Sorry for the long delay in writing. The last two weeks we were in House Nazareth, in the midst of the remodeling, guests, and packing for our time back in the States. (We will be back for at least the next 6 months to coordinate discovering the additional financial backing necessary for “House Nazareth”.)

A full breakfast table in the midst of remodeling

It was tremendously encouraging to have Ryan and Shelley, close friends of Seanne and Daniel, and Pastor Phil and Linda Miller from First Baptist Church in Elmhurst, Illinois with us for a few days before our departure. It gave us an opportunity to interact about the next phases of the project with insightful friends and counselors. Phil and Linda left on July 21 for South Africa, where they visited a sister church for the dedication of an AIDS center.

Looking at Berlin through the eyes of these friends reminded me again of how strategic the city is for the Gospel: it is a multi-cultural, international capital located mid-way between Western and Eastern Europe. With Germany’s economic influence, it is becoming increasingly important for the entire European common market. It is vital that the business, academic and political leadership there have a chance to hear and understand the message of Christ in a way they can identify with. We consider it a great honor to be part of such a project in House Nazareth.

Davin enjoys a “Döner” (Think: Turkish gyro)

As you know from earlier notes, Davin, Charissa’s special friend, spent 6 weeks helping us in Berlin. I asked him to jot down a few of his reflections on that time. It also gives me an opportunity to say “Thank You!” to Davin and those who supported him to come on this project. He was an enormous help to us all!

This summer felt a bit like the Hobbits in “The Lord of the Rings” must have felt: it was an adventure “out of the Shire”. After all, this was the farthest from home I’ve ever been. I spent six weeks helping with the moving-in and early remodeling in “House Nazareth” in Berlin.

As an American, and perhaps this is a cultural universal, I’ve become strangely aware that I’ve been able to coast through my life on the power of my will. I started mowing lawns for some extra cash when I was 12. The money I earned was most definitely mine—earned through my choices, sacrifices, and skill. I was a good little boy already pursuing my American dream of Nintendo games and better roller blades. Over the years my jobs changed, but my attitude didn’t. Even after encountering God, I was a man in his youth working by my own strength.

This summer, however, allowed me to experience an entire shift in perspective. I was astounded and tremendously grateful for the miracle of $3,000 in support pouring in during a four-week span. Those funds afforded me the opportunity of this summer. I couldn’t say that I was in Berlin because of my money, sacrifice, or skill. Every meal I ate, every room I walked into, every step on the soil of Germany was undeniably built on the foundations of God’s mercy and blessings. To truly live for the first time in the realization that my very life is in God’s hands was mind blowing.

Furthermore, I think I’ve learned to understand what it means to labor for the Lord. I’ve had my fair share of spiritual laboring, but I’ve never been able to say I was doing the Lord’s work with my hands. As I worked in the gardens, garages, and rooms of Haus Nazareth, I wasn’t in question of whether I was spending my time productively. I faced chores beyond what I’ve ever done before, but knowing it was for the glory of God relieved my nagging teenage heart of its selfish pride. No more of the “but it’s so hot outside” or “why can’t so-and-so do it?” excuses that I flung at my parents when they wanted me to do something. It was a freeing experience to mow a lawn for God, to scrub dishes for Christ, and to power wash a garden path with the Spirit. - Davin

Last weekend, the sky opened up over Berlin in two huge cloudbursts. Both times, up to 7.5 gallons of water fell per sq. yard in an hour.

The ramp area behind the basement

As I looked out a window from the second floor after the first storm, I saw the ramp area behind the basement filled with a couple of feet of water. Rushing down to see what was happening in the cellar, I was overwhelmed by the smell. It was as if the entire sewer system had backed up in the half-inch of water covering the floor of the kitchen and laundry area. Matthias and Sieglinde were gone to Dresden for a meeting. Following a quick phone call, they hurried back to Berlin. Within two hours, a friend had arrived to help with his pump. A quick trip to “Obi” (German “Home Depot”) followed and a second pump was purchased. We began the clean-up operation, falling into bed late that night.

The little pump that could…

At 5:45am I woke with a start to the sound of pouring rain: a second cloudburst had begun. Matthias and I rousted our friend out of bed and we connected both pumps. We kept just ahead of the water, pumping it into the garden and the city drains. We probably moved between 5,000 and 7,000 gallons of water in an hour.

When I went into the basement after the first rain, I whimpered, “Why this, Lord?”.

The old fat filter

At it turned out, though, this too was grace. It could have been so much worse. We discovered that the smell wasn’t from the sewer, but from a fat filter left over from the time that the kitchen was used for the entire “House Nazareth” orphanage community. The cleaning was hard but not impossible. And if the flooding had happened after the remodeling work for the ground floor had been done, it would have been much more problematic. As it is, the fat filter will have to be removed and the drain system cleaned. And we’re going to make sure that the sumpf pump is ready to go any time.

Sometimes what starts out looking like a curse is a mercy in disguise (even though it smells like a curse.) BTW: The smell is gone from the basement (-:

Well, while America celebrated July 4th, Germany lost. To the Italians. In the semi-final.

But WOW! What a game. It was fairly refereed and Berlin was quiet as a Sunday, except for a few expatriate Italians who drove around honking to rub it in. Thanks for your prayers.

One very interesting detail about Germany’s love-affair with the World Cup: the national coach, Jürgen Klinsmann, lives in the U.S. His wife is an American. When he began his job two years ago, there was a lot of criticism that he was tearing German football away from its roots. Now, there is nothing but praise for him and his staff.

Peter von Becker wrote today in Der Tagesspiegel:

Jürgen Klinsmann has accomplished the most peaceful revolution in Germany since the ‘Wende’ [fall of the Wall and reunification]. No joke! That is because German football is one of the most powerful and symbolically important centers of this society and Klinsmann didn’t just treat symptoms but tackled deep structures with new methods and new thinking. As a result, his reforms are the beginning of a football revolution. That can’t be accounted for with just optimism and a spirit for going on the offense (plus ultra-modern fitness training). The Klinsmann Principle means a different feeling for life and achievement. Thus, something enters the game that actually comes from California, Klinsmann’s adopted home: You feel good, when you make it better. That is a completely different melody than the cold, technocratic pressure found in many areas of society…

The principle of the adoptive Californian sets the tone: Reach for the stars, so that something will move on the ground. With passion, sweat and laughter. That, too, is something new.”

Gives one kind of a good feeling about being an American. We really can contribute something to the world and not lose who we are… if we do it with a big dose more humility. And more humor.

Ann with Sister Theresia and Sister Ursula at the brunch

Thanks for your prayers for the Baubrunch (= “Building Site Brunch”) on Saturday! About 200 friends, neighbors and curious folk came to see what the remodeling was all about and hear about the vision God has given of a “working, living and learning community” in the midst of Berlin.

Each one received a little package with whole wheat cookies and a note for the day: “As Christians we want to contribute to a deep renewal of our society and our world by ‘helping to create a place from which the bright light of hope shines into the darkness of this world.’ (Friedrich von Bodelschwingh) For us, this means concretely that we want to tie faith and life together very closely and help people think in a fresh way about God and His relationship to us as human beings. ‘House Nazareth’ is to be a center for living and thinking in faith; this summarizes our wishes, hopes and goals.”

Pete and John at the corner of our street

It was wonderful that Pete and John, from the Philosophia International leadership team, could be here and help with the day. Frank, one of Daniel’s closest friends from childhood on, is beginning his doctoral work in Berlin and is living here and part of the “House Nazareth” community. He, Davin and Charissa lent their shoulders to the load, too.

Frank at the waffle table

All-in-all it was a wonderful time for all to catch a glimpse of the work God has started here. Please ask Him to make “House Nazareth” into a place of spiritual light in this strategic city!