Prayer Letter May-June 2014
Reflections on our first year in Vienna
It is really amazing that it was one year ago that we landed in Vienna! God has been faithful to us in so many ways and we have settled into a kind of normal here.
When we left Texas we had been on a perpetual “high” of sorts, meeting with so many of you, praying with you while raising support. While we were exhausted physically, spiritually we were pumped and ready to go. But to be honest, this first year has been harder (and better because of lessons learned) than we ever expected. Perhaps we pridefully expected that we could somehow create great changes, when in the end, God has done the changes within us. It has been a year of practical refinement in our lives; of throwing off the things that so easily entangle us so that we can better run the race that He has set before us. We used to say God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. But, God most definitely DOES give you much more than you can handle. In fact the idea of handling anything apart from Him is just an illusion that we like to create. This year we lived knowing that we were beyond our capacities, but that this was a path He asked us to walk, to keep trusting Him, to keep serving Him. Although it wasn’t easy, it was GOOD.
So, here are just a few reflections from this our first year as overseas missionaries.
Looking ahead, only God knows what this next year will bring. Our prayers are that ...
When we left Texas we had been on a perpetual “high” of sorts, meeting with so many of you, praying with you while raising support. While we were exhausted physically, spiritually we were pumped and ready to go. But to be honest, this first year has been harder (and better because of lessons learned) than we ever expected. Perhaps we pridefully expected that we could somehow create great changes, when in the end, God has done the changes within us. It has been a year of practical refinement in our lives; of throwing off the things that so easily entangle us so that we can better run the race that He has set before us. We used to say God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. But, God most definitely DOES give you much more than you can handle. In fact the idea of handling anything apart from Him is just an illusion that we like to create. This year we lived knowing that we were beyond our capacities, but that this was a path He asked us to walk, to keep trusting Him, to keep serving Him. Although it wasn’t easy, it was GOOD.
So, here are just a few reflections from this our first year as overseas missionaries.
- Life here just takes more energy than in our home culture. Not sure exactly why – it just does. Maybe after we have lived here longer that will change, but for now we must learn to pace ourselves. It’s getting better, and God is teaching us much through this.
- Learning language takes a great attitude, an enormous amount of time, dedication,and persistence. This can feel defeating at times, but we must persevere if we are to have heart level conversations here. THAT is the reward for all the hard work.
- In all things, but especially in language learning, don’t compare yourself with others. Not with your spouse (ever), not with other teammates, not with other missionaries…you get the idea. Comparison is a brutal killer of contentment. We need to encourage one another as we press on in all things!
- We have seen God provide for us in amazing ways. While at times we’ve missed certain things or longed for others, we’ve learned this: only God can fill all your needs, and in fact He already has in Christ Jesus.
- We have a great team here – Russ Clowdus and Matt Eck with their families, Adam Spencer and Kasey Krominga here as singles, Robert Baldridge here as a stinter and Jim and Brenda Brosch currently in Texas due to visa issues. We are continually humbled by their love of our savior and reminded of that every time we pray together.
- We have amazing encouragement from our state-side team. Really. We have received emails, texts, Facebook notes, even real letters, asking how we are doing and telling us we are being prayed for. We know you are sincere and we cannot tell you enough what a great encouragement that is to us!! We are incredibly blessed!
- Figuring out the legal aspects of visas and taxes is not fun for any of us on the team, but a task we must do well.
- There is an amazing amount of ministry to be done in Vienna, in Austria and in Central Europe. Narrowing down where we should focus our time as individuals and as a team is difficult.
- God is at work building the local Evangelical Church strong in Austria and throughout Central Europe.
Looking ahead, only God knows what this next year will bring. Our prayers are that ...
- our language will be at a place we can have deep conversations with Austrians, in their heart language.
- our relationships with our team members here in Vienna and at our local church here in Vienna will deepen.
- our relationships with our stateside team members will be strengthened as we return for the 2015 Missions Conference.
- we will be involved in more work in places like Bulgaria, Montenegro and Czech Republic.
- we will involve some of you in ministry "boots on the ground" here in Vienna and elsewhere in Central Europe.
- we will be more like Jesus.
As always, we can not thank God enough for you!
We praise Him for your love and friendship.
We praise Him for your prayers.
We praise Him for your financial support.
Even though we thank and praise God, please know .......
YOU are each appreciated.
We praise Him for your prayers.
We praise Him for your financial support.
Even though we thank and praise God, please know .......
YOU are each appreciated.
Please let us know via email how we can be praying for you.
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