Geocaching

This week we discovered a great family activity called Geocaching. Never heard of it? Well here is a Wikipedia definition: "Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value. Today, well over 480,000 geocaches are registered on various websites devoted to the sport. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica."
Our team (family) name, Slieve Donard, comes from the highest mountain in Northern Ireland (where incidentally there is also a cache). If you want to learn more about this sport and see what we have already found, then simply click on the link below.

JuMiKo - Stuttgart 2008

The German young people refer to it as JuMiKo - an abbreviation of Jugendmissionskonferenz (eng. Youth Missions Conference). This event, now in it's 15th year, is probably the biggest of its kind in Europe! Yesterday it was held for the first time in the brand new exhibition centre at Stuttgart airport. Around 5,000 young people came to attend some of the 25 seminars on offer and to view the exhibition with representatives from 60 missionary organisations and Bible Colleges.
I had the privilege of joining the local CEF team at their stand. The doors opened at 8.30am and we had a steady stream of visitors right up until the close at 5pm. Sometimes the hall was so full that the young people couldn't even move forward. The amazing thing (and a real credit to the German young people) is that this event has no times of worship or praise - just seminars around the theme of missions and the opportunity to talk with people at the various stands.
Most of the queries we received were from young people interested in short-term missions opportunities (in Germany and overseas), our 3-month training course at Kilchzimmer and the new Youth Challenge material, now available in the German language. Exhibitors weren't allowed to sell any material but over 300 literature catalogues were distributed and we were able to advise many young people who came with their questions.

A weeks holiday in Switzerland

We are grateful to family and friends who made it possible for us to have a week long holiday in the Swiss resort of Adelboden (2 hours drive). We had great weather and we were able to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. We also got to do a few days skiing. Joel is now skiing well on the junior slopes and David got lots of practice time skiing between daddy's legs. The both really enjoyed playing in the snow.

Christmas in Germany

Thanks to everyone who sent us cards or gifts for Christmas. It was great to be reminded of your continued prayers and interest in us. Claudia's mum, dad and sister celebrated Christmas with us in our home.

A family wedding

Congratulations to Daniel (Claudia's brother) and Nadine who were married last Saturday at a service in Schönblick Christian Conference Centre, Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Southern Germany. Also in the photograph are Claudia's mum and dad and sister.

German Speaking Bible Colleges growing

An article in the Evangelical German magazine "ideaSpektrum" has reported a 4,2% rise in the number of people in Germany, Austria and Switzerland attending Evangelical Bible Colleges.
At present, over 3,000 young Christians are attending ca. 50 Bible Colleges.
According to "ideaSpektrum" the top 5 are:
1. Martin-Bucer-Seminar Bonn (159)
2. Marburger Bibelseminar (156)
3. Bibelschule Brake (147) (Claudia and I graduated from here in '99)
4. Bibelseminar Bonn (140)
5. Freie Theologische Akademie Giessen (132)

Photo: Claudia's sister graduating this year from Bibelschule Brake

Office at Kilchzimmer

Since last week I now have an office at Kilchzimmer. As we had a snow covering for the past couple of weeks, the view from my window is very peaceful!

Online giving

Thanks to a new system set up for the CEF workers at Kilchzimmer, it is now possible for you to give towards our ministry using Credit Card (£, $, €) to give - click here and then click on our name in the left column!

Binzen in late November

Home again!

Preaching in Kiev

Time for one more service before I went to the airport. Many people in this little fellowship pray and support the local work of CEF. The man on the right is the chairman of the local CEF committee. This was a very fitting end to a great trip!