The Little Mouse

(I would call this story: The Visitation but you probably wouldn’t read it. So I’m calling it “The Little Mouse instead.”)

We got the information last week to go on visitation so we decided to go the next Saturday. Bob was going to stay home with the four kids and Maria and I were going out.

“So where are we going today, Maria?” I asked.

“Bann.” She whispered softly as we got in the car.

“Bann.” I repeated. “And who are we visiting?”

“We’re not visiting anyone. We’re giving out tracts.”

“What?” I asked. ‘’Giving out tracts?”

“Putting them in mailboxes.”

“Oh, okay.” I responded understanding then what was involved. I thought about how cold it was outside and an extra shiver went down my spine.

So we parked on a narrow street and Maria looked at her map and explained to me what streets we were to cover. We went out and put a small tract in each mailbox of each home that lined that street. They were beautiful in their architecture and with the accumulated snow on their roofs, they looked like gingerbread houses with frosting on them.

One time I came around the corner and a young man was there. He greeted me with a friendly “hello” like most do here. I handed him a tract and mumbled “This is about Jesus and I’m a Baptist…”

“Good!” (or “Gute!”) and gave me a big smile.

I felt great after that even though I was freezing. My blood hasn’t thickened up much yet.  I climbed a steep hill with a good view of the quaint town below me. I had another pair of gloves with me so I put them on over my other ones and kept on walking. My legs felt drafty too and I wished I had dressed warmer.

Finally we were on the last street. A little mouse scurried across our path. He looked cold too and trying to find shelter as he huddled near the wall.

I exclaimed: “How cute!”
Maria exclaimed: “Yuch! Go away rat!

She’s had bad experiences with them in her former home, so her reaction was a little different than mine.

After that last street, we realized we were done. There were a few more streets left but we will return hopefully next Saturday.

Jesus said just before he went to heaven: “But Ye shall receive power after  that the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

I feel like we are almost there. We have gotten out of our comfort zone and traveled far. I was able to give my testimony to the ladies of Rheinland Baptist and already passed out tracts in German and English. It is a blessing to serve the Lord no matter where you are, but it is better when you’re on an adventure of faith.

The little mouse would probably agree with that too if he could talk...but of course, he can’t.

Every Member There

Its mid-January and we attended the EMT meeting today at the mission church. EMT stands for Every Member There. Of course, every member wasn’t there. It was just a handful of people. But they were there in our thoughts and prayers.

You see, we got up early that morning and took off as the snow flurries were softly feathering down and covering the landscape of Otterbach, Germany with a blanket of snow. Maria was careful to drive a little slower than usual because the roads were especially slippery and wet. When we got there, we ate breakfast together German-style which consisted of cold cuts, bread and hard boiled eggs. After breakfast, we all gathered for prayer. The men divided the prayer list and each took 7 names and prayed for the specific needs of every member. Pastor Woody was there too and he prayed along with the others. It was a special occasion and we felt the Lord was right there with us, too.

Then, we talked about the need to reach more Germans with the Gospel. We took tracts to pass out and a list of people to visit. When the weather cleared, we would find a time to do it this coming week.

We parted ways and left the parking lot. Looking out we heard the sound of an engine. That was Pastor Woody plowing the ground to clear the snow. He will do whatever is necessary even clean the bathrooms. He’s that kind of guy. I said a prayer and thanked God for him. He personally cares for the members of this church. I guess it was worth the trip of 5000 miles to meet a man like him. What a difference he has made already in our lives.

When we got home we got busy cleaning the house. However, later that evening we got a special email from Brother Woody. It was a prayer for the Bentz family. How precious was that!

So pray for our missionaries. They have more challenges than you and I. Sometimes they spend their whole lives in an obscure place. Sometimes they see little fruit. They suffer many financial and physical setbacks and challenges.

But their faith remains strong; I pray my faith remains strong, too. We are waiting on the Lord as the doors open here so we can stay. Still, it’s nice to know someone is always praying for us and our needs. What do you need prayer about in your life? And who are you praying for?

Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.      

And I thank God for Pastor Woody…