Planting Seeds for the Stranger Day 4: A Week in the Life …

Update from Tribuswinkel (near Vienna), Austria
September 17, 2024

Dear All,

There is so much to say, but first I again thank you so much for your support and I treasure your prayer support!

I am working at a Christian mission house in Austria. Previously they used to provide Bibles to people in Eastern Europe, but now, since there are refugees that are housed down the street in several large apartment buildings, they minister directly to them, in practical and spiritual ways. Tents are set up when there is an overflow, but currently there are approximately 2000 refugees housed in the buildings.

They come from over 40 countries, mostly Moslem, but not all are. I have met people from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Turkey, Kurdish Iraq, Palestine, Mongolia, Pakistan, Morocco, Armenia, Ukraine, Russia, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Turkmenistan.

What have I been doing? This was my schedule last week!

For every event I help the team spend time with those who come. I help set up the tables and chairs, make coffee and tea, put out desserts, and at the end clean all the tables, sweeping and mopping the floor, cleaning the kitchen, dishes and bathroom, and racking up all the chairs and tables again.

We usually have about 25 or more people at each event plus 5-8 volunteers and team members. Our goal is to have enough people so that we can spend a good amount of time with each person who comes, getting to know them and being known, and always showing them God’s love through our actions, speech and any of the many kindnesses we can offer for which we have resources in the building or outside.

Mondays/Tuesdays: Clothing Closet 8a-6p
Wednesdays: German class 9:00-11:30
Women and children’s Craft Afternoon 1:00-4:30, I organized a Noah’s Ark craft with paper plates, colored pencils and “animal” rubber duckies I brought.
Wednesday Night Church 6:00-10:00, in English, with an Arabic translator, a Farsi translator and a Turkish translator. We sing from YouTube videos in every language represented. We provide everyone who comes with a New Testament in their own language.
Thursdays: Children’s Program 1:00-4:30, this is like children’s church or vacation Bible school.
Family Program 6:00-10:00, we play games with and provide games and snacks for the men, women and children who come. During this time they can watch The Jesus Film from the book of Luke (in one of the 40 languages we have on hand).
Fridays: German class 9:00-11:30
Monthly Women’s Program was last week, 6:00-10:00, this is like a women’s ministry church night. We offered coffee/tea/desserts etc with nicely decorated tables. We had live Christian music and sang along. The talk was translated. We did a craft, decorating vases. They each took 3 roses home with them and were thrilled to have real flowers! Then we danced to Middle Eastern music!

This is probably more detail then you wanted, but it gave me an opportunity to record at least one of the four weeks I am here in Austria, so thank you again for your support!

Please pray for special friends I have made so far:
H and B from Afghanistan, one sister is really interested in Jesus.
F from Ethiopia, she is a Christian, we will shop together for reading glasses.
S and T from Zimbabwe, we are practicing German together.
F from Iran, we had fun playing Uno and Jenga!

In the name of Jesus, Holy Spirit the Great Translator and our most loving Father of all,
Amanda