As the old silent movies used to announce: “The plot thickens!”

But, first, a word on Ann’s passport: the lost has been found! Thanks for your prayers. It was in the bottom of a suitcase. She’s rebooked her flight for June 2nd. I can hardly wait to see her!

Regarding the bank:

I truly hope that this is the last time I’ll need to ask you to pray for the bank decision on our mortgage application! Here goes:

First of all, we have no idea why this has taken so long (other than the spiritual benefit of stretching our faith and nerves to the outer limit!).

German banks are very powerful, very official, very secretive and, frankly, not too “service oriented”. Be that as it may, we have received word indirectly that our application is being smiled upon, but a FINAL decision will be made today (Thursday) or tomorrow by the Board of Directors and we should get the official word on Monday (May 29 – Memorial Day in the U.S.)

So: please continue to EARNESTLY pray!

Meanwhile, we haven’t been sitting on our hands! I spent last week moving out, with the help of an unemployed TV repairman and two high school boys, the furniture that we will keep for student rooms and other needs. Then Davin and Charissa arrived and I got some serious extra support. (I’ve rediscovered muscles that I’d forgotten I have!) Finally, on Monday, a professional removal crew came in and tackled the rest. The boss of the work gang said casually, “Oh, we’ll have this done in two days!” Serious underestimate! After three full days of work and two containers more to haul away than they figured on, he now estimates they’ll need at least one more full day to finish up.

So far, the timing has actually been perfect: the real work on walls can only begin when we get a green light from the bank regarding the mortgage application, but the preliminary removal work isn’t finished yet anyway.

Please also pray for sufficient funds to come in for this first phase of the renovation.

Today is an official holiday in Germany: Ascension Day. It is a powerful reminder that Our Lord is not puzzled or confused by the twists and turns of mortgage applications or history or by the perversity of sin and cosmic rebellion. He “sits at the right hand of the Father, from where He will come to judge the living and the dead” and all power is His. Hallelujah!

It’s just after 5:00am in Berlin. The birds woke me up after a short night.

Ann, Charissa and Davin were due to land in Frankfurt in just about an hour and a half.

But only Charissa and Davin are on the flight! Somewhere in the rolling turbulence of the last months, we misplaced Ann’s passport!

I have a distinct memory of putting it in a “safe place”…

After an entire night of looking, however, and phone calls from Boise to Berlin and back, it couldn’t be found. It was really hard for all of us to accept the fact that she would have to delay her departure and come on a later flight, probably in 5 or 6 days.

I am extremely sad not to have her here right now, but the embarrassment makes it worse. We’re supposed to be the “professional travellers”, experienced missionaries… etc. etc.

Well, God reminded me (through Ann): it’s not because we’re cool, or successful or spiritual super-stars that God chooses to work with us and through us. It’s because He loves us and wants us to magnify His Name. (Think of a magnifying glass making something clearer and larger to the eye of the user.)

So, I’ll be meeting Charissa and Davin at the train station today (they’re taking the express from Frankfurt).

Please pray that Ann will be able to either find her passport or that we’ll be able to expedite the application for a replacement one quickly.

Update on the bank: Matthias’ appointment Wednesday with the credit representative here at the Berlin branch of the bank went well. Now, everything will go to the board of directors in Cologne (we thought until recently that our file had already been passed on, but that was not the case). Please pray that they will say “Yes!” SOON, so we can begin the major renovation work on time. We’ve been given a green light to start some of the initial work today.

Just a quick update on both the bank situation and what’s happening in “House Nazareth”:

The wheels in the bank move mighty slowly, but everyone involved on the other side of things seems to be OK with this. Matthias has an important appointment tomorrow with the credit representative here at the Berlin branch who is processing our application. Please pray that we can have a green light by Friday to begin the renovation work.

I’ve been working many hours a day with a team of helpers here that are working to help us clear out the old furniture, rugs, etc. that we don’t need from thethings the sisters left for us.

(Yes, I’m sore in a lot of places I forgot I had!)

Ann and Charissa fly on Thursday along with Davin (Charissa’s boyfriend, who is coming to help us for 6 weeks and work on his German! Yeah!)

I can hardly wait to see them! It’s difficult for me not to be there to help! There are a thousand business and other things to do IN ADDITION to packing. Please pray for them to be able to finish things up tomorrow in Boise and have a good and positive departure; I’m especially concerned that the stress level go down for Ann. She’s been working immense hours just to get everything wrapped up at home AND pack for the trip.

House Nazareth from the neighbor’s balcony

Wow! Berlin is beautiful!

The skies are clear blue and the temperature in the 70’s and 80’s. Nevertheless, I’d appreciate you praying for a bit of rain in the nights - my allergies are going crazy with all the pollen…

The bank is still taking its time - partly because the office here in Berlin did not forward the file to Cologne on time last Friday…
/-:

Please continue to earnestly beseech the Lord that HE will “break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2)

Another prayer request: This morning I called my friend Gerd Lode, the mayor in Reichelsheim, to check that our visa was still OK. He put me in touch with the office in the city hall (in Germany one must, as in most European countries, register with the local government). Ann and I deliberately left our registration in Reichelsheim because of our visas (our things are all there anyway and we went back regularly).

However, the local office mistakenly unregistered us and now I have to get a confirmation that we’ve been regularly in Germany since then for the visa bureaucracy. SO: we’d appreciate your prayers that everything will go well with this… it is important!!

PS: Some have called Ann and asked for specifics on how to donate for the House Nazareth project. Here’s the info:
Please write a check payable to Philosophia International (then it’s tax deductable). You can indicate on the check itself or on a separate slip of paper: “For House Nazareth”.
The address to send it to is:

Philosophia International
P.O. Box 190162
Boise, ID 83719

Thanks for asking!

Pete and Mary Ellen Stewart are flying today to the States. They have been in Germany this last week. (Pete had a business trip to the Ruhr valley industrial area and Mary Ellen joined him after his work was completed for a week’s vacation in order to come to Berlin for the final closing on “House Nazareth”). It was a great encouragement to everyone here that they came. Their presence has been a symbol for the love and commitment of all of the friends of Philosophia in America.

Pete and Mary Ellen at House Nazareth

They had the opportunity to meet Sister Ursula. (The nuns are wonderful - they are such “Jesus people” and an amazing encouragement to us with their prayers and help. Please pray for them as they get settled in their new home. It’s not easy for the older sisters in particular to leave the place they’ve lived and worked for a lifetime.)

Clark with Sister Ursula

Unfortunately, though, Pete and Mary Ellen had to leave before the final papers were signed. Which brings me to a BIG prayer request.

As I mentioned in the last blog, it is taking longer than expected for the bank to make a final decision about the mortgage. The general background to this is that mortgage loans (both commercial and residential) are particularly difficult to get in Berlin right now. A couple of years ago the Berlin Bank - one of the really big ones - almost went bankrupt when a huge project went south and the bank lost almost 2 BILLION Euros. (We haven’t applied with the Berlin Bank, but all the credit institutions are very uptight right now.) Another factor is that Philosophia Europa (the name of our German work) is such a young organization, even though it was born out of decades of ministry here.

The bottom line is: we have enough money for the purchase to go forward and the necessary renovation work to begin (a combination of donations and interest-free loans) but the bank would be happier if more of the funds for renovation came in.

SO:

• please pray that God will move the hearts and heads of the decision-makers at the headquarters of the bank in Cologne (the file will be at their desk on Monday);

• if God has laid “House Nazareth” and Philosophia on your heart, please don’t hesitate to give because the first deadline is past; every penny helps at this point.

I’m still having some trouble with internet connections, but I will try to let you know immediately when we get word on the mortgage. Thanks so much for being there and continuing to pray!!

You’ve been much in my thoughts. I’ve not been able to get on to the internet since I left Boise for Germany. (I’ve been trying for three days!) I arrived in Berlin on Friday, April 28th. (Ann will be joining me with Charissa as soon as the spring semester at the University of Idaho is finished.)

House Nazareth in the May sunshine

Matthias and Sieglinde Ploner have been living in “House Nazareth” since last week - in faith that God will provide the rest of the funds necessary for the purchase to go through! It was a VERY unusual feeling to walk through the door and realize: “This is the place that God has chosen for you and the work of Philosophia in Berlin!” The sisters moved out two days ago - also in faith that God would provide the necessary funds to Philosophia! And God has blessed: He has given the financing to move ahead with the purchase!

This is the “Reader’s Digest” summary:

May 1st was supposed to be the closing date. We needed to have the down payment together by then. This date has now been extended because the bank has said it needs more time to give final approval to the mortgage that we have applied for. We hope that the final signing will take place early next week! Please pray that this will go smoothly and that God will continue to be glorified. We cannot really start any renovation work until the papers are signed. Please also pray that the Enemy will have not have any room to throw monkey-wrenches in the works as this process nears completion. We feel like the children of Israel actually walking through the Red Sea - water on both sides, with the troops of Pharaoh still a potential threat until we come up on the other shore! The good thing about the extension of the signing date is that every bit of cash donated before final closing counts! We are grateful for all your gifts, large and small. God has multiplied them like a mustard seed.

One other prayer request: the Philosophia team spent eight detailed hours on Saturday walking through everything with the architect who has been advising us on the necessary renovation of the building for future ministry. “House Nazareth” is in good condition, but for professional medical offices to move into the ground floor, there are some important changes that need to be made. The upper floors also need some renovation for the use of the Philosophia team and students. Please pray that God will give us His wisdom as we analyze and prioritize these needs. Some will have to be done by putting it out for bids (such as major wall changes); much can be done with the help of short-term workers and others.

One final thought about the Israelites in the wilderness: after the deliverance at the Red Sea, God began providing manna each day to feed them. They were commanded to gather only enough each morning to meet their needs for that day. Just enough… just in time! That is God’s pattern in providing for His people. It always has been and that is certainly the case with the “House Nazareth” project. As He told the Apostle Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).