Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Another update from Germany!
Greetings from Germany. As always the schedule here is very hectic so not much time for reports, we finished our third day of camp, I will not see the people working at the big camp until tomorrow. Tonight we do not have a revival, so are off to show Lauren her first castle. It is exciting to see alot of new faces this year. One boy on my team plays Wii baseball and wanted to learn for real. His mother saw the notice in the paper and signed him up, another is here visiting relatives and came with them. Marian has one totally unchurched on her team and she brought several friends to the revival last night. Chris Richey preached and several accepted Jesus. Please pray for our Bible study times, we are a little short handed and have no youth available at the young camp. All are having a blessed time being active participants and witnesses. Blessings from Germany
Monday, July 28, 2008
Update from Germany
This is an email my mom got from Sharon Roelke:
"Lindy, we arrived in Frankfurt safe and sound. Catching the train to Cologne we lost Tim Hollis for several hours. He stepped off the train to go to another door and they closed and it took off without him. Thankfully it was him and not one of the younger kids; he kept a cool head, caught the next train to Cologne, got off 1 stop early at the airport, but had money to try and call Nathan whose phone was off, then called his host family who made a connection with the people meeting us in Cologne, they went to the airport and picked him up. James Weaver and KJ's bags didn't arrive with the rest but were delivered today. It is warmer than usual but nothing compared to Dallas. Some of the Houston people flew in to Frankfurt last night and their bags did not arrive, so pray they are found and delivered. Tomorrow we begin camp so keep praying for the kids coming to camp and all of the team working. The scripture theme is Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Also be in prayer for next weeks camp in Aurich, because it is new there are not alot of kids signed up, many will just come to check it out, but there is a big need in the area. Sharon"
"Lindy, we arrived in Frankfurt safe and sound. Catching the train to Cologne we lost Tim Hollis for several hours. He stepped off the train to go to another door and they closed and it took off without him. Thankfully it was him and not one of the younger kids; he kept a cool head, caught the next train to Cologne, got off 1 stop early at the airport, but had money to try and call Nathan whose phone was off, then called his host family who made a connection with the people meeting us in Cologne, they went to the airport and picked him up. James Weaver and KJ's bags didn't arrive with the rest but were delivered today. It is warmer than usual but nothing compared to Dallas. Some of the Houston people flew in to Frankfurt last night and their bags did not arrive, so pray they are found and delivered. Tomorrow we begin camp so keep praying for the kids coming to camp and all of the team working. The scripture theme is Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Also be in prayer for next weeks camp in Aurich, because it is new there are not alot of kids signed up, many will just come to check it out, but there is a big need in the area. Sharon"
Nigerian Bishop
This update came from Jeff recently:
We will be hosting the Methodist bishop from Nigeria and they have invited several churches from our conference to attend.
Event information:
We will be hosting the Methodist bishop from Nigeria and they have invited several churches from our conference to attend.
Event information:
Youth Praise and Mission Celebration!
Host: FUMC Carrollton and Vision Africa
Location: Our Church (FUMC Carrollton)
When: Sunday, August 24, 6:00 pm
Phone: 214-853-3788
Just back from a fantastic Mission Trip?
Had fun serving your local community this summer?
Let the fun go on! You will grow closer in your walk with Christ this school year if you... Make a little time for missions!
Join other United Methodist youth groups North of Dallas for a night of youth-led contemporary worship!
We will celebrate what God is doing in Africa through the faith-based non-profit "Vision Africa", as we welcome its president, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, of Nigeria.
Will you join us for this exciting evening of praise?
For more info on Vision Africa, visit: www.visionafrica.org, or contact Bonnie Murray at (214) 853-3788, bonnie@visionafrica.org
Host: FUMC Carrollton and Vision Africa
Location: Our Church (FUMC Carrollton)
When: Sunday, August 24, 6:00 pm
Phone: 214-853-3788
Just back from a fantastic Mission Trip?
Had fun serving your local community this summer?
Let the fun go on! You will grow closer in your walk with Christ this school year if you... Make a little time for missions!
Join other United Methodist youth groups North of Dallas for a night of youth-led contemporary worship!
We will celebrate what God is doing in Africa through the faith-based non-profit "Vision Africa", as we welcome its president, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, of Nigeria.
Will you join us for this exciting evening of praise?
For more info on Vision Africa, visit: www.visionafrica.org, or contact Bonnie Murray at (214) 853-3788, bonnie@visionafrica.org
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Kenya Recap from Leah Patzig
" Dad and I are home from an amazing trip to Meru, Kenya. After three grueling days of travel, we had an amazing week! Even with the jetlag, weird food, and cool weather we managed to get accustomed to the African ways of living, eating, and worshipping. (We ate trout, which unfortunately for me, still had its face on it, like eye balls and everything. Can you say eww?!?!? – Dad loved it. We also had Ox-tail soup and drank Goat’s Milk every morning with curdled chunks floating in it.)
On Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday we drove to a compound where we fed street children [the majority of them boys] and ministered by sharing the love of Christ through a teaching as well as fun and games. Although there were up to 130 boys, the average number of girls that attended was between 6 and 9, and I had a great time with the few that came. (Unfortunately most of the girls are “working” in prostitution.) They were fascinated with my “smooth” white skin and blonde hair, and I had a great time playing with them each day as we began to build a relationship. I taught them the chicken dance and in return they braided my hair. :)
On Sunday we attended Church in a small, dirt floor, chicken house. The praise was amazing with their dancing and clapping and although the service was almost three hours long, we “mzungu” [white people] really enjoyed the experience. It was neat to see such normally quiet and reserved people shouting and praising the Lord. Their praise was so heartfelt and energetic you could actually hear it driving up the road. They even managed to cram 50 or so people in this small space with plastic lawn chairs for seating. It is amazing that despite the conditions the Kenyan people are grateful for the opportunity to attend Church and praise God at all!
Monday we returned to the compound and the guys on our team, along with the staff in Meru, built a goat shed. The American team from our church consisted of seven people total, and since I was the only girl, they decided to name the goat Leah, which I was honored to hear. (Not everyone can say they have a goat in Africa named after them). :)
Each day we shared morning praise and devotions with the staff, it was a special and amazing time! Throughout the week we toured Kenya University and visited several schools in which the ministry we were a part of [Bridges International] sponsored several girls. We also visited the different homes where the younger children they sponsor live and are provided daily care. We visited a rescue center. This orphanage housed 35 babies all under the age of three with only 4 nannies per shift. We had a great time playing with all the little kids and it was funny to watch their reaction to seeing “white people” for the first time. It only took about half an hour for them to stop crying because they were all freaked out at the strange white people trying to hold them.
We ended our trip with an African safari at a Game reserve in Samburu. We were in open vans and the animals were so curious (and close) that we could have touched them. We saw many giraffes and zebras and were nearly charged by an elephant. We also interrupted a lioness eating a water buck and another stalking an antelope. "
Sounds like they had a great time -- everybody ask them about it next Sunday! I'm sure they'll love to share.
On Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday we drove to a compound where we fed street children [the majority of them boys] and ministered by sharing the love of Christ through a teaching as well as fun and games. Although there were up to 130 boys, the average number of girls that attended was between 6 and 9, and I had a great time with the few that came. (Unfortunately most of the girls are “working” in prostitution.) They were fascinated with my “smooth” white skin and blonde hair, and I had a great time playing with them each day as we began to build a relationship. I taught them the chicken dance and in return they braided my hair. :)
On Sunday we attended Church in a small, dirt floor, chicken house. The praise was amazing with their dancing and clapping and although the service was almost three hours long, we “mzungu” [white people] really enjoyed the experience. It was neat to see such normally quiet and reserved people shouting and praising the Lord. Their praise was so heartfelt and energetic you could actually hear it driving up the road. They even managed to cram 50 or so people in this small space with plastic lawn chairs for seating. It is amazing that despite the conditions the Kenyan people are grateful for the opportunity to attend Church and praise God at all!
Monday we returned to the compound and the guys on our team, along with the staff in Meru, built a goat shed. The American team from our church consisted of seven people total, and since I was the only girl, they decided to name the goat Leah, which I was honored to hear. (Not everyone can say they have a goat in Africa named after them). :)
Each day we shared morning praise and devotions with the staff, it was a special and amazing time! Throughout the week we toured Kenya University and visited several schools in which the ministry we were a part of [Bridges International] sponsored several girls. We also visited the different homes where the younger children they sponsor live and are provided daily care. We visited a rescue center. This orphanage housed 35 babies all under the age of three with only 4 nannies per shift. We had a great time playing with all the little kids and it was funny to watch their reaction to seeing “white people” for the first time. It only took about half an hour for them to stop crying because they were all freaked out at the strange white people trying to hold them.
We ended our trip with an African safari at a Game reserve in Samburu. We were in open vans and the animals were so curious (and close) that we could have touched them. We saw many giraffes and zebras and were nearly charged by an elephant. We also interrupted a lioness eating a water buck and another stalking an antelope. "
Sounds like they had a great time -- everybody ask them about it next Sunday! I'm sure they'll love to share.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
New Update from Kenya
" I hope you received our e-mails and the pictures Joe sent you yesterday. It is Wednesday evening in Kenya. We go to the Bridges Compound each morning and have devotions with the staff. We talked Mike into sharing this morning and it was the staff plus the women there for the womens class. It was a very packed room but Mike did well. They made us sing 'Trading My Sorrows', that has been a hit. Today we visited a girls school and saw 5 girls that Bridges supports so they can go to school. Several have no parents and two have mothers. We will have heartrending storys to tell. This afternoon we visited Kenya Methodist University; it was beautiful and interesting. We have given several of our coffee cups to Methodist bishops here. Tonight for dinner one will come and there is a group from the states. All are doing well, if you can imagine it is much more primitive than East Asia. Tomorrow will be our last day of work here in Meru and then we are on safari. They really do say 'akuna matata' here often, so we all know some swahili. Jambo is hello. Blessings and keep praying for us, Sharon
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
"Jambo-Kenyan Greetings!"
"It is July 1st, we visited a rescue house this morning, a Christian ministry. They were babies up to 3 years. Some cried when we came in but as we charmed and held them they became our friends and cried when we left. Heartbreaking! Yesterday the goat house was built, it was great fun to see how many it takes to build a goat house. Mike brought a couple of his power tools, what a delight to see men get to use a power screwdriver for the first time. One really enjoyed the hammer. It is special because they learned something they can go home and imitate. I spent many hours talking to the women's class, sharing my testimony, being asked about many things and teaching a little from the Bible. We will be back at Bridges Compound this pm to help feed street children and teach some more. We are having devotionals with the staff in the morning, they can teach us alot about worship; KJ has been playing guitar, this morning we taught them 'trading our sorrows' with the motions, they loved it. All are well and as rested as we can be with the time change. Blessings from Kenya, Sharon"
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