Voser Report – Aug ’09

Newsletter August 2009

Dear brothers and sisters,

We came back from the Ukraine on August 17 rested from our vacation and satisfied with the mission and benevolence work we had been able to do (see July Newsletter). The next phase for us will be to get prepared for the birth of our baby. This will also mean that I will slightly reduce my working load or at least that I will not be accepting any new function until the end of the year. The due date of our baby is November 29.

Preparing for Our Baby

When twenty years ago husbands were most of the time waiting in the waiting room until their wives gave birth to a baby, this has changed significantly today. Husbands also take part in the birth process standing at their wives side to support them while they are giving birth. They experience the pain of their wives, but also the joy, when the baby is born. That is also what I, as a future father, intend to do. Lena and I are enjoying this time before the birth, but we are also a bit anxious as the day approaches.

We have been trying to get much information about any topic that is related to having a baby. One book that we have found helpful, which is written in English, is entitled “On Becoming Babywise.” We are glad for the items that we can buy in second hand stores or for baby clothes from couples whose baby has grown out of the seize of newborns. We have started getting busy to get everything we need for our baby that is soon to be born.

Andrea and Kilian’s Wedding Celebration

In April Andrea and Kilian were officially married at the registry office. On August 1 they celebrated their wedding having about three hundred guests who attended for the general part of the wedding. After that a few dozen guests were invited for the dinner party. The choice to have the wedding on August 1 has a special significance in Switzerland because it the national holiday and the day of independence (comparable with July 4 for the US). Who are Andrea and Kilian? Andrea, 29, grew up in church. She is the oldest daughter of Danielle who has four daughters. Andrea’s baptism is back more than ten years ago. Andrea’s husband Kilian used to be an atheist before he got to know Andrea. Now he not only enjoys the fellowship of Christians, but he also has moved his position away from atheism. He is very supportive of Andrea’s belief. He sees the difference between traditional faith and the faith that we as a church try to live which relies heavily on Scripture. Andrea and Kilianwant to have a lot of children for which reason they have, for Wedding day the most part with their own hands, built a large house during the last few years. They have announced that their first child is on its way.

Assembly Place Situation

Since August we have had a new assembly place where we will meet on most Sunday mornings in fall and winter. Are we bored so we change assembly places every few months? Not really. We were asked to leave the senior citizen’s residence meeting room a few months ago because they thought that we were too large a crowd, attendance of 30 people, going in and out of the senior residence. For that reason we have been meeting at the Pöstli for Sunday morning and Wednesday night, whenever a room was available. As an alternative we found a room in the Höchhus which is a restaurant about 100 metres from the Pöstli which shares its parking lot with the Pöstli. The Höchhus is an old house, built in the 13th or 14th century, on the foundation of the old fortress of Stevansburc which was built in the year 1133 (see May Newsletter).

Now the Höchhus has become the major assembly place. Why have we changed our assembly place again? By fall the Pöstli has been occupied on Sunday mornings by clubs and private people who move their meetings from the outside into a building. On Wednesday evening we will be able to stay at the Pöstli, which is also by far the cheapest option.

News on People

We have now three women in the church who are pregnant: Lena, Regina, and Andrea. The due dates are: for Lena the end of November, for Regina the end of December, and for Andrea the month of March 2010. Mathias left Switzerland to spend three months in Buffalo, NY. My father had to undergo an eye surgery because he was diagnosed with cataract. The surgery was quick and effective for which we thank God.

Prayer Requests

• Our three pregnant women in the church: Lena, Regina, and Andrea
• Mathias and his stay in the US
• Our teenagers
• Ueli, a church visitor, who is about to go to the military service for several months
• Margrit and Johanna who still go to my parents’ home for Bible study

Any funds can be sent to our overseeing congregation:

Park Avenue Church of Christ; 5295 Park Avenue; Memphis, TN 38119

Grace and Peace,

Ivan + Lena