Ich bin ein Berliner

We had the opportunity to go to Berlin a couple weeks ago. We spent about 3 days in and around the city. We were blessed to meet and to stay with new friends who are missionaries to college and university students in the city. They welcomed us, fed us, and we enjoyed wonderful encouraging conversations getting to know one another and recognizing the work of God in each other's lives.

In case you didn't realize, a Berliner is a jelly-donut but also a way to say you are a citizen of the city of Berlin. So we enjoyed a good little chat about that word while we were there. Nathaniel is always interested in puns and funny words. President Kennedy spoke the famous words "Ich bin ein [I am a] Berliner..." when he visited the city.

While in Berlin, we went for several hours to the Legoland in the newly built Potsdamerplatz. (Nathaniel thought he was in heaven!) We also saw the typical historic tourist sites: remains of the Berlin Wall, the Reichstag building with the grand glass dome, Gendamerplatz, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (this also has a new glass prism-like structure built around the bombed original church), the Brandenburg Gate, and the Rittersport Chocolate factory/museum. Berlin is a well-restored city. What hasn't been restored was torn down and replaced by lots of shiny glass modern architecture. It was uncommonly sunny during the days while we were there. It was hard to imagine that it was ever a cold, grey, communist, war-torn city, as it is so carefully and beautifully built up.

We certainly enjoyed our time in Berlin and the boys have been asking and pretending with various vehicles to drive back to Berlin again!

Full of Stories

Well, we've returned from our journey to South Africa. We are full of stories, pictures, prayers, and praises. We have new eyes for issues and concerns we've never had faces for. For example - we now know personally the children who are suffering from hunger and the women who cook soup for hundreds of these little ones on a daily basis. And now we've met and been blessed by many others who worship the same God - in their own passionate and lively way!

It was a difficult time for us to parent well and minister to other needy folks, too. Nathaniel was unhappy and upset about everything while we were there and it was difficult to help him with his overwhelming emotions. Honestly, I felt very ineffective and like a failure as I tried to do all things well. But I typically feel that way at home, too. God is working on us, and I do not enjoy His discipline, but trust that through God's workmanship Tom, my children's, and my heart will be changed and our reflection of His glory will be made more perfect through these trials and parenting challenges. We did learn a lot, see a lot, and experienced "real life missions with our kids" (which we've not done before).

South Africa is place of extremes - whites & blacks, wealth & poverty, mountains & plains, violence & peace, donkey-drawn-carts & BMWs, deserts & oceans, modern conveniences & earthen huts, huge elephants & tiny bee-eater birds. I hope you will see that in the pictures and be moved to prayer or to ask questions about how you may be involved, too. You know, a blog is meant to be interactive, so please comment!

By the way, the music in the photo show is titled "Two Weeks in Africa" by Caedmon's Call...check out the lyrics - how appropriate!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We're in Africa...

We are still far, far away in Africa. I just wanted to plead for your prayers that we will finish well. That Nathaniel will calm down and be less angry and behave better. That we will stay safe on the road. That our team will continue to seek unity. That the children and teens we will speak to this weekend at the youth events will see and know God as their salvation...

Missions & Our Prayer Request

Recently Tom and I have been convicted of our need to give more generously. We listened to this sermon series, for more vision and better understanding of God's words on generosity. We have been immensely blessed by other families who share their homes and meals with us, who encourage us, and so on. God has financially blessed us right now. I just don't where to begin. I don't if there is a "right amount" to give.

We are also wondering, praying, pondering, struggling with a calling to short term (long term?????) mission work. Tom has been asked to go on a trip to India next year and we both consider work in Africa to be of great interest. But when? Should we take the kids? Are they too little? Too vulnerable to illness? These are my mother-worries. Maybe you friends have pondered these things, too. Will you pray for us? For clarity? For the Words of God and the People of God to reveal His will to us? And if YOU are one of those people to whom God has given wisdom concerning financial things or experience with family missions - please share your wisdom with us.

I came across this interesting video on a friend's blog. I like the images, they stick with me and resonate with my experiences in Africa (everyone is indeed joyful). I have not yet decided where and to whom to give generously, but this is one idea.