This picture of Phyl with our nephew's children was taken during our recent itinerary around parts of UK. It's a great privilege to have contact with so many lovely people who come and stay with us in Haus Barnabas. Before we gave up our home in Yorkshire and went out to Basel in 1983 one Scripture verse with a promise which spoke to us was Mark 10:29-30:

So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life."

Through our ministry in Haus Barnabas and through our children and grandchildren we are certainly seeing the fulfillment of this and praise God for His goodness. The promise however also mentions 'persecutions' and we are beginning to recognise that many of our daily struggles arise from spiritual 'persecution'. Satan is extremely frustrated by every true believer and follower of Jesus Christ, his arch enemy, and it's quite amazing what difficulties and opposition to a smooth and comfortable life he can bring to all of us who love Jesus. Thankfully we can rejoice that through His death and resurrection Jesus has defeated Satan and these struggles are only for a short time. The promised goal is eternal life in the age to come.

Phyl and I are now back in Utzenfeld for Christmas and and New Year but would invite anyone reading our blog to come and meet us in Stanmore, Middx for a reunion and information afternoon on Saturday 22nd January. Details below:

Saturday January 22^nd 2011
Stanmore Chapel
Marsh Lane, Stanmore HA7 4HP
3.00pm – 6.00pm
(More information: Tel: 01227 363857)