Prestoncrest Missions

Dear Friends,

Sorry this is later than usual. I had the good (but unrealistic) intention of writing to you last week during the ETM Intensive Week Seminar, but there was no time to do so.

ETM

Yes, it is really happening! Last week was the Intensive Week of the first ETM basic course since Jim’s death, and I think he would be overjoyed both to know that his vision is extending beyond himself and to see what a great job Larry Sullivan (from Chemnitz) did in teaching it. It is quite a job to teach another man’s lessons. He is 3rd from right in the back row of the photo. As you can see, it is a large group – the largest ever with 14 participants from 6 churches in Germany and Switzerland. What I didn’t realize until we came together is that it is an extremely international group: 5 Germans, 4 Swiss, 1 Hungarian, 1 Czech, 2 Americans, and 1 Russian. Of course, all of them speak German at least as a second language, but the various cultural backgrounds certainly added a special flavor. The group also includes a mother and son; a mother and daughter; and a father-in-law and daughter-in-law, but little Heidi in the front row was not a participant.

Larry, his wife, Pam, Stephan Kallus, and I are sharing the mentoring duties, which means accompanying the 14 through 10 weeks of Bible work and a great deal of self-searching, hopefully motivating and enabling each of them to take the initiative for their own further spiritual growth. It was very rewarding this week to watch them discover where they are at present and begin to get an inkling as to where spiritual growth can lead them.

Over the weekend, a number of ETM-ers from previous years joined us for a brainstorming session about continuing the ETM advanced courses, which yielded several very usable ideas. It was also a time of sharing about how the ETM work has affected their lives, which was basically an outpouring of honor and thanks to Jim, and, of course, I got to bask in the warmth as well. It is good to know that our lives have touched so many and helped at least a few. And it was icing on the cake that Karin, Christoph, and my sweet Swiss granddaughters were there, too!

HEATHER

You will want to hear about my neighbor Heather who asked me if I might be willing to study with her in the Bible. We have had several very good studies so far from the Gospel of Mark, and recently she said she thinks that her 12-year old son, Robin, would also like to study with me. He is very frustrated with the confirmation classes at their church because he wants to know what the Bible says. Apparently the classes are more about ethics and politics. I hope this develops further. Robin is at about my favorite age to teach, and he is special anyway.

DAVID

Do you remember my telling you about David who shared Jim’s first hospital room? Yesterday, for the first time since I last mentioned him, he called me. Apparently he has no friends and very little contact with family, with a long history of hurt on all sides, so that most of his thoughts are filled with his illness and hopelessness. He wanted my opinion about going to Switzerland for euthanasia. Basically I told him I didn’t understand why he would want to hurry to what awaits him after death since he is not interested in going to be with God and must reckon with the alternative. (He says he is an atheist.) I was shocked at my directness, but it started a good discussion about God and Jesus and hope, and he seemed to be listening – even asked some questions. He had experienced what a difference hope in the Lord made for Jim, so I hope I was able to challenge him to spend what time he has left getting to know the One he has been ignoring. There is no telling how long he has left to change directions, so please pray that it will be long enough. After the call, which lasted for about an hour, I felt totally drained, but I will try to contact him again in a few days.

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR ME

As I mentioned in the last letter, I will be reporting about my experience in European missions in a class at the Pepperdine Lectures at the end of April, and I can certainly use your prayers in my preparation. It is very hard to know what would be of interest as well as beneficial to the hearers. In any case, looking back has been a very encouraging exercise, seeing what the Lord has done. Looking back that is more visible than it was at the time.

My other challenge is doing my taxes for the first time, both German and American. That was always Jim’s job, and although I can use his worksheet, etc., it is a daunting task. Fortunately I have an automatic extension to June 15 because of being overseas, but when I looked at the 1040 instruction book yesterday, I decided to definitely ask for your prayers!

Thank you so much for those continued prayers. May the Lord bless you as you have blessed me with your caring. Gott mit euch!

Your fellow servant,
Elsa Springer