How was my trip to Berlin?

I had such a great time in Berlin with the community there. Me and Leanne were originally supposed to be a part of leading a bigger team but those plans fell through and since we had already bought our tickets, we decided to go to Berlin anyway. The community there organized for us to be able to share at a meeting on Thursday nite and also do a Healing On The Streets training and outreach on the Saturday.

On Thursday nite I shared about how when we give even the little that we think we have (which is actually quite a lot if we truly realize the inheritance we have in Christ), that God will multiply it. It is in the action of pouring out our lives unto others that He gives the increase (based on the article “Needing a Breakthrough/ Thoughts on Isaiah 58” posted on this blog). Then we did HOTs training on Saturday.

While we didn’t see any physical healings or miracles when on the streets, we did get to pray for a small handful of people who experienced God’s love. Me and Katie, one of the members of the community there, had the most amazing privilege and opportunity to share the love of God with about 6 German teenagers there in the plaza. They had never really heard about the good news of Jesus’ love. I had the opportunity to share my testimony with them which Katie translated for me. In the midst of this, some ladies randomly gave them each a red rose. What a beautiful sign of God’s love for them, because that is exactly how He sees them, as beautiful, pure, and lovely like the rose, regardless of what they have done or could ever do wrong.

These girls had to leave to be somewhere at 3pm because they were with a larger group. But then about 15 minutes later, they returned because their leaders "randomly" gave them more free time. They came right up to me and Katie. They wanted to know more of this big love and acceptance that comes from God. We got to pray for one of the girls who had asthma and another whose grandma has cancer. After that we had them repeat in their hearts a prayer inviting Jesus to take over their lives. I then encouraged them to read the book of John in the Bible and talk to other Christians, find a church, etc. They were so precious and so open and I really feel that was a significant moment for at least 2 of them. Please pray that the seed that got planted in their hearts that day would grow and find its home in Jesus.

The other big miracle that I saw that day was a willing community that was open to experiment and risk and reach out to their city. It was very encouraging and a huge privilege to be a part of what God is doing there. We had such a blessed time with them, they were so hospitable and welcoming to us the whole time. Please continue to pray for Job (our host) and the Vineyard community in that area as there is a sense that God is stirring something.

We also did some sight seeing in the down times as well as enjoyed German meals with friends, even wrote some poetry together with Bex. To top it off, I randomly had the opportunity, which came at the last minute, to see U2 play in Berlin. I think I can say that on this trip, I truly experienced the "exceedingly abundantly" found in Ephesians 3:20. Thanks to everyone in Berlin who opened their homes and their hearts to me and Leanne and also for those who prayed for us, it really made a difference!

Blessings, Jen