News Update

The following comment from a church group which left us yesterday has warmed out hearts - "Our experience this year has even surpassed our visit of last year. We are saying a sincere thank you by coming back in 2012, but for a longer time! The fellowship and the loving Christian warmth that we received from you all at Haus Barnabas is priceless. A wonderful uplifting, joyous time. We go home to our daily lives refreshed in body and spirit. Thank you. With all our love. "
One of the memorable trips of the week was a drive to Engelberg in the Swiss Alps and the picture shows one of the group making his way cautiously up to the peak of Mt Titlis (10,623 ft) after ascending most of the way by cable car. The final evening of the week was very precious as we shared fellowship and worship together in song, Bible reading and prayer.
We have room for more church groups coming for retreats and holidays and would happily try to arrange to visit you by invitation to promote such at your Church or home group fellowship.
The aims of Haus Barnabas are encouragement and Gospel outreach - come and be refreshed and encouraged and at the same time your payment of our recommended rate enables us to maintain a local Gospel witness and to provide a sanctuary of loving spiritual encouragement to others whom God sends to us.

News Update

On a recent visit of Phyl's sister and her husband we were delighted to be able to have a family meal together with both our sons and their families. In the picture above the only grandchild missing is Sophia who was spending a few days with her other grandparents.
Swiss schools have now returned for their autumn term so it's quite amazing to think the summer is rapidly drawing to a close. We still have a good number of busy weeks before us though and the temperature in the Black Forest is threatening to creep up into the 30s in the next few days.
The international nature of Haus Barnabas has been encouragingly obvious this year with a number of Dutch families joining us for our Sunday worship, guests staying with us from India and Israel and during the next few weeks both Chinese and Pakistani guests expected for a few days.

News Update

Another visit from the 'Sportsreach' ladies www.sportsreach.org.uk was a great success and enjoyed by us all. The house was extremely lively and thankfully the girls had it to themselves with a total of 19 when three German young ladies joined them for the weekend. They put up a strong football team playing two matches in our local Schönau sports stadium. The first against a visiting men's team from Bern, Switzerland they won 3-2 and they then drew 2-2 against our Schönau ladies' team. After each match they were able to share the Gospel of the love of Jesus to the opposing team and distribute literature. They attracted a lot of attention in a positive way and demonstrated clearly that living for Jesus is no way a dull affair! Their participation in our Sunday service and the concert they put on for ourselves and the neighbourhood on Monday evening was a tremendous blessing although we would love to have had a greater response to the adverts we put out for the latter.

News Update

With the summer holiday now underway it has been good this past week to welcome Dutch families with us, both to our Sunday service and Wednesday Bible Study. Two families holidaying together contributed to our worship with two of their Dutch hymns and one brother translated much of the service into Dutch particularly for the benefit of the children. It gives us much joy to see Haus Barnabas used as a place of fellowship and worship for believers of many nationalities and sense this is an important part of God's purpose for us. It is also extremely encouraging to find Christian families who, immediately on their arrival at their holiday location, Saturday evening, motor around to find the most appropriate place to worship Sunday morning!

Our text last Sunday was from 1 Chron 29:10-12:-

"Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all."

We say our amen to King David's prayer.

News Update

The past week with our guest preacher, Steve Wyncoll was a great time of fellowship and blessing. It was a full week of holiday activities and the pictures will bring back memories to many of you who have holidayed with us. But in addition to our regular daily morning devotions with Daily Manna, Steve brought us a message each evening from the life of Elisha.
To find out more of Steve's regular ministry in his home church in Waldingfield, Suffolk see his church's website www.waldringfieldbc.org.uk

We still have accommodation available in July and August so if you are still wondering about a holiday do contact us.

News Update

It has been a very enjoyable fortnight with our 'birdwatching and nature' theme weeks. In addition to the walks and outings the guests made by themselves I, Len, was able to accompany them on four occasions and we visited interesting locations rather less accessible by foot and public transport, the gorge of the river Wuchtach, the Kaiserstuhl and our more local Nonnenmattweihe where the picture alongside was taken. The rarer birds we saw were the hoopoe, bee-eater and redpoll on the Kaiserstuhl and two of our guests also had clear views of two ring ouzels on our local Belchen mountain.
We now have a new set of guests and have also welcomed Steve & Christine Wyncoll from Waldringfield. Steve is bringing us ministry each evening from the Life of Elisha. There doesn't seem to be any dull moments in Haus Barnabas and we praise the Lord for His daily help and encouragement.

The 'Pitsea Friday Club Family Week' was a further eventful time in Haus Barnabas. David & Christine Barnes, with Deb's help, led a children's session each evening for the 7 children in the house and the week closed with a garden barbeque, see picture, followed by a relaxed time together with an organised quiz and testimonies. There were 21 us in total and not all the adults were believers so we have been praying, and continue to, that the week will prove to be God's means of bringing all ages to truly know Him.
With Tim and Deb and children leaving on Friday 10th June for 2 weeks in the UK, Phyl and Len would value your prayers for all the strength, wisdom and grace we need to cover for them as well as our own daily responsibilities. We are grateful to have Vicky with us to help for most of the month and the picture above shows her with Tom and Esther at the barbeque, which was the day she arrived.