In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

One thing that is really fun and a good way to get to know your new friends even better is to do things together. You might ask now what do you mean with that? So as an example: Every year we have different fairs and parades in our city. We mostly go to the ones in our neighborhood. So instead of going by ourselves we just invite our neighbors to join us. Its that simple.

The great thing about this is, that somebody else sets everything up for you and all you have to do is show up. I think that is pretty awesome and easy. With times like that you actually get to know each other better since you are removed from all the usual environments you are normally in. That opens the door for a new way of learning new things about each other. Another great thing with that is, that you might get to know some friends of your neighbors too.

We believe being invited by someone always makes you feel more special and shows you that you are wanted.

One thing that is really important in this is to keep inviting your new friends. Don’t quit inviting them just because they couldn’t make it a few times. Keep inviting even if it takes a while for people to come.

1. Brainstorm and think about events that you could invite your neighbors to.
2. Invite them and keep inviting them even if they cant make it the first time!

Hey our friend

We hope your week was fantastic!! Jen and I took a short 3 day vacation to Yosemite National Park. It was amazing. If you click here you can see some more pictures.

For the next few weeks our life will be a bit busier since we have a block party coming up at the 20^th of September and Jen is greatly involved in the planning process. Pray for Gods strength and guidance for her. Last years block party was a lot of fun and it was a great way neighbors got to meet each other.

Think about ways how neighbors could meet each other in your community!

Remember that God wants to use you in your area of influence!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

Many times we heard people say why they can’t reach out to their neighbors. Reasons like I am an introvert, I have not enough space, I don’t have time. But with that we are limiting ourselves and God. Let me explain: If you are an introvert, you can say I am an introvert and don’t connect with others. Or you can be an introvert and connect with others in a way that works for you. As an example set the time and just invite one or two people at a time. If you do that, it will help you not to be overwhelmed but still gives you interaction with your neighbors.

So each of the areas where you say you can’t do it, will set a limit to what you can do. But if you spend time with God and ask Him what you can handle you can actually change that. In Matthew 11.30 it talks about how God would never give us more then we can handle. So since he called us to love our neighbor He also gave us ways to do that!

1. Think and pray about in which areas you set limitations to yourself.
2. Ask God how you can start seeing those areas in a realistic way.

When you do that it will open up many possibilities.

Hey our friend

We hope your week was fantastic!! We are back to normal life here in San Francisco after the weeks of working on the book and beeing at the YWAM Retreat. Times like that help to get new perspective and forward thinking. We want to encourage you to take times like that in your life. Times where you just focus on something different, so you can get even more passion for the everyday things.

Remember this week that Father God has a great plan for you.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

We have friends from India that live here in San Francisco. To spend time with them you pretty much just have to show up and it is the same way around. In our western culture we are so used to schedule everything which sometimes takes out the spontaneous times together. But when you allow those spontaneous moments it often turns into some of the best conversations. I remember a weekend Jen was gone to Pennsylvania and I just called a neighbor couple and asked if they want to come over for a movie. We ended up watching a movie starting at 12am and had a wonderful time that brought us even closer together as friends. By the time the movie was done around 2 am we had some wonderful conversations about the message of the film. We are not trying to say stay up till late night just in case someone will drop by, but be open to it. Be open for the so called “interruptions” in your day.

Also leave time in your schedule for spontaneous conversation. If you have to go to places leave a little bit earlier since you never know who you will run into. Again, those spontaneous moments can create great friendships. When I (Markus) joined YWAM a few other people joined shortly after me. So one of them had to get setup, and go to Ikea so I spontaneously decided to go with him and help him to get set up. Out of that spontaneous moment an amazing friendship started and since then we walked through good and hard times with each other. He actually became my best friend and it all started with being spontaneous.

Ask yourself:

1. Why is it hard for you to be spontaneous?
2. What do you have to do to become more spontaneous?
3. Open up some time this week for a spontaneous encounter!

Have a great week with being spontaneous!

Hey our friend

We hope your month is awesome!! Writing a book is something totally new to me and to Jen, but in some way God guided each of our steps last week to move forward with this project. We want to encourage you with that as well, don’t be afraid to move forward in the things God called you to do. You can do it!!

Remember this week that Father God is with you every moment!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

A while ago I heard this quote from a friend: “Excuse my mess but I live here”. Sometimes we try to bring everything in our home to a perfect standard before people come over. That can turn into a real stressful situation and sometimes the feeling of not wanting to have people over. As an example if you just have people over if your house is absolute immaculate, it will limit the amount of interaction you get with your neighbors. Reality is, they know as much as you do that your house is not always looking like a show home. You know why, because there home is not looking like that either. Actually sometimes it can even set up an un unhealthy standard. Your neighbor might feel then they have to have the hose even cleaner than yours so they don’t even try to invite you over.

Be real with people, show them your life and house how it really is. The same is also true for when you make a dinner. You don’t have to make a five course meal everytime a neighbor comes over. Invite them to the meal you and your family are eating. When you do that it creates more of an atmosphere of you really inviting them into your life, which is something you actually want to do. And again it makes it easier on them to invite people over. Of course there are exceptions to that. If you have a Christmas dinner you can make a special meal and clean your house extra shiny. But lets be real, you would have done that no matter if your neighbors come over or not.

Ask yourself:

1. Look at your life and see in which areas you need to relax when you have people over. Also ask yourself the question what is causing a certain standard.
2. Invite neighbors over for a meal that you would eat anyway and invite them through that into your life!

Go for it and have a great week with neighbors

Hey our friend

Summer, Summer, Summer and we think all of us love it. We had a wonderful week at the  YWAM Staff Retreat. It is always a great way to reconnect with people that you don’t see on a regular base. This week we ask for your Prayers since we will be working on the book that will give people ideas and ways on how to do what we are doing and through that create a neighbor community. Pray for inspiration and the right words. Also pray for wisdom since neither Jen nor I have ever written a book. Thank you for praying with us.

Remember this week that you are valuable and loved by Father God.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

The theme of this week is: ways on how to invite neighbors over. Jen and I started Saturday brunches. I started to make German pancakes and then we just wrote an invite and handed it to our neighbors. We absolutely love those times of conversation and eating together. Sharing a meal is something Jesus always did with many different kinds of people. It is a great way to get to know each other. The great thing is that neighbors also get to know each other and that it builds a sense of community. So something simple like a brunch can bring you close with your neighbors and it is an easy way to invite them over.

But it is not limited to a meal, it can also be a movie night, a game night or something else.

2 Questions for you to think about:

1. Think about creative ways to invite neighbors over.
2. What night works for you to do that?

You can totally do this and trust me you will be blessed by it as much as your neighbors!

Hey our friend

A week can be good or bad depending on your perspective about it. So we hope you had the right perspective and with that a great week!!

Our week went great here in San Francisco. We got ready for some sharing times at the YWAM Retreat. You can pray with us for a fruitful time. We also had a wonderful time back in the community seeing neighbors/friends again and spend time with some of them.

Thank you for praying for our time in Pennsylvania. It was wonderful and fruitful. Also thank you for supporting us financially. You are such a blessing to us!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen