Rutsch ins neue Jahr (Happy New Years!)

May you have a blessed New Years! 

Thank you again everyone for loving us so much that you have prayerfully and financially supported our trip to Austria. We cannot wait to come back and share our experiences, stories and photos with you. We pray that each of you have felt like you have been on this trip with us as you have read our blog... because we want you to know, if it wasn't for each of you we wouldn't be here right now. We know God used each of you in a different way to help us come here or help us in the work we have done here. So we praise God for each one of you!

God Bless,

The Simmons

Becoming Bold in our Faith

Becoming Bold in our Faith is what started our call to come to Austria... it was a sermon Pastor Jim spoke about one Sunday. "If you know who God is, you have a relationship with Him, what are you going to do next..." We knew we were ready for the next step, so we started to participate in a community group at our church, we participated in children ministries and we even participated in serving projects through the church... see a pattern yet? 


We were taking the next step and sharing our faith, but in a safe in a simple way - within the arms of our church family. 


We knew God was pushing us to do more... become BOLD in your FAITH - step out of your comfort zone, get out of the boat, take a leap of faith... share your FAITH BOLDLY. 


So we did... we each started to become bolder in our faith at our jobs, at school, with our friends, we even took the step to be Bolder in our Faith with our family. As a family now we can look back from that sermon to the day we stepped off the plane in Vienna that God was preparing us with every opportunity He presented us to be Bolder in our Faith.


These two weeks at the Oasis has been a little different for us because we only spent one week serving in the programs the Oasis has, but the second week we left the comforts of the Oasis building (just like we had to leave the comforts of our church family) to reach people outside the Oasis doors. We traveled to Baden and all around Vienna several times, running in to refugees that we have met at the programs the week before, and spent time with refugees that are making Austria their home.


Looking back at our progression from helping out at the first Oasis program (clothing room) to the last handshake and smile we will have with one of the refugees as we leave Sunday... it reminds me of the steps God took us on from Jim's sermon until we answered the call to God telling us to go to Austria.


As a family we have been blessed over the years as we have gone through tough times and good times, that God has always blessed us by showing us how those times in our life are little lessons. We are honored that He would choose our family, and each one of us, to mold and shape us in to people that He would use to spread His word... preparing us now to not just spread His word, but to Be Bold in our Faith and to teach others to be bold in their faith too.


Serving Him Faithfully!
Rob, Jeni, Rob(by) and Samantha Simmons

Prayers answered!!

What a blessed day traveling around Vienna with our friend G... praise God we found out today that he has found housing! If you are also reading our blog, this is the same G Samantha talked about that was being displaced out of his current house as of Jan. 15th. So thank you to everyone who prayed for him!! He will leave a small apartment that houses 5 or 6 men, to an apartment that will only have 2 guys... mind you apartments here for refugees are not like our apartments, typically there is a tiny, tiny, tiny kitchen, bathroom and one room for everyone to sleep in. The picture below of us and the family... that room we are in is their bedroom, family room, living room, dining room combined and 3 women sleep in there!!! Please continue to pray for G...

Work and fun day

Clothing day... well sorta of, today we spent the day hauling up and separating all the clothes that have been donated to the Oasis. I wish I would have taken a picture of all the clothes... lets put it this way, we started at 1, it is 7 now and we are only maybe a little over half done. Too tired to continue, but blessed that we had the opportunity to help the team out today so hopefully they will have a lot less to do on Monday :-)

Out and about in Vienna, visiting new friends and seeing some sights??

As you all know Sam is not a girlie girl, so anything pink or girlie she will make fun of, so it was funny when the mom gave her a Hello Kitty Cup (pink and girlie) with cola in it. Then Sam noticed in their bathroom they had Hello Kitty soap dispenser... of course we wanted to mark this momentous occasion when Sam actually used something pink and girlie... she wasn't havin' it :-)

 It was a blessing today to finally meet this beautiful Chechen family... I have been praying for them for a long time. The mom has 2 girls (13 and 10). They don't have asylum, but a woman in Austria has taken them under her wing and helped her obtain housing and the ability to stay. The woman was once married, but her husband died over a year ago. She also had 4 sons, but they all died in a bomb explosion. It is just her and her girls making a new life for them, with the help of friends like David, a missionary at the Oasis.

This is the housing area she and her girls are living in... in the picture is Rob and Sam, but it also shows our dear friend David. What a caring heart he has for so many refugees! Please pray for him, because he not only works at the Oasis, but he also travels to the different refugee homes to check in on them, do bible study with some of them, and most of all show them God's love through his word and deeds. So please pray for him so he can continue to do his work as it does get to be emotionally, physically and spiritually hard sometimes. He gives so much, so he needs to be filled back up too!

Ok a total random picture of an ice cream shop where they found a few dead bodies in the wall?!?! The previous owner what an Italian woman who killed and buried past boyfriends? 

Yes, we are teasing Sam once again because there are sooooooo many things in Austria that are pink... she cannot avoid it :-)

Proud of my kids! They are eating something they would have never thought to eat before... Vietnamese food in Austria and a Coca Cola that came from Mexico. It was awesome food and we ALL loved it!!! Yum!

a few of the sites we saw on our walk around Traiskirchen today... yes that would be a man pooping gold! Are you as lucky as he is? so lucky that he can poop gold?? Love it!!

Laughter at the camp...

These are pictures of the camp as we went around it on our prayer walk... we could see a few windows opened with people peeking their heads out. The Oasis team will frequently walk around the camp to say a prayer for the people in there and the people working there. 

Each year that I have gone it has always been a very quiet walk, but this year we heard a lot of laughter... it was men playing football (soccer). The laughter came at perfect timing because the kids were asking if the camp was a sad place to be. Then we heard the laughter... so the kids know that the camp isn't a joyous place to live, but it is a safe place and there is some joy happening there too :-)

Pi

Like father like son and daughter?

As I interviewed the kids and Rob about their experiences this week I couldn't help but notice that their stories were a bit similar to his... the wish for all refugees to be treated equally and for everyone to give God the praise in everything we do and have.

Here is through Rob's eyes...
What I was surprised about was who and what a refugee was - not by definition, I know a refugee is someone that has had to leave their home because of war, religious reasons or because of economic reasons. I guess I mean to say is that this week I learned what it truly means to be a refugee here in Europe. I have always heard Jeni talk about the refugees and I just imagined they were like what we would call illegal aliens in America, but they are not. In America, people who have left their country are provided so much more then what they are provided here. In America, the refugees are given government support, a place to live (public housing), a chance to work, the opportunity to raise their family... they are provided opportunities. Don't get me wrong, I know they still struggle and don't have it easy, but they have opportunities... where in Austria I don't see that.

In Austria, yes the government provides a place for them to stay, food to eat, healthcare, and 40 Euros a month... in other words the government provides the refugees physical support. But what I don't see is a sense that the refugees feel a sense of self worth. Over a year ago I lost my job and I know when I was not able to provide for my family I lost my sense of self  worth. For a period of time I was lost in myself like I see a lot of the refugees are. Scared, depressed, angry... emotions that are easy to fall into, but very hard to dig yourself out of unless you have someone to show you the way back out.

But that is where I see the Oasis step in... they are providing the refugees emotional and spiritual support. Through the programs here they are showing the refugees they are loved and cared about. From clothing room to a cup of tea... the role we play here is to remind the refugees they are someone and to not forget that. Plus the Oasis is teaching them something else - they are teaching them that God is always with them... so when they are in their camp, with nothing to do, feeling sad or depressed because of where they are... they can turn to God for hope.

I also noticed something else this week, I noticed a different perspective on being thankful... not being thankful for things, but to be thankful to God for what He has provided.

I couldn't believe how jammed pack the individual rooms were on Thursday night... various languages of the Jesus film were being played. Then it hit me, the people watching the film were so thankful to be able to watch a movie in their own language! With all the technology we have at our hands, I never even considered how much of an impact it would be to play a movie for them in their own language. I have become so numb to the gifts God has provided me I forget to give thanks to Him! I think we all have done that... we become numb to all that we have that we miss God working in our lives everyday.

A simple child's puzzles, a game of checkers or chess, cup of tea or coffee - an opportunity to engage with each other... this means the world to the refugee and it should mean the world to us too, but how often do we miss the opportunity to be with others that God has put in our lives.

I pray that the lessons I have learned these 2 weeks will not be lost on me and that my eyes are open wider now, my mind is more aware of my surroundings and my heart is softer to so I don't miss the opportunities God has provided for me.

Through Sam's eyes

I knew that refugees had to travel a long way to get to Austria... from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Nigeria, Somalia - just to name a few, but when they get to Austria I hoped they would be ok. What I learned this week is that sometimes traveling to Austria is hard for the refugees, but their time here in Austria can also be just as hard! 


I met a man name G, and he has been here for a couple of years but in the next month he is being forced to leave the pension that he has been living at. The government said they are at their limit of how many people can be in Austria from his country. How can a government pick a number like that, and if G has been here already for years why can't he just stay???


I also met a mom with two young girls... they made it here and now they are already being transferred out of the camp. Why can't the mom and kids just stay here? The mom has been to the Oasis a couple of times and is really trying to learn more about God. She even came Thursday night really early just so she could watch the Jesus film... so why can't God let her just stay here so she can still learn more about God through the Oasis team.


I know I am just a kid, but why can't the refugees that make it here just stay here? They want to work, why can't you just let them work? They don't want to be a burden on the government, they just want to live here and be a part of the town... is there not a way that the refugees can live just like we do? 


I don't think a refugee should be treated any different than I am being treated... that is what I have learned this week, that I will make sure I don't treat others different because of who they are or where they come from. We are all God's family and we should all be treated the same.


God Bless,
Sam

Through Rob(by)'s eyes

Refugees are really nice people, not that I didn't think they would be but I thought they were going to act a lot more mature. Ok, I mean to say I didn't realize kids would act like kids, I thought because of all that they went through they would be so mature and not want to play. Kids are truly just kids, they like to play games, they like to laugh and be silly, they like to play jokes on other people... they are just like me. 


I also didn't realize how helpful they would be... they have traveled so far, gone through so much that I thought they would just want to come to the programs and relax. I was so surprised to see how each one of them want to help us clean up. When I am invited somewhere I don't think about helping clean up before I leave unless my mom or dad tells me to do so... so I was surprised when the refugees helped. But the difference is too that when they help they are so thankful while they helped... they are thankful for the program that they just attended, they are thankful for the Oasis team, they are thankful for the coffee/tea and snacks they were served, but most of all they were thankful that God provided all of these things and that He sent them there. 


Seeing their thankfulness also reminded me of how unthankful we are for all that we have... and we, scratch that I mean me, take things for granted so much so that we forget to be thankful to God for things everyday. Sure we are thankful when we receive gifts... we are thankful for the gift, we are thankful to the person, and we are thankful for the thought behind the gift, but we forget to be thankful to God for all those things every time we use the gift. 


After being here this week that is the one thing I will take back with me... I want to be thankful all the time just like I have seen the refugees be thankful... and most of all to always be thankful to God for everything in my life.


God Bless,
Rob(by)

Today was an emotional day...

I cannot count how many time my eyes weld up today... from happiness, joy, thankfulness, but also because of frustration.

As you can imagine, the happiness, joy and thankfulness is from being here in Austria and serving God. It still blows me away that He sends me here, but this time with my family. Each time I come I wonder what I will learn next and how will God use me to spread his word... this time the joy is overwhelming because it is also my family that was sent here too! So that means God has a plan for our whole family... will He use us here? will He mold us and shape us in to new people and use us back in America? or maybe a little bit of both. 

But I am also sad today... this morning I saw a facebook post of a friend who I could call a refugee (someone that is a financial refugee I would say) and that person showed a pile of gifts that were given to her for her kids. The joy for the gifts is what me sad... because the joy of today is completely lost if you only focus on the gifts and making your kids happy through how many gifts you give. The joy of today should be a reflection of being thankful to God for loving us so much he sent his son to earth for us!! Later in the day my kids were fussing about their gifts they got because they weren't the exact ones they wanted... that made me sad to because though my kids are not greedy kids - a piece of them was disappointed in the gift. It made me sad that they only saw a gift in front of them a not the joy of the day. 

As the day went on I had a hard time shaking my sadness, but then God blessed me with a beautiful reminder... at the Christmas meal everyone shared what they were thankful for. Not one person mentioned they were thankful for some gift they just received, they were thankful to God is several ways... for providing us this day, providing the time to spend with each other, providing the opportunity for each of us to meet each other, and of course for sending His son down to earth!

Then He continued with the blessing and the gentle reminder to me that not everyone sees today as a day to get gifts but as a day that through gifts we should see God's work being done in our lives. As we passed out the scarfs to all the ladies, they didn't just say thank you for the scarf but they said how thankful that God brought us all together today and that the scarfs would be a reminder of this day.

So today in the day of all the gift giving... enjoy your gifts, celebrate the new things you have... but take time to praise God for the person who has given you that gift, because every time you use that gift it will be a reminder of how blessed you are to have that person in your life. And may it be a reminder of how God loves you so much that He put that person in  your life.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Jeni,

Christmas with New Friends

Today was a blessing and an honor! We had a Christmas meal with new friends at the Oasis... and what a blessing it was to hear their stories. Not everyone we meet on this trip is a refugee... just like today we were honored to have 2 beautiful ladies that were refugees, but we also had 4 young ladies who were students from Russia... just staying in Vienna for a couple days. It is so awesome how the Oasis can bring people from around the world... Russia, Africa, America, Australia - to celebrate Christmas together.

Blessed day in Graz

 No we have not lost our minds, the kids are not drinking wine :-) Just pretending

Seeing the beautiful sites of Vienna

Blessed by God to be surrounded by friends!

Celebrating Christmas

Today was a gift from God... no doubt about it! We spent the day in Graz with dear friends that I met last year. This beautiful couple is someone I wish everyone of you could meet... they are an inspiration in just the life they lead. Their commitment not only to each other, not only to provide a better life for their son, but their commitment to share God's word! They have left their country because of their boldness in faith...
Wow, Boldness in Faith, something I knew God wanted us to learn on this trip - that is why he sent us here! The husband has a bounty on his head because he is so bold about his faith. He is a writer, and he written boldly about how the Muslim faith is not right, and that being a Christian is the only way to live.
They should live in fear, but they do not, because they know God has, is and will always continue to provide what they need as they continue to be Bold in their Faith.

My prayer for my family is that they too can become so Bold in their Faith, that nothing can stop them from spreading God's word...
My prayers is that for each one of you too... you are reading our blog either because you support the work we do here, you have a relationship with God, or you a seeker... no matter what it is  - you are a Child of God, and He loves you so much that He also wants you to be Bold in you Faith - where ever you are. If that is sharing God's word with others, living a life that is honoring to God, or you want to ask more questions about how to become closer to God... what ever Bold means to you right now in your life, I pray that you are!!

Serving Him Faithfully
Jeni

Luke 2... The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

A little conversation over breakfast with the kids

So what did you think about last night?
It was awesome that so many people came up to talk to us.
Mom, they repeated a lot of the things I said, where they trying to learn English?
I had fun putting the puzzle together with the guys, it was funny how we had so much fun but we did not even really say a word.
I really enjoyed beating those guys in Connect Four, they seemed like they had fun too.
Everyone was so nice and friendly.
I really enjoy serving with the Oasis team.

One sad point of the night was when the kids found out the their new little friends might be transferred out of the camp soon... Sam: "but Mom, why? why can they not stay here?? the kids are so cute, they are good, why are they being sent a way?"

It was hard to see the heartbreak on both kids faces when they realized their new little friends maybe leaving quicker then what they expected, but on the other hand it was one of those moments I will not forget because  the realization of what truly happens here finally came to them.

Sam got to do a quick wave good bye to one of the girls, but Robby did not. That reminds of what the Oasis team has to go through everyday... refugees come and go, some leave so quickly and some are stuck here - either way, their time here is not by their choice.

Sometimes the team is able to say good bye, but many times it is not until the team realizes they have not seen someone in a while that they realize that person was transferred. That is why every moment here at the Oasis is so precious, and every action and every word is so important that you can not miss a moment to share Gods love with who every is in front of you.

Three years ago when I left the Oasis for the first time, that is the one lesson I brought home with me... when someone is placed in your life (for a long time or a short time), God placed that person in your life for a reason so do not miss your chance to make an impact on their life. God placed that person in your life for you to either impact their life (in a big way or a small way), or they were placed in your life to impact your life! Either way, every person... people you connect with, people you love, people that annoy you, people that you disagree with, people you do not care to be around, people... if they were placed in your life that is because God placed them there and make sure you do not miss your opportunity that God has provided for you.

I was once told by someone who i respected very much that just because someone is in your life does not mean you have to be a part of their life... wow! was she wrong! My prayer for each of you is that the people that cross your paths every day of your life, that you see how your life has been changed by their presence, either in a little way or a big way.

Praise God for each of you that are reading this post, because in some way you have impacted one our lives or are whole family! And we thank God for each of you, because of you we are who we are today - and who we are as we serve God here in Austria!

Serving Him Faithfully,
Jeni

A few of our new friends that we met tonight at Coffee Bar