Neuwied

Blessing. That describes how i feel to be a part of this ministry. Keith Fortenberry a teacher here at the bible college, an awesome brother in the Lord teaches a small home bible study about an hour and a few away in a city called neuwied. at the beginning of the semester he asked me if i wanted to come to check it out and lead worship. So i felt led to go and agreed. the first night i was there, after playing a few songs, keith realized that the Spirit was really moving upon the people and so we continued to worship in song that night. It was an incredible time of refreshing for the group and everyone seemed to be wonderfully blessed. soon after my brother and i began attending every week and really getting involved with the homegroup, meeting together to pray twice a week and bringing this study and all involved before the throne of God. during easter break, we stayed there for three days to fast and pray. It was definitely a struggle, for anyone who knows me surely knows i have an affection for food. But the lord really blessed out ime and although i felt weak most of the time our times of group prayer were really blessed. I also realized that the more you deny your flesh, the easier it is to fight sin and focus on the Lord. when you have no strength, you really cling to the Lord and His promises. There is a young girl who attends the study, who recieved Christ there a few months back during a night where another man also gave his life to the Lord. Her name is Sara, she is the school mate of the daughter to the Walker family (those whose house we hold the study every saturday night). the reason that i mention her is beause she is still young fourteen or so and i know satan really wants to draw her away, but i believe God has awesome plans for her life. The man who gave his life to the Lord is named Dennis and i ask that you pray for him, we have not seen him since and believe that he made a true profession but his girlfriend is not a good influence on him. So pray that wherever he is the lord would be working in His life.
Recently we have begun meeting earlier in the day and starting with the study as opposed to our normal routine of eating together and then studying. The days have been much nicer as we are moving into summer so we can enjoy the weather outside in there backyard.
Another prayer request is for two young men and a girl who have been coming for the past montha and a half that appear to be more a distracton than anything. one is more so the leader and the other two just sort of follow him. It is hard because they come every week and they could be anywhere on a saturday night but they come to the house but they do not really seem to be involved in anything concerning the Lord and often distract the attention to themselves over the study. I have been praying to see fruit in their lives because they profess to know Christ but in no way show it. i know when Christ spoke of the wheat among the tares, His disciples wanted to immediately go and uproot the tares. but Christ said not to that the wheat would not be torn up in the process but that God would judge. So i continue to pray that God would really do a work in their hearts or remove them, because there are others who are there to hear from the Lord and dont need the distraction.
Saturday nights have been a huge blessing even though we are usually there till late and deal with many obstacles, the blessings far outweigh the curses. Karsten (a British german) and his wife Delek (Turkish) are wonderful hosts and friends. every week they provide different meals and open their home for us and many others. I know the Lord richly blesses them for they are so generous, and have hearts that are so happy to give.
I will only be here for another month but i am praying about possibly returning to serve there in the future but i am not quite sure that is where the Lord is leading me. He knows!!! I am so thankful that someone does ;)