Our First Youth Service and other fun events.

After a week of getting ready and meeting people and settling in we finally had our first youth service. We had about 9 kids which was cool, a lot more than we were initially anticipating. The days before found me (Aaron) preparing the study for that coming Sunday.

Now, while generally Pastor David wants me to follow along with the text that he is teaching in the sanctuary, which I will (Luke 12:8-21 next week!) this week though I decided to speak on our vision for our ministry hoping to get the kids excited about what Donna and I are excited about.

Our vision/focus for the ministry, really can be summarized with three points

1. Bible Study- We desire for the kids to get to know God through the reading and study of His word.

2. Fellowship- We want to emphasize relationships with each other, with our church as a whole, and most importantly with God.

3. Service- Since this life is not about ourselves but others, we hope to give the kids a heart to serve each other, and the body as a whole.

So I prepared this message, and was excited to see how the kids would respond. As I mentioned there were 9 of them 3 guys and 6 gals, and while one or two seemed genuinely interested, most of them seemed bored out of their minds, angry to be there, or any combination of the two. Which honestly was to be expected, so that's fine. We look forward to getting to know them and getting them to open up, and I know they will, we just are going to have to patiently wait, love and pray for them, and we have been so far.

I find it funny that the parents seem much more excited for us to be there than their kids do, I've worked youth ministry before and so I know that they will start talking, but it's just amusing that the parents meanwhile are offering their houses to use for events, are asking us if there is anything we need, and are sometime trying to give us advice as to what we need to talk with their kids about.

Anyway, after my message we broke into groups, splitting them up guys and gals, Donna naturally took the ladies and I went with the guys we introduced ourselves, and while the guys were a little quiet, they at least opened up some. All the guys are middle schoolers who were home schooled and since I know what that's like it was cool that I was able briefly talk to them about the struggles they have with that.

In other news, last Saturday, Donna and I with pastor David to go check out the church apartment, it was pretty nice and way bigger than our old one in Buena Park I will let Donna tell you more about it later, except to say that once we get jobs and a car we actually plan on moving there!

The job hunt continues, I have an interview at the bowling alley today, and so we will find out how that goes, it will be nice to get it because that will at least get my foot in the door with the NAF jobs (non-appropriated funds) and it could also provide Donna and I with logistical support, the good news there is that only one of us needs to get a job that has it, and if we do then then any spouse or children (under 21 or in college) will also receive it, so that would include ID cards onto the base, health coverage, use of all the base facilities, a US mailbox, all the visa stuff we would need as well as help us get a German drivers license and allow us to register any cars we get through the military base.

So all of that to say, pray that we find something on the base soon!

Prayer Concerns:

-That we would get jobs, car and logistical support

-Pray for our youth, that God would speak to them, and if possible use us to do so.

-The Christmas market has opened up in K-town, and we are going to go street witnessing there weekly leading up to Christmas. Pray for open hearts for the people we speak to, and boldness for those of us who are going to go share the real reason for this season.

-Our youth weekly Bible study will start on Thursdays this January, so pray that the youth would come and that as we start teaching through Ephesians, that the kids would see who they are in Christ, and what it is He has done for them.

Week One

We are here! We have arrived in Germany and have spent most of the time sleeping! HA! A combination of jet lag and the sun setting so early here (like completely set by 17:00{5pm}) has us all turned around with very little idea of the actual time by our internal time clocks. But more on our arrival later, first what we had been up to before we got here.


The past two weeks before, we spent with our families and friends in each of our hometowns. While we enjoyed ourselves most of the time, it was hard for us to be fully content when all we truly desired to do was get on a plane to Germany and dive into the work to be done here. We will miss the late night hang outs, the coffee chats and the feelings of belonging that come from being with people who know you well enough to write your biography for you. Thank you for your words of encouragement, your love and support. But most of all we thank you for your prayers, the thing we needed and will the most.


As for the almost week that we have been here. When we first arrived another missionary, and long time friend of David and Peggy, Karen stayed with us for the weekend. She works at the bible college in Siegen and came here to buy the supplies for the Thanksgiving dinner the school will be preparing for the students. It was also a goodbye because in January she will be leaving to go to Japan to help with the reconstruction of the devastated areas left by the earthquakes of last March. It was wonderful to get to know her and we had so much fun talking and laughing.


Sunday we officially meet our youth and it was awkward...


Basically it was a room of mixed emotions. The parents were so glad that we were there and some went so far as to tell us publicly what their child needs us to teach them thus embarrassing their child. While most of the kids started at us sullenly, completely disinterested in who were are or what was going on. So typical teens. We are hoping that this next Sunday, when we have our first youth service, that they open up more but we are aware of the prayer and work that will need to go into this. It is our goal to start a Thursday night bible study at the beginning of the new year but we are still praying about it and what the Lord would have us to do.


Monday we applied for jobs and we are waiting to hear back. We have already called the director of the CDC(child development center) and she has asked us to call back on Monday to schedule a brief meeting so that we can introduce ourselves properly and *hopefully* make a good impression. Please pray for this and our job situation in general.


Tomorrow we are having a church Thanksgiving meal here at David and Peggy's with about 22 people in attendance. We have invited those who do not have a family to come and enjoy a meal with us, and I'll be making Deviled Eggs! It's gonna be a full house with much to be thankful for :)

Prayer request for this week:

• The church Thanksgiving meal would be a blessing to the church body and glorify the Lord
• Vision for the youth group
•  The first Sunday with the youth group would go well
• Jobs for Aaron and I that give us logistical support
• A vehicle
• Our families in the States, that they would be comforted and blessed this Thanksgiving

 We love you guys and we miss you greatly. Know that if you are reading this blog you are one of the people we are most thankful for. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!