Winter 2022
FAMILY
We send Christmas and New Year’s greeting straight off a riveting game of Candy Land. Jonas and the girls have been sick, so this is the most activity that taken place in our home for a few days.
But as we send out our year-end letter, it certainly feels like we wrap up 2022 not with a pretty red bow, but more like a game of Candy Land. Up and down, forward, and back. Stuck, then thrust ahead, then tumbling back.
The past months have acquainted us more deeply with the emotion of grief. We wouldn’t have chosen the hard things from the year, but we see God’s goodness and lovingkindness. We take whatever comes from His loving hand. We can say, even through tears, He has never left us nor forsaken us.
Paige spent 10 days alone in America at the beginning of December. The Lord answered our prayers for her time away, that it would be refreshing and restoring. I (Paige) was encouraged to spend two Sundays at Redeemer Bible Church, and of course wept as soon as we sang in English. I also drank more iced coffee and ate more Mexican food in ten days than I had all year. Paige’s mom was able to spend a few weeks with us over Christmas. It was so special to have her here.
As a family, we look froward to this next year. We take a deep breath after the very full past 3.5 years in Germany, and in a way just now make our start. May 2023 have way fewer Ikea runs and assembly nights. Thank you to all who have prayed us through.
CHURCH
God has been very kind to our church.
We celebrated another baptism a few weeks ago. This young woman has been a good friend to Paige for over a year now, and we are so happy she has joined the church in membership.
Jonas continues to preach through Mark, and do so many other things, from folding the bulletins to leading the music some Sundays.
A recent prayer meeting focused on Ukraine. A Ukrainian military chaplain and a young woman refugee shared some first-hand experiences. The man’s wife and children live in Germany and attend our church while he goes back and forth from Germany to Ukraine taking medicine and other supplies. The young woman came to Germany alone, as her brother had to stay behind in the army. Her parents chose to stay with him, but insisted she flee. She recently came to spend a few hours with the girls, saying she wanted to offer me (Paige) a bit of a break. On the way home she added that she also missed being around family terribly and so it seemed like a win win. We hope to bring her more and more into our family and mutually encourage one another.
The first Ukrainian refugees have officially joined the church in membership. This is the family who moved into our old apartment in May. It’s incredibly encouraging to see how they have settled in Germany and started a new life here.
We continue to search for a new meeting space. It is not easy in Münster! We’ve been rearranging furniture and the sound booth to squeeze in a handful more seats.
In December our homegroup shared a meal together in our home. We are grateful for this group and the relationships we have built over this year.
And now, we can’t help but be emotional and even relieved to say goodbye to 2022 and look forward in hope to 2023. Going forward in confidence that our strong and kind God is with us, and with you, and it is He who will carry us to the end.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-22
PRAYER
Continued healing as a family
That God would bring new people, especially students, into our church to hear the gospel
Continued unity in the church as we grow
Much love,
Jonas, Paige, Nora and Fenley
