Hey Key Club! Guten Abend. : )

Thanks for your prayers, I made it to Germany on Friday morning! I had pretty uneventful flights on the way over and after a day or so of jet lagging, I'm doing well. I'm currently staying at the Cadence Hospitality House in the area, which is working out nicely. This week I'm beginning an in-processing phase, learning the logistical aspects of life and ministry here. I'm also getting acquainted with the team I'll be working with (they are really great!), the chaplains and the various Ramstein chapel ministries. This week and next week, I'll visit different youth groups in the area to get a feel for what's going on. In the coming weeks I'll also visit different chapel services to find a church to attend and to get to know people throughout the chapels. The youth group I'll be working with draws students from a variety of chapel services so it'll be good to visit those different congregations.

My first and foremost goal right now is obtaining a military ID card - this is my "golden ticket." With it, I can ... take my drivers license test, buy a car, open a bank account, get an apartment, shop on base for groceries and various supplies, get on base with ease, get a cell phone plan, etc. This could potentially take a week or two - please pray for this process to be quicker than longer, as it's the first step in getting settled in.

I haven't yet, but in the coming days and weeks I will begin to post pictures and updates on my blog of life here to give you some visuals.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support! After being on the support raising trail for so long, it's cool to finally be here. I'm looking forward to sharing with you stories of how God is moving in the lives of military teens.

Blessings,

Beth

On an unrelated note...

My dad leaves for his second deployment as a contractor this upcoming weekend. He's currently in Las Vegas in-processing with the company before flying to Afghanistan (on the 9th) for 4 months where he will maintain the predator drones flying missions in the Middle East. (He was in Balad, Iraq Feb-June, this will be his first time to Afghanistan and his first time working on a smaller Army post.) Please pray for ...

- his travels, as flying to the location in Afghanistan may take several days.

- my mom, as life in our house has gone from very busy to very quiet in a matter of days! Praise God for providing a wonderful, supportive community in the Northwoods for our family. Many people have offered help while she holds down the fort this winter.

I made it!

I took off Thursday morning at 10 from Central Wisconsin Airport and landed in Chicago at O'Hare about 40 minutes later. My flight from Chicago left about 20 minutes late, but 8 hours later I touched down in Frankfurt in foggy-drizzly weather at 7AM local time, Friday morning. (Despite it being warm on the plane and getting stuck in a center seat, the long flight went really well.)

It was super fun to have many of the CSM people greet me at the airport... and so early in the morning! How nice. Somehow I managed to come out the "wrong" exit, but I eventually found them at the gate they were expecting me to come out of. : ) I found them though, wearing... one in a tuxedo, one with a weird hat, a Bears jersey (yes, people actually wear those in public) and a welcome sign with a Packer G! Pretty fun!!

We grabbed Starbucks and chatted for a bit before heading out. Unfortunately, the coffee did little to help me stay awake. I was majorly dragging - I didn't sleep at all on the flight over. But after doing a little running around and starting the paperwork for my military ID card I was able to take a good nap.

I'm staying at the Cadence Hospitality House until I find more longterm housing. Friday night is their ministry night, so I had a chance to start meeting some folks in the area which was nice. I crashed around 11 and slept the whole night through!

Sunday I'll head to chapel and continue meeting people and on Monday will start working on other things to get settled in.

All in all, doing well and happy to be here. Thanks for your prayers!!

Big prayer request... getting my military ID card. That's the first step to being able to do anything around here (get on base with ease, drive, mail box, etc.)

T-Minus 3 Days!

Hello Team!

I hope you're doing well and enjoying the beginning of fall. I just love watching the leaves change.

Thanks for your prayers for me this past week as I shared with a youth group at Four Corners. It was fun to talk about missions with them and challenge students to be a light for Jesus to those around them. And thanks Eaglebrook Church for a great, encouraging send off prayer time on Sunday! The Lord has blessed me with two wonderful supporting churches (and lots individuals as well)!

The big week is here! I'm so excited to be taking you to Germany with me through your support. "We" leave Wisconsin on Thursday morning, have a short lay over in Chicago, and will arrive in Germany on Friday morning - bright and early at 6:50AM!

As I've been packing and taking care of some paper work before leaving, I've been reflecting on the journey thus far. The Lord has been so faithful to bring me to this point. Through the entire process, He's revealed Himself to me in new ways and has grown my faith! He's faithfully called so many people to join with me through prayer and financial support. I'm excited to join in with what the Lord is doing amongst the military community in Germany, and for the work He'll continue doing in me, shaping and growing me for His glory.

I'll spend the next few days tying up loose ends, figuring out what to pack in my suit cases and enjoying time with my family (and watching the Packers play Monday Night Football - now that's something I'm really going to miss!). ( :

As I head out, I'd please pray ...

* For my remaining time in WI with family and friends, and for the packing/organizing I have left to do.

* That my travels will be smooth and that I'd get over jet-lag fairly quickly and begin adjusting to Germany.

* For me as I begin to meet students, parents, chaplains and others in the community and start building relationships.

* For solid time with the Lord, the next few weeks will be potentially be overwhelming as I search for housing and a vehicle, get my ID card, and begin to settle into life and find routine.

THANKS for your prayers! I'm excited!!

Blessings,

Beth

PS, Many people have asked about how to keep in contact with me once I'm in Germany. I will have internet access so e-mail or Facebook will be the best way to keep in touch. Eventually, I'll have a mailing address and a phone number, stay tuned!

T-Minus 12 days and counting!

I've been released to the field!! Praise the Lord!

: )

THANK YOU so much for your prayers and encouragement on this support raising journey. I'm super excited to land in Germany and join the Cadence Student Ministry team in serving the Ramstein community!

I'm flying out of Wausau, Wisconsin on Thursday, September 30th and will arrive in Germany on Friday, October 1st!!

Please join me in praising the Lord for providing supporters for this ministry. It's been so amazing to watch Him draw people to our team. Thank you Jesus!

Prayer Requests:

- For my final week in Wisconsin as I pack up and say good bye to family and friends. Seems like I have a lot of little things to take care of before leaving.
- I'm mailing out a few boxes this week, please pray that they'll arrive in decent shape and in a timely manner.
- On Wednesday I'm speaking to a youth group at Four Corners Assembly of God, one of my supporting churches. I'm looking forward to encouraging them in their walks with the Lord and talking with them about missions.

And one last thing, although I have enough financial support to be released to the field, I currently have the very bare minimum of support needed to be on the field - if a few people stop giving or need to give less for whatever reason, I will be under-supported. I could still use 5 or 6 people giving $15 to $25 a month, to help me be more adequately supported. Special gift donations are still greatly appreciated, as they will help sustain me as well! Continued prayers for a little more financial support would be awesome!

Thank you again team! I hope you're as encouraged as I am to see God answering our prayers!

For the Sake of The Name,
Beth

Dear Key Club,

My "summer" job at Camp American Legion has slowed - our "camper" season has ended and now we're wrapping up a few things for winter. The job has been a nice little source of income and has helped me make some good connections within the community. I've had opportunities to meet some pretty people, including -

- A WWII Navy veteran who witnessed the attacks on Pearl Harbor first hand from the ship he was stationed on

- A WII veteran who was part of the first unit to liberate Dachau concentration camp in Germany

- A Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart - while crossing a river, his unit came under attack and he was able to pull 3 men to safety before being shot in the side, paralyzing him from the waist down.

This weekend the Camp is hosting a workshop to equip veterans how to help other veterans struggling with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), IDDE ("I didn't do enough" syndrome) and other challenges connected to combat/military service. I had an opportunity to visit with a wonderful couple this morning. They pastor a local church in Illinois and he is a chaplain to a Chicago SWAT team.

After 9/11 the Lord placed a burden on their hearts to serve America's military troops defending our nation. They felt the Lord leading them to "Serve God's Word to those who serve." They began putting together Scripture cards to send to troops deployed down range and for spouses of deployed troops. How awesome to put God's Word in the hands of people dealing with life and death issues, loneliness and uncertainty! In visiting with them about military ministry, I was so encouraged to hear how God is using them to share Truth. The conversation fueled my excitement to share Jesus with military teens!

Support Update:

Praise the Lord! A number of people have responded to my August newsletter by becoming a monthly giver or giving a special gift donation. I continue to stand in amazement of the Lord's providence. I'm getting soooo close and my anticipation grows daily! : ) I'm still needing $100 in monthly support.

Prayer Requests:

- For those who are grieving loss of a loved one in the 9/11 attacks, and for the families of fallen soldiers who died defending our nation's freedoms and security.

- For our military members and their families who continue to make sacrifices to serve our nation.

- For the remaining support I'm needing to be released to the field.

Thanks for the prayers and support - it brings me so much courage and encouragement to know so many people are joining me in this ministry. Thank you!!

Blessings,

Beth

Hope you had a good Happy Labor Day and were able to enjoy a long weekend!

I started packing... well I guess you could call it more of a sorting, list making phase and I began a box hunting mission. : )

In the past week, I've received $100 in new monthly support and over $730 in special gifts - woohoo!! As I shared in my newsletter, a supporter has offered to match all donations - because of these donations they will give $50 a month and $365 in special gifts! Praise the Lord for His provision. I'm getting close to reaching my support goal! I hope to be released to the field in the coming weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for your encouragement and support! Be encouraged to know that the Lord is answering our prayers by raising up financial supporters.

Prayer Requests:

1. For my future ministry partners, AJ and Anna Johnson. The school year kicked off at Ramstein last week, so they are planning some fun "back to school" type youth group events to meet students. This week they're having a luau. Pray that God would bring students to the group and would give AJ and Anna wisdom and endurance to love students well and keep up with the extra work of having a toddler and new born at home.

2. That the Lord would continue to raise up supporters.

3. For sweet times with Jesus as I get ready for ministry with teens - pray that I'd be spiritually prepared for life in Germany.

Some Nuts and Bolts

I’ve had a number of people ask me some “nuts and bolts” questions regarding my work with the military community. Questions like, “What does it mean to be working for the Air Force chapel? Will you be a contractor? Do they pay you?”

Cadence has a contract with the Ramstein chapel that I will be filling. The terms of the contract are to provide a full-time (40+ hrs/week) youth ministry program for teenagers. The job is very similar to that of a youth pastor in the states. And yes it pays, however, the contract amount is not enough to cover living and ministry expenses. It simply reduces or offsets the amount of support that I need to raise.

The most “valuable” aspect of the contract is the ID card that I’ll be issued. It will give me base access and exchange (a mini-mall) and commissary (a grocery store) privileges. This will allow me to shop on base for American brand groceries, household/personal items and ministry supplies, instead of having to buy similar items on the German economy at a much higher rate. I’ll be able to buy gas for my car on base, which will save me a lot of money, as German gas is very expensive. I’ll also be issued a post office box on base, which will allow me to send and receive mail with normal, stateside postage rates - no expensive international rates.

The contract will also give me SOFA status - "military" for Status of Forces Agreement. It’s not a license to be a couch potato : ). SOFA status allows me to reside in Germany without having to go through the hassle/paperwork of obtaining a German Visa and having to renew it every couple of months.

As far as a living situation, my contract does not qualify me for any type of on base housing. I’ll need to rent an apartment off base. I could potentially find a roommate, perhaps a single military gal or a teacher, to live with. However, I’ll need to wait until I’m on the field and see what’s available, and then spend some time praying about what would be the best situation for me personally and for my ministry.

I hope this answers some of the questions people have expressed about my “status” in Germany as a missionary to the American military population.

I’m getting excited to begin ministering in Germany. Support continues to come in and I’m getting close!! I’m trusting that the Lord will raise up the remaining support I need to be released to the field. Would you join me in praying that the rest of my support comes in?

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!

Beth