Dear praying friends,

I hope your Easter was meaningful and that you had time to reflect on the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior. We spent time remembering these things, visit family, see old friends, and have family visit us. It was great!

As we spend this year on Home Assignment, there are several things I find myself regularly concerned about. Could you pray with me about them? I know that Paul wrote for us to not be worry about anything, pray about everything, and be thankful (Philippians 4:6) - so - I am enlisting your help!

1. Our work visas are through the non-profit organization we have established in Germany, but really are "good-will" based. If the nature of the relationship between the US and Germany shifts, it could impact the ease with which we have gotten visas in the past. As situations change, I am trying not to worry - but know that changes would impact us, our teammates, our interns, etc. I am thankful for how smooth (other than getting appointments!) things have worked in the past. Please pray that we continue to enjoy that.
2. We just drastically increased our fundraising need in a time that the stock market and investments are very volatile. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a video and asking churches and people to help us outfit our new space (a $30,000.00 ask, which includes the money we have already had to put down as a deposit and the real-estate agent fee - shockingly paid by us as renters and not by the owners!!). We will also need $25,000.00 a year for the next 5 years. I know that this is not a LOT of money, but I am nervous about asking when people are feeling the bite of their own financial losses. Want to know something crazy? As we were praying about whether or not we should rent the space, some people gave more than 3,000 Euro to our Envision site without knowing that we were considering adding more expenses! He has always provided in the past, pray that we are once again reminded of His support and are able to partner well with people who generously give. (If you know someone who would be interested in supporting this new project, they can give here!)
3. Our kids! Johannah is getting ready to move (next Wednesday.). Caleb is finalizing his theme selection for his bachelor's thesis and needs to find advisors. Joshua is heading off for another school block, has more testing in July, and then will be a journeyman - and has a job offer in hand (contingent on program completion), and is talking about moving out and finding his own place. There are so many good things! We are so grateful for the amazing adults our kids are becoming. It is hard, sometimes, not to be concerned for them - which keeps us praying!

What are some of the things you are concerned about? How can we share the burden?

Blessings,

mike