Graduation!

Its Saturday night and it has been a busy day. We had a "graduation" party today and it was a fun time. It is amazing what good friends we have become with our students, especially the ones we have known from previous trips. With our older students we got into a discussion about WWII and the losses that were suffered in this area(the rhurgebeit) which because of it's industrial production provided much of the equipment and ammunition for the German army in the war. Of course it was devastated by the allies later in the war. One of our students father's died in the war while fighting in Russia and another lost 2 uncles in the war. This evening we watched The Hiding Place which was about Corrie Ten Boom and her family, who hid Jews during the war and she and her family were later arrested. Her father, sister and some other relatives died as a result. Her sister said "There is no pit so deep that He(meaning Jesus) is not deeper". Please pray for Dagmar, Chrystal and Tyrone (a half German and half British young man that joined our discussion). That God would use these examples to remind us of the pain that men can inflict on each other and the peace that God offers through Jesus Christ.
Kathy Baum was a wonderful hostess and took us on a fun tour of some interesting places in the vicinity later in the afternoon. Kathy is an amazing women who has befriended both Turkish and German women in the area and acts as a Mom sub for many children in the neighborhood---tutoring them, disciplining and cheering them on.

We go to German church tomorrow and then Monday we wrap up our time here in Germany. Most of the team heads back to Madison Tuesday, a great job completed! Thanks to a loving hard working team! Caitlin heads toward Berlin where she will meet up with some German friends and I will head south for a couple days with my son Ben and his wife Christy who are stationed south of here. I miss my wife, Pat who has been a great encouragement ---I will be home soon!
Curt