Summer 2017 Video Update

And this month...a video update! We put this together for a supporting church (hence the introduction at the beginning), but we felt it was a good overview of what's been going on and how you can pray. Take a look!

One Week Away

We are just a week away from our departure from the U.S. back to Austria! Watch below to get an update from us on what's coming up and how you can pray for us. Thanks!

Building Blocks

This month, we'd like to share with you an update via video! Thank you for your prayers and support. And sorry for the craziness and distraction of having a 14-month-old in the video with us ;)

Update and a Prayer Request

As anyone that lives in a city knows, space is at a premium. Parking is challenging, apartment living is the norm, and things are smaller and more compact. This is also a European value. It still amazes me to think about my time last summer in the States - there is just so much open space! Many of these things we have gotten used to and recognize that they are just different ways of operating.

Because of this reality, most churches here consistently struggle with space issues. Rent (or mortgage) tends to hold a pretty large spot in any church's budget. Growth also brings its own challenges. Questions like: Where are we going to put all these people? or How will we have enough or properly-sized classrooms for all the groups that need to meet? Most church buildings are occupied by multiple congregations that are able to afford a rent together. Even with this reality, many churches can tell stories of God providing, such as finding a reduced-rent facility based on the church doing a renovation of the space. Others have seen God move in creative ways, utilizing the space throughout the week for non-profit offices, kindergartens, and other creative solutions.

Our church has been wrestling with the issue of space for awhile now. It is a long story, that I won't try to completely explain, but it is amazing to watch God move as He opens and closes doors and to see leaders making decisions and working with one another. This experience is invaluable, also because I will probably go through a process like this again in the future.

The latest step in this journey has popped up within the last few weeks. God recently closed the door in our church for renovating our current space, so we are seeking a new solution. There is a new rental opportunity, where we could fit more people into the sanctuary as well as have all the Sunday school rooms we would need. The challenge is the decision will need to be made fast (with in the next few weeks).

Will you pray for our church? Please pray for:

• wisdom on the part of the leadership and the church to consider this from every perspective to have all the information needed
• all of the details that would need to happen
• ultimately, God's leading on behalf of our church

We can't wait to see what God does and how he leads in this new chapter our church's history. We will keep you posted!

Baby Update and Prayer Request

We've been on an interesting journey over the last 6 weeks and I thought it would be helpful to share the full story here on the blog. At least with this platform, I may not have to explain and repeat myself quite as much!

At about 29 weeks into the pregnancy, we found out that my amniotic fluid level was very low. Sometimes this happens randomly and sometimes there are more serious reasons for this problem. When we saw this on the ultrasound, my doctor had me go right away to the hospital for a high resolution ultrasound and a test to check the baby's heartrate, in an effort to make sure the baby was still doing well and growing appropriately. Thankfully, everything looked great. Since that time, I've gone regularly for more screenings to make sure she's still doing well.

The only downside to the low fluid level is that it's very hard for her to move around in there! Ever since my appointment at 29 weeks, she's been head up and hasn't turned around. We've tried several homeopathic/natural ways to encourage her to turn, but it looks like she's just not able to turn to face the right direction for a natural birth (especially now that she's bigger).

So, we've scheduled a c-section date for January 6th, which is earlier than we thought she would be coming! But our doctor has advised us that a little earlier is better in this case, because the risk of the umbilical cord being compressed in those final weeks goes up as the fluid levels go down. And she doesn't want me to go into labor and have to have an emergency c-section. Planned is much better. She'll be nearly 38 weeks at that point, so she'll be fully developed and able to live outside of the womb.

I'm writing all this to say that it's been an interesting journey and a learning process for us over these last few weeks. The pregnancy was very uneventful for a long time and perhaps we took that for granted. Now I have a much greater appreciation for the fact that our little girl is healthy and for the miracle that she is. Every baby is a true wonder and now I think I understand that more. It's also been a blessing for me to have time to let the idea of a c-section sink in. I am thankful for that gift, because an emergency c-section would have been much more difficult for me to handle. With weeks to think and pray about it, I've been able to come to peace and to prepare and inform myself about what is to come.

Please pray for us on January 6th and in the weeks leading up to her birth date. Please pray for peace for me, since this is my first time having surgery of any kind and I'm a bit nervous. Please pray for the baby's health, my health and for our recovery. And of course, for God's blessing over us as we adjust to being a family of three!

Merry Christmas from the Johnsons!

For this month's prayer requests and update, we have posted a video. Enjoy and merry Christmas!

May Update Video

Watch below to see this month's quick video update and hear how you can be praying for us and our ministry.

Video Blog: Intentionality

When we leave for Austria in a few weeks, we want to make sure we continue to intentionally pursue relationships back home. In this latest video blog, hear our thoughts on how to stay connected!

Video Blog: The Countdown Begins...