Family Visa Update

Well as Anne said 'We got a definite MAYBE' That's funny...ha...ha! Well the truth is that we were a bit bummed out that we didn't get our visas even though we gave the 'Dusseldorf Auslaenderbehoerde' (the local Foreign Ministry) all they asked us for. You see they don't like the whole 'living by faith' thing. We didn't tell them that but when they see that we are living by donations from the U.S. along with some regular support from CC Herborn they get a little bit scared. They are used to people with regular incomes that allow the state to figure out if those applying for visas are able to support themselves and not end up on welfare.


They don't know how to handle our situation. They asked us how we have been able to live in Germany all this time and we pointed to the papers we gave them. We have been wonderfully supported by the saints both in Herborn and the U.S. which have allowed us to minister here. They still didn't know what to think. They have no clue what 'Calvary Chapel' is, they have a hard enough time pronouncing it! ;0) Anyways, they ended up giving us a paper that they want the churches that support us or anyone in Germany or America for that matter to sign. It basically says that the person or organization signing will support us in case we don't have enough money to support ourselves and if it comes to that point that they will pay for us to be flown home to sunny California. They just don't want us at their doorstep with our hand out.



Yeah, it is a little humbling to be thought of in that light but that is how it goes in these financially difficult times I guess. We also know that there is a spiritual battle taking place within the governments offices. You just don't move into a city that has nearly 600,000 people, which the majority need Jesus just as much as you or I, and start launching preemptive strikes on the enemies territory and think that you will not encounter some opposition. We had an outreach in Dec of 2007 with CC Mansfield, Ohio during the Christmas Markt, we had an outreach with CC Herborn in May 2008 with drama and open air preaching at the Main Train Station, CC Siegen sent a team of youth up for a week this summer passing thousands of flyers, Gospel tracts and doing one to one evangelism, and just a month ago CC Chino Hills sent a team to hit the streets day and night bringing the Good News to D'dorf!
It was right on the heels of all of this that we we begin to experience our difficulties in getting our visas. Should have seen it coming. So now we have three months to get these papers signed, pray, fast and see the glory of God in our situation. Joshua 1:9 'Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'
CC Mansfield and CC D'dorf Women's Christmas Tea Outreach
CC Herborn practicing dramas to take to the streets
CC Chino Hills stamping Gospel Tracts for Street Evangelism

Our group of around 30 CC Chino Hills and CC Herborn

CC Siegen Youth send out teams to neighborhoods inviting them to church services.

Church Building Update

First of all a big 'Danke' to all family and friends who joined in prayer for these two important meetings! We cannot go a day without your prayers. We have really seen that 'our battle is not against flesh and blood' (Eph. 6) These two situations have been coming together for months now. We have known that the year contract for our church building was coming to an end and had hoped to be at a place to support our rent from the giving of the fellowship. We are still a bit too small to maintain the rent at this point but have seen how the Lord is supplying favor from our renters to allow us to be in it four months longer than we had planned. This has really brought us to a deeper dependence on God 'giving us this day our daily bread' for the church building.

We called the saints to pray with us as we set up a meeting with our renters to ask for lower rent. yikes! We had a good talk with them and they sincerely wanted to but were unable to do it due to their own financial position. They were very encouraging and hoped the best for us. We ask you to pray for Mr and Mrs. Schem, they are a nice couple, she is Brazilian and goes to a Mormon church in the area and he is an older German man who is battling cancer. Pray for their salvation and for our church to be a blessing to them and all those who live in the building.

So our current situation is that we can stay till the end of January 09' but will meet again in December to talk over the possibility to sign a new contract. Pray that God would make a way for us to stay in our place. We really like it. It fits our needs, has parking, is easy to find, is close to the Autobahn exit, and not so far from the University. Even though we are hoping to rent it for a lower price, we actually have a good price for what we have. We have looked at other buildings and have not found any cheaper. God knows! We will trust! Prov. 3:5-6 & Phil. 4:6-7

Karis First Day of School

Here are some photos of Karis on her first day of school. The big 'schultute' pronounced 'shooltoota' in English

The schule tute for the first day of school is a German tradition. It is only for first graders, parents can fill the tute with school supplies, special gifts and of course, candy. It really made her first day special.

Our Family

Here are just a few pics our our little family. We are so blessed to have 3 wonderful children to share in the ministry. They prove to be a joy and often tool in the Lord's hand to make us laugh, to remind us of what is important, to have faith, to help us get down to basic theology over and over again "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so". Here are a few pics of us and them.

Karis is 7 and is an official 'schulkind' now in the 1st grade here. She is attending a German public (Catholic) school and loving life.

Kaleb is 4 and attends a pubilc (Evangelical) kindergarten. He has a great personality, loves to laugh and joke around, and ride his 'hot wheels' bike.

Ezekiel, a.k.a Zeeky-dude, is at home enjoying all the attention till 1 pm when big sis and bro comes home. After 1 he becomes the little brother who can either make his siblings laugh, cry or want to lock him out of their rooms. Hey what are little brothers for? :0)

Chino Hills Outreach 2008

Wow! What a blessing to have some fired up Jr highers and a couple of equally fired up Senior Senior highers with us this summer! Missions pastor, Jeff Kerns brought a team of of mostly young people to hit the streets of Dusseldorf with the Good News of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ.

We had tons of fun and adventure getting back and forth to the downtown and main train station using many different modes of transportation. We used trains, buses, trolley cars, and the subway throughout the 10 days they were here.

What was amazing and equally a blessing to me was how eager everyone was to share the Gospel, even when at times they had no translator. God truly gave them the umph that was needed through the Holy Spirit to just walk up to people and say "Hi, we're from California, do you speak English?" And to even my surprise I heard them speaking to so many people that not only could but wanted to speak with them.

Even though we didn't see many people respond to our invites to the church services, the joy of the trip was in simply obeying the clear command of our Savior to 'Go and preach the Gospel to all nations', and who knows what fruit is still yet to come?! Many, many people heard the Gospel, thousands of fliers were passed out, hundreds upon hundreds of Gospel tracts were given, many a prayer was offered, the Love of our God and the Truth in Jesus was dispensed in the streets of Dusseldorf. To God be the glory great things He has done!

Thank you Lord and thank you all at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills for your love and Support! Shout out to C.C. Herborn for sending up so many translators on Saturday and for all your prayers, love and support. We are truly blessed to have both churches sending the love to us here in D'dorf! God bless you!

Our First Entry

Duesseldorf is closely coming to look again like this, with leavless trees and most people wearing coats, winter is fast approaching. We have been living here now for 1 1/2 year now and have come to really enjoy living in the city. This is definitely something God has changed my heart on (Edmund). We started a bible study with just around 8 people which, in response to the request of some attending, we started praying about meeting on Sunday evenings. Well, things didn't work out for a meeting place and we ended up in our apartments on Sunday mornings. We had a blessed time meeting in our homes but it was alot of work and we knew we needed more room for our kids and a place to invite others.

Soon we found a place to meet in the South part of Duesseldorf that has worked perfectly for us now for one year. We have been able to hold our Sunday and Thurdsday Bible studies there, host outreach teams, have a bi-weekly women's prayer meeting, a Women's Christmas Coffee,and hold a Bible Prophecy Weekend Seminar.

Now we are at a point of having almost all new people, some have moved away, some have moved on, some are still around. This is the season of planting, watering and waiting. It is also a time of personal challenges and growth. Anne and I are so thankful for these times, times to draw near to one another, to draw near to the dear brothers and sisters here, and above all, time to draw near to our ever loving and faithful God. John 16:33 We share in the victory of our Lord Jesus, we hope you can rejoice in knowing it too. God bless

*I am learning how to do this blog stuff so bear with me, I hope it gets better :0)