Dear Family and Friends,

SILENCE BROKEN...
To be actually writing to you at this moment is a great blessing. Ted has just completed a major re-vamp of our email list, including the addition of many new names and addresses gathered during his visits. So, there are both a sigh of relief and a whoop of praise that accompany this update. Welcome to all of you from Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina and New York who are receiving this update for the first time!

DIANE'S PROGRESS...
Although we physically arrived back in Germany January 8th, we have only begun a "normal" routine since February 3rd, after Diane completed work on an intensive course (1 semester of work in 2 weeks) entitled "Multi Cultural Teams". She is now celebrating completion of 1/3 of her Master's program in Pastoral Counseling. She will be working on a Correspondence Course over the next months. 

IN OUR ABSENCE...
We are very encouraged by the progress in the church during our absence. The second round of selecting and installing elders (one more was added) went smoothly. The elders worked well together with Johannes and Anna, our interns. The guys even organized a one-day retreat together for team-building. For 2003 they determined that the church should focus on strengthening families, equipping workers, extending our evangelistic efforts. They defined appropriate prayer goals for each area.

CALLED TO COACH...
More than ever before, we feel the need to get close to the key leaders in the church. Especially for Diane the role of "coach" to the elders' wives is a new experience. She approached each of them and was surprised by their eagerness for regular contact with her. Ted needs to re-establish the pattern he had last year of meeting with each of the elders. In addition, we have been asked by a group of five families in a nearby city (Pfaffenhofen) to be their coaches as they lay the groundwork for a new church-plant. 

PRAYER NOW
- Thanks for a refreshing time with pastors from all over southern Germany during a conference Mon-Wed this week.
- Thanks for the healthy developments in the church mentioned above.
- Pray for Ted's preparation for an evangelistic service Feb. 23rd on marriage. He is preaching through Song of Solomon at the moment.
- Pray for Diane's preparations and first "coaching" meetings with elders wives next week.
- Pray for unity and clarity of thinking for the Pfaffenhofen families as we participate together in a workshop on Sat. Feb 22nd.

We thank God in every remembrance of you. We love to hear about your interests and current goings on.

Together in love and labor,
Ted & Diane