Now with photos

First of all, I offer my sympathy to the Elford family upon the loss of Ed and Helen. Their lives have reached far and wide, even here to Germany. It is comforting to know that their influence has been one of strength in God's service and an encouragement to tell the story of Jesus.

Sunday was a good day despite the news that I woke up to in my email. As I told the folks here what was weighing on my heart, it was made easier by sharing about how my life had been blessed by knowing Ed and Helen. Growing up in Manson, they where like an extra set of Grandparents. More importantly they tended a growing trust in the Lord, in me. I added a small second sermon; just tell the people here about their lives and how even in death they have gained a reward and how believing in Jesus is the only kind of insurance that lasts.

Also on Sunday, the church in Leipzig welcomed two new family members into the church. Sven and Rosemary were baptised in Oelsnitz on Sunday afternoon at 4pm. Oelsnitz is about 100km south of Leipzig. The building in Oelsnitz is often used for baptisms because it contains a fully functioning baptistry. The thought of heading down to the river in January makes a short drive down the Autobahn pretty appealing. It was also a great opportunity for Sven to meet with his extended church family as members from Oelsnitz, Zwickau and Chemnitz were able to come and share in the rejoicing over the addition to God's Family.
Sven has studied the Bible for two and half years and made his decision earlier this week. Sven lives in the same neighbourhood as the Perry's and has been sharing God's word with Dwayne regularily.

Rosemary is Dwayne and Molly Perry's daughter and has wanted to be baptised for a long time. Now seemed a good time and her parent's felt she had matured to the point that she knows why she is being baptised and what it means in her walk with God.

So now I have a digital camera and can take pictures of Leipzig and the people here. The first three photos are 1) the view from my window, I asked for a small Canadian flag and this is what I got. 2)Christians gathered in Oelsnitz for the baptism. 3) another view from my apartment, overlooking the Baustelle (construction site) All of Leipzig seems like its having a facelift for the upcoming World Cup of Soccer. I live about a 10 minute walk from the Stadium.

The Big Picture

I've now been a week in my new home. I am almost completely settled in, at least now its liveable. This week consisted of mostly trying to make contact with some people who had formerly shown interest in the LST program. Its interesting when you try and contact people in a foreign land about a program, of which they may not remember ever being a part. To begin with I am ok with my German, when I can see a person face-to-face and can tell when whatever I have said has been understood. This is completely different on the phone. New territory to explore, I guess. For now the progress has been slow, but I hope as I go on the response will get better.

Tomorrow, I will present my first lesson from the book of Luke. We have taken on the theme of "promise" and the lesson will have special circumstances because a young man named Sven, who has studied the Bible for two and half years, has chosen to be baptised tomorrow. As an added bonus, Rosemary Perry, has also decided that now is the time.

Please pray that God will show us His glory in His mighty works and that we will have the wisdom to see.

Finding a place to live

I am glad to report that after some trial and error, I have a place to live. And I also have internet so that I can report this to you. Rather than stay on my own in a single room apartment, I have found a decent sized room in what you might consider a dorm. A WohnungsGeselleschaft or WG (vay-gay) a they are called are made up of single rooms but they share a kitchen and a bathroom. So I have 5 people living very nearby. This has been pretty helpful so far. If I need something explained I just go next door and ask, like how to connect to the internet or what's my phone number?
In addition to this they know where all the good places to shop and eat are. For example, this Saturday I went with the folks to the market. I ended up buying an entire flat of raspberries for about $1.50. Normally, I would have just gone to the supermarket and paid alot. An interesting note: I think I figured out why lots of students are vegetarian, its just so cheap, at least it is here in Germany.

So it begins.

After a long drive to Winnipeg and a long flight with a couple extra delays thrown in just for fun, I have arrived in Leipzig. I am currently sitting in an internet cafe / copy center that itself is situated in between the University square and the Nikolaikirche. Its quite the amazing view out the large window behind me. The perfect location to write something inspirational, so let's see if that's possible.

I had to buy a new cell phone today. I had planned to use the one that I had purchased before, but as the old saying goes: If you don't use it, you lose it. Seems to be the rule with prepaid cell phones. That also goes for whatever money you have invested in the account too. I found this out after working up the courage to go and talk to the guy behind the counter. Its odd, because even though I used to live in Germany, it still takes an awful lot of pacing the floor pretending to look at electronic gizmos before you are willing to launch out there and explain that your German is rusty and could they please help you find out what's wrong with your beloved cell phone.

Es ist wertlos. Worthless, my little phone was now only good as a phone book or as children's toy. As I walked through the old part of the city and admired the buildings in the shopping streets, I thought about the history of this place. I walked up to the Nikolaikirche and since its open to the public free of charge I went inside and sat down. I looked up at the ceiling and noted the detailed work. I also noticed that a few people were also sitting the benches taking a break from there busy day. I wondered how many of these people were there because they felt a call to be nearer to God or how many are just resting in a quite place. I like old churches, this one especially, because it has a special meaning to the people here. It is the location that marks the birthplace of the quite revolution. In the last days of the DDR, people would gather on Mondays to light a candle and show their solidarity, a sign to the communists that the end was near.

I wish I could be more profound, but today's little adventure has taught me this: Some things hold there value and others do not.