Sent: Monday, January 31 2005
Prayer Update from Ted & Diane Holzmann (formerly Neuburg News).
Serving under TEAM Mission in Germany
Last update sent: October 2004.

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

Greetings to you and may our God be ever more your reality of life in 2005! (Be sure to get the LATEST news at the bottom!!)

What have we been doing since October? Here’s the thumbnail sketch:

- Diane diligently pursued four classes in the Fall Semester (Marital Ministries, Integration of Theology and Psychology, Family Counseling, and Counseling Techniques) and obtained wonderful grades in them all!

- Ted faithfully supported her on the home front, yet also had some time for his own pursuits; wood carving, (re-)learning Hebrew, and beginning to learn new software for website (MX2004).

- We enjoyed several special trips: through GA to Montgomery, AL to visit Tim in October (he was there for a few weeks of Officer training for the Air Force). Nathan was also able to join us for 24 hours of fun and talk. Thanksgiving found us in Orlando, FL totally enjoying a visit with Ted’s youngest sibling, David, and his wife Julie. It was our first time in all three states!

- We are involved in a small group fellowship through the local church which meets here in the house where we live. As a bonus, there are many TEAM missionaries we know who are also here at this time and who attend the same church – our hosts, Dr. Bob and Judy Long, among them. 

- Christmas we got to spend in NY with Diane’s Mom and cousin. We saw Tim, stationed with the USAF in Rome, NY, and also Laura and Alex, who celebrated their first anniversary two weeks ago.

- January 3rd through 13th we traveled through NC and into TN; two more firsts. We spent our (29th) anniversary at Fairhaven, a retreat center for full-time Christian workers in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, and then drove west to Nashville, where Bridget and Nathan now live. We enjoyed them and the three grandchildren… number four is due any day now.
Now we are back. The Spring semester begins today (1/31/05). Pray for:

- Diane: Thanks for successful completion of two Winterim classes the past two weeks. Now she adds a supervised counseling internship to her full plate of courses for the semester. PRAY for stamina, continued good health, concentration, and wisdom as she counsels various women.

- Ted: He is grateful for healing the Lord has granted, in part through counseling he has received, and now desires good time management as he continues running the household and working on a variety of projects. Many of them have lain dormant since early Dec. He also carries some leadership responsibilities both locally and in Germany. PRAY for practice good time planning skills, for wisdom as he chooses which people and projects to invest in for the remaining (short!) time.

- LATEST EXCITING NEWS:

(FROM Neuburg) An evangelist reported how good it was to be back and to see how – since our departure – the church has grown and continues to add new believers. Members have written how thankful they are for the new pastor, and how he has settled in.

(FROM Mainburg) In December the city council authorized a zoning change so they could rent a storefront in the center of town for the purpose of public meetings. Other Evangelical Free Churches in the greater Munich/Augsburg region donated start-up needs: song books, chairs, pulpits (yes, plural!). They conducted a dedication worship service yesterday, Jan 30th, attended by 80(!) people, including a deputy mayor and the Lutheran pastor, who each gave words of greeting. They have 25 people signed up for a retreat next weekend, and a group of them have begun Evangelism Explosion (EE) training!

They know that these events are ONLY explainable as acts of God in response to the prayers of many people. PRAY for the team’s unity at this time. They are quite aware that Satan is trying to gain a foothold in the midst of the team, personally and through misunderstanding. PRAY for the growth of new believers, especially of those involved in the (very hands-on) EE training. May they continue to walk steady in Him.

We are SO grateful to you for your sustaining prayers and care. Let us hear from you, so that we can also pray for you with knowledge!

In Christ,

Diane and Ted