We Actually Live Here Now

Enjoying a moment in our old hood

On a particularly crazy day about a month ago, Ashley looked over at me and said, “You know, if feels like we actually live here now.” It’s true. There’s a honeymoon period in any new location. Everyone invites you out to dinner, is hesitant to ask you to do things, compliments your work… you are a curiosity. The mere fact of your presence seems to give old efforts new momentum. However, eventually that newness wears off. As it should. Newness is great for jump-starting an endeavor. But noone ever finished anything worth doing because of newness. Consistency is the heart of progress. With consistency comes familiarity and at some point you look around and realize, “We actually live here now.”

The good news is that we’ve seen God do some amazing things since we’ve actually been living here. We finally have a car - woot! Both Ashley and I are leading key departments in the church. The teams are growing, the church is feeling like a real force in the city, and outreach efforts are in full swing. By the time we visit the States this July, many of the goals we set out to achieve here will be past the half-way mark.

But, the most miraculous evidence of God’s goodness hit much closer to home. While brushing her teeth one night, our daughter, Camera noticed a large lump under her tongue. After quietly freaking out for the rest of night, Caleb took her to a doctor the next day. He took one look and sent us immediately to a specialist who told us that she had a rare cyst called a ranula that would require surgical removal followed by a week in the hospital. No parent wants to hear their child needs surgery, especially one that might require cutting their throat.

Soon after we scheduled the surgery, friends from another ministry asked if Caleb could come play guitar for them at a conference in Paris. They covered all of the expenses and it was a very welcome, pleasantly distracting, free vacation for the family. We had the days to ourselves and he played at powerful services for the 10C Conference, an international outreach of Dwelling Place Church from Houston, TX. It was amazing. Still, we knew that as soon as we got back Camera had “the appointment.”

Our close friend, Diana Wagner, went along to help translate. The doctor had Camera open her mouth to figure out how to move forward, and then turned to Diana and asked, “Why is she here again?” We looked at each other with curiosity, then re-explained the initial diagnosis. The doctor simply shook her head and said, “Well, she can’t have the surgery because she doesn’t have the problem. Whatever it was, it’s completely gone.”

Camera was at school the next day and has been healthier and more vibrant than she’s been in months!

With that in mind, we can’t thank you all enough for your prayers over us and what God is doing here in Germany. We feel a grace on this assignment, and we know that is due in part to your commitment to cover us. We also want to thank you personally for your financial generosity. A very timely, very generous gift kept us afloat this last month and serves as further evidence of God’s incredible capacity to finish what He started.

Next week, Caleb will speak at a pastors’ conference in Tanzania. A large network of church leaders (founded by our friends & colleagues Pastors Brian & Janine Weaver) will meet for a week of practical and theological training. Thanks for your continued prayers for grace at home and abroad!

From left to right: Our new car!, The kids & their organic teepee construction site, Ember out "under the power... or was it simply during the power?", Caleb and Matze mapping out a new sound system upgrade for the Frankfurt Campus, Lead Pastor Brian Weaver dropping truth bombs, Camera, Remi & August in masquerade, beautiful people in beautiful places, Holy Spirit at work in a Sunday evening service, our friend and the world's greatest volunteer, Simon shooting you all a big "Guten Tag!"from the Oberursel Campus.