December Update

Hi Friends and Family,
As some of you already know, Bob and I had a very difficult decision to make recently.  After carefully keeping track of our expenses, we realized that we are not making enough money to sustain ourselves till June of 2010.  We had sent an email out asking everyone to pray about this with us and we believe God has given us the answer to return home to the States at the end of December.  We might have planned for 10 months but God was planning for us to remain only 4 months.  We did a lot of praying about this ourselves and feel that it is God's will that we return.  We look at our coming to Poland as a blessing.  Many good things have come out of our being here.  We've made new friends, and got to know some old friends better.  We also now have another ''sister'' church to pray for.  We've learned how to teach ESL much better and can do a better job when we start up an ESL ministry at a church again.
We got to know Sebastian's family better and for that alone, we wish could stay longer.  I think that Bob and I have grown closer to each other and Sebastian to us as well.  Even though some of the things I had hoped to happen between Sebastian's family and him did not materialize, I think we planted seeds----of hope, love and importance of family ties. 
The Pastor was able to go with us to our last visit with his family to translate.  He is very loquaious and sets people at ease readily.  He was able to stress the importance of the kids learning English as a tool for getting employment opportunities in the future as well as to communicate with their brother.  The important thing is that Pastor Z says he will keep in touch with Sebastian's family and will do his best to visit them in the future and minister to them with things they might need, like clothes and other items.  Since we are not bringing items back that we bought here, we donated them to the family.  This included bed linens, towels and a kitchen stuff.  We were able to give them a microwave which they have never owned.  We take these things for granted, don't we?  Bed linens and towels are expensive here so we are happy to be able to give them what we had.  I had also brought the dress that I married Bob in----why I don't know.....it was a very simple type dress with an underslip and a lacy long sleeve outer garment/dress that goes over it.  I decided to leave it for Marzena, the older sister for the future.  I also still had the headpiece I wore!  Amazing that they still look pretty good after almost 15 years! 
We will be coming back and staying with my brother, Tom in New York for a couple of months, [rent free], which we had planned to do in July.  As it turns out, going back in December will be a Godsend  b/c he is needing surgery to remove his right kidney due to damage from chronic kidney stones. He lives alone, so will need us to help him in his recovery. God probably knew this all along!
We will have Bob's unemployment which while not much will keep us afloat till we can see where God wants us in the next few months and where both of us can find employment again.
Please continue to pray for God's will and what he wants for our future and where we should live.  Pray for a safe flight on December 23rd from Berlin to JFK Airport and then to my home.
Merry Christmas  and God bless you all.  Barbara and Bob