Camp Impact Work Day

May 1st was a holiday here in Germany (like Labor Day), and it was used to invite people to come see the new camp facilities.  A picnic was planned for lunchtime, with many work projects planned for the time before and after.  We actually went down Thursday morning and came back Saturday evening.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get many pictures of our family, but I will post a few pictures anyway to show some of things that took place.  Micah and Joel loved having so much space to just run around and be boys.  They were happy, but exhausted by the time we came home!

Grilling bratwurst & the various salads ladies brought to go along.

Sitting around eating lunch.

Setting up a wash area outside one of the main buildings.

Joel trying to do what he saw others doing.

Kay & Christian digging out an old fence line.

One of the sidewalks that had been totally overgrown by grass.

Musik Festival

May 10-17 we had the opportunity to be a part of the first “Music Camp” that Impact has ever had. Our entire family was able to go. Stephen played his clarinet in the band/orchestra, worked the recording equipment, took pictures, and preached one evening service.

I was the accompanist for the choir, the men’s group, and any other time I was needed.

Michael Moore and Brian Pinner (both from BJU) came and helped too. Michael led the choir and orchestra, and Brian taught guitar lessons.

Many thanks to Carol Matthia for taking care of our boys while we were busy with many of these responsibilities. Evan Matthia and Martin Görnandt also came along, and helped give the boys many happy memories.

The second to last day of camp we spent most of the day making a recording, thanks to the help of two men originally from Russia.

We enjoyed ourselves greatly and can’t wait for next year’s camp to roll around.

Report from Summer Camps 2 and 3

Stephen has been back from summer camps for a few weeks now. He has recovered from a month of long days and short nights.

We are thankful for the opportunity he had to work at the second two camps this summer. We praise the Lord that at least 5 teens professed the Lord this summer. We pray that their profession will prove itself as they begin their new life in Christ. We are also thankful for several others whom the Lord seemed to be working in through the services at camps. Several bought copies of the German translation of Jim Berg’s Changed into His Image, with the desire of working through the book and then discussing the lessons with a more mature Christian from their churches.

I am posting a few pictures from this summer below.

Please pray for the camp ministry. We are in need of the Lord’s wisdom about buying camp property here in Germany. The leader of the ministry, Kevin Matthia, has been searching for several years and so far the Lord has not led us to the property He desires for us to have.

Thank you for your prayers!

Summer Camp 2 and 3

Dear Praying Friends.
Yesterday it was brought to my attention that I have failed to write about an answer to prayer.  The Lord has allowed our church here in Magdeburg to rent larger facilities.  We are thankful for the way he has provided for our needs.  We are enjoying the extra space very much.  We are also thankful for visitors that have come since we moved.  One lady has been coming regularly since the first week we were in the new building.  Pray that the Lord will bless and that our “extra” space will be filled with new people.

It is hard to believe but it has been two weeks since the end of the first camp.  We are thankful for the chance to minister to the young people.  We are especially thankful that 2 young men accepted Christ as their Savior during the first camp.

Tomorrow begins the second camp and just one day after the second begins the third camp.  I will be away from home almost a month in order to be at the camps.  Please pray for strength and wisdom for the leadership at camp.  Pray for good opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with the young people.  Pray that the Lord will allow the young people to make like changing decisions to follow the Lord.  We already know of young people that will be at the camps that have great spiritual needs.  Some claim to believers but have little or no fruit in their lives.  Others know they are unsaved but are not willing to turn to Christ.

I too am guilty of sometimes reading missionary prayer requests and then forgetting them after a few days.  Please commit yourself to earnest prayer for us throughout the next month of camp ministry.

Thank you for your prayers!

Sommer Sensation 2007

Sommer Sensation is the name of the summer teen camp ministry that we are part of every summer. There are three camps this summer. Our first camp begins this Thursday (July 19). Please pray for this ministry. There are over 170 teens signed up for the three camps. They come from various backgrounds from MKs to Atheists. Please pray for the Lord’s Word to work powerfully in the hearts of the teens that come.