Hi, time for a bit of of an update of life and ministry.
The ministry highlight of the past few months was a trip to Cologne for Ray to teach for a week in the DBS there. It was great for Ray to get back to teaching in Europe. The whole family was able to come along and we could enjoy the area in the afternoons. The Bible department in Hurlach needs rebuilding which will take a while. In the meantime, Ray is finding ways to support other Bible departments in Europe in whatever way he can. Ray is also starting to take on the base's training administrator role. At this point, it is some basic office stuff but vital to get a regular training schedule back up and running at the base. It is a role that will expand in time. In slower times Ray pitches in with some practical projects on base, an old castle is cool but it needs constant upkeep.
This past quarter the base ran a Transformational Business School. The goal of the school is to help individuals create and maintain businesses that are driven to help the community they are in, profit is looked at as a means for sustainability. This year's students will bring transformational businesses to India, two countries in Africa, and the USA.
Dori and the kids are building connections and community on base and in the village. They go to a weekly open gym time for toddlers in the community hall. Dori has been able to meet and start to make connections with some families in the village.
Nolan turned 3 at the end of July, we had a great day celebrating with Grandma and Dori's cousin who came to visit for the day.
The base was pretty quiet in August as it is the main vacation month for Germany. The base has taken the opportunity to do some renovations to freshen up and improve some spaces for the future. Ray has been helping out with renovating the dining room. A garden house was donated to the base, Ray has been involved in reconstructing the garden house at different points. The garden house will be a multipurpose space to host small groups, and community events that happen in the castle's back garden.
Looking forward, Ray is beginning to prepare to teach 4 times in the Fall. The first teaching will be a Bible overview for the DTS here in Huralch. He is then scheduled to teach on the life of King David and wisdom literature at a base near Pisa, Italy! Then on to teach the Book of Acts to one of the YWAM Bible schools in Germany. Lastly, a seminar on how to study the Bible for the DTS in Nuremberg. Dori is looking to invest in family and children ministries here in Huralch.
The challenges ahead: There is a vision to run bible schools and various bible-focused outreaches from here. However, Ray is pretty much the only person in the Bible department at this point. Ray and the base are trying to recruit new staff but no prospects have panned out yet. We are continuing to pray and network to find those interested in coming.
Finding long-term housing in the area is challenging right now. The village of Hurlach used to have an abundance of nice, affordable housing options. Since the pandemic, that has all changed. Hurlach has become popular and prices have skyrocketed. Most postings for open apartments get 30+ inquiries within 24 hrs!
Those are a couple areas where you can be praying for us.
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