“Home” Sweet “Home”
We have made it home to Germany safely! Thanks for your prayers.
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!
Our Ukraine Trip
“Shine Jesus Shine. Fill this land with the Father’s glory. Blaze Spirit blaze. Set our hearts on fire. Flow river flow. Flood the nations with grace and mercy. Send forth your Word. Lord, and let there be light.” Graham Kendrick
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!”
Quick Prayer Requests
- David is in the US right now to attend the National Short-Term Missions Conference with a short-term team leader from a supporting church. Please PRAY that God would use this conference to help us more effectively coordinate short-term ministries.
- Catherine and the girls returned to Germany last week and they are missing David and having a hard time getting readjusted to Germany. Please PRAY and ask God to allow Catherine to sleep through the night. She is leading worship at our church on Sunday and needs the rest to be in top form.
- David is working on an exciting short-term team opportunity for this summer (helping a church plant in Eastern Europe to build a new building). Please PRAY for the details to come together and for God to prepare the hearts of people to go and to give to this project.
- Your prayers sustain us. Thank You!