The Festaburg

Ellgens News: A Normal Weekend

Brad Ellgen

I love our “normal” weekends. This last weekend was so normal and so wonderful.

On Friday night we had our dinner and Bible Study studding Ecclesiastes 7:1-6. It is one of my favorite passages which says “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting.” We watched a couple of film clips and thought about the advantage of being at a funeral.

On Saturday we took a group to a large flee market about a hour from home. It rained on and off and we got pretty wet but it was so fun just being together.

We hung out at home and played games.

On Sunday we were in Chapel most of the day. I taught the adult Bible Class, attended worship and then attended a farewell in the evening.

We has a busy week this week with PWOC on Tuesday, dinner and discussion on Wednesday night, Thursday men’s study, Friday Dinner and Bible Study and a trip to Trier on Saturday after a men’s breakfast. We are busy! And we are loving it.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

Ellgens News: A GREAT weekend

Brad Ellgen

It is hard to imagine a better weekend. Friday afternoon and evening we were on base for a welcome home party thrown by the 170 brigade. It was a fun time just hanging out with friends.

On Saturday the sun was shining and a group of us went on a volksmarch, then out for ice cream (nothing really better than spaghetti ice on a sunny day) and then dinner and Bible Study at the Festaburg.

On Sunday we had a good morning at chapel and then in the afternoon just over 20 folks joined us for a barbecue and volleyball. (More sunshine. After a long winter and wet spring it is really impossible to describe how much joy is gained from playing in the SUN!)

Of course in-between all the activity there were conversations: some serious about how God is working in our lives, some silly about awkward family photos, and some just logistical about how many more burgers should I put on the grill.

Sam LOVED the volksmarch

We have a great week coming up with Dinner & Discussion on Wednesday, Thursday a men’s Bible Study at the chapel, Dinner and Bible Study on Friday and then a trip to the Homberg Flee Market on Saturday. I hope if you are in Baumholder you’ll make plans to join us. If you are reading this from afar we really appreciate your prayers.

Ellgens News: So Good to be home

Brad Ellgen

Debbie and I are back home after a GREAT 5 week trip through the USA. It was a great trip and it is really good to be back home.

We took our first couple of days back just to get caught up on e-mail and get some rest. On Saturday we invited all of our friends over for a barbeque. It was a great time of connecting with all our friends here in Baumholder. When we had planned the event we had hoped for sunshine and volleyball. Turns out it was more of an inside picnic. In spite of being inside great fun was had by all!

In addition to enjoying one another we said good by to Alec, Rosie and their daughter Mary Ann. They have become some of our dearest friends here and it is sad to see them go. However, the Lord and the Army have asked that they move. This is the first of some really painful good byes that will happen over the next 4 months.

We love being part of a hospitality house and working with Cadence International. However, saying good-buy so often to so many is never easy. Please pray for us over these next few months that we would say good-bye well.

Ellgens News: In Louisville KY

Brad Ellgen

Debbie and I are coming to the end of our 5 week trip in the USA. It has been a great trip. It has been so good to be with friends and family. It has also been so sad to see her mom pass from this life to the next.

Last weekend we spent Easter in Wadsworth Ohio with a Scott and Jo Lynn Brooks and their family. Scott and I worked together in Denver back in the 90’s and is now the pastor of a church in Wadsworth. It was a great time and very encouraging.

This week Debbie and I have been attending the Together for the Gospel Pastors conference in Louisville. We have heard some really good speaking, received some very helpful training and been with some wonderful Cadence colleagues that we don’t get to see very often.

Today we leave Louisville and make a short drive to Shelbyville where we will spend the weekend with Andy McDonald and his family. Andy was a soldier who fellowshipped in our Hospitality House back it 1985 and has been on staff at a church here for years. He is a dear friend and we are looking forward to being with him.

We will head for home next week. We have had a great trip but feel like we have been gone for a long time and are looking forward to being back home!