Inner Healing Seminar with the Linns 20th - 25th May

We just had a long and full week with about 50 people participating in the Inner Healing Seminar with Matt, Dennis & Sheila Linn here in Allerheiligen. It was nice to see many familiar faces again, those who came for the PCS in the past years.

Derek led the worship, with the Band of followers. The band has revived again since Karol & Karolina Fromont joined us last month.

I was taking care of the book table and our Snack Bar. It was nice to be a business woman for the week...

Hello Rome!!

Derek was in Rome for 10 days helping out with some practical work at the Cappellos residence. In the meantime, he had the opportunity to go sightseeing and snap some shots.

I was in Rome from the 6th till the 15th of May. The main task was to help out the Cappellos to prepare their home for a major renovation. Our mission leaders have been busy with various projects, so we (Edgard and I) were asked to help out. That was what we did.

The day after we arrived till the day before we left, we were packing, moving, carrying and cleaning. That was a change to the normal thing that I was doing in Allerheiligen.

During the weekend, we spent our days around Rome city and the vatican. One of my highlights was climbing the stairs to the top of the dome at the Vatican. It was more than 500 steps!

I am glad for this change of work for a week. It has given me time to think about future, life, vision, mission. Praying that all these will lead us to a greater commitment to the call God has placed in our hearts.

International Kitchen with FSJ 5th - 9th May

Wanna have a taste of various cultures and a wide range of international cuisine? Come and have an experience with us in Allerheiligen...

For this reason, 13 young people from the area of Hildesheim-Hanover (North Germany) came to us for a week of discovering the richness in culture and food from many different nations.

They are doing the FSJ programme with Caritas Hildesheim and have their 4th Seminar week which they can choose from a range of different activities. This group of people chose to learn more about various cultures and food...

Together with Katja (from Hildesheim) and Mark (my boss), we led the week filled with action, adventure, fun + lots running in our heads especially with the organisation of the various events happening simultaneously.

We had a day on Malaysia where Derek & Edgar presented some facts on Malaysia while Grace helped in preparing a meal - Honey Garlic Pork mmmmm with mixed vegetables and rice.

The FSJ kitchen team was busy preparing the meal and joting down the recipe which they hope some day, they will be able to prepare on their own... They started the morning having fried noodles for breakfast...

While a team was busy in the kitchen preparing the meal, another team was decorating the dining room. We celebrated "Chinese New Year" again... as how one would celebrate in Malaysia.

There were 20 others from the FSJ who were in Allerheiligen at the same time, doing another programme on communcations. Mmmm yummy... everything ready to be enjoyed.

The following day, we presented Mexico, starting with burittos for breakfast. Patricia Papenkordt gave a presentation on Mexico and eventually cooked a Mexican dish with the FSJ kitchen team. No photos - I was busy coordinating the day. Too nervous giving announcements in German... We had a nice meal - Tortillas with beans and chicken in mild chili sauce. Simply irresistable!

On that afternoon, we celebrated the Eucharist together with the community. All of them stayed for the whole mass although not many are (practising) Catholics. That evening, they had "An evening with ICPE" where some of us from the community shared our conversion stories. Many of them were moved by the stories and the songs led by the Next Generation band - the youth of our community! (Still no photos; still nervous...)

Malta! Stefan & Pat led the team to prepare baked rice, a Maltese dish after Fr Joe & Mark gave a presentation on Malta. They had fun in the kitchen with Stefan's endless entertainment!

They also prepared Hobz b-sietz; that's bread with olive oil + olives + capers. Yummy!! Let's have a food tasting session before it's served, says Sophie!

Preparation for the International Night

The idea of the week came from this event that we celebrate as a mission on every school. I had the idea of introducing this to the German youth to give them a taste of the richness of various cultures while sharing Jesus with them. Everyone in the community contributed a dish or 2. Some of us had some extra helping hand from the FSJ...wrapping spring rolls, for example.

The FSJ youth prepared a 3 course meal from Niedersachsen, the state where they come from. Tobi & Florian had a chance to bake a cake for the first time in their lives!! It was delicious!!! And they were very proud of themselves!!!

The evening started with a grand buffet of about 16 dishes from 10 different countries. We had a presentation from some countries and ended the evening with the presentation of the state, Niedersachsen.

The other FSJ group doing the communications seminar with Krzysztof presented a few pieces of what they learned over the week.

It was a very nice evening indeed. We ended the evening with dessert from 5 different countries. It was a non-stop eating session. (No photos, for the same reason - too nervous and busy coordinating the evening...)

We thank God for the nice weather this whole week and the nice people whom we had a chance to work with. Hoping that the seed of faith and love is planted in these young people during their time with us!

Allerheiligen at Easter

Derek is 40!!!

The celebration at our home...

... with Chicken Rice and Roasted Pork
(mmm... just like the coffee shop at home...)

...surrounded by the community with lots of well wishes...

...together with the Next Generation youth...

...and the rest of the community.

Derek's Birthday card from the community, "Spice for-tea".

Lunar New Year Celebrations

Our annual Lunar New Year dinner with the community - all in red, ready to receive the prosperity poured down for the year! Together with our friends from Singapore (Ju & Chris) and South Korea (Pia), Grace and ourselves prepared a meal for our community and explained the 12 years in the Chinese calendar as we celebrate the Year of the Rat this year.

Our meal together on the last day of Chinese New Year.

School of Missions 16th Sep 07 - 27th Jan 08

"Remain in Me as I am in you" John 15

For 4 and a half months, we have been busy taking care of 8 seeds... making sure they have enough water and good soil to grow on. We're glad to see beautiful shoots springing out, safe in the hands of the Father, at the end of this time.

Together with 5 others from the community, both of us had been living and journeying with 8 men and women who participated in the School of Missions. We also had the opportunity and privilege to work and minister with them during the outreach phase of the school. Aged between 18 and 39, these participants have been witnesses of God's love and power to us as we saw these precious lives being transformed and matured.

As I sat and listen to their testimonies over and over again, during their preparations as well as the time of the outreach, I am again reminded of God's presence and faithfulness in all of our lives. Indeed, He will never leave us or forget us. Each of them has gone through very dark and difficult moments in their lives and God has protected them, brought healing and new hope in their lives. Their faith and zeal for life have been an encouragement to us. It was a joy to be able to witness and live this with them during this time.

The Opening Mass

16th September 2007

The Band of Followers singing at the opening mass.

The community praying for the participants of the school

Derek teaching on Wholeness

23rd - 27th October 2007

A glimpse of our lecture hall: 8 participants and 6 staff from 6 different countries

"My family, my culture, have their influence on "Who I am" today... "

Birthday Celebrations

Honouring Men & Women Evening

30th November 2007

The extravagant welcome drink and speech by the men while the ladies sat in a row and enjoyed...

An honour to be honoured by my husband...

The ladies honoured all the men by baking a personalised cookie for each of them.

End of Lecture Phase. Yeah!!!!!

End of the lecture phase and a start of a new phase: outreach preparation. The team learned a few dances and mimes. Derek taught the musicians some songs while the rest of the participants memorised some German songs for the outreach in Germany and Austria.

Outreach to Kolbermoor Parish, near Munich

5th - 12th January 2008

We did an outreach at the Kolbermoor parish near Munich. We had the opportunity to share with the Alpha programme, the prayer groups around the area, 2 kindergartens, a school with programmes for children between 10 and 15 plus 2 evenings of parish mission for the parishioners in Kolbermoor.

We were pleasantly surprised by the openness of the kindergarten and school children when they were so receptive and open to our sharing and for us to pray with them individually.

Outreach to Austria

13th - 15th January 2008

In Austria, we had the opportunity to visit a youth group and 2 schools with children between 7- 13 years old. Again, we were amazed at their openness. I guess, this was really a very encouraging outreach. The openness and hunger of the people had really encouraged the participants of the SOM and ourselves in our missionary calling.

Last Days together...

Last Men's cell group

Last school outing - Ruins of the Schauenburg Castle in Oberkirch

Last group photo together, after the closing Mass

The seeds offered at the beginning of the school have new shoots growing. We were blessed by the testimonies and lives of the participants. Indeed, they have encouraged us so much in our journey. Such precious lives that we have had the opportunity to share with, these last 4 months. God showed his faithfulness through so many ways! Thanks to all who kept us in prayer during this time.