April 2010

Hi it's  Noleen! With Ryan busy getting last minute details finished before his departure tomorrow morning, he has finally allowed me to write something :) ...so now I am sitting here, thinking of what to write... Okay really I just wanted to say hello to everyone and tell you how much I greatly appreciate your love and support to me and my family. I keep pretty busy chasing around four little monkeys so rarely get a chance to drop you all a line, so I decided to take this opportunity and do so now. HELLO! Germany and Poland Trip details When and Where? April 28,Gemünd: The group who will accompany us gathers at the Kurpark Hotel. April 29, Köln: We trace Hanna's parents' steps during their last months in the city. April 30: We leave Köln by train, following their route to Lodz, Poland. May 1-2: We visit still recognizeable landmarks in the ghetto in Lodz. May 3: We travel from Lodz to nearby Chelmno where they died. According to the records, this is the place where 320,000 were killed.  We will say Kaddish (a traditional Jewish mourner's prayer that praises God and expresses a yearning for God's kingdom) and light a Yahrzeit candle on the anniversary of their deaths according to the Jewish custom.		In This Issue Germany and Poland Trip Trip Specifics Why are we doing this? Refugee Ministry Update
Trip Specifics Prayer tour in Gemünd following the steps of Amalie and Markus Zack: 1) their former home, 2) synagogue 3) Jewish cemetery. Prayer tour in Köln following the steps of Amalie and Markus Zack.  Locations: 1) before their former home at Rathenau Platz 14, 2) the camp at Müngersdorf where Jews were assembled for deportation, 3) the Ma'alot memorial near the Cathedral, and 4) Köln/Deutz (tief) train station from which they were deported. Prayer tour in Lodz following the steps of Amalie and Markus Zack Prayer tour to Chelmno following the steps of Amalie and Markus Zack.  The Nazi extermination camp was located in the village of Chelmno nad Neren Amalie and Markus, and the other Jews, were brought from Lodz to the village of Kolo, 14 kilometers from Chelmno.  Kolo was the closest stop on the main railroad line from Lodz to Poznan. At Kolo they were transferred to another train which took they on a narrow gauge railroad line 6 kilometers to the village of Powiercie. From Powiercie, they had to walk 1.5 kilometers through a forest to the village of 4) Zawadka where they spent their last night locked inside a mill.  They were then transported the next day by trucks to Chelmno. In Chelmno, we would like to visit the foundation of former Manor house called "the Castle".  They would have passed through here on the way to the trucks in which they were gassed.  This was between two buildings.  One of them is a small museum with photos of the camp.  We may want to visit there. There are memorials at the Rzuchowski Forest Camp where the Chelmno victims were buried and/or cremated.  We would like to visit here.  We think this is 2-3 kilometers from the castle. Why are we doing this? (from George and Hanna Miley) (Hanna and her mother Amalie) (Hanna's Father Markus) To honor Amalie and Markus Zack.   To tangibly express forgiveness for great evil. To bring reconciliation and blessing to places, and to their present inhabitants. To see Christ's power transform individuals and redeem the past. "God calls His people to seek the Shalom of the places to which they are sent".We approach this journey with sobriety, standing in need of prayer.  Should the Lord lead you, would you follow our steps, praying for the team by name, and for us, and for an outpouring of His grace Here is a link to a six minute movie remembering Amalie & Markus Zack, Hanna's parents, created by Thomas Cogdell.   movie dedicated to Hanna's parents
Refugee Ministry Update (Rahimi Family: Abdul, Hashemeh & Shahireh) We have been working with refugees for one year now.  And we have had the privilege of serving 12 refugees in that time.  Currently in our community at the 'refugee' property we have living with us a family from Afghanistan, Abdul is an imam, he is here with his wife Hashemeh and daughter Shahireh.  Ahmet, who we introduced in an earlier update is from Iraq, and potentially this May we have moving in with us two Christian women from Iran. Naz and Sepideh who are sisters and Naz's six month old dautghter.  They were persecuted for there faith and have been in the US for only three months.  You can imagine and dream with us all God has in store in bringing these three worlds together. (Ethan and Shahireh) Please pray for Gods grace to accomplish all He has intended for these intersecting lives among us and pray with us that: God's kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heave   Noleen and I are grateful for the ongoing love and support that we receive from you!  Thank you for your words of encouragement, prayers, and financial support.  With deep gratitude, Ryan, Noleen, Ethan, Keilah, Micah, & Elyana