Over the past eight days, our team of five from East 91st Christian Church has had the privilege of serving at Haus Edelweiss in Austria—a place where gospel-centered teaching meets abundant hospitality. We arrived with open hands and willing hearts, unsure of what exactly lay ahead. From the moment we stepped on campus, it became clear that our work would involve much more than just tasks; it would be a partnership in God’s kingdom work. Whether we were counting chairs for the next meeting room reset, matching people and seats on vans, or cleaning dishes after an amazing meal, every small action was infused with purpose.
The days have been full—mowing the lawn on our first and hottest Austrian day, caulking and painting a two-story stairwell, and rolling up our sleeves in the kitchen to help feed the students and support the staff. Each chore brought a surprising sense of joy, knowing it allowed others to reflect, study, and grow deeper in their faith. In between tasks, we’ve shared conversations with people from 14 countries, heard stories of transformed lives, and caught a glimpse of how God's kingdom is alive and thriving across the globe.
As we pass the halfway point and consider the return home, I suspect we will leave tired but deeply grateful. We’ve come to realize that sometimes blessings are counted not just in numbers, but in moments—quiet smiles over coffee, laughter and songs echoing from the kitchen, and the deep sense that God is using even the smallest acts of service. We've counted people. We've counted chairs. But more than anything, we've counted it a blessing to serve at Haus Edelweiss.
The days have been full—mowing the lawn on our first and hottest Austrian day, caulking and painting a two-story stairwell, and rolling up our sleeves in the kitchen to help feed the students and support the staff. Each chore brought a surprising sense of joy, knowing it allowed others to reflect, study, and grow deeper in their faith. In between tasks, we’ve shared conversations with people from 14 countries, heard stories of transformed lives, and caught a glimpse of how God's kingdom is alive and thriving across the globe.
As we pass the halfway point and consider the return home, I suspect we will leave tired but deeply grateful. We’ve come to realize that sometimes blessings are counted not just in numbers, but in moments—quiet smiles over coffee, laughter and songs echoing from the kitchen, and the deep sense that God is using even the smallest acts of service. We've counted people. We've counted chairs. But more than anything, we've counted it a blessing to serve at Haus Edelweiss.