Ministry Anniversary #2
Greetings, friends and family!
We apologize for the backlog of communication while setting up our new and improved website. This update included a whole new site look, a fresh web domain, the realization that we forgot to save some of our old posts before our previous domain expired, and a new “Travel” section dedicated to sharing experiences and tips we’ve picked up from traveling and living in Europe. We hope you enjoy exploring the new site!
Our second ministry anniversary somehow has wound up in our rearview mirror amidst the massive influx of our Club Beyond to-do list. It seems surreal that we’ve already passed the two-year mark since our initial arrival in Europe; in some ways it feels like we’ve been here much longer, and in others it feels like we just arrived. For those that have been following our journey from the beginning, you know it’s been a roller coaster so far. Below is the bullet-list version of our past 12 months:
Major events between March 2016 - March 2017
- We received notice that Club Beyond would transition away from contracting with the military.
- Attack at the Brussels Airport.
- Josh’s sister Kamiko got married!
- Youth for Christ decided to end their partnership with Younglife/Club Beyond.
- Spring staff conference in Tuscany. We said goodbyes to 18 staff friends and their families.
- We chose to stay with Club Beyond and pick up a part-time job to provide logistics.
- There were no part-time jobs available at the time in USAG Brussels, so we looked to Germany; we were hired at the Ramstein AFB Exchange.
- We moved to Germany.
- Club Beyond contracts ended and were not renewed.
- Josh switched jobs from the BX warehouse to Service Credit Union.
- Meagan stopped working at the Exchange Customer Service.
- Fall staff conference. We said goodbye to 5 more staff friends.
- The MOU for our community was signed and approved, our green light to resume ministry.
- We came back to the US for a week to celebrate a friend’s wedding and visit family.
- Our ministry program began!
It’s incredible seeing how much has changed just within a year. For a good portion of the last 12 months, we were struggling with the stresses from so much transition. Within the past few months, we feel like we’ve finally settled in Germany and healed from our heartbreak over leaving Brussels so soon. We trust that it’s all in God’s plan, and that he’s brought us to Ramstein to do big things for the Kingdom.
Prayer requests for the months ahead
- The military teens in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
- Upcoming high school summer camp in Scotland.
- Club Beyond staff overseas as we endure this season of ministry + part-time jobs.
- Our local staff team: Kevin (Community Director) & Kelley (volunteer and Service Center admin), Olivia (Staff Associate) & her husband Tyler (volunteer), and us.
- Club Beyond leadership, specifically Phil (International Field Director), Aretta (Regional Director), and Marty (Executive Director).
- Our spiritual, physical, and emotional health.
Thank you for choosing to be a part of our support team and loving military teens. We are blessed by our friends and family that have continued to support us over the past two years through the many peaks and valleys. We are encouraged by your faithfulness in sharing God’s love with military teens overseas.
Superlatives & Statistics 2016-2017
Number of students at Ramstein High School: 1,014
Number of teens we know by name (as of 3/21): 108+
Favorite care-package item: Maranatha peanut butter
Most intimidating cross-cultural challenge: German language. Wir sprechen Deutsch nicht sehr gut.
Number of international Club Beyond staff (as of 3/21): 17
What we miss most from the US: Chick-fil-a and family
Favorite German foods: bratwurst mit brot (sausage with bread), paprika-flavored chips, pumpkin soup, and Haribo Pico-balla gummies.