Sorry. One of the inevitabilities of being an itinerating missionary is that every single time you are out of town for more than a week, you come back and hear various versions of the question, "Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you went to Germany!" Just a note of friendly assurance: when I actually leave for Germany, you'll know. Oh yes, you'll know.
I'm trying to think of a way to describe Prefield Training in New York to you without just narrating. Basically, I lived at Union Seminary in Manhattan, spent mornings doing field ministry for a church in Queens, spent afternoons in class sessions on everything from team dynamics to language acquisition at another church in Queens, and spent the rest of my time writing up interviews, cultural observations, and personal journals to share and discuss with my assigned mentor. The rest of my waking hours were mostly spent with fellow trainees, which is where, I think, most of the benefit of these training events comes from.
It's not easy to give much of a sense of the whole month beyond that; you can get a sense of some of the flavor from the blog we posted to (it's the first link at the top of my blog's links list). It was a blessing, truly, though I am now a bit tired out and trying to get myself mentally reacquainted with the task ahead.
As far as that task goes, it's significant but doable. I figure my current support total at about 73% overall. As I approach the final quarter of my support raising, I hope I'll be able to move through the home stretch quickly, and I appreciate your prayers for just that. I'm working on planning a German dessert night in Dallas sometime soon (details to come when I actually have them worked out), and I hope that that will be a good means of networking with some new contacts out there. I'll also be reporting to and updating my home congregation sometime this month, and I hope to make that an occasion to gain new prayer and financial supporters from among new members and perhaps to spur some folks who haven't quite gotten around to deciding what support to give to make that decision.
I am truly thankful for your kind thoughts, words and prayers for encouragement during my time in New York. Please continue in prayer, all the more fervently as the goal comes within reach. I look forward to getting back in touch with you.
grace and peace
Ben
PS: If I owe any of you any correspondence, please send me a reminder. I'm a bit cluttered at the moment - I'm trying to get the stuff I remember sent out, but I can't pretend to be totally caught up. Thanks.