Praises!

Just a few praises to hopefully help encourage some of you! As well as to thank you all for your prayers!

- Last week we went in to get our VISAs. Praise God we had everything that they requested of us plus more. We were planning on having to wait a few weeks for them to come in but praise God we were able to go in and pick them up on Wednesday without any problems!

- I (Alyssa) have really begun to connect to God through German worship music which is a huge blessing!

- We were able to take our personal retreat day for this past month and spend part of it at the zoo here in Innsbruck. It was an awesome time for us to have together as well has getting to explore the area a little more!

- God has really been blessing our relationship with our neighbors. There is a family that lives below us that when we first met was a little awkward (we interrupted dinner and they had company and so on). However, God definitely used it to start a relationship. The couple's daughter is about our age and we were able to go out to eat with her and her boyfriend on Sunday and we are now planning on being at her birthday party this Saturday. We have also been able to get to know her parents a little bit. They only speak German and it has been great opportunities to practice what we know! The mom even made us some knodle which was quite delicious! We have also been able to get to know our neighbors across the hall. There there is a woman and her two young girls. Be praying for God to really use these relationships!

-It has been crazy to see what God is doing through our relationships with those in our German class! A few of the guys from class have gone with Seth to play soccer which is awesome! We were able to go running with one of those sames guys as well, since he does not live to far from our house. There is a couple in our class that has shown interest in what we believe and the husband even came to bible study with us this last Wednesday. He came with many questions since he had grown up in a Muslim country. Be praying for conversations that we have. Also be praying that he will continue to keep coming to bible study and that God will provide a way for his wife to come as well.

(the blond in the middle is our teacher)

- Today we had our German class over to our home for a meal! What a blessing it is to have a large apartment right now! It was the last day of class and everyone brought something to contribute. It was awesome to try different kinds of foods! There was SO much food and for some reason everyone decided to leave all the left overs at our house! Our fridge is packed to the max and there is even more we have put in the freezer or is ok to sit on the counter. I'm pretty sure we have enough fruit and bread to last us a month! ...too bad it won't last that long. We had a great time together and pray that these relationships continue to develop. Some of these people will continue on with us with the next German class that starts on Monday but probably only half the class. However those that we are closest with are going to continue for at least one more class. The couple I mentioned earlier is planning on doing all 6 with us. Praise God!

Not the most flattering picture but I think that was everyone besides me

- God has really been blessing the Friday night ministry at the light house! It is a time for the high school youth group kids to bring there friends just as a time of outreach and fellowship. There have been many people (like 15-35) every week since we have been here although that is apparently a newer development. It's awesome to get to know the friends of the youth. There is particularly one girl that I (Alyssa) have begun to connect with that is not a part of the youth group. Be praying for that!

- Sunday there was a meal after the church service and we ended being at a table with German only speakers. I think that was the first time where we have really been able to converse with people only in German. It amazed me how many things we were able to talk about! It was a very big confidence boost for us with our German!

- Seth's cousin Ismael is coming to visit tomorrow! Be praying that God uses that time! He will be joining us on some ministry things. We will also be doing some sightseeing which we really haven't done a lot of so we are pretty excited!

Thank you all for your prayers! Sickness seems to be going around here like crazy! Be praying for our health as well as the health of our team (Seth has been feeling better but our team leader and his family have all been sick this week).