Dear Praying Friends,

This last weekend was full of neat ministry opportunities. On Friday, we picked up one of the leaders of another Envision site. She was traveling to Germany for some training, and added a few days to come and see our city and our site. It was great to show her around and have the opportunity to see our ministry through her eyes.

Saturday I was serving with one of ministry partners as a project leader for a "Clean your Kiez!" project (Kiez is one German word for neighborhood.). Our youth group had been encouraged to participate - so two of our Envision residents who help with the youth ministry, two youth group members, a young man from Portugal and I set out to pick up trash from the streets in our neighborhood. We got the normal questions (are you volunteering? or is this community service?) as well as some Thank-You's from people on the street. Two things really stood out to me, though. One - our neighbors saw us leaving the confines of our building and entering into their space to make a difference (and it impressed them.). Two - people across the city came together to serve, including internationals - looking for ways to find community (this was certainly the case for the young man who joined us.) I am increasingly conviced that this is a ministry style the church should continue to explore!

Sunday we had some friends over for a meal - and once again entered into this sacred space of sharing our space and the love of Christ with a couple who are seeking (well - he is; she has been using increasing languages of faith recently!). That night, a friend and I went to watch Dune 2.

In the middle of some of these good things, we have some ongoing prayer requests:

1. Please keep praying for Elissa's health. Her back pain flared up again and she is home again this week.
2. Pray for the last push of our Kickstarter fulfilment process. This has been a pretty time-intensive process, and we are all looking forward to having sent out all the rewards to the people who so generously supported our fundraising.
3. Pray for the full next couple of weeks - including our team joining the aXcess teams for their teams forum March 22-27th.
4. Pray for our intern, Austin, as he leaves on March 21st. Pray for our resident, Rachel, as she prepares to leave on April 19th.
5. Pray for our book release next week!

Blessings,

mike