Valerie Roth
March 31, 2007
Germany Team
Letter #20


The end of March already! It's hard to believe that we have less than 4 months here in Halle. Lately it seems like my time here is just starting. I've been teaching for 3 weeks now at inlingua. It's really hard sometimes to figure out my own language and then to try and explain it, but I love it there. I love all the new friends that I've been making there, with other teachers and with students. Even though I don't really get many chances to share about Jesus during the workday, I pray that God's love will shine though me anyway. Everyone knows that I'm here to work with a church, but beyond that not much has been said. I'm excited about all the people I've met though, because now I can pray for them. Sometimes when the students are taking tests or doing worksheets, I just look around the room and pray for each one in whatever situation they are in. Many of them are in relationships and have children, but aren't married. Committment doesn't seem like such a priority here, but I'm praying that God will make Himself real to each one.

I've also been really encouraged by a friendship with a woman from church, Heike. I first met her on New Years Eve, and I attend the same small group she does, but it seems like just recently our friendship is growing. For the past two weeks we've met one morning each week for breakfast, which has been lasting about 3 hours : ) She speaks good English and so it's pretty easy to communicate and share. I really enjoy our mornings together, chatting over food, about life now, our pasts, and our futures. Sometimes it can be frustrating to know that this friendship will grow only 4 months before I leave, but I trust that God had this planned out as the perfect time. It's also a testimony of answered prayer, because I had been praying for relationships for me, not just being with people as a whole team. I know I really needed one-on-one relationships outside of the team, and God answered in perfect timing.

Shaina's family left earlier this week. She had a great time with them, and the team did too. Monday night we spent time with them praying for each other. I was really encouraged and blessed by our time together.

For a fun activity on Friday night, our team went to the last game of the season of the Halle Bulls, Halle's very own hockey team. It was a blast, and a real cultural experience! Halle won the game (in the last two minutes)! Then all the fans were allowed on the ice and so we went down on the ice and joined in the celebration. The hockey players went into the locker room, took off some of their equipment and then came back on the ice to sign autographs, have photos taken, and just to talk with people. Eric even got his picture taken with Schnelle, the goalie! We had a good time being together and cheering on our city.

Praises:
-good friendships with Germans, and with each other
-beautiful weather (probably in the 60s, blue skies, and daylight until 8 pm)
-Shaina's family (for our time together and all the yummy treats from the States )

Prayer Needs:
-Brent's health, He's feeling better from his stomach bug last week, but he's been suffering from pretty bad nose bleeds. Today the team was helping clean up at the church building and he had another really bad bleed. A nurse that was there (Heike) helped him out and gave him some things to do, but strongly recommended that he go to the doctor tomorrow. So around 10 am Sunday morning Eric and Brent are going to the doctor. Pray for wisdom as they try and figure out what's been causing all the nose bleeds.
-Wisdom and strength for Eric and I as we teach, plus do other activities with the team
-perserverance to push hard until the end of our time here and not to slowly disengage from what we are here to do.


Thanks again for you support!

Valerie Roth, for the Germany Team