Friday, January 29, 2016

Multiplication

It is really amazing to see what God is doing here in Zurich. In every ministry we have seen an increase in number of people participating, personal growth, as well as running things well without too many challenges. Our biggest challenge at the moment is we are getting to the point where we don't have enough people to help run what is going on. In Coffee and Deeds, there are so many people that come in we do not have the time to sit and chat with people during a regular shift. We have now started to go to Coffee and Deeds on a separate occasion in the week to talk to people and meet them where they are at. Also in the bible study that we run there in an increasing number of people coming and now we need different ways to still make the group have a family feel. For the kids program we help run it is increasingly well prepared and runs very well. There is also a slight increase of children. Last we help immigrant mothers learn German in a conversation class and there are almost too many for the people that are helping. God is really moving in the ministries here in Switzerland. Please pray that this continues and also that God is preparing more people to come and help! If possible that it would be people within the community as it is one of our goals to involve people who live in the area to eventually take over these programs.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Nothing is Impossible

For a few months we have been doing some child care for a family in the community. These children can be very challenging and difficult to look after. We have spent then past few months praying for them and trying to work with the parents on how to deal with what is happening. Over Christmas we had a little break from this ministry and the parents started to make some really positive changes. The mother is staying home more with her children, giving more individual attention, this couple even has been reading and talking to professionals about how to raise children. The environment has totally changed, the children are better behaved, the parents are more relaxed this is more of a home reflecting on God. There is hope now in a situation that seemed would never change.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Little Victories

        Over the past four months one of the greatest challenges about being here is not understanding the language. Learning a new language takes time, a lot of practice and can be frustrating when you have been studying for months and still hardly understand some times. This week I had a little victory in this area. One of the girls who comes to kidstreff ( the children's program we help run at the Protestant church) was talking to me like usual. In the past I have not understood her because she is very fast and probably doesn't speak in clear thoughts some times. I understood her for the first time ever and was able to respond accordingly this week! I just feel one step closer to really being able to connect with the people here. It is nice to see the progression even if it is just a little at a time.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Mission Net

       Last week I was at a large conference called Mission Net in Germany. This was a five day conference to encourage and renew people who are in mission work or people who are interested in mission work. There was two main sessions a day, many seminars, many times of small groups, prayer, worship and getting to know people from all over the world. I was sent by OM to help with Global Village. This is a simulation that people go through to see the many needs of the world. In this simulation you go back in time to creation and the fall. Then to when Jesus died and the instruction to spread the gospel. The final step is going through "the village." This is a space that many of the very difficult issues of the world we face our acted out. Things such as domestic violence, prostitution, refugees, people from other religious backgrounds and more. The task is to spread the gospel to the people in the room. Once a short time has past then the people where lead through three more stations of reflection, debriefing and setting goals for the future. I was part of the debriefing team so I spend half of the time talking people through what they experienced and half the time giving instruction and organizing people in the reflection room. It was a lot of fun and so interesting to see how people react and what they decide to do with this experience.

       For some people, they were very aware that it was just a simulation but where reminded of our task as Christians and all the needs of the world. There were others that were so invested that they came out in tears or didn't want to leave the village at all. I debriefed quite a few groups but there were two in particular that I remember the best. In one of the groups there were two teenage girls and two older men who were from Italy. One of the older men was translating for the teenagers and they were talking about how difficult it was to want to help but not be able to communicate since they only spoke Italian not English or German. After a long discussion I was able to encourage them that culture and language are things that can be learned and do not have to be a limitation. I was able to encourage them to help in their own culture but also giving them the possibilities to think outside the box as well. Later that day I saw one of the girls and she came up to me and gave me a big hug and then smiled and said " sorry I can't speak English." Even though she couldn't express what she was thinking I know that something that I said must of really impacted her. The other group the I really remember was about five young people who spoke Dutch but where able to converse in English. We had an amazing discussion and everyone was really into what they had experienced. For myself the most encouraging point that came out of this group was one of the girls said " I have been thinking about taking some youth and mentoring them in how Christians are suppose to live out there faith and now after experiencing this I am sure that this is my calling." I was so touched that the simulation not only moved this one girl to make a change but to bring change through helping others to also live out their faith. It was an incredible week where God was doing really big things in the lives of everyone who attended the conference.