Ready to Refresh

Just completed one week of training and already we are encouraged. Today is our grand opening and we have three trainees working and doing great! Every morning we begin the day with devotions and Bible study, followed by vocational and practical training. The students are growing and discovering their weakness and strengths and willing to work on those weaknesses. That's half the battle - recognizing and then being willing to do something to improve and better yourself. We all need that, right?

Dutch apple pie on the menu is a big favorite! It looks good enough to eat, eh?

Can you smell the espresso?

Yes! We are open and even though business is slow at the moment, it's ok. We are getting into the grove. Baked goods are ready, and the coffee master (Tony) is getting faster at making those lattes. The first day of training with eleven students, three made a decision to follow Christ. We are rejoicing at the opportunity that the Lord has given us to disciple these precious young people. They are eager to learn and have great potential. We see a couple who could easily move into a management role at the Garden Cafe in a few months time. Oh! By the way – it’s official! We have been approved as “The Garden Cafe.” Finally!

Our Grand Opening is scheduled for this Saturday, 20 November. We sure appreciate your prayers as we welcome the community into our oasis of peace and refreshment. So far the brownies and cinnamon rolls have been top sellers! Although the banana muffins are surprisingly popular as well. One woman whispered in my ear, “I don’t even like bananas, but that muffin was great! (Thanks, Connie Abendschein). We have set up a small Christmas tree and have a handmade wire cross on the wall below the scripture, “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour.” God is celebrated in this cafe! No apologies!
We have much to be thankful for. We move into our own little apartment tomorrow and get to unpack our personal things and make it home. The Lord is giving us strength each day for the new things we are learning about running a small business. So many people near and far have contributed to this venture and we truly are blessed!

We will take pictures of customers and trainees soon. Keep your eyes open!

No longer homeless

(I wrote this a few days ago - and forgot to post it) Packed up with nowhere to go! That was my status a few days ago. The strange thing was – I wasn’t stressed like I expected to be. I surprised myself, really. People that helped us pack and clean even commented, “You look so calm.... you aren’t worried about where you’re going to live?”

Three days later. As we sit resting in our friend’s very nice little granny flat, we are happy to say that God has provided every need ... and then some.
Not only have they welcomed us to stay with them for these four weeks, but they will not accept any payment for our stay which includes laundry and housekeeping services. Do you see what I mean about above and beyond our needs. We just looked at a flat that is available in 30 days. It’s one bedroom and a tiny kitchen, living area and bathroom, a nice size covered carport (perfect for running space for Bella), and the price is within our budget!

Tomorrow we sign the rental agreement and put a deposit down on the flat. We are now free to focus our attention on the training cafe. Thank you for your prayers and support. We have received so many words of blessing and encouragement from friends near and far. Although these are uncharted waters for us, we feel the powerful wind of the Spirit filling our sails and guiding each step.

Our needs at the moment are to equip and set up the cafe. We are in negotiations with a coffee supplier for the espresso machine, and waiting for the answer from the catering company for other items. Our target date for opening is November 15th. Can it be done? To be continued....

Grand Opening

The Garden Cafe is becoming a reality! Can you believe it? Things have developed and progressed quickly and the doors just opened up in a miraculous way - we can't even tell you all the details, there are just too many. Here's the reader's digest version.

We knew that our time here wasn't over yet when the position with Christ's Hope ended. We were not sure how all the details would fall into place, but we were sure that those young people that we have been discipling still needed care. Our leadership role in our church here was not over either. There was just too much that was started and beginning to grow and it wasn't the time to walk away. It would have been like leaving a building with only the foundation laid, or not finishing sewing a dress when you just had the pattern cut out. It just wasn't sitting right with us - in our spirit as well as in our minds. The more we prayed we felt God leading us to continue what we started and what we are good at - discipleship. Mentoring was added to that as well, when we realized that too many young people here have little to no hope for a future. Why? Because they don't have the grades to make it into futher education - and most times - they don't have the money either. Also, because they have poor language skills and no practical skills. Computer training is available - for a huge cost. Trade skills are available - again at a cost. Most families just can't afford it. Like I said - little to no hope.

The owner of the building where the cafe lives, is the father of a good friend of ours, from our church. The rent is very reasonable and the location is right in the middle of this quaint little town. The cafe is designed not only as a "coffee house" but it's a training center for those with no idea what to do. Without higher education or at least excellent grades they won't get a job anywhere in town. We are giving them an opportunity to be trained in restaurant skills - such as customer service, table waiting, kitchen prep cook. Today was the first day we accepted applications for the program. We were blown away .... as we counted the applications at the end of the day. Twenty six interested in the program! Several arrived before the hour advertised and impressed us with their desire and drive to complete the process successfully.

There are still a few details to be worked out - but we are encouraged by large donations from a local businesswoman, a computer programmer from Germany, and several of our own partners. The local pastors and community leaders are talking to young people they know about the program and supporting us. Well, this is getting too long, really. Let me just add a few more pictures. We have a flyer going up this weekend to announce the grand opening - November 15th. Please pray for us, and for this community. We are playing christian music at the cafe and our Dutch daughter, Annelies painted Proverbs 21:21 on one wall . There is no hiding that we are a faith-based program. Pray that more people will step up and offer their skills and services to lift young people up and out of hopelessness. With God - all things are truly possible!