Having just returned after several days in Trieb, a village in eastern Germany, we write now from our Eifel home. Thomas and Amy Cogdell are leaders of the Wittenberg 2017 Initiative. He reports:

We sensed the Lord’s green light for our return to Germany when we found award tickets for February 28, our preferred departure date. We knew from past experiences that we could expect blocks and hinderances in the days before leaving Phoenix.

Looking back over the last two months, we marvel at God’s mercies and the effects of your prayers in overcoming each obstacle:

• Our yard: An infestation of gofers.
• Our health: A routine treatment for skin cancer took a more serious turn when the strong antibiotic prescribed by the skin doctor reacted adversely with the blood thinner George takes for his artificial heart valve.
• Hanna’s Green card: Five days before our flight we discovered Hanna’s Green Card (permission to reside in the US) had expired—our mistake. 

As we sank down into our seats on the British Airways flight to London we knew God had come through again!

• We caught an infection on the flight and were sick for some days. We are still weak, and re-entry has been slow.

We are looking forward to several visits from friends. Wendy Pitha from our parish family in Phoenix is scheduled to be with us in a few days.

We are invited to a Stolpersteine laying event in Simmerath, a small Eifel town, and to a book reading in Rheinbach situated at the edge of the Eifel not far from Bonn.

A highlight for us will be the month the Beckenhauer family visits Europe beginning the latter part of May. They will spend a generous amount of time with us in Gemünd and the Eifel. Cheri has been part of our team in Phoenix for five years, taking care of our communication (see her work at EifelFellowship.com), managing our schedules, making our travel arrangements and overseeing Eifel Fellowship administration. Cheri will be accompanied by her husband Jess, their son Ethan and their daughter Ella.

Our Phoenix team has grown and the ministry continues while we are in Germany. Amber and Justan Jesse are making a significant contribution.

The Wittenberg 2017 leadership team has been invited to attend the 50th anniversary celebration in Rome of the Charismatic Renewal in the Roman Catholic Church June 1-4. Protestants and evangelicals have been warmly welcomed to participate. For us to attend, George must get permission from immigration officials to extend his stay in the European Union. This is the second trip in a row that he has needed an extension. Lord, are you saying something to us in this? Please pray.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.