Counting down...

I am starting to countdown the days to our one year anniversary in Belgium... just a little over a month to go.   It feels very much like an arriving point, and we are thankful that we've made it through our first year here.  And yet, at the same time I look to it as a turning point, another new beginning.  An opportunity to take all that we've learned about language and culture and to build on it and to really ask God to give us opportunities to speak into the lives of others.

We recently had the opportunity to attend a spiritual retreat and to meet other UWM missionaries in ministry throughout Western Europe.  The time renewed our souls and it has been good for our hearts to connect with others who are walking a similar journey.  It was refreshing to spend time with others who can relate to the ups and downs of being an American living in Europe, as well as a Christian living in a post-modern, post-Christian society.  We are thankful to those who are praying specifically for us to find  these friendships, your prayers are being answered!

We are also continuing to build relationships with others through our conversation groups and beginning to feel like we have friends here.  It has been a wonderful experience for us both to meet with people and to learn different perspectives of world events, as well as to learn how similar we all are.  Also, a local pastor (at one of the churches that we have attended many times)  has offered to help us connect with people to practice our French as well as for people to get to know us.  We are grateful for this opportunity and are looking forward to getting to know more people.

If you haven't already seen it, we have added a new page to our blog entitled, "Prayers for the Journey".  We hope that this will help you to get to know our home better and to "see" the work that we are doing here.

We continue to thank God for you, for your love and support!