Coronel Family Dusseldorf

Sankt Martin

2009-11-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Or in English, Saint Martin. He was a soldier hundreds of years ago, that became a Bishop, and one day while riding his horse through the woods in the snow, a poor man with only a sack to wear came to him and asked him for food. Saint Martin, not only shared his bread with him, but also his cloak. Many hundreds of years later in Germany, schools and kindergartens remember him and his good deed.

This does not result in a day off (I know, shocking), but it does consist of some fun festivities, and a good lesson in sharing for the kids.

Sank Martin can be seen in different places in the city through the week, as he makes appearances at the schools and kindergartens, he came to our kids school and kindergarten yesterday.

The funnest part of the evening though, is the Lantern parade (Lanterne zug). The kids make lanterns with their classes and on the evening after Sankt Martin comes to the school, everyone in the neighborhood meets at the park with their lanterns hung on electric light sticks and we walk through the streets singing and following Sankt Martin on his horse. We end up, after a couple kilometers, back at the park where there is a reenactment of the good deed and then the kids all run into the middle of the field to get an apple.

But that is just the beginning, from there we go to the stores, where if you sing a Sank Martin song for them, you get some candy. We could also go door to door, but Karis isn't convinced that we really know what the people do, therefore we should not do it.

This is what we love; this holiday follows right on the heels of Halloween (which isn't celebrated here very much, no love lost by us), but the meaning behind going to ask for candy is that the people are sharing with you the same way Sankt Martin gave to the poor man. We have then added the question for our kids, 'Why did Sankt Martin share?' (Hint: the answer is because God loves the poor, the orphan and the widow and calls us who love Him, as we assume Sank Martin did, to also give to them!)

Its such a great alternative for us to Halloween.

God Bless, and when He does, remember to give it away! Let your light shine!

Summer Fun

2009-08-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

(I will add pics to this post in a couple days, I wrote it on the wrong computer, we have no pics on this one.)

*OK, these pics took a couple months, sorry.

Consistancy in correspondance has not always been our strong point, however, we´re getting better.

So, this being the end of the summer and our last post being the beginning of summer, I´ll try to summerize.

The summer started pretty typical for Germany, rainy. This is excellent for the flower boxes on our balcony, but not so fun for the three kids that have no school or kindergarten and Mommy who is sometimes creatively challenged when it comes to rainy sumer days with all the kids at home and the sun doesn´t go down till 11pm. However, we did survive the first week, to the glory of God, and made it to our reward:

We had a week of vacation at Schloss Heroldeck in the Austrian Alps alongside Milstatter See.

Yes, I said a week by a lake in the Alps. The sun came out just in time to greet us in Austria, and it also decided to stay in Millstatt for the week. This was actually the family retreat for CC Herborn. We try to go every year because they always have a great kids program and the cost is great for a family vacation. Edmund and I also get to minister together by helping with the worship, as well as sitting next to eachother in a teaching time, which doesn´t happen every moon cycle. We have a couple other favorite stops every year, the tallest waterfall in Austria (I cannot remeber the name) and My cousin Jack´s beautiful family. We usually only get a couple days with the Lauritsen´s, but it is just as much of a highlight as our week in Austria. Hope to see you guys at Thanksgiving!

After a week at home, we hosted an outreach team from CC Downey. This was a lot of work, but the kind that you like doing! As the team said, `We walked a lot´but it felt so good going to bed each night knowing the day was full of stuff that had weight. Treasures that will not pass away.

The team helped us do a skate outreach in the city for the second year in a row, as well as a kids outreach in the neighborhood near the church for the second year.

Some of the kids in both places remembered us and were excited to see us doing something again. There was a Grandma from one of the skaters that was really touched to see us doing something for these kids and kept asking questions about who we were whay we were doing this. It was good to share with her that we knew that Jesus loves these kids and has a plan for their lives and we are here to show them that He loves them.

One thing that is clear here is that people are scared of cults. I don´t know how many times I heard or heard a team member asked if we were JW´s or Scientologists. Please pray with us that the truth of the Gospel and God´s word would prevail in Dusseldorf.

However, Edmund and I agreed that the ground seemed softer on this outreach. Many more people asking questions and willing to talk. People are searching in these times, please pray to the Lord of the harvest for laborers. We also pray that if the Lord would grant a Harvest to Dusseldorf, or Germany for that manner, that we would be here to see it.

The kids are back in school now, even Ezekiel has started Kindergarten. His summary of his days, Ì cried´. But we know that he secretly likes it because every time I pick him up, he is playing and doesn´t even know I am there.

Karis is in second, Kaleb is in his pre-school year. Times-a-runnin, which makes me think, to what are my days devoted. These thoughts bring me back to Romans: And do this, knowing the time,that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.(13:11) I think I just want to keep laying my head down at night knowing that the day had some weight to it.

May 1

2009-05-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Every May 1st is a holiday.

Before you ask, yes we know, Germany has A Lot of holidays. In some states, people get to stay home from school and work for Mary´s ascension, this is a day we never knew existed, or that anyone celebrated it.

However, May 1st has been a traditonal holiday in other places, including the US ( anyone remember learning about children dancing around the May pole). What is celebrated though, we can´t tell you, only that people go to the forest or somewhere out of the cities to grill and relax.

Calvary Chapel Dusseldorf spent their May 1st together grilling in the garden of the Mendes Reis family. Marcelo and Sylvane have been a part of the church since we started 2 years ago, and they own a garden outside of the city where we all met for food and fun.

Marcelo enjoys the fruit of his labors.

The weather was perfect, the meat tasted great, and after an intense game of boys verses girls soccer, we all sat down to some sweet fellowship.

Please pray for Cornelius. He is a friend of Marcelo and Sylvane that came for the day. He is seeking God, and believes in Jesus, but has no relationship with Him. Anne was able to talk with him for a long time this day. In his own words to Edmund,`Your wife preached to me, but in a good way, sometimes we need to be preached at.` He said he had a lot to think about. Please pray that the Lord would bring an end to his search... `Seek Me and you will find Me when you search for me with your whole heart.`Jeremiah 29:13

We have not made plans yet, but this Sunday will be Pentecost, we get Monday off from school and work, Karis`school gets Tuesday off as well, for good measure. Remember, the tenth commandment, `Do not covet your neighbor...`, or your friends in Germany when they get so many holidays.

We are Celebrating!

2009-05-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

We have now been married 10 years! That is something to celebrate.

We have become so keenly aware in these last years that every day is a gift from God, especially every day that we wake up in love with the person next to us.

What is exciting and a little bit scary (in a cling to the Lord sense), is we know that the best, most exciting, and extremely challenging years are yet to come.

10 years...still laughing! (Do we look older?)

Make new Friends...Keep the old...

2009-05-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

We have been praying recently for friends for our kids.

Karis always has some one to play with. She talks to any child that she has met or has seen with someone she has met, and has many kids that she likes to play with.

However, that is not the same thing. We have spent some time praying for a friend for our kids that is also a good influence on them.

They met some really cool kids recently (cool in our definition, nice, polite, fun)

We went to the leadership conference in Siegen and they had tons of fun. What was great for us is that Kaleb met Eddi. Eddi is 6 and seems to like to play the same stuff as Kaleb (boy stuff).

There is a catch, Eddi and his sister, who Karis loved to play with, live in Kaiserslautern, about 3 hours drive.

C'est la vie...

We forgot to be specific about where we needed friends for the kids, city and street names.

On the other side, this is another reason we love these conferences, not just for ourselves, but our kids get to meet friends that they look forward to seeing again every year.

The Glory of Spring

2009-04-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Now, we know that those of you born and raised in California think that it gets cold there sometimes. We will not argue with you, but we will say, there is no way that you can know the glory of Spring until experiencing a real winter.

Remember those two weeks or so of gloom and rain that drives most Californians almost to insanity. Now extend that by two to three months for us, more in other parts of the world (God knows our limit). Ok, are you in despair yet for sun and warmth on your face, for a day that begins before 8:30 am and ends after 4:30 pm. Does your winter jacket feel like a straight jacket? By the way, scarves really do keep a person much warmer in the cold, they are not just for fashion.
Do you long to see a color other than grey and search for signs of green on every branch?

Now, try to imagine the first glimpse of the first spring flowers, Daffodils (Ostern Glocken, Easter bells, in German). Bright yellow signs of hope that the deadness of winter is almost gone. Then comes a 'warm day' (above 50 with sun). The there are more flowers, and little buds on the trees. Bright pink and white blooms turning into leaves eventually! Aaahh, sitting outside, with only a sweater on. Renewed energy for the day, hope, plans for the summer, the kids can play outside, for a long time!

Now the prophetic speech that Spring utters to every man. Does it not amaze you the timing of the Passover feast, in Spring. Jesus became the Passover Lamb, fulfilling the feast of the Passover, but He rose again, exemplifying what Spring had been prophesying to men for generations. After the deadness of winter, when one feels that all hope is lost, new life shows itself, hope returns, a future can now be seen. The winter is literally grey, without snow, it is grey. From the color of the sky to the face of the people. The change that spring brings is so dramatic, it can be felt on many levels. However, to us who believe on the resurrected Savior, it should be a vivid reminder of the change God made in our dead grey souls, and the promise of our glorious resurrected future.

"So when this corruptible has put on incorruption,
and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
'O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades where is your victory?
The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us victory throughour Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore,
my beloved brethren,
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Major Milestones

2009-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating 2, yes 2 major milestones in the same month.

The first happened with Kaleb, he learned to ride a bike without training wheels. He got his ultra cool Hot Wheels bike for his birthday last year, but now it has reached ultimate coolness, without training wheels.

The second is very, very special, Ezekiel is toilet trained!!! This happened without much planning and is a very pleasant surprise. Not long after the event, Anne realized she had been changing diapers for 7 years consecutively. Though most habits held that long are hard to change, this one was not.

Carnival

2009-04-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is going back a couple months, but that's what happens when one doesn't blog very often.

For those that don't know what Carnival is, in summary, it begins the weekend preceding Lent, and ends Ash Wednesday. It is the days that people are allowed to do "whatever they want" before the period of fasting. Though it is well known in other parts of the world (Brazil and New Orleans are probably the best known to most that are reading this), in Germany, the biggest celebrations are found in the south (Bavaria), and in Cologne and Dusseldorf. All that means is, in these days, these cities have the honor of behaving as a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. The celebration is held in the Altstadt (old city), where the "Mayor" of Carnival gives the celebrants the key to the city for those days, to 'do as they will'.

That is Carnival for adults. For kids it just means they get to dress up at school, and have fun for one day before getting a four day weekend (adults dress up as well, and yes, it is a postal holiday).

Our kids tend to dress in animal costumes, this year being the year of the dog. We searched high and low for the best dog costumes, and found out one very important fact, costumes are way more expensive here. We finally found the perfect one, on sale!!

The day came and Karis and Kaleb were ready for fun! They dressed up, we painted their faces and away they went. What was fun for us and Zeeky was the Krack Zug (noise parade). Karis' entire school went through our neighborhood in their costumes, just making noise (no one is allowed to scold them). We took Zeeky out to watch, dressed up in Kaleb's old frog costume.

The rest of the weekend remained pretty quiet as the celebrating is in the city center.

Happy Birthday Kaleb!

2009-03-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

Kaleb on his 5th Birthday wearing his new Transformers hat

Kaleb Daniel Coronel is the big '5' years old as of March 8th. His only request was to go to McDonald's for his birthday lunch and for Mommy to make him a white cake with strawberries and lots of frosting. That was a do able request. Karis asked him who he wanted to invite to his party, now this is where it became complicated, because he started to name off all of his loved ones in California. We think Kaleb will be the first one to move back to Cali if we are still here by his 18th birthday. He loves 'California' a.k.a Nanna and Pappas house ;0)

So on Sunday we tortured him by not allowing him to open any gifts till after church and after lunch and after singing Happy Birthday. Meine Gute! Poor boy! He did o.k., only asked from the moment he woke up till we lit the candles on the cake "Can I open my presents now? But he also gave me a great sermon illustration. Like the disciples asking ""Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Kaleb is an amazing little guy. He loves to do all the crazy and fun things boys do and at the same time he is so soft at heart. Everyday at least 2-3 times in the day he will call out "Mommy, I love you" or "Daddy, I love you" Melt our hearts!

One thing that has really blessed us this last month is to see his all of a sudden desire to pray. He just started asking "Can I pray"? And of course we allowed him to our delight. His prayers are something like "Dear God, thank you for this day, thank you for all the stuff we have and want, thank you for our bodies and our hands so we can grab things. Help us to get back safely from wherever we are going...In Jesus name I "pway" Amen.

As some of you know Kaleb is a huge Transformers fan. He has some transformers toys and cartoons. He was blessed by aunties and uncles and Nanna and Pappa and Oma and Opa, along with Mommy and Daddy with some new Transformer Autobots and Decepticons. He love to go around singing the Theme song to Transformers. I wanted to balance this out a bit so one day I started singing 'Our God is an Awesome God' every time I heard Kaleb sing the Transformers song. Karis, Kaleb and Zeeky caught on to it and we hear them singing it now in their playtime. Kaleb, in learning the song, sang out "Our God is a HANDSOME God..."!

European Pastors Conference January 2009

2009-01-29T01:53:00.000-08:00

Conferences are a blessings. You are both excited and afraid to be around fellow workers in God's field. Excited, yes, there is so much to share about what Jesus is teaching you, what He has done in and through your life and the lives of those you serve in the year since you last met. There is excitement building as you gather together in the Name of Jesus, you just know He is going to speak to you, your spiritual ears and eyes are open and placed on 'high sensitivity'. You are excited because you are again amazed at the grace of God in calling you into the ministry, 'counting you faithful' I love God's way of looking at me in Christ!

"Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" 1 Tim. 1:9

There comes the next emotion of fear, but why fear? Well because I know myself, I know I can be a 'bonehead' and not hear from God. I can busy myself with telling stories of ministry, talking about victories and blessings only to cover up the parts of ministry and life that are difficult and draining. There is a real temptation to be the 'super-pastor' who never tires, never stumbles, never is discouraged with himself or others, never doubts, always trusts, always gives, always and in all ways follows close behind his Boss, his Lord, his friend, Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the flock.

We are often tempted to stretch out our hand that is whole to the Lord. You know the story. Jesus in the synagogue and He tells the man with the withered hand, 'stretch out your hand'. The man had a choice, in front of all those at church that day to expose his weakness, his shame, his lameness, to bring it out into the light for Jesus to deal with. This man could have easily kept that withered hand tucked far into his robe and stretched out his good hand, with pride showing all around him, there was nothing wrong and that he was just like the rest of them.

I thank God for the faith of this man, he stretched out that messed up, withered hand for all to see, most importantly he stretched it out to Jesus and as he did it was restored, made whole, made useful, made strong to the glory of God! The main teacher for the conference was Pastor Sandy Adams from Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain, Georgia. God really used him through the Word of God to search me and encourage me. "If you will return, then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth..." Jer. 15:19

One pleasant surprise of the conference was being able to see Josh Blevins! That was great, we had a little reunion with Josh, Joey, Edmund Sr. and I, then there was Brent from Boise, so it was like a little 'Root Teen' Mission reunion! It is great to see guys being called and used to build up and bless God's people around the world. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!

Brent has homemade salsa from Edmund Sr. in the bag! An even exchange for Italian Espresso!

Now I am back home in Dusseldorf and have determined to spend more time with Jesus, asking the Chief Shepherd for His wonderful leading and wisdom in caring for and feeding His precious sheep. Until the whole world hears...

Coronels at Christmas

2009-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Women's event this year for Christmas was called, "The Best Christmas of all Time". The idea being that, just as kids anticipate Christmas all year and wish for it to go on forever, all of history from before His coming and after looks to the first Christmas the moment that changed the world forever.

Having young kids puts an exclamation point on Christmas like nothing else. Their excitement for it makes us almost equally excited. Every year it is always cool to hear some of their interpretation of the season. Karis was enchanted by the Weihnachts Markt. This is the Christmas Market that happens every December, and we have visited every year, but for some reason this year, the sights, the smells, the lights, the decoration, filled all her senses and she declared, "I love the Weihnachts Markt!"

Kaleb summed up the season the best this year by telling us, "Christmas is all about Jesus!"

Ezekiel was just content that we plugged in the lights of the tree and the lights in the window every day.

Anne noticed how much of a help Karis was this year in the baking. She has grown past the stage of "helping but not helping" to actually being a big help in the kitchen. She was also excited to help deliver cookies to neighbors and friends.

We have much to be thankful for this year, but all of it goes back to how gracious our God has been to us, His greatest gift being His son Jesus, who set aside His glory to become one like us, in all our imperfection, to be killed by our sin, but defeat it and death in the resurrection, Amen, Hallelujah...

Just remember what Kaleb says, "Christmas is all about Jesus!"

California Dreamin....

2008-12-18T09:31:00.000-08:00

Palm trees, water, sand, and roller coasters, only in Cali

After a couple weeks of anticipation, Anne and the boys arrived safely in California. The trip was pretty uneventful besides 5 or 6 trips to the airplane toilet with Kaleb, who did not sleep on the 9 hour flight until landing. There was also some protest from Ezekiel as to staying in the same seat that long and, well, by the end, we made sure the man sitting at the end of our four seat row that had moved there before we sat down thinking he would have more room, rethink that choice on future flights.

Hello California!

Upon landing, we were greeted by Nanna, Pappa, Aunties Rachelle and April and Cousins Joshy, Javon, Trin, Lele, and Nico. Kaleb couldn't be more excited, in fact he probably felt like it was a dream since it was the middle of the night on his body, and Zeekie treated it like a dream, trying to go back to sleep in his stroller despite the best efforts of his cousins to get him to wake up. The traditional 'welcome to California' In 'n Out hamburger was the next stop. We took it to go and ate at 'Home Again'. It wasn't long after that we all were fast asleep, and not long after that awake again. The jet lag 4:30 waking time lasted over half the trip. The good thing about Nanna and Pappa's guest room is that it has a TV and satelite. There must be other kids awake at 4:30 AM in California because there were plenty of cartoon choices at that hour for the boys, and Mommy was able to lay down another hour until it was time to go downstairs to watch cartoons. One of the first things Kaleb noticed about the cartoons is that all the cartoons that he knows from the TV here (they are the same but dubbed in German) speak English in California.

Cousin's dinner

Of course, the best part of California is visiting with family, and we had lots of fun doing that. In fact, it wasn't long before Kaleb, when he would get tired of being out and about would ask to "go back to California", which turned out to be his name for Nanna and Pappa's house. Make no mistake, visiting family also included some extra special trips to Sea World with big Cousin Kyla, and Disneyland (of course). There was touring all the new stores that have been built in Chino Hills since our last visit. This tour should become less as the years go, there cannot be much more room even in Chino Hills for another shopping center, however there always seems to be space for a new Starbucks!

The boys took full advantage of the weather, playing outside whenever they got the chance. Auntie April made that possible with many trips to the parks of Chino Hills. We got to know, "Zip line park", "Duck Park", "Our Park", and I think a couple more that I can't remember. If those names are unfamiliar to you Chino Hillites, they of course are not the real names but affectionate toddler names that are much easier to remember based on the best and favorite thing ever at each park.

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Of all the adventures, there was none so news worthy as the wild fires. We could see the smoke from Nanna and Pappa's house and we didn't have to drive too far to see the flames on the hills. The sight of the planes that drop the red stuff (that is the techinical name for the stuff they drop to put out the fires and has a red color) was enough to get all the boys excited and as long as the fires chose to keep away from the house, then it was a great adventure. This adventure was one that was fun to tell about when back in Germany because many of the Germans had heard of the fires on their news but thought that we couldn't have been to near as California is so big. Even our Pediatrician and Kaleb's Kindergarten teachers had said they thought of us when they saw the news.

Speaking of Kindergarten, another adventure for Kaleb was his visits to Javon's preschool, Chino Hills Christian Preschool. The teachers were a little worriied that he wouldn't have enough time to adjust, but they were put at ease when he walked right in the first day and started to play without looking back to say 'goodbye'. He had a lot of fun and when asked, his favorite thing was playing with the cars.

Our trip was crowned with Thanksgiving. It was small and quiet. the Turkey was delicious, as well as all the sides. The table was beautiful, and it made a great ending to a great trip.

mmmmmm!

Well, we didn't make it to the beach, or even into Orange County for that matter (once for a haircut, and once to visit Auntie Gina). We didn't get to visit some friends and family that we normally do, and we didn't make it to Taco Nazo. Please forgive us if you were one of those family or friends we didn't get to see. I won't make any excuses except that 3 weeks for us in California is really to short to do all we would like.

By the end of 3 weeks, we were all ready to be reunited with the other half of our family. Kaleb even started asking to go 'back to Germany' after talking with Daddy and Karis one night. The man at the end of our row on the trip home had a much better flight then the one on the way there, the boys slept most the time. Upon arrival we went directly to Oma and Opa's for a second Thanksgiving. It also served well to keep us awake. During jet lag I always swear I will not make that trip again for a long time, at least not with kids. Then I realize, kind of like labor, time fades the memory of physical discomfort enough to cause us to got through self inflicted physical torture sooner then later for the rewards that wait on the other side.

We had a great time, the only thing missing was Karis and Daddy. Lord willing, the next trip can be a family one. God Bless...

PS We also had some very fun days with Coronel Aunties, Uncles and cousins, including one wild and crazy overnight, but I have no pics, if you guys do (Aunties) please send us some.

Thank God For Omas!

2008-11-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for checking up on the Coronel Family D'dorf.

As you all know, Anne is in smoldering California where the fires are coming to rest.
The fires could not stop the family from taking a trip to Disneyland! Are you kidding?! So while Karis and I were having our own fun here in Germany, Anne and the boys were heading towards Disney, where they had a great time going on roller coasters, driving at Autopia (you Californians know what I mean) and watching the parade at California Adventures. Anne told me that Zeeky-Dude had a blast driving the cars at Autopia but when it came time to get off she must of left his heart on the seat of one of the cars 'cause he freaked out! He did not want to leave, he could have driven around that track till the 'cows came home'.

Anyways, this last week was a special time for Karis and I because my mom came to comfort us for the week. She is amazing! She just got home from the craziness of California to the craziness of Herborn and before she could say 'Was hast du mit mein Haus getan?" I was there to pick her up and put her to work. My dad barely had time to ask "Was haben wir fur Abendessen" when she was already cooking us chicken tacos, enchiladas, Albondiga soup and baking us scones! C'mon! That's my Mexican Mamma! Sorry my dear sisters, I know your mouths are watering but wipe up the drool and ask God to forgive you for being jealous! J/K! Hey, she was with you guys for 3 months! ;0)

I think it was the first day when our adventures began. I thought I would show my mom how to find her way to pick Karis up from school. It is not far but I thought it would by nice to show her exactly where to find our little one in the sea of yelling, screaming, running, jumping, German speaking school kids. We walked out the door of our apartment and she closed the door behind her as I checked my pockets for a house key...yup, we were locked out on the first day together. This is what happens to me and my mom when we team up to make life easier. So we got Karis and came back in time for me to show my worried Muttie how I had some skills in opening the door to our house with a credit card. But before I could say "Ich habe geschaft" our Turkish 20 something neighbor walks out of his apartment one level up from us, sees me trying to get in, walks down the stairs, grabs the card out of my hand and opens it for me in about 3 1/2 seconds. My mom is now officially freaked out and locked the door from that time on at all times of the day. I don't blame her, now I am too. (Nothing against Turks)

That brings me to my next story. We made it to the end of the week pretty uneventful but now it is Saturday and we have to take my long haired, brown-eyed, German speaking daughter to a birthday party. Echinoa is how her name sounds it would be spelled, she is a friend of Karis who turned 8 and wanted Karis to come to her party. Now I wasn't sure how this would go, some times parents stay at the party, sometimes they take a look around to see if things are safe and then leave until the appointed pick up time. We were invited in as we arrived and before we knew it we were sitting on the couch with uncles, grandmas, grandpas and in-laws. Turkish style. It was a great experience and the first I must add.

We ate pizza, bread, drank cola and shared our faith in Jesus with the whole family. Some of the family was really open, like the brother they called Isa (Jesus). I was kinda glad the brother they said they called "Hezbollah" wasn't there though. Anyways, it was time for us to leave and the father of the girls dad wanted to ask one more question which I was glad to try and answer in my limited Deutsch. As I was struggling through to answer and then understand the man speaking to me in even worse Deutsch than I, the father of the girls mother was staring me down and waving some kind of Islamic rosery at me. I didn't even realize it, my mom was the one who was watching the whole thing, praying silently but with all her might. The conversation ended friendly and I had to excuse myself to go home and finish studying for Sunday's sermon.

Mom and I got home and prayed for God to bless the Word we shared to the hearts of those who were open to listen and that the love we displayed would go a long way.

Thank you Muttie, it has been an adventure and mucho fun-o. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us! God bless you! Tomorrow I will fry up some enchiladas and eggs for 'fruehstuck'. Mmmm....

Oh, and big thanks to Auntie's and Grandma's that contributed to making this little Karis Grace soooo happy with the letters, the gifts and all the love that you sent her while Mommy is gone.

2008-11-14T14:29:00.001-08:00

When Mommy leaves...

2008-11-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hello from the almost empty nest in D'dorf. As you all well know, but not as well as we do, Anne and the boys left today to California. This trip has been a long time coming but is now 'unterwegs' as we say here Germany.

After lots of prayer and waiting for the right time we had to 'drop the bomb' on Karis. You see she was not able to go because she has to go to school. She took the news really well. Of course after the 'why's and the tears we hugged and gave here 'great and precious promises' to live by for the next 3 weeks. Promises which include: Oma coming over and spoiling her for a week, going swimming (indoor of course), taking her friend Lukas and her to a jumphouse, checking out an local aquarium, and visiting a family from the church for dinner (they have 4 kids).

I didn't know how busy the first day would be. We went to bed late, got up early and it was time for 'fruestuck'

Zeeky and Kaleb were excited and ready to eat. Zeeky was so excited he didn't even eat much of his normal 'Schoko Musli' but it takes a lot for Kaleb not eat his 'Zimtos' (Generic Cinnamon Toast Crunch). Kaleb has been really looking forward to going to California. He has fond memories of English speaking cousins, lots of hugs, kisses and tickles; Disneyland, good American food, lots of new toys, Nanna, Pappa, Aunties, Uncles and new friends. In fact when Anne asked him if he would mess Karis and I, he simply replied 'No'. We asked him again later and he said he would after all. Whew...

Thanks for praying. The morning went well. We got off to the airport on time and made good time to Cologne Int. Airport.

The boys had fun running around at the airport.

Karis and I had a fun day, we were both tired and already missing our #1 women and those two crazy boys.

We made the time go by in this way:

We came home and ate noodles
We did crafts
We colored
We played Yahtzee!
We watched T.V.
We drew pictures
We cried
We laughed

And now we wait for word from our loves ones.

We love you guys and we have you in our hearts every moment till we see you wonderful smiling faces!

Family Visa Update

2008-10-22T10:15:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T00:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

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)