While We Are Away

Liz and I are enjoying time with family and friends down here in my home town of El Campo, TX. We've even caught the annual Christmas parade complete with floats, the high school marching band, cowboys, and tractors decked out with Christmas lights. It's great to be with family, especially during this time of year, but we miss our friends and ministry at home in Austria. We have been encouraged lately, however, that in our absence God continues to work in the seeds that we have planted there. One example is in our friend Djudji and our neighbor Melanie. Djudji, a friend of ours from Church, asked if she could stay in our apartment while we are gone. This was a huge blessing to us since now we have someone watching over our place while we are gone. We encouraged Djudji to get to know our friendly new neighbor Melanie. We have been getting to know Melanie for the last few months and have been praying about how we can minister to her and were praying that Djudji could continue while we were away. Sure enough, one night when Djudji was hosting a Bible study group in our apartment Melanie came over to see what was going on. Since then Djudji tells us that Malanie comes over regularly and that they both watch out for each other. Djudji has been sharing the gospel with Melanie and has invited her to take part in a woman's Bible study group. We are thrilled to know that God is ministering to our neighbor even while we are gone. It makes us want to be there all the more, but we are also encouraged that we are here at this time for a reason. Please continue praying with us that God continue to draw Melanie to Himself, and that He would show us His purposes even in our visa difficulties.