Since I am experiencing jetlag, I probably shouldn’t being thinking too deeply or posting anything for the whole world to see but I am feeling contemplative in my sleep deprived stupor; so here goes! 

I am finding it interesting how much easier it is for us (nowadays) to switch back and forth between the US and Germany/Europe.  We truly live in two different worlds.  Our time in the US is easier in some ways because (for Catherine and me anyway) it is our true “home” culture that we identify with down to our subconscious core. And yet, in other ways Germany is now “home;” with all of our friends here and the “stuff” in our own house that makes us feel at home.

There was a day when an extended home assignment like this summer (nearly 2 1/2 months in the States) would cause me to be homesick and not want to return to the field.  But nowadays (as I said to our children as we were preparing to leave Grandma and Grandpa’s house to head to the airport) leaving the States causes us to be excited and disappointed; happy and sad; hopeful and wary; homesick and sick for home…  All very conflicting emotions.

And yet, when all is said and done (I’m almost done), we wouldn’t trade this life that God has called us to for anything else.  He doesn’t take away all of the stress, disappointment and sadness, but He is with us!  Praise the Lord!

The words of that popular song have never meant as much to me as they did on a beautiful Sunday back in April. Five Ukrainians, two American church planters and Catherine and I sat around a small table in a backyard in Donetsk, Ukraine and sang those words in Russian and English.

The heart of that church planting leadership team really touched me. Their desire to see their small group of seven become a church is truly reflected in the words of that song. They want to shine the light of Christ in their city.

Worshipping together, face to face, with these dear people stirred an even deeper desire in our hearts to help them build their church building.

Coordinating short-term teams to help them build their church is really just a small contribution to the cause (they are the ones doing the hard work) but we are blessed, nevertheless, to be able to play even a small role in Jesus’ plan for His church.

Please continue to pray for this church plant and the teams that will travel to Ukraine this fall to help them build their building. It will not be easy or cheap; but it will be worth it.

“Shine, Jesus, Shine!”

For more information please check out the opportunity brochure at www.goshortterm.com/2009brochure.pdf or contact us using the contact tab at the top of our website.

Please pray for God to raise up the four 6-8 person teams we need for this summer.

So we waited.  Then, at just the right time, God provided another van that perfectly suited our needs.  The amazing thing is that although the van we finally purchased was the same price in Euros (because of the decline of the Euro in value from July to October) we actually paid $1,600 US dollars less than we would have paid in the summer!  What a difference the exchange rate can make.

The day after we took possession of the van in November we needed it!  We drove the van hundreds of miles the first week; helping out with a regional leadership conference our mission had in our area.

We will be using the van in the future for a variety of ministry purposes.  The van will also be used by short-term and mid-term missionaries serving with our mission in the area who might not otherwise be able to afford to buy a vehicle or a van.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts for this project!