Blessings from Berlin

It's been almost one week since I returned from Berlin. Our team left on October 17 and headed to Germany to serve and care for refugees.

Our team was made up of two ladies, Marsha and Nikki, from a church in Dallas. (Small world: Nikki is from Little Rock and we knew each other in high school. We only reconnected after she signed up for the trip!). Two young ladies from Alabama, Caitlin and Ashley. They have gone on multiple e3 trips and are seasoned travelers. My co-worker Mary and her dad John. It was really fun to watch John experience Mary in her element. And lastly, two gents, Ron and Curt, from California. Ron and Curt are members of one of the Miller's supporting churches. (The Millers are one of our missionary partners in Berlin.) A lot of places were represented, but we messed together quickly and had a lot of fun.

We explored the city, trained with the missionaries, prayed, and served all week long; but, a few stories and a few faces stick out in my mind.

One afternoon, early in the week, Ashley and Caitlin, Mary and John, were en route to meet with Rob, one of our missionary partners, and a few young believers for Bible study. Caitlin was thirsty and stopped for a bottle of water. As she walked into the store a man approached the door, smiled and held the door for Caitlin. Once they were inside the man sparked a conversation with Caitlin. He spoke little German and even less English, but Caitlin was able to communicate through Google translate. Technology is amazing.

This man, we will call him Michael, immigrated from Syria and suffered a lot during the war. He is in a lot of physical pain, because of shrapnel still in his back. Caitlin invited Michael to meet the rest of her friends and they started talking about Jesus.

The next day, Caitlin, Ashley and Nikki went with Rob to meet Michael to talk more about Jesus and the Bible. Michael was excited to meet with them, so excited that he brought a friend with him. His friend's name is Matt (name changed). They both had a lot of good questions about the Bible and what it says about Jesus. We invited both of them to dinner to meet other believers from the Middle East. Michael declined to join us, because he was in a lot of pain due to his existing injury, but Matt came along!

Matt is extremely interested in Jesus Christ. Rob is going to start meeting with him to talk more and answer questions. We are hopeful that Michael will join as well, but there is a fire inside of Matt to know about Jesus and we hope to call him a brother soon!

A view from a train stop near our hotel. Berlin is so beautiful, but also so spiritually in need.

One evening, we had dinner with multiple young men from Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, who have all come to know Jesus OR are very close to knowing Jesus as their Savior. One of the young men, Ralph, was extremely quiet. He sat and watched as we chatted through broken English and/or over Google translate. As the evening wore on he came out of his shell little by little. John and Ralph really connected and by the end of the evening they were giving each other bear hugs, exclaiming, "We are family! My brother. You're my brother."

These young men have literally lost everything. Some of them due to war and others to circumstances; many because of their decision to follow Jesus. When they meet other men and women who share their passion for Jesus, they are literally accepted and loved like their family.

Our brother Ralph has several tattoos and at dinner we asked him what they meant. He lifted up his sleeve and showed us one on his arm of the Cross! I exclaimed, "Wow you have a tattoo about Jesus." He told us that he got the tattoo eight years ago in Iran. He did not know what it meant, but he got it because thought it looked cool. He told us, "NOW (7-years later) I know what this means and I love it even more. I love Jesus!" How cool!? Praise God for this young man and for the unknown tattoo that now holds so much meaning for our brother Ralph.

Our team at the Brandenburg Gate during the Light's Festival

There was another young man we met during our time in Berlin named Arnold. He was also very timid at first. He spoke a little English so he was able to communicate with our team just a bit more than some of the other guys.

Nikki and I were chatting with him and asked if he had any family. He hung his head and said no. He did not have any family left. He lost his family in the war in Afghanistan. We continued to ask questions about his life and interests and we asked if he knew about Jesus. His eyes filled with emotion and he told us, "Yes I have heard about him, but I have so many questions." We acknowledge that it's great to have questions and we can help answer some if he'd like.

He smiled and we told him that, "Jesus loves him and we love him too." His eyes filled with tears and he nodded his head. We met with Arnold a couple more times throughout the week and were excited to hear that he is now officially a brother in Christ!

Great shot of the TV tower, St. Mary's Church, and statue of Martin Luther.

When you hear so many stories they can start to mix together and lose meaning. There is so much pain in our world -- so many people in need and so many people hurting. But, what I was reminded of in Berlin is we each have a story. Every individual has a story and while it would be impossible for any one human to help or know all of the suffering -- God knows all of it. He knows every single story and every single hurt. He promises to heal our hearts and one day dry all of our tears.

We hope for this day, but as we hope I pray we tell as many people as we can about Jesus and the eternal, life giving, life changing, LIVING hope He brings to us NOW and for eternity.

Please pray for Berlin. Pray for our missionary partners who are there full time on the front lines. Pray for new refugee families who come to start a new life. Pray for Berliners who don't know Christ. Germany has a great place in church history, but it is a dark and dry place. Less than 1% of Berliners know about Jesus. It's a city of almost 3.5 million people!!!

Pray for these people. Pray for our new brothers and friends - Michel, Matt, Ralph and Arnold.

Thank you for your love and care while I was in Berlin. Thank you for your prayer support and financial support. I would not be able to go and serve without you.

all of my love and for His Glory, Caroline

We got to go to Wittenberg (an hour train from Berlin) and saw the church door where Martin Luther nailed the 95-thesis. It is the 500th anniversary THIS MONTH! So cool to be in the town where the Reformation started. 

This is a shelter for the homeless and disabled in the middle of Berlin. They have religious ties, but also receive government sanctions. I was encouraged and humbled by the verse. It's Jeremiah 29:7 and reads, "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 

A beautiful windy day in Berlin at the Berliner Dom. I have been to Berlin multiple times and each time I am shocked by it's size, diversity, and darkness.  God is at work in Berlin, but this is a city that is desperate for hope. We have the everlasting and living hope of Christ. Pray for revival in this city and the workers who live in and love this city.