Family and Ministry Update

In just a few short weeks we will be back in the USA for a summer Home Ministry Assignment.  As the 2006/2007 school year comes to a close we want to give you an update highlighting some of the major events which have happened over the last two months

 Family News:


    Farewell to Alison: 

   dcp_2333-1.JPG

 Alison graduated from the Bodenseehof Bible Institute. (One year program) This was a tremendous school year of maturing for her.  She grew in independence through living away from home.  She matured relationally through living with 100 other college aged students. (Four girls to a room!)  She matured spiritually through studying the Bible, through the mentoring of the school’s dedicated staff, and through participating in outreach teams which gave her many opportunities to share her faith in Christ and to use the special singing voice that God has given her.

Upon completion at the end of March, Alison spent two weeks at home with us, and then left for the USA, accompanied by Sue. They visited four colleges in PA, IN, KY, and AL.  She has decided to attend Taylor University, a Christian college in Upland, Indiana. She believes that her talents and experience growing up as a ‘missionary kid’ are gifts that she should use to serve the Lord with her life.  She is looking forward to the Lord using her studies and experience at Taylor to prepare her more fully for whatever the Lord has for her in the future.  She is currently living in Elverson PA and working as a secretary at our home church.  We are thankful for Alison and what the Lord is doing in her life.

The Home-going of Sue’s Mom,“Mickey Welker” (Mimi)

On Sunday, May 5th, after a long battle with serious health problems, Sue’s mom passed away.  Sue had the opportunity to visit and help care for her for three weeks in February, and again for a couple of weeks following on her college tour with Alison in April.  Marshall, Hannah, and Bob were able to return to the USA to be there for her memorial service on the 19th  May.  It was a solemn but special time to be together with family in order to honor Sue’s mom for her life of faith and service to her family and her God.  We will all miss her and grieve her loss.

Hannah turns 16!             
Our ‘little’ Hannah is now a young woman.  She celebrated her birthday with horseback riding and a party with her friends. Many women near and far also participated by sending her emails, encouraging her with words of wisdom from their years of experience and from the Word of God. She sat and read each one with much interest and thought. Thank you to each of you who wrote to her!      

 cooking-at-hbr-008-1.JPG      hannah-bob-nurnberg-1.JPG                                                              
Spring sports
Hannah and Marshall both participated in spring sports, Hannah is on BFA’s track and field team as a 400m runner and long-jumper.  Marshall plays on the local German Kandern soccer team.  Marshall has also had a great year with his buddies in Mr. Carry’s 5th grade class.

  image0081.jpg                                             image009.jpg  image012.jpg

                                                                     image013.jpg

Our Mission Field at BFA
While Bob is busy full- time doing various construction projects on the main campus and in the dorms, we also have various ministries to the students themselves. Our time in the two dorms where we sub as dorm parents is always a highlight for us. The missionary kids here are a special group of kids who need our prayers and encouragement and the truth spoken into their lives in order to become committed followers of Christ. Opportunities to put their faith into action are numerous, if they choose to get involved. Many do!

The Liel Dorm Gang! image015.jpg

 

 Ole-Fashion Fun

image019.jpg              image018.jpg 

  Hannah’s trip to Bulgaria
During spring break Hannah participated in one of 8 ministry teams that went out into different parts of the world from BFA.  She was on a team of 10 BFA students and 2 leaders who went to Bulgaria.  They did renovation work on a school, visited with mentally handicapped orphans, and did sports and games with teens in order to minister the love of Christ. It was a great opportunity for Hannah to use her gift of compassion.  Thanks to those of you who supported Hannah and this team with your prayers and financial gifts!               image022.jpg

image024.jpg                                                        image025.jpg

High School Retreat  Sue and I had the privilege of helping out as small group counselors on the Senior High Retreat in March in Nuremburg, Germany.  The speaker for the weekend and music team came to serve from W. Chester, PA.  It was great to see the Spirit of the Lord working among the students throughout the retreat.  When twenty students were baptized this past month, several testified that it was God’s working through the retreat that led to their decision to be baptized.    

image027.jpg  

Sue’s Small Group Sue and her partner Carol have been mentoring eight girls these past two years. Two of them will be leaving the group due to their missionary families’ moving to other places.  Chelsea, from Ethiopia, is moving to Lancaster, PA.  Becca, from Mali, Africa, is moving to Paraguay.  Transition and change is not uncommon to missionary kids.  It is a reality that they live, but it does not make it any less painful.  Please pray for these girls and the other MKs at BFA who are in the process of making major changes during this important time in their lives.  

image031.jpg

 

Chapel Service at BFA Elementary School
Sue and I were invited as guest speakers for a Wednesday chapel.  Sue led music with her guitar and I gave a message on walking with God by faith using science demonstrations which the students enjoyed performing.  The students particularly enjoyed learning Proverbs 3:5,6 put to music. Marshall said his class is still singing it and wanted to make it their class theme song.

dcp_2308.JPG  
 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6).

 Prayer Requests:

  • Pray for the graduating seniors of BFA as they say their good-byes and move on to the huge transition of moving to another country (USA, Canada, ….)
  • Pray for the safe travels of all our students and staff as they depart for the summer months.  At “home” they must re-enter into their parent’s ministry.  For many of them that means a “Home Ministry Assignment” tour in the USA or Canada. 
  • Pray for the maintenance crew and the many dormitory renovation projects needing to be completed this summer.  Pray for organizational ability and for safety.  There will be two work teams coming from the USA to help with these projects.
  • BFA is in need of three English teachers to fill positions for the next school year.  Pray about this and ask the Lord if there is someone you know who could fill one of these positions.
  • Pray for us and for Sue’s family as we miss her mom.
  • Pray for our safe travels and for a good summer as we go on Home Ministry Assignment in the USA.   We will be spending this time sharing our ministry and renewing relationships with many of you!