Prayer Update from Ted and Diane Holzmann (last update February 13, 2003) 
Church Planting with TEAM in Neuburg (on the Danube), Germany

Here are four pictures from the weekend:

"PAF Meeting": Friday night we drove 50 km (30 miles) to a little hamlet on the edge of Pfaffenhofen (PAF are the letters on all license plates issued to cars registerd there... Pfaff sewing machines are not from here!). Three couples met to pray and take the next step with six values they identified as important to them as they look to plant a new church. Diane and I helped them stay focused on the task, provided ideas from our experience here, and posed prodding questions where appropriate. Note how simple the refreshments are, and that they are available during the meeting -- typical German. Diane attended the workshop (mentioned in the last update) on Saturday with them, freeing Ted to rehearse and finalize his message.

"Booktable": a corner of our worship room serves as the local Christian Bookstore. Table on the left is a display of Bibles for "Year of the Bible". One of our singles chats with Diane after church on Sunday as she selects a book on Song of Solomon for her married brother's birthday.

"Diane+Gitti": Following the service on Sunday we offered our guests coffee, tea (note the thermoses on the table -- each family brought one or two) and finger food. Diane speaks with a woman who attends one of our Bible studies, but rarely comes to worship.

"Covering books": A typical German home's basement (note tile floor, solid wood furniture, and radiator heating). Books that church members are willing to make available for loan to other members/visitors are being covered and catalogued for the lending library. This was Sunday afternoon after coffee time.

Thank you for praying this past week...

--- Three new families visited evangelistic service! ---
One family came because they saw our flyer at the butcher's shop. The theme, "Keys to Marital Happiness" was an awkward one to publicize and around which to build a worship service. The moderator was very creative in her part, the instrumental accompaniment -- a colorful mix of guitars, trombone, recorder, flute and violin! -- was a real contrast to "typical" church music, and Ted's message (Song of Solomon chapter 4) also came across with Spirit-given freedom and conviction.

--- Diane completes first round of coaching meetings. ---
Last night, while Ted and the elders were meeting, Diane met with the third wife, thus completing her first cycle. She and Karin spent a worthwhile 2 and 1/2 hours together. Another of the wives approached her Sunday, concerned that they not miss their next appointment together. Diane finds "coaching" similar to, yet more positive than counseling.

--- Sharing grief in loss. ---
Both of us are dealing with issues of loss. The diamond from Diane's engagement ring was exchanged with a fake during a repair on the crown. The police are working the case, but the sense of sentimental loss runs very deep. Ted heard from the Army that he has reached his "Mandatory Retirement Date", but with insufficient "good" years to qualify for any retirement benefits. Keeping in touch with each others' feelings makes this a time for growth in pain.

Prayer concerns for next weeks.
- We look to begin pre-marital counseling with Peter and Martina. Pray for their commitment to following God's path for their relationship. (We've asked them over for dinner tomorrow - 2/26).
- Continue praying for our coaching relations with the elders and wives. We want to be more conscientious about following up in those areas they desire to grow.
- The elders realize that they/we(!) need to do a better job of keeping the church family informed of our issues and goals. Pray for wisdom as to how that may be best done.

Serving Him together,
Ted & Diane