One Fabulous Friday!

We had a fabulous Friday!

It began with an early morning trip to Frankfurt Airport to pick up one of our international university students.  Phyllis had been in Kenya with her family for Christmas, and we were very happy to pick her up and bring her "home" to Darmstadt.  We had a delightful visit with her has we walked through the airport and on the drive.  She is a beautiful sister in Christ, and has a wonderful way of sharing her love for Jesus.  She told us that on her flight to Nairobi, she had been seated next to a gentleman from Wisconsin, and that she had talked with him about Jesus, and had prayed for him, and with him before they parted ways!  Phyllis leads a Bible study for a group of students at the university, while working on her PhD - keep her in your prayers!

IGM Picnic

IGM Party

 After returning from Frankfurt, Carol and I made our way to the "Fussgangerzone", the city center of Darmstadt.  At Starbucks, we met with Yvonne, an official with a university-based organization called IGM.  The group works to connect international students from around the world with local "host" families for social interaction and help with settling in the city.  It is a great group, having received an award from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their "excellent contribution to integrate international students into the German environment."  In addition to encouraging host family connections, they also hold a number of social events for the students - tours, parties, cookouts, holiday events.  We are excited to get involved with this group, they are a natural partner in our desire to connect and minister to students who are far from home and often very lonely.

Wei preparing beef

Our "International Student Focus Friday" continued into the evening, when we were invited to dinner at the apartment of two of our friends from China.  Xiannan has been a regular attender of our worship services and social events for the last 8 weeks, and Botao, his flat-mate, has joined him a couple of times.  When we arrived, we learned that two female friends of theirs, Hong and Wei, who also live in the same building, would be joining us for dinner.  As we visited with them over Green Tea, they prepared a "hot pot."  The hot pot sat at the center of the table, filled with spices.  As the liquid boiled, ingredients were added - meatballs, freshly cut ginger, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, cabbage and (Carol's favorite!) dumplings.  As the items were cooked, we would retrieve a few items from the hot pot, place them in our bowls, and eat them with chopsticks.  More ingredient would be added as the supply drew down, and they would cook for a few minutes, then we would repeat the process - eating, talking, laughing and enjoying the experience for 3 hours!  It was a wonderful experience.

Xiannan preparing vegetables

They told us that we were their first "American friends," and we were excited to share with them what it was like to live in the USA, and to ask them about life in China.  Each of them comes from a different region of the country, from East, West, North and South.  Each is working on their PhD from the Technical University of Darmstadt, in Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry and Electrical Engineering.

We recognize that as important as it is to represent America well to our International friends, we are also aware, as Paul wrote the Philippians, that "our citizenship is in heaven."  We are privileged and honored to be possibly the first Christians that these four have known, as well.  We have given them a Bible, and both Xiannan and Wei mentioned that they read it every day.  Xiannan even has a Chinese Bible that he brought with him!  Pray for these new, dear friends.  They will be in Darmstadt for the next two or three years, and we long to be growing in our friendship and fellowship with them.

"Hot Pot" 

The opportunities for ministry and outreach among the university student population in Darmstadt is amazing! We are so excited about what God is doing here, and we are thrilled by the doors that He is opening for us.  Please pray that we will faithfully and enthusiastically fulfill the mission that He has entrusted to us.

A Wonderful Weihnachts!

What a Christmas week we had!

Bob's "hospital office."

The week began with Bob in the hospital for three days.  The kidney stone episode in November carried over into December.  The stone sent him to the hospital for three days then, (November 12-14), but the stone became lodged in the urethra, causing the left kidney to swell.  Because of the location, a "lithotripsy" was not possible, so a "Double J" stint was put in place between the kidney and bladder to allow the kidney to function properly.  The return visit in December was scheduled to check the position of the stone, and remove it if possible.

The stint was removed (no, we will not share any of the PAINFUL details!) on Monday, a lithotripsy was done on Tuesday, and Bob was released on Wednesday, December 19.

Hospital Caroling

On Friday, December 21 a group of us from the church went Christmas caroling at the hospital where Bob had been a patient a few days earlier.  We had a delightful time singing on 7 different floors of the hospital, as well as the women's care ward, and the main entrance.  On one floor in particular, three elderly women were very demonstrative of their gratitude, applauding and thanking us.  One of the women shared that she was 100 years old!

At Weihnachtsmarkt

On Saturday, a small group of us went to Darmstadt's downtown area to the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market).  We held a prayer walk around the downtown area, praying that the true meaning of the season would not be missed by the hundreds of people who were celebrating there.

International churches tend to see sharp declines in attendance during holiday seasons, as students and ex-patriots travel home or to vacation destinations during their free times.  That being said, those of us who remained in Darmstadt had a wonderful time of worship on Sunday, followed by a fellowship meal in the church dining center.  Everyone brought favorite foods reflecting their homelands, which is always a special treat.

Christmas Sunday Communion

On Christmas eve the church building we rent was being used by the host congregation, so we held a very special meal at the home of Eric and Natalka's.  Natalka was an amazing hostess, preparing goose, beef, potatoes, beets, salads and desserts.  Carol prepared her famous coffee punch.  After a great meal with 20 people from all over the world, we sang Christmas carols (we had selections of song in English, German, Spanish, Arabic and French!).

Kevin Lighting an Advent Candle

Christmas Eve Gathering

On Christmas morning, we had a wonderful Christmas worship service, with a music drama, Christmas carols and a service that included dramatic readings from Christmas characters reflecting on the first Christmas morning.  It was a great time!  In the afternoon, a bunch of us gathered at Mike and Paula's for a day filled with wonderful food, games, a "white elephant" gift exchange, great conversations, and we capped off the day watching "The Nativity Story."  Several people from our church family commented that it was the best Christmas celebration they had had in years, and some said it was their best ever!

On Thursday after Christmas we were invited by the Kirchhoff's for dinner.  Herr Kirchhoff had been Bob's roommate during the November hospital stay.  We had a delightful dinner with them filled with German/English conversation.  We are excited to welcome them to church one Sunday soon!

Christmas Sunday Fellowship Feast

Then on Friday we welcomed our friend, Angie from Spain for a 5 day visit.  We met Angie in some of our training over the last few years, and it was great to have her with us.  We visited Frankfurt, the "Wall Street" of Europe, and Mainz, where we went to the Gutenberg Museum to check out the history of printing, learn about Gutenberg's impact on the world (He was named Time Magazine's "Man of the Millennium" in 2000), and see how his printing press impacted the kingdom of God - in printing Bibles and pamphlets during the Reformation.

In Frankfurt's "Altstadt" 

We spent a beautiful, sunny day in Baden-Baden, where we attended their Weihnachtsmarkt, one of the few that goes past Christmas.  And of course we spent a day visiting the gardens, palace, museums and sights around Darmstadt.  It was great.  We also enjoyed New Year's Eve (or "Sylvester", as the Germans call it), in Darmstadt.  New Years in Germany is amazing - thousands of fireworks are sent skyward by hundreds of people filling the streets and lots around the city - it is a real treat!

Bob at the Gutenberg Press in Mainz

 We trust and pray that you enjoyed a blessing-filled Christmas filled with the joy of knowing and experiencing the reason for the season - the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Skating in Baden Baden