Hey friend

We hope you had a great week. Ours was good. We got back into the rhythm of things. We were also meeting about the new year and things ahead. Its going to be an exciting year. Today our new DTS Students are arriving. Please keep us in your prayers in this season since we got some exciting things planned with them. They will be here till the end of March!

Hope against bullying, maybe an answer to the events of Connecticut

During many years of work with youth I noticed more and more how loneliness is many times directly connected to bullying. When someone gets bullied during their time in school they either start acting out or isolating themselves. We saw many cases in the Media were students acted out and ended up shooting others in their schools. But we often don’t see anything in the media that pays attention to the majority of them which flee behind computers or other things that keep them away from the pain. During my high school time I was bullied for many years and I saw on myself that it took away hope in my life. For many years I felt hopeless and didn’t know why I’m even here. But when I became a Christian God got ahold of me and started to heal the broken parts in me and made me able to understand people that are in similar situation. Out of my own experience as well as my work with youth I know that one thing always helped, if someone cared about you or just said a nice word. That is something the person can hold on to for weeks and see hope. We all can make a difference in that area, if it is in school or at the workplace or anywhere else we get in touch with people. Watch out for people that are bullied and speak hope to them. You might be the only one that does. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to the ones that really need it. You might help to save lives.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

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.”

Hey friend

We are still in Pennsylvania but we will be flying back to san Francisco on Wednesday. Thank you for your prayers for the ticket changes that we had to make to get here early. The airline changed our tickets for free which is an absolute miracle. We had a wonderful Christmas time here with family. It was such a blessing to see all of them. Here is a link to our photo album from our time here in Pennsylvania.

He rules the world

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

On Christmas eve we went to a late night candle light service in a little country church in Pennsylvania. During the service we sang the famous Christmas carol “Joy to the world”. In the last verse the song talks about how Jesus rules the world. When I read over the news and hear how worried many are about politics and the situation in the world I believe that we often forget that. I believe that if we just look at circumstances our outlook could be sometimes really negative. But if we remind ourselves on a daily base that Jesus is in charge and that he hast the best plan, our perspective will change. Our eyes are focused on Him instead of circumstances and that changes everything. Start your new year with the knowledge that He rules and know that he knows the whole picture. Have a blessed start into 2013.

Markus and Jen