Feiertag!

Today was Team Germany's free day. We did some shopping at a mall called Europa Passage. We were able to pick up a few things for family and friends too, of course. For lunch we ate at a truly authentic Italian restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal after deciphering an entire menu in Italian. It was a very fun experience. We also got to give Tammy and Kevin a tour of the beautiful city of Hamburg.

Later we were able to explore Stadt Park. It was a huge open area complete with playground equipment, football, soccer, and canoeing. We got to meet up with some of the friends we made at the IBC singles group from before. It was a great time of fellowship complete with a lot of delicious gelato.

Fellowship

This morning Team Germany was able to spend a second visit at the school to teach English. It was once again a very rewarding experience where we were able to spend quality time with young children while teaching them practical skills.


Later, we were able to lead worship and give a message at the International Baptist Church. We discussed fellowship, encouragement, and openness in friendship with young singles. The Team was blessed to be able to encourage other believers in the group as well as be encouraged by them as well.

The Language We Speak

This morning we had traditional Monday morning base breakfast with everyone on the YWAM staff and DTS students. The Team was also blessed to have Tammy and Kevin Schneider from the ORU missions department with us, as they were visiting for a few days.

After breakfast, we got to spend time at a local school teaching English to younger children. It was a wonderful time to be able to share the language we know with the children of Germany.

Later we joined with the International Baptist Church and other churches in the area to pray for Hamburg and share things God has placed on our hearts for the people of this city. It was such an awesome experience to come together with the people that will remain in Hamburg and who will continue to minister to the people of this city.

Getting to Know Him

Today Team Germany went to the International Baptist Church and worked with 11-13 year olds. We began with worship and then we gave a message on spending time with God. We had the kids journal at the end of the service so that they could practice different ways of spending time getting to know God.
Later in the afternoon we led worship at the YWAM flat downtown with the staff and DTS students. We discussed fellowship, carrying each others burdens, and our struggles. It was a wonderful message and spoke to the hearts of everyone on the team.

Joyful Conversation

Today the entire team was able to help out at the kid's ministry this morning. We played games, drew pictures, did some fun exercises with them, and just spent time loving on the children that were there.

Later, we were able to spend time at the base with the YWAM staff getting to know them better and having meaningful conversations with them. It has been such a joy to be able to get to know everyone on the base. The team has really enjoyed having such a large family here on the base to spend time with.

Encouraging Words

This morning Aaron, a YWAM staff member, was kind enough to speak to Team Germany about his experience with hearing God's voice in his life. He spent a few hours sharing and discussing scripture and personal experiences with the team.

Later the team was invited to lead a youth service at a local church here in Hamburg. Grace, Liz, and Eric shared testimonies and encouraging words on God's plan for your life. After the service the team was able to pray with and encourage the youth group and spend time in fellowship with them. While we spent time at the church, Ruth, Aubrey, and Stephanie along with some of the YWAM staff were able to minister to and pray with women in the Red Light District.

Please continue to pray for the team as we finish our last week here in Germany.

Prayer & People

Today Team Germany spent the morning with the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) staff and the DTS (Discipleship Training School) students at their downtown flat in Hamburg. We had intercessory prayer for the women in the Red Light District and for half-way homes built to give these women a safe place to stay. We also got to spend time at the local university where we prayed for the small Christian group on campus and the other students that attend the university.






















That afternoon we got to spend time with two different ministires. Part of the team went to the YMCA to spend time building relationships and playing games with youth and the other part of the team went to a children's ministry to spend time with younger kids. The entire team got to build relationships with people of all ages and bring encouraging words and love to them.

Outreach & The City

Today Team Germany was blessed to be able to work in a local Hamburg school with highschool students. We shared personal testimonies, a skit, and worked in small groups speaking with the youth about true friendships. We were able to share the Biblical principles within our friendships as well as discuss with the students in the class about what true friendship means to them.

Later in the afternoon the team experienced a tour of the city of Hamburg. We traveled by car, bus, train, and boat to view the beautiful city. The modern and traditional architecture, the multi-cultural population, and the experience of trying authentic new foods made for an exciting day.

Tomorrow brings another day of ministry for the team. We are so excited to be here in Hamburg and we cannot wait to see how God uses us individually and as a team.

Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers. We appreciate it!

Tschuess,
Team Germany

Welcome to Germany!

Last week Team Germany experienced a challenging and rewarding week of ROPES training in Tulsa. Our team was so blessed to be a part the life-changing course where we were able to grow emotionally, spiritually, and physically. With an amazing week completed, Team Germany departed from Tulsa on the afternoon of May 9th.

After 11 hours in the sky, from Tulsa to D.C. and from D.C. to Munich, Team Germany finally landed in Hamburg! We have settled in at the YWAM base here where we are staying and even enjoyed our first German meal together. We have a busy 2 weeks ahead of us. We know that God has incredible things in store for Hamburg and our team. We are all very excited to be able to use our unique gifts and personalities to encourage and minister to the people of Hamburg.



Please continue to pray for the team as we go out into Hamburg to bring the Gospel to the German people. We appreciate your support and prayers so very much.



He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. -Isaiah 61:1

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. Ephesians 6:18-19

50% Deadline & Egg Cracking Fun

Last Saturday, February 19th, the team went out into the Tulsa community on a beautiful sunny day to do our Egg Cracking Fundraiser. We simply invited people to crack a real egg on top of our heads and welcomed them to make a donation if they felt so led. It was a very fun and successful day.

Team Germany is excited to tell you that our entire team reached our 50% deadline this past Tuesday, February 22nd! We have been very blessed from our generous givers. Thank you all for your donations. We appreciate it so much. Our 100% deadline is March 28th. We are working on putting together more fundraisers to help us meet our final goal.

Spotlight: Aubrey Robinson

Hey There Everyone! My name is Aubrey Robinson, and I am a freshman from Edmond, Oklahoma. I am currently studying Health and Exercise Science. Similar to other team members, this too will be my first mission trip with the school, and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for the team and the people of Germany. A few random facts about me: I love soccer, sushi, Indian food, traveling, reading, thinking, sunshine, the outdoors, and being spontaneous.
A verse the Lord has most recently placed on my heart for this trip is found in Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord." These verses alone have a four-fold ministry about them: proclaim, release, recover, and set free. In order to reach the hearts of the those who are lost in Germany, we must operate in the magnificent power that lies deep within us due to the residing Holy Spirit. May God be glorified and His name lifted up!

Spotlight: Grace Varghese

Hey there, I am Grace Varghese, originally from Valley Cottage/Nyack, NY. I graduated from Oral Roberts University this past December with a bachelor’s degree in theology. My major was Pastoral Care Ministry, with a concentration in youth ministry. Though at some point in my life I would like to be a youth pastor, eventually my goal is to be part of a curriculum development organization for youth ministries as well as network churches at a local, statewide, and perhaps nationwide level.

I have never gone on a mission trip before and since this year is already full of change, I decided this would be the year I commit to a trip. I am so excited!

There are quite a few things I love to do. I write [my blog: http://www.opendoor-thoughts.blogspot.com ]; on occasion I dabble with fiction. I love to take pictures [http://www.flickr.com/gvfree ]. I also write music and play guitar. Also, I spend so much time on food sites [recipes, reviews, you name it] – by the time we go on this trip, I will have specific places in mind.

Ephesians 3:16-21 holds a place in my heart because it reminds me that by knowing Him, we are given the chance to dive deep into His steadfast love – not only does it changes us constantly, but it allows us to do so much more than we could ever imagine on our own. And that is the point of this trip – to make ourselves available to the experience and to open our eyes to the bigger picture we have the opportunity to be in.

Grace Varghese

Spotlight: Assistant Team Leader, Ruth Adamiec

Hallo! (Hello in German) My name is Ruth Adamiec and I am from the Northern California town of Concord. I am a senior at ORU finishing my undergraduate degree in Health and Exercise Science. My goal is to continue my education at the University of Oklahoma in their double master's program with a M.A. in Dietetics and M.S. in Nutritional Biology. My parents immigrated from Poland and our entire extended family is in Poland. Thus, my parents, my sisters, and I all have a huge heart for Eastern Europe and their salvation in Jesus Christ. Random facts: I am a twin, enjoy active outdoor activities, sharing the Gospel, traveling, can play the violin, and hope to have a golden retriever puppy one day!

The scripture passage that I have been meditating on, and pray we can share countless times in Germany, is Philippians 3:7-11

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

He has created us to know Him and to enjoy Him forever! All the treasures we try to heap up and gain on this earth are vanity and loss. But truly knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is ultimate gain- for this life and the life to come! We as Team Germany pray for fertile soil in Germany in the hearts of many so that this message, His Gospel, would bring many to confess Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD!

Fundraising & Task Groups

As Team Germany approaches our 50% deadline on February 21st, we are continuing to fund raise. As a team we are working on getting new fundraisers set up. In order to best meet our fundraising goals, we have been divided up into task groups. Each task group is made up of two people from the team that work together and share common strengths.

Our task groups include:

Administration: Roman and Ruth

• Meet with RC’s and outreach office frequently
• Guide direction of team to be prepared
• Promote cohesiveness within team
• Develop leaders for future

Fundraising: Michael and Eric

• Plan and coordinate fundraising events
• Notify team of when fundraisers are
• Extrapolate financial/fundraiser course to meet deadlines
• Keep active communication with the businesses that we are receiving ink from as well as with team members who are collecting the ink cartridges

Public Relations: Liz and Karis

• Write blogs every other Thursday
• Create update letter template
• Promote awareness with contacts of where we currently with fundraising and when deadlines are
• Take photos at team events/meetings

Activities: Stephanie

• Plan and coordinate team hangouts and outreaches for every other week (mostly towards end of year)
• Remind team of events

Culture: Grace and Aubrey

• Learn about history/ facts of Germany especially important spiritual/religious events
• Inform team of news in Germany
• Learn and teach team important German words and phrases

These task groups are helping us accomplish things as a team, be proactive fundrasiers, and learn more about ourselves and Germany.

Spotlight: Team Leader, Roman Harvey

Hey! My name is Roman Harvey and I am a junior at Oral Roberts University studying marketing. I came here from the small town of Kearney, Nebraska. This is my second mission trip with ORU Outreach Ministries. Last year I went to Tanzania with an all male team into the bush to build a church for the village of Lubalize. After the Tanzania trip I found out how much I love experiencing new cultures and spreading the Word of God! Some random things about me: I drink green tea A LOT, I love to swim laps at the pool whenever I get a chance, and I currently work in the ORU Outreach office here at school.

One passage of scripture that has been on my mind a lot since I have been on Team Germany is Philippians 4:11-13. “…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

This truth is crucial for every human being to understand. We must know that we have control over our thoughts which will ultimately affect our emotions. If we know how to do this, then we will not be as easily swayed by our circumstances. Being firmly rooted in the Word and having a strong mind allows us to be more useful for the kingdom of God.

Snow Day Fundraising

As the 50% missions deadline draws near, Team Germany has been preparing by taking advantage of Tulsa's recent snow days. On Thursday, January 20th, the team set out to shovel snow covered driveways in the community. Team Germany worked as a team to rid homes of snowy driveways while working together and getting to know more about their teammates. The team feels very blessed and is appreciative for the kind donations they received.



Team Germany has completed 32% of their goal. The 50% deadline is February 21st.

A New Semester!

The new year has arrived and the trip to Germany is quickly approaching. Over the holidays, the team members were able to maintain contact by sharing devotions with group members via the team Facebook sight. Now that classes are in session, team bonding activities and fundraising will bring the team together much more often than first semester! Plans for an ink cartridge drive, snow shoveling day, and other fundraisers are in the works! Stay posted to see how you can participate in these efforts!

In the next month or so, we are going to do Team Member Profiles! You may have someone you know going on this trip, but these profiles will help you get to know the other team members, and hopefully be able to pray for them in a more personal way. This post’s spotlight is team member Liz Tvedt.

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Hello hello! My name is Liz Tvedt and I’m a Junior from Oskaloosa, Iowa! I am studying Public Relations and Government here at ORU. Because I transferred last semester, this is my first missions trip with the university and I am SO excited! A few random things about myself: I love dancing, Italian food, history/politics, piano music of all kinds, staying up till the wee hours of the morning, and the color green.
A piece of scripture that I’ve really been meditating on concerning this trip is I Peter 3:15.

“But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

When we are ministering this summer, my prayer is that we will eloquently and powerfully be able to convey how Jesus Christ IS the hope that is so desperately needed in the midst of the spiritual coldness of Europe.