There is a huge number of things that need to be done before we fly on Monday (Wow!).

We’d really appreciate your prayers that we’ll face this stress in the power of God’s Spirit. Please pray that we’ll be able to get everything packed and the house ready for the young couple that will be living here until we come back for Charissa’s wedding celebration. Also, that we will not “offload” the stress and snap at each other.

Thanks!

Actually, this is a short update on the remodeling at Haus Nazareth…

For some reason, bathroom doors are in extremely short supply in Germany right now! This has put the team in Berlin in some difficulty due to the ongoing remodeling. At present, there are just 2 usable restrooms for all 13 people living there! The workers could install temporary doors, but that would mean drilling holes in the frames and end up being a major waste of money. So… if you are in the habit of praying about “little” things, would you please pray that the bathroom doors will be delivered soon. It’s already been over a month…

Just a quick note: the next-door-lawyer has signaled that he may be prepared to sign the papers for the 2 meter extension of the slanted roof line soon. (This would enable us to begin remodeling on the 3rd floor staff apartment!) Please continue to pray!

Our departure for Berlin is getting closer! We leave on Monday, February 4th at 5:00pm on Alaska Airlines (connecting with British Airways for the flight to Berlin).

Next weekend, Calvary Chapel, Boise - our Idaho home church - will be officially sending us out with a prayer of commissioning. The service times are: Saturday, 6:00pm / Sunday 9:15am and 11:15am.

It would be very special to us if you live in the Boise area and could join us for one of these times!

Here’s a map of how to get to the church:

“Calvary Chapel Map”

Wow! We’ve finally got our flight to Berlin booked!
We leave on Monday, February 4th and land in Berlin the next day.
Are we ever excited!

Thanks for your prayers!

More soon!

Over the past couple of years, God has been speaking to me more and more directly on the subject of forgiveness.
Up until now, I have not felt ready to speak publicly about my own journey and discoveries; but I was invited to speak at the Boise Church of Christ last Sunday and as I thought about what I should speak on, my heart was moved to finally begin talking about this topic.
The sermon was both audio- and videotaped and is on the website of the church if you’d like to join me and hear a bit more about my journey. In particular, I try to make clear from the Scripture what “forgiveness” is and isn’t and the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation (restoration of a relationship).
Here’s the link to the church’s sermon page if you’re interested. (Please pardon the music in the background; it was not intentional and is due to a technical glitch in the recording system. I did not speak the entire time with music repeating itself in the background!

Hi again!
No word yet on the lawyer-neighbor, but please keep praying that God will move his heart (and hand - to sign the release for the roof extension!).
Two other BIG prayer requests:
Matthias and Sieglinde are on target for moving the medical clinic into the ground floor space (a big part of the entire business plan for the center!) but there is a big range of costs involved for them - please pray that a good and reasonable price for all the fixtures, etc. can be agreed upon.
Also: the city bureaucracy has been less than helpful with the issue of setting up a workable parking system: please pray that Sieglinde will be able to talk to just the right person to get things moving in the right direction!
Thanks!

Ann and I are making plans to make the first step of our major move to Berlin at the end of January. Wow, are we excited!
Sieglinde shared on the telephone today, though, that there is a major prayer need: In order to continue remodeling the top floor staff apartment, we need the signature of the neighbors. (The proportion of the height to the property boundary is the issue.)
The neighboring house is owned by a group of lawyers and used as an office. I will resist making any “lawyer” jokes at this point… suffice it to say that 2 of the 3 principals have absolutely no problem with this, but one man - for reasons known only to himself - is being difficult.
WOULD YOU PLEASE PRAY that this issue will be resolved very quickly so that remodeling can move forward briskly?
Thanks!