I've recently read emails from several fellow missionaries and I've noticed that we missionaries tend to start our emails out with some reference to the weather. I'm not sure why. It's not taught in missionary training or in a manual. It's just an easy way to start, I guess. So, I must follow suit.
Greetings from a very cold Austria! So cold that this a.m. I discovered my drivers' side door frozen shut. The passenger side would open but as soon as I unlocked it, which typically causes the other doors to unlock, the doors would lock back immediately!
Humm...I thought...what to do? I opened the passenger door, placed my computer bag inside, and grabbed the ice scraper. Of course, I must get the windows scraped clean. I further decided to reach from the passenger side and start the car so that it could be warming up and defrosting windows while I scraped. But....and I did think about this...if I shut the passenger door, I would lock my keys in the ignition with the car running since the doors were locking automatically. So, even though it was morning time and I hadn't had enough caffeine, I did think smarter.
I finished scraping the windows, unlocked the passenger side door, got in, gracefully skootched (yes, skootched...I did a spell check) across to the drivers side, started the car and drove to work. Upon pulling into the parking lot and shutting the car off, I discovered the drivers' door still frozen shut, so I did the reverse skootch back to the passenger side, and gracefully exited the car -- to the smiling faces of co-workers peering through the office window! Oh well...what a way to start the morning!
Where Did the Fall Go?
When I wrote my last newsletter, I was about to leave for Holland for OM's new recruits conference. The two weeks were an exciting time as we had 12 new people joining teams in Albania, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova and Ukraine. Last year we only had 3 people joining Central and Eastern Europe ministries, so it was so encouraging to see the Lord of the Harvest provide new workers for these great teams. When I was at the OM USA conference in March, I met and talked with a couple of the young women that then joined the OM teams in Albania and Bosnia during this conference. So, that was personally rewarding to have seen them come to Europe and follow God's call to these wonderful countries.
The other nice thing about this conference is connecting with OM staff from around the world and meeting new folks working in personnel and recruiting. With mixed emotions, I handed over the recruiting role to Almut with OM Germany and so this September conference was the last one I'll attend representing Central Europe.
I needed to give up one of my "hats" for Central Europe and Almut has been involved and is more than capable and willing to do it. So, now I am only officially the Communications Officer for Central Europe, but still wear the Financial Development "hat" at times. (But for those reading this that matter...I am oh-so happy to take that one off, too :-) )
Speaking about that, in September I helped organize and host a financial development forum for Central Europe folks at the GE office in Austria. This was fun because it involved getting together with folks from Romania, Austria, Hungary and GE and sitting under the great teaching of Henry Janowski, who's in charge of fund raising for OM USA. Henry is excellent in what he does and is a friend of Central Europe. We were blessed to have him with us! This part of financial development is fun...sitting with friends and sharing about what God's doing in Central and Eastern Europe and challenging folks to stand with us in prayer and finances to support these ministries.
It's not only fun, it's a privilege. (Okay, so maybe sometimes I like wearing this "hat.")
On the Road in the U.S. of A
I spent most of October in the States on a recruiting trip to OM USA in Georgia and five Christian colleges and universities in Indiana, Virginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. I drove over 2200 miles in 10 days, but what a treat to drive in a country where I could read all the road signs and communicate with the locals! Small things.
The purpose of the trip was to recruit for communications people for OM worldwide, not just in Central Europe. I had the opportunity to talk in many classes, meet with students over lunch or coffee, connect with professors and teachers, and just share about what I do and the huge need for more writers, photographers, videographers, web designers, artists, etc. in the mission world. Like me before joining OM, most students and teachers had no idea a person could serve the Lord in missions using these type skills. So, that was my message and my mission.
Pray with me for much fruit from this trip. I made contact with many students and am following up with several who are seriously considering an internship or short-term trip during college, or long- term service after graduation. We desperately need folks in several CE teams (Hungary, Romania, Balkans). I am trusting the Lord of the Harvest for more communications folks in the OM world.
On a related note, I have recently taken responsibility for the GE team's communications, which includes a quarterly newsletter and a monthly prayer email. If you'd like to receive this, please let me know (becky@ge.om.org).
Back to Europe
Within a week of returning from the States, I was in a van traveling to Mosbach, Germany for OM's annual meeting of Europe leaders.
Despite the long days of meetings, it was great to hang out with folks and get caught up on what's happening through this continent.
As a group, we discussed at length the Europe brochure (which I wrote about in my last newsletter). We have had very encouraging and positive feedback from many OM offices that will use it in recruiting for Europe. I'll have a few copies with me when I come home for Christmas (see below) and am happy and proud to show it off. Just ask! We're also still working on the web site (www.europe.om.org) and in 2006, an interactive CD.
I always leave these meetings with more work than before I came! It's my one chance to get news stories and reports from all of the CE teams in one gathering. And, it's my job and I enjoy communicating what God is doing in Central and Eastern Europe. I am also responsible for contributing CE stories to the monthly Europe Update.
If you'd like to receive this email update, let me know
(becky@ge.om.org) and I'm happy to add you to the distro list.
I'll Be Home for Christmas
This is a special December in the Barnhart family as Mom turns 80 on December 9 and retires December 16! She's always said she wanted to work until she was 80 and she's going to make it...plus a week! My entire family is gathering for Christmas and to celebrate Mom's amazing milestones. I'll actually be in KY for her b'day and will spend most of December in the Bluegrass State :-). I'll head to VA for a couple of weeks in January to connect with friends and supporters and to hopefully make more definite plans for what life looks like when I finish my time with OM in Europe at the end of 2006.
Speaking of holidays, Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow American friends and family members! 'Twas the night before Thanksgiving...and in Austria, the fourth Thursday in November is just another work day! But this year will be special because on Thanksgiving Day, the GE team is having a prayer day with our friends on the OM Austria and Czech Republic teams. We will be giving thanks to God for the many things He is doing in our personal lives, families, team ministries and throughout the World. And, we're even having turkey for lunch :-).
It is a privilege to be able to share what God is doing in and through me in this part of the world and it's a good reminder for me when I write it down. Thank you for standing with me in so many different ways. My prayer is that we are never too busy to stop, remember and give thanks to God for His incredible blessings on our lives and His unsurpassing and unfailing love for us.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 107:1
With much love and gratefulness,
Becky/Rebecca
Prayer Points:
1. Pray for many people to join OM to work in communications
(specifically in Hungary, Bosnia, and the Balkans) and pray for the follow up with many students that I met during the trip. (OM USA staff and I are doing this).
2. Pray for safety and good health during my trip to the States (Dec
5-Jan 23) and for good meetings and time with many friends and family.
3. Pray for God's wisdom as I make plans for 2006 -- travel during
the year to different CE teams (Romania, Kosovo, Poland, Albania, Slovakia), but also for future plans at the end of 2006.
4. Praise God for my family and especially for my Mom :-).
Contact Information:
E-mail: becky@ge.om.org
Snail Mail in Austria: Gruenergasse 2, 2000 Stockerau, Austria
Phone: 43-2266-80867 (work); 43-2266-72353 (home); 43-676-712-6311
(cell) - 7 hours ahead of Central Time Snail Mail in US: 2444 Allen St., Owensboro, KY 42303 Financial Support: OM-USA, P.O. Box 777, Tyrone, GA 30290-0444, Acct. No. BARB801; to give towards OM projects or teams mentioned in this e-mail, please designate the country and project. Thanks!