We have moved full swing into our SPLICE training at MTI. The training is made up of different tpes of learning methods (which is good because I don’t think I could handle all lectures). One of the lessons today was done when we were broken up into five groups. One of the groups was taken out of the room while the other four were given a bag of legos and told just to make something. It didn’t matter what it was or if we did it as a team or as individuals. My particular group decided to make a castle with a wagon (which became an offroad wagon - of course ) As we went along creating this thing, we noticed that we only had a few colors - green, white, and yellow.

Then something happened. One of the members of that group that was taken out came and sat at our table and asked what we were doing. We told him. Then he pulled out black and red legos and asked if he could join in.

We had a decision to make. It wasn’t like we needed his legos (although the extra colors would be nice) and I questioned if he really understood what our vision was for this castle and wagon. I also wondered about what trick he might have up his sleeve. But Cam (one of the guys in our group) said sure and so we started working with him.

As it turned out, this was a look at what its like to being new and working with a group in a new culture. This really made us look at ourselves and how we react to new people joining our groups. It also put us in the shoes of those to whom we are going to be the new people joining their groups.

I hope more and more of our time here comes with these revelations. Please continue to pray for us in that regards. Also, please continue to pray for health (this altitude and dryness is affect our sinuses and lungs) and for the sale of our home which is to close on March 8th - My mother is going to sign for us with power of attorney. Everything is still a go for that closing. Thank you.

From injoy.com –> The Messy Blessing of Community

The only thing in the Garden of Eden that was “not good”, was the fact that man was alone. We are made to be in community with other people. The problem is that we are not naturally good at being in community with other people because we are selfish and individualistic. So when an authentic community happens, people are naturally drawn to it. But what makes an “authentic community”.

I know that every time I go into a group for the first time, it seems that everyone is “sizing” each other up. Who is more afluent, who is more social, who has leader qualities, who has needs that I can help, etc.

Authentic community comes when everyone looks to each other as equals. That in all relationships within the community that there are equal give and takes. This can only occur when God is at the center of the community and in the center of all relationships. Why? Because as we were created to be in community, we were first created to be in an intimate relationship with God.

Read the article. Live in community with God and in authentic community with others. Enjoy a radically different but enjoyable life.

PS - Sidenote: We had our first meeting tonight in our Europe Specific training and it was fun getting to know other GEM’ers (Greater Europe Mission). You’ll hear more about all that in the days to come.

The past two days have been interesting. Yesterday, we spent from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles. After their computers went down twice (darn computers!) and after they called Courtney back to redo his picture because they took the original one with the wrong paperwork, we were able to get our Colorado Driver’s licenses - well, not really. They will be mailing them to us in the next two weeks. These licenses will save us thousands of dollars when we go to Germany because Germany accepts them as equal to a German license where our North Carolina licenses would require exams and possible driver classes.

Today was an adventure. In an effort to finish raising our support, we decided to go digging for gold in a real gold mine. Just kidding. We all did walk away with some gold (not enough to support our ministry though). We also went to Breckenridge, Colorado and did some sledding.

We start our training tomorrow night. Please keep us in your prayers.

There’s not a whole lot to report out here in Colorado, USA. We got up early this morning (Alex thought it was still the night before because the sun hadn’t come up yet) and made our way to the airport in uneventful style. We flew through Minneapolis, MN on our way to Colorado. On that first flight, I got to speak with a gentlemen about what we are called to do in Europe while Alex was enjoying everything (and I mean everything) about the flight. It was really neat as Alex tried to figure out what were the frozen lakes and rivers below amidst all the snow.

After a very quick Burger King run, we got on our second flight. Once we got to Colorado Springs airport, we were greeted by Neva Ringdahl. Neva took us back to her house where Krista was able to get some rest while Alex and I got to go with Neva around town and she showed us the places that we are going to be going to over the next few days. It was great.

Then we got an adventure. Now all of Neva’s six children were home. Alex fit right in and they put him right in the sleeping bag and slid him down the stairs right away.

After dinner with the Ringdahls and a round of “What was best about today” at the dinner table, we made our way to the Davis’ where we will be staying until Monday. Their place is wonderful where they have a separate little apartment in their home including wireless access (my fears were relieved!!!).

This is the life.

Please pray as tomorrow we will be going for our Colorado Driver’s licenses and doing some shopping. They are having the winter clothes sales right now which is perfect for us but pray that we can find the things on our list. Also pray as we get used to the altitude and dryness that is here. Thanks so much.

Dear Friends and Family,

We had many of your respond on our Germany “church tax” e-mail. We love hearing back from each of you. Thanks.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we leave for Colorado for a month. We will be attending Missions Training International. This is a pre-field orientation class that will address “vital practical skills needed to thrive” on the mission field.
Things like:
- family acculturation
- learning new culture
- team and interpersonal skills
- personal soul care

Sadly, there are a few missionaries that get to where God has called them to and ‘fall apart’. Our mission organization, Greater Europe Mission, sends all of their candidates through this kind of training to help prepare and equip us for our calling.

Check out our updates on our Website while we are there…
www.roesgarden.com

This is taken from the Missions Training International website for our class SPLICE -

1. SPIRITUAL Resources

The goal here is inner stability - strongly anchored to your Lord and prepared for inevitable turmoil and stress.

SPLICE will help you:

Maintain closeness with God amidst the fog of adaptation Apply God’s grace to yourself and others while wrestling with cross-cultural stress Utilize soul-care disciplines and self-feeding during times of external chaos Identify and wrestle with spiritual conflicts

2. PERSONAL Growth

Actions speak louder than words, and the personal life of the messenger determines the volume and clarity of the message.

SPLICE will help you:

Identify the personal values that will likely taint your cross-cultural judgments Get ready for dealing with the specific stressors that will likely affect you Understand your way of relating and its impact on others Develop your strengths and manage your weaknesses

3. LIFESTYLE Adaptation

Surgeon General Warning: Cross-cultural ministry is sacrificial and will turn your world upside-down.

SPLICE will help you:

Navigate the challenges of transitioning to your host culture Make informed lifestyle decisions that honor God and your new culture See the benefit of maintaining behaviors that promote longevity Understand and value your children’s personal, social and educational needs

4. INTERPERSONAL Skills

The hallmark of authentic Christianity is “their love one for another” and so it is no surprise that the most common source of ineffectiveness is the lack of getting along with other missionaries.

SPLICE will help you:

Build and maintain trust on your team
Deal with personal differences on the team Grow in conflict management skills - especially confronting others when necessary Apply forgiveness in healthy, practical ways Guard your heart for moral purity

5. CULTURAL Adjustments

What will people from your host country say about you behind closed doors?
That mostly depends on your attitude and posture as you enter the culture.

SPLICE will help you:

Observe and identify cultural differences that cause personal dissonance Deal with the inevitable negative feelings: alienation, bitterness, pessimism, etc.
Learn listening and questioning skills
Recognize the importance of language acquisition Deepen your commitment to enter and remain as a learner

6. ENDURE/ENJOY Paradox

Paradox = two seemingly contradictory facts that express a truth. Life in missions is full of paradoxes.

SPLICE will help you:

Live with paradoxes while retaining your sanity Manage ambiguity while still taking initiative Define the disciplines that will help your longevity Find enjoyment in your calling despite the hardships

Pray for us this month!

Courtney and Krista Roes