Hey friend

Wow we are already one week into the New Year. Time is flying. Jen and I made it back safely to San Francisco. Last week we started talking and meeting about 2013 and we are excited to see what God has in store for this time. Pray that we will hear God clearly on his plans for this New Year.  Please keep also praying for our friend from the neighborhood who starts his cancer treatment in the next few weeks. Thank you for all your prayers.

Why do you give your best for the work you are doing?

When I started End Loneliness about 2.5 years ago I knew that it would be a challenge and that it would not be easy. But I also knew that whenever God spoke something in the past He made it happen. Looking back I can see that again. Starting End Loneliness was probably the most challenging and the hardest thing I ever did, and many times I was wondering if we are on the right track. It challenged me in my faith so many times especially when you hear many times discouraging words from people spoken out of fear. I kept asking God the question if we are on the right track and each time the same answer, keep going you are on the right track. Also many times that was confirmed through prophetic words from strangers. But sometimes that can still be hard if you don’t see big results. But these are the times were you have to trust God. He called us to be obedient to whatever he calls us. It doesn’t matter if we see immediate results. Some people in the bible never saw the promises in their lifetime, like Abraham. God promised him to make him into a big nation. That happened years after he died. But he stayed obedient and trusted God even when he asked him to sacrifice his son who was, speaking in human logic, important for the promise.

Now after 2.5 years I start seeing more and more fruits in different areas with the coffee shop work, the boys and girls club and all the investments we did in people’s lives start paying off. I believe that all the other things he spoke will come through as well. Our God is faithful and his promises are true, we just have to keep believing Him.

I want to encourage you with this to stay obedient to your calling and to also ask yourself those questions:
Why you press into the work you are doing?
Are you doing it to not look like a fool and to proof that you can do it or do you not care about the Glory and do it because you love God and want to bring Glory to Him?

Think and pray through that question. Start this New Year with a new perspective.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

P.s. Our COD or Mission Adventures Department still needs help for the spring. If you have no plans for the  next few month, use your life to make a difference. Here is some info how:

“A great way to get involved here at YWAM San Francisco for a few months is through our Cities Outreach Internship. Interns act as temporary staff helping us equip and minister alongside groups that come here for outreach by befriending and ministering to the marginalized of San Francisco while simultaneously enabling others to do the same.

Internships run year round and our next two are: January 28-May 7, 2013 and May 28-August 14 2013. Contact us at cod@ywamsanfrancisco.org for more information.”