Silas climbing on an American WWII tank

 

My parents visit was very fun, and very full. Aside from showing them around Germany we also visited Bastogne and Normandy. Both of my grandfathers were in the Battle of the Bulge, of which Bastogne is central.

Historical significance hung heavily about as we watched Silas climb on 60 year old tanks and we buried him in the sand of Omaha beach. Although they don't know for sure, the allies lost 2,500 men on D-Day. That's more in a single day than the cumulative deaths in Iraq. The heroism of the soldiers who liberated Normandy was of the highest degree. May the soldiers who fight to liberate Iraq receive similar respect.

Emotion welled up as I hugged Mom and Dad goodbye in the airport. They pay a hefty price, missing their children and grandchildren, for us to serve here. We miss them too!

Silas waving at the camera

 

"Dada, are there bad guys in heaven?" is how the conversation started. I (Dan) was with Silas and Efrem at the park. "No, there are no bad guys in heaven," I replied. "Then who is in heaven?" Silas asked. "People who have asked Jesus into their hearts," was my reply. "Well I haven't done that yet." It was a beautiful moment. Image

Silas, with help from the Holy Spirit, naturally directed the discussion. Silas had heard these things many times before, and I recapped. God loves us and wants us to have a relationship with him. But our sin, the bad things we do, breaks that relationship with a holy, perfect God. But the good news is that Jesus died on the cross so that we could be forgiven, and know God. Every person has to make a very important decision, whether or not to accept Jesus. I explained what it meant to ask Jesus into your heart, that he live with you, help you do good things, and be your boss. "How do you ask Jesus into your heart, dada?" 

We sat together on the steps behind our apartment and said a simple prayer. 

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

-Matthew 18:2-4 

What an exciting day for our family! May made brownies to commemorate the decision. June 17th, we'll mark it down for Silas. And a day or two later, guess what Silas asked- if he could have a children's bible, so he could start reading it. I wish I was that mature at four.

Ever since we've arrived in Kandern we've been looking for friends for Silas. One huge blessing is the Awana program available through a local church there. Two boys in his cubbies class really seem to click with Silas, Josiah and Matt. 

While walking home together (accompanied by their mothers) Silas and Josiah were talking all about his new umbrella. Silas loves it and takes it with him most of the time, rain or shine. Josiah said he didn't have an umbrella. When we got home Silas said he wanted to use his allowance money to buy Josiah an umbrella! Isn't that sweet? He did, by the way, and wants to give it to Josiah tomorrow. Josiah and his family are moving back to the states this summer. That's sad. But we hear that Matt should be around. We hope to get in touch with Matt's parents and get the boys together sometime soon!

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