The Enemy's blindfold

It is interesting how we can fall over and over again into the trap of the enemy even when we know about it.

I've been here for almost 3 years now and I grow a lot in many areas, but especially in my relationship to God and my weaknesses and strengths. I did Bible studies, was taught and mentored by a great leader, did practical steps to fight against that very thing I know the enemy is trying to hit me and I saw victory. Sounds great! I overcame those battles sometimes better sometimes less, but I was fighting and I won more and more days. After 2 years you think you got it now. As you grow spiritually you will become steadfast in the battle - You would... if you are aware that the enemy changes his tactic if he sees he doesn't succeed anymore.

The last few weeks I struggled with a feeling that made me wondering if I have lost the passion. I had a hard time to enjoy what I was doing. But deep in my heart I just know I am at the right place. I thought and prayed what has changed compared to the last years. It took a while till I found out that it was nothing of the circumstances that was responsible of that feeling, but it was something that I thought I have overcome and stopped fighting it with all my heart.

The biggest mistake in personals battle seemed to be ignorance! Don't ever think you won the battle, cause you will stop fighting with 100%. Ignorance is like a blindfold of the enemy. He lets us see success and tries to uses it to make us feel confident, so that we will stop fighting with all our heart. And then he comes in with another army to hit us in our weakness even harder. Don't let ignorance blind you. Yes, we do have the victory, but only if you are willing to fight with all your heart. Never cease to give it your best. But devote your heart to grow closer to God!

Coming and Going

We have almost reached the middle of semester. Week 6 is about to start but the permits are still not here. Please keep on praying for favour with the Housing Management.

The last few weeks were marked from coming and going different people. One of our very faithful volunteers, church member, Metro friend and a beloved husband for 4 months died on a heart attack. Please keep praying for his family and his wife for strength and comfort as they know that he is in the best place now.

One person going to the Lord - another one is arriving home: Bryan our faithful volunteer and husband of Helen (my old Divisional Leader) has come back from Belarus and joined our team last week. He is such a great help for one of our biggest sites. Helen will join us at the end of the semester as she is still finishing up her last school exams in Belarus and taking care of little Sophia.

And as the Lord gives and takes away, we are also losing another great person in our team. Unfortunately our only male Intern Bobby in our team had to leave us last week for an emergency in his family. He has done a great job helping out and ministering to our kids the last weeks, that it is very sad we had to say goodbye. But family comes first. Please also keep him and his family in his prayers.

After all these people coming and going our team includes (at the moment) the 3 staff of us, 2 interns and 1 volunteer. With 6 sites in our team we now miss a person to take care of the site Bobby has been placed in charge before. I know God is teaching us all to push forward, to grow closer together as a team and to be faithful servants to each other. I thank God for never letting me become comfortable in the place where I'm at but always pushing me another step forward.

From left to right: Bryan (USA), Susi, Carola (DE), Bobby (USA), Susanne (CH), Lea (DE), Yael (CH)

A New Beginning

The first week of the new semester, Spring 2012, is already over. The preparation time before passed by so fast and even this week seemed like chasing me. After a long winter break the kids and our staff was really excited to get back started with Sidewalk and Saturday Sunday School. We had great weather for the first days but there was one little bitter taste. As we struggled last year to get the permits from the Housing Management to do our programs, so it seemed we will face this year this problem again. Because of new people that have to look over the papers, we are still waiting for the permits. Of course it is sad, that we can not do a full session with stage, sound, games, songs...ect. But we do teach the word of God. And God has his reasons and his time plan. And the little sessions gives us time to talk and pray with parents and to play and spend more time with smaller groups of kids. This builds up relationships and especially in the beginning of a new semester with new interns and staff for sites, it will bring fruits for the coming weeks.

The first Saturday Sunday School was also very exciting. This year I finally drive a bus full of kids and I LOVE it! God was so merciful and even let me drive the bus of my former team mate Janelle. I would have never thought that one day I will drive a yellow 'cheese bus' (as the kids call it) in New York City and even less would I have thought I would LOVE it! But I do.

Please pray that the paperwork will be done soon and we will have the permits to do a full Sidewalk Sunday School. Also pray that my site eventually will receive the sound permit, so we can spread Gods Word even louder.

Africa!

On the 31st of January was THE DAY! My big adventure to Africa started without any delays or other problems. After a long flight over the African continent I eventually arrived in Cape Town. After that followed 2 weeks of amazing nature, shocking places and excited and happy kids. Together with the team of Metro Kids Africa I visited 1000s of kids in the poorest townships in Cape Town doing Sidewalk Sunday School in the middle of summer!

When God told me I should go to Africa I knew there was something that he wanted to show me. I was wrong. There was not just something, but a lot of things he wanted me to see, because he knew it would affect my work in NY and my view on certain things.

One of the things that impressed me the most was the numbers of volunteers who do Sidewalk Sunday School every week. They don't get paid or a certification. They do everything: Pre-Opening, Opening, Games and even the lesson. They help setting up and cleaning up. They do everything without complain but with compassion. They do it with all their heart, no matter what their life situation is, because they know those kids. They have been one of them.

We as staff in NY from all over the world, telling the kids in NY that their life can be different - we can only try to understand their living situations, we can never reach that level of understanding of the problems and difficulties these kids have to face like someone who has been growing up in this exact place. Because of this those volunteers in Cape Town have this great compassion.

One of the things that shocked me most was the need. Cape Town has to faces: The nice rich City center and the old poor and dirty suburbs. Those areas are also one of the oldest parts of the city. People from the East moved to Cape Town hoping to get a better life, too many. Those families build their little shacks on old dumbsters. Everything is dusty, trash is everywhere. A lot of the kids don't have shoes. The shacks don't have heat and in the winter it does get cold. These families have nothing compared to the families we minister in NY, but they are still so thankful and so happy.

One of the highlights in Cape Town was Skydiving. It always has been a dream of mine and there God gave me the opportunity to let that dream become true. Besides that I was so impressed with the nature: The Table Mountain, The Oceans, The cliffs... God truly has created everything so wonderful! I am so thankful that he let me see and experience this. Thanks again to all the people who made it possible for me to get there and supported me.

If you want to find out more about Metro Kids Africa you can visit their website http://www.metrokidsafrica.org/

Metro Kids Africa runs independent from Metro Ministries NY and is also a non-profit organisation which only runs through donations and sponsorships from all over the world. If you are interested in supporting the ministry or supporting one of those children in Cape Town please check out the One By One program on their website.

Germany Tour 2012

The last 2 months have been quite busy but I finally find time to report from the very exciting time I had.

Spending the whole January in Germany, I was determined to visit quite a few people. And so I did a little Germany tour 2012. After enjoying Christmas and New Year with family in my hometown the first stop of my little tour was Berlin. I enjoyed so much the time with my new little niece, which has also become my goddaughter, my sister and brother in law and seeing old friends from school and youth. The Embassy visit ran smooth and so I got my new Visa without any problems.

After that I had a longer stop in the town during my college years. From there I also visited extended family living around there. I had such an amazing time with close friends from a church that has become a family of mine. That remined me that you don't have to be far away from your country or a missionary to see amazing people that do great things in places you know. It was such an unbelievable experience and great honor to be able to preach in that very church. Even though I was very nervous God laid his words in my mouth and gave me this great opportunity to share what he has shown and taught me during the last years. I got blessed so much while I was there: in love, caring, spoiling, prayer, personal words and financially. Thank you for everything you have done to me! May God bless you guys 7 times more then that!

The last days I went back home to prepare for the next days which where about to come. I have been so blessed in Germany and I want to thank my mom and dad for their great support in everything I do and all the places God sent me so far. I also want to thank all my friends and family who have given me a place to stay, food to eat and the feeling to be loved, no matter how less we see us once in a year or how far I am away. This is what true friendship is called! Thanks to everyone!