Video #4 - Munich

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Video #3 - The Kids

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Video #2 - The Center

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Video #1: The Team

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AD and Carnival Night

I had the privilige of having dinner with the Europe Area Director of Global Partners last night. It is his first year as Area Director and it was great listening to his vision for Europe. When two grown men tear up while they talk about their passion for people, there is something wrong (or special -depends on how you look at it).

Friday night was the last night with the kids, it was bitter sweet because it was our last night with kids but also a fun night doing Carnival Night! We had set up different carnival like games in each room, such as: ring toss, hop scotch, face painting, bag toss bingo, etc. The kids could win tickets that could be turned in for prizes. It was a great night of fun.

The team is leaving this morning for Munich and this will be the last blog post from the Schonblick center. Thanks for praying for the team.

Darci having fun with the kids at Carnival Night.

Many smiles this week (kids and team)

Mia taking a walk in the flower gardens with two of the younger kids.

Last Lesson with Kids and a Great Coffee Date

The Germany team of: Darci Anderson, Mia Anderson, Kelsy Wilson, Jamie Habenecht, Meg Beckwith, and Jen Swift had their last classes with the kids today. Tonight's activity is Carnival night and from what I hear, one of the kids favorites!

During our afternoon break I had the pleasure of having coffee with a couple serving in Belgium. He is actually getting his PhD in Post-Modern Theology. Much of this conversation was over my head but I was able to take away some important nuggets. Why was this conversation important? America is a generation behind Europe when it comes to cultural thinking. Postmodern thinking has arrived in America on the fringes but soon it will become mainstream. The way I communicate to the younger generation must change or I will no longer be an influence in that generation.
Once again I was amazed by this couples ability to say YES. They raised 4 children while serving as missionaries in S. America and now Europe. It's the common denominator with everyone at this conference, saying YES is what they do. Their definition of being "Sold Out" is different than most Americans (me inlcuded). Most of us like to say we are sold out as long as we can also live the American dream. This of course doesn't mean God calls all of us to leave our culture for another one. But, I do believe God calls all of us to be missionaries. The problem in my live is when I get comfortable, I loose that vision.

I'm hoping to have one more wrap up blog before we leave Saturday morning to Munich. Thanks for praying for the team. Steve

A beautiful morning with the hills behind the trees-from my rooms window.

Williams Family and more Great Food!

I had the pleasure to sit down over breakfast with the Williams family. You Heritage folks will recognize that name as they were Heritage peeps for many years before hitting the mission field in Czech Republic. We had such a great conversation about the challenges and rewards of mission work. Although, many times in our conversation they said they are not spiritual giants but just regular people that said YES. Those three letters many times in my life have haunted me. Saying yes to God always requires a sacrifice. This family has sacrificed much and the rewards are not the rewards many people would sign up for. Many of the words that were exchanged over breakfast today will go into my journal and will encourage me to many years to come. Please join me in praying for Allen, Amy, Toby, Ben, Katie and David as they say yes everyday when most of us say "not today".

I took this picture before breakfast today. This conference center grows many of its fresh produce. It was a beautiful sunny day with a little mist coming off the ground from a cool night and here was this older gentlemen picking lettuce for my lunch. It was one of those hallmark moments that will stick in my mind from this trip.

This afternoon I took the long walk (100yards from my room) to the local cafe. I had a great cappuccino and this orange, cream cheese cake that was, well amazing! All sitting outside in the sun soaking up the foreign culture around me. I had no idea what people were saying but I could see the connections they had with each other, two friends enjoying coffee, an older couple eating some ice cream together and a family of 5 all sitting around a table talking about their day over some pastries.

One more day with the families here and then time to pack up and start the travels back to the states and my family. That has been the one negitive about this trip, my family is not with me. That is something I'm not use to and I do not like.

Thanks for praying for the team.

Giant Slugs and the Fireless Fire Pit

Wednesday night's event was Out Door Fun Night. We all most had to have Outdoor Fun Night inside because it rained all day, not a hard rain just misting all day. But to our excitement the sun came out during dinner!

I took the kids on a slug hunt. This area of Germany has these big orange slugs, some around 4 inches! The picture I took does not do this creature justice. It reminds me of those orange marshmellow things you have during Halloween. On our slug hunt we counted over 100 slugs!

The plan for the evening was also to have a fire with smores but the wood was wet and after countless tries to get it going we gave up and handed out mini flashlights to the kids. Being flexible and having a plan B and C is always important with kids! We have two more days here at the conference center and I will miss these families. They sacrifice so much and with so little encouragement. You really dont understand some of the Apostle Paul's emotional writings in the Bible until you talk to a missionary. They leave behind family, friends and the comfort of their own culture to enter into a unknown and sometimes hostile environment. More of an emotional hostile without many successes. A success for Heritage church is bringing someone to to know Christ and discipling them to be more like Christ. Succes for these missionaries is meeting someone they can talk to and have tea with. The mental adjustment for this redefinition of success is very difficult for many new missionaries. Its mentally draining for many of these families, the strain on marriages, children is intense. They all do it for one reason, Jesus. There is no other other reason.

Thanks for praying for the team.

Pictures from Wednesday Morning

Table #1 breakfast spread (meats, cheeses, fruit and fantastic baked breads). Table #2 is yogurt, granola and nuts. The food has just been increadable and no cooking or cleaning up!

Some of the missionaries enjoying the food and conversation. This conference is a highlight for these European Missionaries. Its the only time of the year they get to see each other and just undwind. What an incredible opportunity to serve these people and invest in their children!

Outdoor play time for the Preschool class.

Jamie playing with the kids on the playground that is part of the conference center.

Futball and Birthday Parties

No run this morning becuase it was rainy and 5o degrees this morning. Instead I played soccer with some kids in the afternoon. These kids live in Czech Republic and are pretty good soccer players, I'm not, I kept wanting to catch the ball like a basket ball. I was schooled by some teenagers!

Tonights special event was a Birthday Party, no kid speficially but all kids that had a birthday in the last year. Jen went to the grocery store to get a cake and rest of the team decorated the room in streamers and ballons.

Thanks for praying for us.

The kids waiting for CAKE!

Still waiting...

The cake is here!

...and its yummy!

Monday Afternoon and Movie Night

Monday afternoon the team walked down to the town of Schwabisch Gmund to see the sights. The town of 65,000 was first inhabited in 1162 so its a little older than us Americans are use to. Schwabisch Gmund was a monastery town, inluding six monastory and convents but today the only ones that exist are the Fraciscan Nuns of Perpetual Adoration.

The walk down to the town is about 3 kilometers and step, averaging 15-22% grades(down). A small one lane road with incredible houses on both side of the lane.

These walls were built in 1350 to protect the city. Towers were built for people to keep a lookout for invaders but also fires in the city.

Augustinuskirche built in 1284 was just amazing. I talked to the campus pastor and asked if they needed a Kids Pastor. No response for an interview yet.

The team resting in many of the small sancturies that dot the city of Schwabisch Gmund.

Movie night for the kids was a hit! We watched the movie UP and even some of the adults came down to watch. Popcorn was a once a year treat for many of these missionary kids.

Monday Morning Classes

The Germany Team had its first morning session with the kids today. Many of these kids are so tired! You think its hard to get your kids read for church on Sunday morning, try traveling by air and train for 6-8 hrs in the car and then dropping them off with strangers, sleeping in hotel style rooms, out of comfort zone to the max. Its a recipe for some tired and cranky kids. The team did fantastic!

I had another great run with one of the missionaries this morning. We went slow and just chatted the entire hour run. Beautiful morning here with temps in the low 50's (@6:30am)this morning and very low humidity. Very nice compared to the mid 90's and high humidity of the midwest.


Preschool kids showing off their artwork.







Jamie dancing with the kids during all worship.








Preschoolers during video bible lesson

1st Night w/ Kids

The conference officially started tonight with dinner and introductions. When they introduced the team from Heritage they gave us a standing applause! And this team deserves it, they did awesome tonight. The kids were tired and some a little cranky and the team handled it like pros.

Time for bed! Thanks for your prayers! P. Steve

A heated discussion between Meg and Mia, "suger cube vs a spoon of suger, which tastes better in the coffee?"

Darci and Meg getting hugs from two of the kids

Kelsey working the floor!

I'm In Heaven!

I'm loving this German culture. They are so efficient with everything from closet space to how they communicate. There is no waste! When they talk to each other there is no beating around the bush, just direct to the point. The towns are set up for public transport. Bike/walk paths everywhere and everything you need from grocery stores, cool family restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries within walking distance. You would not need a car!
Speaking of the food...just amazing! Breakfast consisted of muesli, flax seeds, fresh yogurt, fresh baked whole grain breads, yummy cheeses, and fruit spreads and of course coffee (good coffee no flavor crystals over here!).
I went for a run this morning in the country and stayed on a walking path the whole time. In the country on a walk/bike path, can’t believe it! I ran to the next town about 3kilometers away.
Since being here, I think I have asked God why I was born in America and not Germany at least 10 times :)
Today we are unpacking and organizing all the Kids crafts and materials. We set up the video projector and computer this morning for the video teaching and movies for movie night. Tonight after dinner we have the kids for the first time for 3 hrs. Starting tomorrow (Monday) we will have the kids in the morning for 4hrs and in the evening for 3 hrs.
Thanks for your prayers, Steve

This machine is awosome! Put your euro in the slot and pick your java (esspresso, coffee, etc...grinds the beans fresh and spits out black gold!)

Arrived!

After 30 some hrs of traveling we have arrived at Schonblick conference center. It is a beautiful place. The center is located in the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd and it is a beautiful German town nestled in a hilly forested area northwest of Stutgart. I would compare the area to the smoking mountains...
I just got back from a run, in which I got lost. I asked 3 different people for direction and only one spoke some broken English...
The team is doing great but a little tired from all the air and train travel...and transporting 4 very heavy suitcases full of crafts and games for the kids here at the Missions conference.
I'm hoping to download some pictures and video tonight.
From Germany, Steve and the Team.

A cafe on the conference grounds!

One of the guest houses on the grounds.

The playground behind the conference center. Behind the playgound is a forest with hiking/walking (or running!) trails.

Packing Party

The Germany Missions Team enjoyed a "German" meal of brats, potato salad and European chocolate on Wednesday night as they packed for the 10 day Mission trip to Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. We have 4 large suitcases packed with crafts and activities to keep 40+ kids ages birth to 18 busy and happy (trust me not an easy task)!

Read to Go!

The Germany Missions Team is having its last meeting to pack up all our activities and crafts. It takes a lot of planning and preparation to pull off a week long Kids Program 5000 miles away. The team is excited and read to go....
Check back soon to read the adventures from Germany!