Tag Archives: hoffnung

Love your Neighbor – Find a local meeting spot

Love your neighbor find a local meeting spotValuing the one is such an important thing and it shows people a greater value. I hope you were able to see that through last weeks challenge!

This weeks blog is about local meetings spots in your neighborhood. It’s important that we find those because in those we are able to connect with others from our area. And sometimes it’s good to have an outside meeting spot from home.

Hey our friend

How was your week? We had a wonderful barbecue at our house for Memorial Day. It was a wonderful time connecting with our neighbor friends. We love them! We also had a community night at YWAM this week which was a blessing. Its great to see many Christians from the city come together and be challenged and encouraged.

So find this week your meeting spot and regularly go there!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – Value the one

Love your neighbor Value the oneHow did your planning for the brunch go? Brunch is one of our favorite things so we hope it becomes yours too!

Many times in our society we try to make things bigger and bigger. And by the end of that, the biggest is looked at as the best. It doesn’t matter which area of life we are looking at. I’m not saying with that it is a bad thing if things are bigger, but it’s important to not forget to value the individual in the process. May this week’s video Blog encourage you to Value the one!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing great! Our week in San Francisco was full of meetings with many of them about to inspire others to love their neighbors and to build a relationship. We also had a neighborhood watch meeting which was encouraging and community building. Jen and I are doing really well too. We had a nice date night last week which was a real blessing. We try to have one date night each week and it is really encouraging and has been a real blessing to both of us. It’s important to us with the business of our lives to put a real value on our marriage. We want to encourage you to do the same!!

May God point out the one this week!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – Host a brunch

Love your neighbor host a brunch

How did you start this week to link with others? We know it takes time, but it is really worthied!

“I love those pancakes and I love that I get to meet neighbors at your brunch. I try to never miss those brunches” our friend declares. Our table turns into a spot where we hang out with our neighbor friends and new neighbor friends. Sometimes it is really crowded, other times its just a small group. But each time it’s a wonderful time for all of us. And it is so simple. Each one brings something to contribute to the brunch and we make German pancakes (they are like crapes) and have jelly, Nutella and butter ready. Preparation for the pancakes takes about 10 mins and then we just make them fresh during the brunch. In those 10 minutes, Jen sets up the table so not much time needed for that either.  We became really good friends with many of our neighbors and they are family to us through the brunch. The time and money invested is small, but the outcome is priceless.

Reading the stories of Jesus always reminds me of the importance of food. Some of the greatest fellowship he had with people was always centered around food. Why did he think its that important? Because he knew that food opens up the door for conversation and through conversation relationship.

Consider doing a brunch at your house! Invite neighbors over for it. One key thing is to keep it simple and don’t get your crazy cleaning skills in action. If you keep your house the way it is you will encourage others to do the same and show them inviting someone over doesn’t have to be a lot of work. When you do your brunch just make it your style and do things you like and invite your neighbors into that. The German pancakes are not a typical American thing, but everyone loves them. So be creative and be you!!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing great! We had a great time at the conference and learned a lot. Our Staff Retreat time after the conference was really wonderful as well. Next Sunday we will have another love your neighbor class at our church. Pray that each one who came is inspired and keeps getting to know his or her neighbors.

Bon Appetite and have a wonderful brunch with your neighbors!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – small things bring big change

Love your neighbor small things bring big changeHow did you start to be interdependent with your neighbors? In the longterm you will notice that it will deepen your relationships.

This week we have another video blog with the topic small things bring big change. We pray it encourages you!!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a great week. We had a great little vacation and feel refreshed through being out in nature. It is awesome how God gives us a relaxing time when we need it. Its just important to listen to Him about that so He can guide us.

This coming week we planned quite a few things here in San Francisco. Pray with us for a good start after the vacation!

It is a real blessing to know you!! Have a blessed week and don’t forget to do 5 little things for people in your neighborhood!!

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – Testimonies

Love your neighborTestimoniesHow were you able to take care of your neighbors last week? We are sure however you did it you were a blessing!!

This week we just want to share 2 stories with you about how much of a blessing it is to love your neighbor and how much it changes lives. A few days ago I got a free ride from Lyft and I used it to go into the woods to go for a hike. On the way there I encouraged the driver and I found out we live really close to each other. So I invited him to our game night the day after. He was moved by the invite and came. He had a great time getting to know the other neighbors that came and played his first bingo game. Each guest brought a small silly gift as a prize for the bingo game. So when it was his turn to win he picked one of the prices and it included a fortune cookie. He opened it and everyone asked what it said because he seemed really moved. He didn’t want to share first but then he did. It said today you will find what you were looking for. Then he said he was looking for family and he felt like family with all of us and it was something he wanted for a long time. All of us around the table were moved by it too. And it was a simple invite.

For Thanksgiving, we hosted a big meal at our house and invited our neighbor friends. Many people came and our apartment was full. We had friends from all over the neighborhood and all the different places we are connected to. We also had the full age range as well as all different walks of life from rich to poor. During the dinner time, Jen asked everyone to share about what they are thankful for. The common answer was this moment with people, sitting around this table and talking and spending time together. Someone said it was the first meal at a table with a family since home 3 years ago, another said they would have eaten at a restaurant but his mom convinced him to go and he gave us a hug later with tears in his eyes saying thank you so much. And again it was a simple open home.

We hope those 2 stories inspire you to invite your neighbors over and become friends with them. We all need a place to belong so let us create those places!!

Hey our friend

We hope your week was great!! We got back from our writing trip last week on Tuesday and it was a successful time. God really inspired us during the time. When we got back we had a neighborhood watch meeting and also a wonderful brunch. It was awesome!! We feel so blessed by all of our neighbor friends around us and our heart is to inspire others to love their neighbors too. So let’s do it!! This will also be the last week before our DTS Students leave for Outreach. Please keep them in your prayers!!

Thank you for all your prayers. You guys are a blessing to us!!

Have a wonderful week!!

Markus and Jen