What's your major?

So do we look like your typical English teacher? (Yes, we are or are studying it! - Jacky, Dodo, me, and Miriam)

One of the favorite things students like to ask each other is: "What do you study?

What's your major?" Sometimes a typical nerdy engineering student might have a couple of pens in his shirt pocket, as a clue.

Well, you didn't have to search too far for the answer at our recent semester kick-off party where everyone dressed the part of what they study! Here are Sabrina and Anja above...

And Stephi and Christiane study food sciences/ chemistry! (with a rather brown banana to prove it!) A "game" we had was a "Science Slam" where 5 of us presented a theme and explained it, using a flip chart, to the group.

Sunny days around Easter

It was great seeing old friends last week, Alrik and Antje, who visited from Weimar and used to be active in our Jena Connexxion group! And I got to (finally) meet their sweet baby boy! We enjoyed sharing updates on our lives & it was especially interesting to hear about their work world --of product & graphic design with an amazing company, Pappenfuss.
It seems like spring has finally sprung... so Johnny and Inga and I did some "wandern" recently (hiking, walking) in a lovely natural forest.
On Good Friday I once again got to enjoy the sunny days, with friends including Kris & Birthe above (to their left, Stan & Peter).
You can see we weren't the only ones with the great idea of having a picnic!
I think the guys gave the afternoon a thumbs up! (Kris with our friend Thanh)

gettin' on the same page

How do you bring various people together, so that we work as ONE? As a team, much like a rowing crew with arms and legs strained, striving toward the finish line as smoothly as possible on that river. I have a TON to learn about this. And those close to me could write a book about the times I fail weekly. But this aspect in ministry and life is one that I do value highly. Team.

One element is through the process of Planning. Whether gathering just as a staff or with key students, planning builds a sense of "team." We actually are starting this process, prep-ing for the next college semester already IN the previous semester, as we dialogue, 'tweek,' & figure out things we want to include or change. If your program is more organic, you can make changes super quickly. Like from week to week if necessary (I have found this even more necessary in the catalyst mode-- starting up a NEW group. Or in a culture like Spain). As we toss around ideas (and that's the way my preference works, to think out loud!), I feel we brainstorm our way to "we ALL own this" vision. As we leave the planning process, everyone knows where we're headed. And WHY.

Praise. This is evaluation, and can happen anytime. Give thanks and dish out compliments freely for what is "worthwhile" (depending on your view of "success" for that event, or that character trait or task or attitude... or what have you...). And on the other hand, change, correct and cut out stuff that doesn't help you (your team, your organization, your walk with God, etc.) to go in a positive direction. You may want to take note of Andy Stanley's thoughts for leaders on saying "thank you". I also love what he says in a free podcast about "Clarify the Win." What you praise will become part of this "same page" and vision.

Pause. A key time for preparation is during the semester break-- thankfully in Germany, there are 6 weeks between the 2 main semesters. And coming together is a great time to stoke the larger vision! To get away from the daily rush of having to crank out a program, and stop long enough to plan. If you have the funds & time, it's helpful to get away from your normal surroundings for building team or planning. An overnight at a retreat place is great. Maybe even if you just went to Starbucks for a few hours!

Pray. This joins hearts like nothin' you've ever seen. You can also combine worship, music & a Bible study. You find it hard to be irritated at one another, while praying together. Now, I don't mean to use this as a manipulation tool; but let's be frank-- do we ever go to God enough in prayer? I don't. We intercede for each other personally and for our vision.

Play. Games help you get on the same page, without even realizing it! Laughing. Finding out personalities (who is competitive!). Preferences (like which color you prefer for your "place marker"). We organized 2 events recently with our group -- one for overall semester planning. To start things off, Anja had a cool game where she tore out pages from magazines. Then she cut out just one small block from that photo. In teams, just by looking at that small slice, we had to guess what the REST of the photo (the larger picture) might be!

Afterwards we explained the theme: all over the room we had taped up pictures of puzzle pieces. I shared that life may sometimes seem like a bag of marbles where each one is different. We are all just dropped on this earth or in our city. There is no rhyme or reason as to why we're here or our relation to each other.

"Life seems to be a series of unrelated, disjointed events and experiences."1

(in photo above are: Ollie, Stephanie, Dodo, & Kris)

However, the biblical model of life is that life is more like a jigsaw puzzle. We are unique as individuals. But the pieces have a pattern and we all "fit together" in a grand plan of God's! Even though sometimes things seem random, eventually (at the latest, in Heaven), we'll discover how things make sense. Our goal now is to please God and find out what HIS big perspective is for us, and the world! The verse we used is great:

"Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

- 1 Corinthians 13:12, New Living Translation -

Pizza was enjoyed by all ... (photo below: Anja, Sören, Stephanie, and Nikola). Ok-- you don't need pizza to be a good team, but we all know how valuable it is to stop and drink coffee together, or cook a meal. Sharing ideas over food is great!

We had a 2nd event, a seminar time just for planning our Bible discussion groups, that begin next week in 2 restaurants/ pubs, Alex & Eusebia (click here for photos & menu! :-). Our discussion leaders for this semester are Kris, Marc, Hanna, Christiane, Birthe, and yours truly!

(1 Milt Hughes, "Life Perspective" in The Journey Notebook, 1995, which was published before by Lifeway as Spiritual Journey Notebook. The concept of the bag of marbles versus a jigsaw puzzle comes from his book!)

Birthe's Home

Recently I visited Birthe's (far right) home town about an hour from here.
We attended the church which had an influence on her coming to faith, & she shared a bit about her work on staff with Connexxion. Afterwards we took a stroll in the city, with 2 friends!There were some quaint "half- timbered" houses (called "fachwerk) as pictured above.
This church worship room below looks fairly good-sized ... I figured some of my friends might like to have an overview of one of the largest "free church" denominations in Germany, the Baptists and Brethren Churches together.

In Germany, this denomination has:

-- 950 congregations.

-- an average of 97 members per church.

-- 2,128 persons who were baptized in 2009.

A few interesting facts about religion in this nation:

-- The population of Germany is 81,471,000 persons.

-- So .11 % of the population is Baptistic-- not 11 % but less than 1/2 of 1 %.

-- Various charismatic & evangelical churches number 272,000 persons (not incl. Baptists).

-- Churches of Russian- German heritage: from 300,000 - to - 380,000 members.

-- Catholics number 25,400,000.

-- Protestant Church (state church) = 25,100,000 members.

-- Islam - 3 million adherents.

-- Acc. to a 2006 survey by Shell: 30% of German youths (ages 12-24) believe in a personal God. 19% believe in a spiritual power of some sort. 28% would call themselves atheists.

Willkommen, Kris!

Last week we welcomed Kris H. to our Connexxion Team (see far right). He will be working with university students in our city for the next 2 or so years. He is from Texas so the greeting was accompanied by some delicious (and hard to find here) Dr. Pepper! Ollie (left) has been helping him search for a stove & other needed items. Marc (in red, also an engineering student) is his new roommate. Willkommen und Gottes Segen!

doors

The Scriptures speak to ideas about doors. For instance, in Deuteronomy 11:18 ff - "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates..."

I find them fascinating and poetic, and have enjoyed taking photos of gates, entrances & doors while in various locations. Hope you enjoy these, taken in three countries...

Doors. Enter. Exit. Flow of life.

Pathways. Greetings. Entrance. Patterns. Open. Closed.

Guarding. Safety. Protective. Threatening. Hiding.

Barred. Locked. or Inviting. Colorful. Meaning.

Descriptive. Elegant. Framed. Cultural.

Scary. Peek-holes. Foreboding. Shut out. Shut in.

Inviting. Welcoming. Blue.

A statement. Useful. Handles.

Revelation 3 - "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

Why not take a moment to thank God for an open door (in business, in your family, the open heart of a friend, ministry opportunity, etc.).

Then ask the Father to open a door for you ... of a new vision. A blessing in one area of your life, or a fresh adventure for His work in your world... or possibly to shut one, that would protect you & others...

Back to the roots

Enjoying coffee time with Anja's lovely parents, Renate and Klaus, who are so hospitable & tell such entertaining stories!
Walking the cafe street which I frequented with joy while living in Jena... & where the wonderful Davis family used to live!
Gunter and Anja praying a blessing over Stefan & Antje-- great friends & full of faith. They are also full of adventure-- they're now working with Connexxion! I've known Stefan since about my 2nd week in Jena, & we have super memories! I first met precious Antje when she came to a small group in a pub with her roomie, Vera.
Last weekend I visited my old "home" city in Germany, Jena! What a great place to relive memories and celebrate several things. We had the annual board meeting for our Connexxion non- profit organization. And on Sunday there was a very special send-off worship service for our friend Nicole!
Here is a delicious breakfast at the home of my hosts, Matthias, Ulrike and Reinhard! He serves on our board and is a business professor at the university.
My friend Anja K. & I got to spend some 'girl time' together, with baby Artur! She and her husband are such faithful & creative leaders of the Connexxion ministry in Jena! They've stepped out in faith in so many ways-- I am continually amazed at their humble, yet persistent way of following Jesus!
Maria and Lukas were single college students when we first met, and later we were in the discipleship group together. Now they're married & have a darling (well, she was sad here!) little girl. Both of them have invested hundreds of hours serving in leadership of discipleship groups. And he graciously handles our ministry's finances, while getting his doctorate.
Anja and Nicole used to be roomies... and Nicole served 'bunches' in the past in our Jena group, leading a worship team & generally encouraging gals. She started a new ministry in our church, called "the Door" to reach out to youth in the community. Well, as a trail-blazing catalyst, she couldn't sit still, so handed off The Door to a friend she mentored & is now headed to Montenegro (this week, by CAR!) to serve with OM.

praying for japan

Tonight we had a very sweet time together as a Connexxion group in my apartment. We're still in the middle of our semester break (in the USA you'd say: "spring break"). But ours is about 6 weeks-- filled with exams, finishing up papers, and doing internships-- but NOT having classes. We took time to cook pasta together... and then prayed for various needs in Japan.
Later some of us baked cookies --

Here is Anja and Jacky (bottom, left) and Janina & Janina (right side). We're going to pass on these cookies as a "thank you" to some of our Connexxion prayer partners!

It made me feel "purposeful" to do a bit of research about organizations within Germany which are doing big things in Japan to help out ... & also those from the USA who are wading into the mess and making a difference! Check out these links for ideas...

Vienna at a glance

Vienna is a classy city. The Hofburg Palace is right on this main Ring Boulevard that runs for 4 kilometers.
The sign above was on a church door and says: "Confession & speaking out." It is for those wanting to talk or confess to the priest.

This winter I got a free trip to visit some friends in Vienna & get some ideas for Connexxion. There I briefly (in 1 afternoon) checked out some of the campuses, too. They have 100,000 university students in this prestigious city! The daughter took me to a well- known ice cream & Italian pastry shop.
Here is one of the main campus buildings which even has audio head sets so you can tour it!
Making some delicious dinner out of pastry dough and cabbage!

Connexxion board meeting in Jena

We had a great time together this weekend in Jena, with our Connexxion staff along with our non-profit organization's board members & their spouses. Here is a photo with lots of smiles, after a longer afternoon together. First, we had an informational meeting in the church, inviting lots of friends, where we shared stories from 2010 from all 4 cities where we have groups. Then we enjoyed a VISION time with just this group talking about developing new structures, expanding, increasing our financial base & more "behind the scenes" ideas. Last but not least came the smaller "official" board meeting.

God has given us a great 3 & 1/2 years as a non-profit organization in Germany & we look forward to the next 30 + years & what the Father has in store. Danke an alle, die uns gesegnet haben und so viel Unterstützung geleistet haben! Thanks to all who have blessed us and contributed so much support!

What 7 months without a microwave instilled in me

Yes, that's right. Since August I've lived without a microwave. That is, until last week (read more below). Through this simple experience, God has instilled some valuable principles in me. The following questions might accompany an exercise in living with a contented heart, as we consciously or unconsciously trust God for our "stuff."

How many creative ways can I save money, in order to invest in God's Kingdom?

I had given away my (not fancy or expensive) microwave to a friend in ministry, when I moved to Spain. And coming back to Germany, it just didn't seem on the top of my shopping list. I mean, whenever I would think of the inconvenience, I recalled those who work with our Connexxion student group & are dependent on 'partners' for their support. Paying 35 or even 100 Euro for a microwave wouldn't be much to invest. Afterall, it would save me valuable time.

But in the scheme of things, I could share exactly those funds to help someone on our team pay rent, so he/ she could be free to hang out on campus, plan a retreat for collegiates, or write new discipleship materials. I would remember when I used to raise ALL my financial support & lived on the West Coast. At times, I used the money I got from taking back recycling bottles to pay for gas. It can be a tough way to depend on others for providing your salary.

So I asked myself: "How can I give generously & even more sacrificially?" My sister- in -law's blog is also inspiring on sacrificing our dreams. By re- evaluating other purchases in the light of Eternity, I have passed by a shelf of lovely paper napkins I would like (I still buy them sometimes, but not as much as some years). At times I buy that awful, scratchy toilet paper (Germany uses this commonly) because it's cheaper than the soft kind! And no- name dish soap is not all that bad!

The next time you want to purchase a small "un-necessary luxury" (you decide what a "small luxury" is for you), ask yourself 3 things:

1. can this wait a week (or month)?
2. is the purchase based on wisdom & God's prompting or just on a whim?
3. by sacrificing a few pennies or dollars here, in which ministry or person could I invest 10 Euro (or 20 or 200?), if I saved like this over the long haul? (make your shopping decisions personal-- not personal about YOU, but personal about those you want to support!)

What would my Grandma do!? Back in the good ol' days, people heated up things on the stove or in the oven. They seemed to accomplish a BIG load of things without our modern conveniences: grow a garden, mend a torn shirt by hand, sterilize the baby bottles, can their vegetables, & juggle various tasks. I already have 2 methods of cooking & heating up food in my kitchen. So why do I need a third one? It made me feel homey & like a back- to -the -earth pioneer woman to think about my Grandmothers.

How can I build in short times of reflecting on Jesus or sending up praise during the day?

I have an older CD/ cassette player in my kitchen where I can play music. Whenever I am cooking, standing by that stove instead of instant- heating a dish... waiting FOREVER for something to heat up... I try to remember to turn on good music. Even if it's just long enough for 1 song. That praise- moment lifts my spirits, encourages me spiritually, & aids me in tuning into God! It slows me down to pause & relax. Can you think of other ways to remind yourself to praise God during the day, and help this "fit" into a system or ritual in your week?

When I have a need, can I depend on God to meet it, or do I rush to "fend for myself"? Now don't get me wrong. God gives us money so we can purchase stuff, save it for a rainy day, or invest finances in His eternal plan. But many times the "purchase stuff" category comes to mind so quickly, when I could lift up the need in prayer FIRST. Or thank God for His taking care of me, for what I already have (like a stove)! And learn to be content.

In this case, after 7 months without a microwave, Birthe came to me: "Martha, you need to come by my place. Jessy asked me if I needed a microwave, because they were getting rid of theirs. I told her 'no, but I know of someone!'" God also used Birthe in the Fall as an instrument for me to have a cheap water cooker. I use it at least daily to make tea. It's not fancy, but again it's free! And seeing that blue machine is a reminder that Jesus is taking care of me, even through one of our Connexxion staff who develops HER support. And I can also learn a TON by letting others serve me! As I was about to take this photo, it hit me, "Oh wait! The coffee maker was also a great gift!" Anja's family donated it to me; her grandmother passed away last year and had hardly used it! So here you have it: my Row of God's Provision! It's your turn: what is one thing you've learned to live without the past months? How has it revolutionized your attitude & your giving?

Sevilla has a special color (pt. 2)

Our excursion day on Saturday at the beach was a blessing-- here i am with Maggie (she and her husband Hendrik serve on staff with Connexxion, too and lead the Sevilla group), and my friend Inma!
Fran (Francisco) was one of my first friends in Spain-- what a great guy! This was his birthday!
Lauren and I had coffee in the center with a special friend Annie, whom I have also gotten to visit in her home in another city (Starbucks is in the background-- but no, did not get coffee there). Note: Starbucks was invited in the Northwest of the USA... very far from the delights of a real espresso machine found in literally thousands of bars in Europe, with much cheaper coffee and great atmosphere! Yes, in bars-- what I have found in Spain, at least, is that you do not need various types of eating establishments (yes, it exists)-- because the main place where you eat, drink and have your morning coffee with a tostada is a bar! Your "one- stop -shopping" adventure on every corner!
Love the flamenco dress creations... I will unfortunately miss the Feria de Abril this year, where I would wear my very own flamenco dress (thanks, Lauren, for storing it there for me!).
This is a very old bar (remember what I said above!-- I got "tapas" here) in the old city Santa Cruz, with an interesting mounted wild pig!