Dear Friends of Eastern Europe Renewal:

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

Tomorrow, I will be leaving on the trip to Hungary, England and Norway and want to write something to you before being away.  The rest of the schedule for the next 3 months is on the website - address in the signature at the bottom of this letter.

In the last 2 months I've only been once in Eastern Europe, but reasonably busy in the West.  The one trip was to Vienna to visit some dear friends for the weekend to cook a Swiss Fondue for them and on to SEN in Bratislava for a variety of things.  On Monday morning I took an early bus and taught 2 classes at the C.S. Lewis High School with Dusan Yaura, formerly of SEN.  This was my second time teaching in the school and we are hoping to have further meetings with students and faculty.  Then came the first in the series of "Monday Evenings at SEN" lectures. This one was called "If there is Truth, can it be shared?" and was about apologetics.  It is based on 12 "Apologetics Considerations" I've used over the years, which are available on the EER website.  The other main event in Bratislava was a lecture for the Lutheran student group of the University on "Comprehensive Spirituality".  They expected 40 people and over 100 came.  A teacher from the C.S. Lewis school came and several people showed a lot of interest.  The rest of the time involved lots of private and semi-private meetings with people in and around SEN. As SEN goes through changes like most missionary organizations, pray that God will be the stability for everyone involved. 

I could preach in the English speaking Church in Lausanne as well as the Methodist Church in Hombrechtikon with lunch after at Rolf and Eveline Wildhabers',  great friends and supporters of EER.  For almost 30 years we have been friends of the Free Brethren Assembly of Basel (EFG) and I have preached there several times a year.  This most recent time to preach there was very special because Mary and I have decided to join the Assembly.  This decision is perhaps overdue, and it is wonderful to have a Church home.  Even though I travel so much the people at EFG know me and pray for EER.  In August I will perform my fifth wedding in this Assembly, so we have a strong connection with the families there.

The visit to Abidjan didn't happen because of political uncertainty in the country, logistical and financial questions.  Perhaps this will happen later, but the idea is not so simple to realize.  A week of teaching in my home away from home in Germany, the YWAM base in Schloss Hurlach, did happen and was an encouraging time, especially the Monday evening meeting in the local Lutheran Church.

Something very exciting happened very nearby as I was invited to lecture in a German Gymnasium (High School +) on Buddhism.  Preaching is not allowed in public schools, of course, so I prepared just to present Buddhism.  When I got there it was a double class with two teachers who asked me also to compare Buddhism with Christianity, so I did.  There were many questions and the students stayed into their break time to discuss.  The last question was one of several from the teachers:  "Should people just choose the worldview that seems to suit them best?"  This was an invitation to political incorrectness, which I accepted, of course.  I thought this would be the end, but the teachers said they would like me to come again.  When I told about this in our Assembly some Swiss Gymnasium teachers got excited and said this should not only happen in Germany.  Perhaps there will be such opportunities in Switzerland as well.  We could pray about this.

Mary continues to do well with her walker.  Her body feels the coming of Spring in an encouraging way.  The new cat is growing up and settling in well.

An encouraging word about finances:  As you know, we live by faith.  My recent surgery was covered by insurance but they have a new deductable of CHF3000 ($2000) and there were questions, but no worries, about where this money would come from.  In the Lord's provision, all the money has come in and we are able to pay the hospital, the income taxes, rent and everything for this month.  This encourages me to accept teaching invitations from people who cannot pay anything.  We are thankful for your generosity and the Lord's Grace in our lives. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you and lead you forward in your lives.

Yours in Christ,   Ellis

YWAM School in Germay

Wilhabers in Hombrechtikon

Monday Evening at SEN, Bratislava

University Chapel, Bratislava

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Copyright © 2006 Ellis Potter.