Missio Colonia | Kevin and Kathi in Cologne, Germany

While we were in Chicago last week, Kathi got to hang out with the woman who mentored her when we lived there. She's a wonderful, godly woman who has such a profound sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. She related to Kathi that she felt God wanted her to know that we should not be fixated on our own time tables. She encouraged us by saying she was certain we would make it over to Germany. But, she believed God was communicating to her that it wouldn't necessarily happen according to our plans.

We have actually been getting the message from the Word and several other people as well the past couple of weeks. Kathi and I have been so focused on getting enough support in order to make the training in September. But, it seems that the Lord is telling us not to put our hopes in our own plans. That's been hard to hear. As we talked about it, we decided that we need to be willing to accept that God might not send us to training this fall. Ouch. He continues to confirm over and over again that He is going to finish this task and get us over there, but He's going to do according to His will, accomplishing His purposes in the process.

We had our meeting with the missions committee at my old church this evening. It was overall a encouraging time. We were able to share our vision, and they were very receptive towards us. They've made it clear that presently they are tight in their missions budget, but I think that this time will help establish a good relationship with them. Please be praying for us and our relationship with Libertyville EFC. Pray that we would continue to stay in contact with them, and that God would open up the opportunity and desire for them to support us.

Tomorrow morning, really early, we are heading out and driving back to Ohio. Kathi has to work tomorrow evening, so we have to be back home fairly early. It doesn't really stop when we get back too. Kathi's working Thursday afternoon, and I'm working Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday. Kathi is going to the Women of Faith conference also this weekend. Busy, busy, busy.

We set out for the Chicago area yesterday, and arrived in the city late afternoon. We spent some time with one of our supports, and today we're up in the suburbs. The plan for the next couple days is to hang out with some friends, try and schedule a few support meetings, and prepare for our interview with the church missions committee on Tuesday. Please be praying specifically for our time here. We are loving the fact that we get to see so many people, but we also need to be able to develop some more contacts. Pray also for our missions committee meeting. The initial feeling we're getting from this church is that they won't be able to help, but we're praying that God might do something to open up an opportunity there.

We got back from Upper Sandusky today after visiting our friends, J.J. and Michele for a few days. As I mentioned, they planned for us a cookout on Monday to try and connect us with potential supporters. Unfortunately, it didn't really develop into new supporters (at least not yet), but it was wonderful to be able to share with people God's heart for Europe. After the cookout, we had a great time reconnect with these two friends. It was fun. I was also able to do some genealogical research in Upper Sandusky yesterday too - I have a few of my ancestors on my dad's side who come from that area.

Please be praying also for our next trip coming up next week. We're heading off to Chicago to meet with some people and a missions committee. Pray that God would accomplish all that He wills through this trip.

As we've been traveling through this process, we've encountered so many different attitudes towards missions and support raising. One particular attitude has saddened both Kathi and I. We are finding people who view ministry to Europe simply as an overpriced vacation. Many believe that the only legitimate expression of missions to Europe would involve some sort of tentmaking, presumably because it would involve "real" work.

But, when we think about it, there's probably a very good reason why this view has developed among so many people. Many supporters hear back from the mission field and see pictures of castles, rivers, and palaces and they presume that those missionaries are simply living it up. Maybe they are. At any rate, it has given Kathi and I pause. We're realizing that for better or for worse, because we will be ministering in a perceived vacation spot, our ministry will have to be that much more beyond reproach. We're going to have to work much harder so that there is no doubt to what (and Whom) we are sacrificing our lives there.

The other reaction this has elicited in me is actually a sense of guilt. I'll confess. I love Europe. Living over there has been some of the richest and most rewarding experiences of my life. I love the people, the culture, the beauty, and the land. But, doesn't my love for this place make the urgency for their need of the Gospel that much greater? I'll be honest and say that I've struggled with this question. Why am I going to Europe? I can't deny that there has been a call. But, many of the stories I've heard have involved people being called to the one place they never wanted to go. That hasn't necessarily been the case for us.

I guess it strikes at the heart of what you believe missions to be. Is it simply living in grass huts and eating bugs so that you can evangelize primitive natives? It is that (and I have friends that are doing just that). Or is it what the very word means - being "sent ones" to bear witness to Jesus Christ and what he did for us that day on Calvary? Perhaps it is somewhere in between those two. I'm really not sure. My prayer though is that Kathi and I would live up to what God has called us to right now.

Now that the holiday and graduation are past, we're starting to see more opportunities to do support raising. But, it was a tough go the past couple of weeks, and it was difficult having so many empty evenings. Now we're heading into a very crucial time, so we definitely need your prayers. June is going to be a really busy month. Next week we're heading to Upper Sandusky to meet with a friend and makes some connections there. Then in two weeks we're off to Chicago to try and establish some relationships with some churches up there. Please be praying for all of this. We need to have a strong support month if we hope to make it to training in the fall.