Last week we wrote about the importance of knowing the history of your family and how it can help you to move forward in your own life. This week we are writing about the importance of knowing the history of your area.

Let me illustrate it with a little piece of the history of our neighborhood. Years ago before we started doing anything in North Beach I learned a lot about the neighborhoods history. The neighborhood we live in has a rich Italian history. Many of the homes, stores and restaurants used to be owned by Italians in the neighborhood. Along with them came the culture of family but also a catholic Christian faith background. People helped each other out and were part in each other’s life, just like families do. So at one point an Italian man started the bank of Italy which was a bank for the working class of North Beach. It helped people to be able to afford homes that normally would not be able to (sometimes I wonder if the story of the movie it’s a wonderful life is in some ways based on this bank). The bank helped after the earthquake right away with loans so the rebuild of the city could start. So again the heritage of our neighborhood came to life through that bank by helping the people that lived here like a family. That bank later on merged with another bank (Bank of America) which became one of the largest banks in the world and still helps the working class with money for mortgages.

So this was just one example of a history our neighborhood carries. Many times when we find those things we can see more of how God intended a place to be. When you research the history you will understand your town so much better and again you will be able to make a greater impact in everything you do.

1. Go to a library and find books about your town. Also research on the internet.
2. Talk to older people from the area you live in and hear what they remember about the history of the town.
3. Gather your information and see what common themes you see.
4. Now start praying into it and ask God what your role is in this town.

Hey our friend

A week without community is a lost week. During the last week we saw again how much each of us needs community and people around them. During the different times we have people together at our house you can always see each one of them leaving refreshed but also we feel encouraged through there friendships. No matter if we meet up with people one on one or if it was times in groups both of them give so much life. Most of what we do is creating community wherever we go and showing through true relationship how the love of God transformed us. It might be through a game night, a brunch an encouragement group, helping out at a senior meeting or meeting up for a coffee. It doesn’t matter what way it is, the importance is to start with one!

God is so amazing, this year our cost went up with increase in rent, health insurance and other living costs in San Francisco, but since the beginning of the year we have already seen a big increase in monthly support. Right now we are still in need of $1.300 to cover our total monthly cost. Thank you to each one of you who is already part of our team. If you are not, but you would like to join our financial support team, find out more by clicking on this link. Thank you for considering us.

Don’t forget to research your town history!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

A while ago Jen and I had a so called Amish Day. On a weekend day we would not use any electricity, phones or computers. All we would do is read books, play board games, spend time with God and each other. It was an amazing thing to do, since it really helped to get our minds to slow down and focus on what really matters. In a world full of information it is so easy to fill our minds with stuff. And it can be so easy to be overwhelmed. It can also be really easy to put all our focus on something and while doing that loosing what really matters our focus on the father. The something can really be anything even something good. I was reading the book Is that really you God with the story of YWAM and how it started and one of the stories they were sharing was a story of a ship. God told them to buy a ship and they all moved forward in that. But then the focus changed, and instead of God the ship was the main thing on their mind. Eventually they lost the ship, but through losing it they learned a valuable lesson which is still today one of the keys in YWAM: Keep your focus on God.  

The question is what is on our mind? What are we focusing our thoughts on? Are we worried about the future that is predicted in the media or are we focused on our father who is with us all the time?

When we thought through those questions let’s ask ourselves how we can change our focus and the things we think about. Maybe its by more selective reading or watching of media. One thing that helps for sure is to always stay connected with God. It might be a little prayer every hour in our day and a good quiet time with Him. Maybe its done through a regular reading of the bible. There are many ways to do that, ask God which one is the right one for you!

Hey our friend

How was your week? We hope it was a good one. Jen and I were doing a lot of work in the neighborhood. We connected with lots of new and old friends from the community. We also had our first class with the students on neighborhoods. It was great. We love how God gives people a heart for community and how he always shows us again and again the need for it. Remember to create community wherever you go!

God is so amazing, this year our cost went up with increase in rent, health insurance and other living costs in San Francisco, but since the beginning of the year we have already seen a big increase in monthly support. Right now we are still in need of $1.300 to cover our total monthly cost. Thank you to each one of you who is already part of our team. If you are not, but you would like to join our financial support team, find out more by clicking on this link. Thank you for considering us.

Remember this week to keep God the main focus in your mind!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Reading the news for the first few weeks of 2016 can shake you up big time. We can read about the financial world and the drops in the stock markets. We read about North Korea and how they did a new bomb test. We read about terrorism and how it could hit us in everyday life. But what does all that do to us? It creates fear and worry. But fear and worry is the main thing that keeps people away from hope.

But what is our job as Christians in that? We are the ones that need to bring hope into a world run by fear! When I talk to people and topics from the news are brought up, I listen for a while, but then I normally share about the good things that are happening in the world. Most of the time people leave more hopeful with less fear then when they came. I remember years ago we went to a poetry reading and most of the poetry was really dark and depressing. So one week I had my students share some of their poetry which was all about hope. It was amazing to see the difference in the faces of people. People that looked almost depressed had later on that glimpse of hope in their eyes. But not enough right after they shared someone shared some of the darkest stuff I ever heard and that glimpse of hope from people’s faces left. The night was almost over but some of my students were promised to share so the coffee shop owner insisted that they would be allowed to do that even the night was already at the end. All people stayed and listened while one of the students read a paraphrased Psalm all about hope and then another student sang the song amazing grace acapella. After the students finished I looked at the faces in the room and every single person looked hopeful some with tears in their eyes! Christ is the author of hope and the destroyer of fear and what he brought to this world to every person is a message of hope. Whoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life. If that is not hopeful I don’t know what would!

So this is a call for each one of us. We have the message and power to bring hope into a hopeless world. Lets pray about ways how to do that. Maybe through a conversation at the office that goes from instead of speaking negative about something to sharing about something that God was doing the world recently. Or even better sharing about something God was doing in our personal life. Or it might start in the evening with a conversation to a neighbor when we get home. There are many ways to live our faith and being carriers of hope. Let us all step into the one where we have influence in!

Hey our friend

Wow what a week. I Markus got hit with a bad cold and fever which kept me grounded for almost a week. But when I got sick it also made me thankful. I realized that it has been 1 year since a cold strapped me to the bed. Thank you God for that!! Jen went to the welcome dinner for the students and was able to meet all of them. This week they will start working in the neighborhood. Pray that God will give each of them a passion for building community wherever they go!

Also another praise report!! During the last week God brought in 400 more dollars of monthly support so we are now only in need of $1.300 more on a monthly base!! Praise God. Thank you to all of you that are already part of our team!! If you or someone you know are not but would like to, click on this link to find out more how to do that. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Have a blessed week and remember to go after fear by spreading hope!

Markus and Jen