new trick!

this is old news by now, but bryce learned to spell my name last week!

 

p.s. we had some fun driving the tractor the other night at the land! check out the pictures.

home on the range.

I've spent the past two days in Midwest bliss. It's great being home with my family, and back on the prairie again. I didn't realize how much I love the simple, strong beauty of the prairie. The myriad shades of green in the eagerly growing fields contrast with a vast, unreachable expanse of the deepest blue sky, sprinkled intermittently with every sort of cloud. Last night my younger brothers and I drove out to the edge of town to watch a huge storm system move in. There was a line of thunderheads to the north, and a black wall of cloud to the west, almost pink with the flashing lightning. Having lived so long in the little valley by the Sieg, it's amazing to see the immensity of the sky here. The sunsets are rich and vibrant, and they bring out the color and charm of all the neighborhood flowers. It's probably often overlooked, but truly, it's lovely.

Two little visitors spent a few hours at our house both yesterday and today: Bryce and Brennan, my adorable nephews! Bryce is two, can count to at least 30, spell every name in the family [we're working on A-N-N-I-E right now], do all sorts of tricks and with his contagious smile can convince us to do just about anything with him. He'll ask if we want to do something, and answer right away on our behalf, "Okay!" Who can deny it? Brennan is the sweetest, cuddliest, happiest little fellow. I hear that he's grown an awful lot even as a 2-month-old, but I still marvel at his tiny little toes and fingers! He doesn't cry unless he's hungry, and if you ask him if he's "got a smile in there," he breaks out in a great big grin. Tyler even had him laughing tonight for a while. [photo credit: Tyler Johnson]

It's been nice having nothing on the agenda for these first few days, and being able to just hang out with my family. I so appreciate each one of them, and we've had some great talks, great laughs, and great times already. Plus, jet lag has completely eluded me, so I've been able to sleep all night and stay awake all day! I'm thankful.

I'm excited to lead worship at church on Sunday, and to head back to work at the restaurant on Monday. But first comes Saturday! Have a blessed weekend.

post #201.

going hoooooooooome tomorrow.
i've been packed for several hours, started a new book, and am biding the time till Bin picks me up for one last hurrah at her house tonight.
then it's back to the mighty midwest, leaving here at 7am tomorrow!
excited to go home, and to have a little break from siegen and the rain. but i'll be glad to come back when it's time..
it's still a little mindblowing that in one day, a person can be on both sides of the world..

round two.

The worship conference began today. It's terribly rainy and cold outside, but I know this is going to be a great conference. I got to sit in on the first session this morning, and was really blessed. Duane Clark shared on John 1, and the ministry of John the Baptist. His sole goal was to point others to Jesus! And that's what our first priority should be as worship leaders: to point the church to Jesus.

I'm helping during one meal doing food prep, another meal with dishes, and another meal working the coffeebar, but otherwise I'm pretty freed up to go to the sessions and workshops.

Pray that the Lord will really use this time to equip and refresh His people for the ministry of worship! There are about 70 people here for the conference, and I think there will be a lot of people from the church at the evening sessions tonight and tomorrow.

Also thinking about home- I leave on Wednesday! But for now, back to the conference.

in Your presence is fullness of joy- Lord, You are my portion! in Your presence is mercy and love- Lord, You are my God!

so I will bless You Lord, I will praise You Lord, I will worship You, O Lord God Most High-

for I know: You are my portion, You are my God.

fight the good fight.

Today I went with my friend Damaris to the public school where she teaches. She had invited a Christian band from New Zealand to come and play a show at her school today, so I tagged along to check it out and help however possible. I didn't really know what to expect. But I prayed at 6am just before we left that the Lord would use me, and keep us all reliant upon His Spirit. And He did!

The school had about 1000 kids from ages 10-19 or so. The concert was outside on a parking lot/basketball court area. And even though it's been cold and rainy and miserable the last few days, the sun came up bright and early as we drove to the school, and stayed out pretty much all day long. I ran the merch table, helped with little things here and there, and got to practice some German skills with the kids and teachers. And otherwise, I just shot up prayers now and then that the Lord would do a faithful work in the kids' hearts through the concert. 

The kids got pretty into the concert after a couple songs, which was encouraging. During a little interview with the band, for which Damaris was translating, the lead singer started sharing a story about growing up in New Zealand. Basically, he and his brother almost drowned while swimming at the beach, and just before they went under for good, he remembered his mom telling him when he was a child that if ever he should need help, he just needed to pray to God and ask Him. So he did, and the next thing he knew, he was on the beach and his little brother was running around, unharmed.

So that story got his foot in the door to share about the Lord, and he was pretty straightforward. I was a little nervous, just because the entire school was at the concert, including most or all of the faculty, and this is a German public school. Then after the story, he asked if he could pray for the kids. He did, brave guy, and afterwards they finished with a few more songs.

After the show, Damaris was pretty shook up after some teachers commented negatively about the message. But we had a sweet time of prayer, just giving the whole situation to the Lord, and especially praying that Damaris would have strength to trust the Lord and have wisdom to say the right things when the time came. 

Before we left, she and the lead singer were able to talk briefly with the headmaster of the school, and they came out smiling. He already had all his pictures online, and was very complimentary, and said that the kids loved it. There probably will be discussions about this tomorrow and Wednesday as Damaris goes back to school, so if you think of it, pray for her! The Lord totally opened this door for the Gospel to be shared at the school, and for her to be courageous in her faith. Pray that the kids will ask questions about the Lord, and that the teachers will have softened hearts too.

On the way home, I was encouraged to have been part of it all today as a prayer warrior. When we have open hearts and willing hands to serve wherever He puts us, He really can use us to influence the people we meet! A thousand kids and a bunch of critical staff members heard about Jesus today, whether they were comfortable with it or not, because He loves them. 

So, I'm encouraged [and I hope you are, too] to stand fast in prayer, and to trust the Lord in doing so. It's a blessed ministry.

goings-on.

Anja... came to visit! It was great to see her!

Bagels... were made by Hannah and I today, and they are delicious.

Chosen Girls... was tonight. I led worship and had a great time hanging out with the youth group girls.

Delicious Brunch... will be eaten tomorrow at Hannah's house.

"E, e, what begins with E?..."

I can't think of anything exciting lately that begins with an "E".. so I'll stop that train of thought.

Been thinking a lot lately about putting out an album at some point in the near future.. and have been writing and keeping track of a few ideas that have been fluttering about lately.

Reading through Jeremiah right now. The Lord is so gracious!!!

Monday morning will be cool- going with my friend Damaris to the school where she teaches. A band from New Zealand is coming to do a concert at the school, and there'll be 1000+ students there! Looking forward to being a part of it...

I go home in 12 days! Life here's been a bit dull lately, so the excitement of my imminent return to my other home is eagerly anticipated. I get to see my family, hang out with my brothers and sister-in-law, play with my two nephews, work at the restaurant, lead worship at church... life is good.

i haven't taken any pictures lately, but here's me and little v at graduation! :)

surprise.

so yesterday at church, sarah kelly came over and said, "i want to hear you play." and i said, "ok." and she said "tonight." and by "tonight," she meant at her concert! i didn't quite know what to expect, or at what time to expect it, but figured if it was supposed to happen, it would happen.

the show progressed, was quite enjoyable, and the place was packed. it came to the end, she played the last song, we applauded. they left the stage, and after a bit, they returned to the stage for an encore. she sat down again and said "i'm going to do something a little different for the encore. i met a girl yesterday who picked me up from holland, and she plays and sings too. i haven't heard her yet, but i thought we could all hear her play together." and with that i walked up to the stage, she took my hand and gave me a nice little intro, and then sat down in the front row.

the stage was mine, the lights were bright, the monitors were good and loud. i played a song i wrote a couple summers ago, and every once in a while i opened my scrunched-shut eyes to peek out at all the onlookers. [i have to say, i don't get nervous leading worship.. but performing in front of a crowd that size is a little daunting!] i finished, the clapping began, and i looked up to see people popping up all over the place. our sweet church gave me a standing ovation. 

such an opportunity wasn't something i expected, or even sought. but the Lord showed me a little lesson last night, that in being faithful in the small things, in "dwelling in the land and feeding on His faithfulness," He likes to bless our simple hearts with spots of joy here and there. i don't know what else He has in store for me down the road, but for now i'm content to be right here where He has me, and to wait and watch Him work. He's pretty good at doing that! 

and that little song that He put on my heart one night on the prairie was heard by a room full of ready hearts.. and i pray that He used it to glorify Himself, and maybe He even used it to bless somebody else's heart, just like He blessed mine.

though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, I delight to do Your will, O God, for this has become mine:

i will rejoice in the Lord.