Well, I'm still here in the states, for one thing. A lot of people have been asking me recently, "So when ARE you leaving for Germany?" Originally, my plan was to be there by April or May, but at this point, it looks more like October or November. As much as I'm anxious to get to Germany and get settled into my new life there, I can see the Lord's timing in having me wait and so I rest in that. I moved out of my apartment in Strasburg, as you know, and I'm currently living with a couple from my church. Bob & Emmajane Denlinger have been kind enough to take me on as their house guest for a few months and let me occupy a couple rooms in their house with my stuff. It's been a necessary transition for me, albeit emotional in leaving my apartment of 9 1/2 years, and it is one step closer to my move across the Atlantic.

The past several months have been FULL for me. I've had numerous opportunities to minister at churches, a prison, and a ministry in northern Vermont for troubled teenagers. I've so much enjoyed the privilege of meeting new people and I love being able to talk about the redemption and healing that the Lord has done in my life and the ways that He is moving me forward into this new 'leg' of my journey with Him.

At this point, about 60% of my needed monthly support has been raised, as well as approximately 70% of my outgoing expenses. I'm so encouraged by this, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the Lord will bring in the rest. On that note, if you think your church might be interested in having me come to sing and/or share about the ministry I'm going to be involved with in Germany, let me know and we'll set something up. You can also click on the "Ministry Profile" tab above--it gives information about what I'll be doing as well as ways that you can partner with me.

My song, Lonely Days, has been selected as one of Indieheaven's Top 20 songs for this month. That means two things:

1...It is on the Top 20 Radio chart at Indieheaven for the month of May (www.indieheaven.com/radio)

and

2...you can go to the Radio chart and rate it...every day, if you like...so that it moves up the chart. If it's one of the top 10 at the end of the month, then it will automatically stay on the chart for the next month.

Thanks for listening and voting.

Today I moved out of my apartment. T'was a sad day for me, and since you've been following along on the sorting videos that Michelle and I have been posting about the sorting/packing process, I decided to do one last one to wrap it up. The camera didn't focus when I started it, so it's blurry...but I wasn't about to do it again, so you'll have to live with it. :)

Tomorrow, I will be having the yard sale of my life, and everything I own that I am not storing for sentimental reasons or taking with me to Germany will be displayed for all the world to see...and hopefully purchase. So until next week at this time, I will be up to my neck in boxes and decisions about what is really valuable enough to me to keep. It's been an interesting process--this sorting business. The last time I sorted through all my "stuff", most of it was charred or covered in ash from the fire that swept through my little apartment while I was in Germany in August of '06. As I sift through all my "stuff" again, two realizations come to mind.

First of all, I wonder how much more "stuff" I'd have to go through if that fire hadn't happened! Even two years ago, the Lord was already preparing me for this transition, and helping me to downsize in significant ways by essentially making some decisions for me about what needed to go and what I really didn't need.

Which leads me to the second realization. When this process is over, I will hopefully have eliminated over two-thirds of all that I've accumulated over the years. Granted, I'll be able to "re-stock" once I get over there, but for now, I will most likely be able to fit everything I own into a small SUV. :) The realization that I've had is simply the fact that there is really nothing...nothing...in this world, save the relationships that we have with each other and especially with Christ, Himself, that is not expendable.