My Last Church Service

Today was my last Church service here in Berlin. Let me just say time flew right on by. Pastor Gary preached a message that really got me thinking. He said, " The greatest way to have your life changed is to receive the love of God". This message is so simple and can turn a life around at the same time. He spoke on what it means to have an abundant life with Christ. There is not a problem the Word of God can not fix.This caused a few thoughts to enter my mind. My life can only have fulfillment as I get to know God. We can only get to know Him by seeking Him. God is always able to be found as long as we desire to find Him. He has nothing but love to give and all we have to do is receive. Through His love we have abundant life. We can be quickened, strengthened, and filled with joy by simply receiving love for our lives. Thank you Pastor Gary for fearing God and Preaching the Grace message.

Harold's Birthday Bash

We made another trip out to East Germany. It was our friend Harold's Birthday. We are huge fan's of Harold and his family. Without their help the concerts we hosted would not have been possible. This amazing family let us use their barn for the concert's along with housing over 30 people for three days. Fruit was produced in result to their laid down lives. The gift we presented to Harold consisted of a group of pictures during the whole transition of all the concerts. My favorite two picture's are at the bottom of the frame. They are the two out houses that we will never forget. We were in the middle of nowhere on a farm in East Germany. There's nothing like an out house in the freezing cold dark nights. Harold's Family hosted multiple concerts at there very own home. There were many memories, souls saved, and fruit produced. Thank you Harold for being so available to be used for the work of God.

Pastor Gary and Matt with Harold's dad Jacob

Christmas Party Time

So the church Christmas party was definitely in category good times. These three lovely ladies to the left walked by the church Wednesday night, came in, loved it, and showed up to the party Friday night. They are an awesome addition to the church and have already started coming to the Bible School. Pastor Gary teaches a Revelations class on Monday nights and they showed right on up the next Monday night. . Oh, I guess you are wondering what their names are. Well I am here to tell you Virginia, Fey, and Maria are the definition of cuteness.

To the right we have Astrid and her special mystery guest. I'm not sure what his name was, but he came and looked like he enjoyed himself. For those of you that don't know Astrid ,just know,you need to arrange a meeting in the near future. She was our camper of the week at camp this past summer. Yes, it was a teen camp, but she kicked everyone's rear end's in balloon wars so she deserved it.







There were about 40 of us altogether at a real cute restaurant called Marcello's. Normally the church Christmas party is at the church every year, but we decided to branch out and change the scenery. It was successful and each year will only get better.

Emily and Matt with a few of our Teenager's

Emily and I with our prizes from the gift exchange

Toilet paper is always a great gift around the Holidays

Pastor Gary preaching on Joy

Mindy and Stephan our Newly Wed's

Thea reading a verse for Pastor Gary's message

Christmas Tree Time

This past Sunday the whole church stayed after to decorate for Christmas. We had sooooo much fun. The whole church had a part in decorating the tree. Pastor Gary gave everyone an ornament to hang. Every person's ornament had a different meaning. Most of them were random meaning's that made us laugh, and others were genuine. This was a way for the whole church ,( Including all the visitor's), to have a part in an event together.

Jacob Know's exactly where he want's his ornament


Pastor Gary instructing Lisa how to pass the star to Cliff


Pastor gary and kathie being the cuteness

Team Romania

Donna and my momma being a team

Hair cutting ornament

Team UGG Boot's

Jacob playedwith the Nativity set for a half hour

Harold received the wearing four watches ornament

Mark got a little sleepy

We love Astrid

Sasha received the cutest mom ornamentGotta love me some Mark
Cliff struggled a little , but he got through it.

Thanksgiving Goodness

So we had the yummiest Thanksgiving ever to go along with some serious fun people. Kathie, Emily, and Pastor Gary worked so hard all day to make this Thanksgiving special for everyone, and let me just say their plan was more than successful. We also had Mich Stambovsky, Cliff Olson. and Donna Perry visit us from Romania. They are all three teacher's in the international school there. They were with us for five solid days and we had a blast.

Cliff and Ma

Appreciating the yumminess of the food

Coffee break at Walters

In front of the Adlon Hotel

Stopping by the Brandenberg Gate





Stephan waiting very patiently

Liz and I excited about our new hat and gloves

Cliff, Matt, and Emily being sophisticated

Micah was a candy apple fan

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Momma Made It

So my mom is now here with me and the Team in Berlin. I went to the America's to be in my friend since the second grade Heather's Wedding. She was a beautiful bride by the way. Now I am back in Berlin and I brought a prize with me. Yes, my wonderful mother. She will be here for two weeks and the fun just begun. Thanksgiving is only a few day's away which means it's almost Christmas. I'm not gonna lie I am a huge Christmas fan. Our buddy's from Romania ( Cliff and Micah) will be coming to visit us for some yummy Turkey so we are excited to see them. I will fill you all in as the week gets busier. So keep checkin the blog for the good times to come.

23 Finn's and a Castle

We had the privilege of having 23 amazing friends from Finland visit us. The only thing we regret was having to say goodbye. I'm not gonna lie I am usually pretty good at goodbye's, but this one was rough. Every single person that came was such a blessing to the team here in Berlin

We went back to Polsen for the group to put on an awesome concert. This group was a group of mostly teenagers so it was awesome to see everyone use their talent to glorify God with. Our friend Harold's family owns a castle, and we all had the chance to stay there for two nights. We all shared one bathroom with no shower taking involved. It was freezing and there was no hot water so we all took a few days off from cleanliness. We had to schedule times to go to the bathroom or else it would have been impossible for like 15 girls to share a bathroom in the morning. Thank God Finnish people are very organized or there would have been serious shenanigans. They gave specific time slots for everyone and it was very successful.

Team Lugguage

The first day we got to Polsen it was cold and rainy. Everyone went soul winning and to advertise for the concert. The car wasn't ready to pick up the luggage so Miia, Techno, Emily, and I stayed behind to guard luggage for 30 people. We only ran into a few problems with shadiness during the 3 hours such as some teenagers flashing their knives at us. Other than that we had a blast and enjoyed some serious Doner's. The bus ride was awesome. Everyone was singing songs getting ready for the concert and the only guy on the bus besides us (Who looked just like my dad) loved the music. He ended up bringing his family to the concert. I was like the guy who looks just like my dad is here. I was all about it. After the concert we had a huge Bonn fire and roasted marshmallows. Some of the Finn's wanted to learn some English. So I taught them profound statements such as: For shizzel my nizzel, Girlfriend knows whats up, It's all good in the hood, Shady Shenanigans, and Drama. It was good times hearing these statements in a Finnish accent. I was a huge fan. They taught me how to say : My nose is running, Your nose is not running, Your Mom, and Marshmallow. Liz even caught me talking Finnish in my sleep the other night.

Saturday night the teens did a concert at our church in Berlin. It was packed. It was so awesome to see all the young people come out to a christian concert on a cold rainy night. Thank you to all the Finn's that came to visit Berlin. It meant so much to us. You guy's are awesome. See you when we visit Finland!!!

My little buddies Riia and Johanna

Bon Fire at the Castle

Jacob our adopted Grandpa

This grocery cart consists of the breakfast we took to Polsen for us and 23 Finn's. We realized we didn't have a car so we had to take the grocery cart all the way to the church. Don't worry! We brought it back.





We rode this contraption in the rain on these

old school East German Train tracks.

Polsen Castle

We love Miia

Concert at the Berlin Church

The day came for the Finn's to go home