New Year, Old Friends

Steve and I had the pleasure of spending a brief visit with our old friends Brad and Debbie Ellgen last weekend. Brad was preaching at our church as he and Debbie prepare to go to Germany with Cadence Internationl Missions to run the Baumhalder Hospitality House to serve the army base there. I came away from our visit with a lot of great memories and a fresh reminder of the type of people I want in my life. Brad and Debbie had a profound impact on Steve and I when they were leading the "Change Point" singles group at our church 7-10 years ago - where Steve and I met and started dating. Brad is so down to earth, real, and approachable in his personality and his teaching. There have been very few people in my life who could reach to the core of who I am and make me laugh and want to follow God more than Brad and Debbie. Their lives are about ministry - best done over a steaming cup of coffee or hot meal in their home. I miss them dearly and relish any time that I get to spend with them. I pray God's comfort, strengh, and love for them as they move so far away. The best part of technology is that in a strange way they will still be close through, of all places, their myspace sites.