new visas. What a hassle. Thanks to those of you who were praying for us about this situation. It could have been a big problem, but we know God intervened and gave us favor.
The kids are doing well in school so far this year. Nathan is in third grade in the German public school. At a parent-teacher meeting the other night, Lenee' told his teacher we were going back to the States next summer. She grabbed him and said he couldn't go. It's good to know that she likes him. Aaron started first grade in the German school. He really likes it. He is doing very well with his German. Matthew is still in kindergarten three days per week. All of a sudden, he has started speaking German a lot at home. H says German words and sentences, and sometimes combines German and English words. It is really funny. He seems to like his kindergarten better this year, probably because he can communicate more. Madelyn is doing well. She is all over the place, jabbering all the time. You can tell she understands some things we say to her in English, as well as some things people say to her in German.
Thanks to all of you for your prayer and financial support. You guys are awesome. We appreciate your generosity and heart for missions. Thanks for making a difference in Central Europe.
Please pray for us as the next couple months will be very busy. I will be busy from Oct. 19-Nov. 20 with three back-to-back teams. Please pray that things go well with the teams and that we will be a blessing to the nationals. Lenee' and the kids go to the US on Oct. 19-30 for a visit. Please pray for them to have safe travel and a nice time back home.
God bless!
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