His week, her week and many introductions
Sept 17, 2025
Heading to the Traction Conference
On Wednesday, September 17 we drove from Germany into Switzerland to attend the Traction Retreat. Along the way we stopped in Thun, walked around the old town and castle, and then followed the road along Lake Thun, stopping several times to take in the mountain views. Lunch was simple but memorable—sharing a bagel sandwich on the patio of Pier 17 with breathtaking scenery all around. From there we continued to Lauterbrunnen Valley, famous for its waterfalls. We walked through the village, admired the falls, and took in the snowy peaks of the Jungfrau range before arriving at the Credo Schloss Unspunnen, Cal’s home for the retreat.
His week
Patience dropped me off and returned to Germany. That evening I met staff and fellow counselors, including my roommate who oriented me to the program. The warmth of welcome was immediate. On Thursday the retreat officially began, and I met missionaries from across the globe—80 workers from 37 countries in total. It was humbling to realize the diversity of backgrounds and ministries represented. Conversations that first night were heartfelt and set the tone for what would become a week of meaningful engagement.
Friday was the first full day of the retreat. It began with a keynote reminding us that God calls and equips each of us, no matter how inadequate we may feel. I carried that encouragement into a full counseling schedule—meeting with several missionaries and even sharing a meal with one who wanted extra time to talk. Later I spent the evening with a missionary from Berlin, often described as “the atheist capital of the world.” Hearing about the challenges of planting seeds of faith in such hard soil deepened my respect for those serving there.
Saturday we took a day-long hike in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It involved trains, cable cars, and 22,000 steps on foot. Our destination was the alpine village of Mürren, perched beneath the towering walls of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The beauty was beyond words—sheer cliffs, waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks. Along the way, I had deep conversations with missionaries about member care, soul care, and counseling, and began to learn how these roles differ in supporting global workers. God used the combination of natural majesty and human vulnerability to stir my spirit.
Sunday began with early morning rain; umbrella in hand, I joined a small group for a 6 a.m. walk. Conversations were rich—one counselor shared his decades of experience in private practice and missions work. Later that day, I had a three-hour dinner with a missionary who grew up in Tanzania, practiced law in South Korea, and now leads a mission in East Africa. His struggles with leadership, cultural expectations, and personal calling gave me a chance to listen, encourage, and help him dream of what a “freer” life might look like in Christ.
On Monday, more sessions filled the day, including with a young missionary from Berlin, wrestling with decisions about ministry direction, finances, and relationships. His honesty was refreshing, and I was grateful to encourage him to consider how rare it is to find a God-fearing spouse willing to serve long-term overseas.
As the retreat wound down Tuesday, we were reminded to finish strong—not just in the week, but in the race of life and ministry. I had conversations with workers from Ethiopia, Malaysia, and Canada, each carrying unique burdens yet committed to the gospel. That evening, I met a team member from Spain who had lost a spouse to cancer yet continued faithfully on the field. His resilience left a lasting impression. Wednesday morning the retreat ended, and I said my goodbyes.
Her week
After I dropped off Cal at Traction, I pointed the car navigation to Neuenburg and eased into my first long solo drive in Europe (see the previous update). After catching up on the domestic front, I packed a bag for my own little adventure. You see, a couple weeks earlier, we were doing some local sightseeing at a castle ruin and Cal (of course) struck up a conversation with some other tourists. One was a couple near our age from Switzerland, so he talked a little about the upcoming retreat he would staff there. On the way back down the hill, the woman looked at me and asked, “What you are going to do while he’s at the retreat?” and I said I hadn’t made any plans. She conferred with her husband for a minute and then turned back and invited me to stay in the guest home of their home in a small village in Switzerland! I was absolutely stunned—a complete stranger in a foreign country had just invited me to stay with them—who does that?? I stammered something like “Are you serious? Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to impose…” but we exchanged contact information before we went our separate ways.
My extrovert husband reminded me that we had regularly been asking God to help us pay attention to opportunities he brings into our path. After a couple days of praying and pondering with trusted friends, I decided this was too obvious of an opportunity to ignore. I confirmed dates with my host and arrived at their home Sunday evening for dinner. She loves to cook and they were wonderful hosts; by bedtime I had been invited to join them for coffee in the morning and dinner every evening. They also suggested two of their favorite local day trips within a half hour’s drive to fill up my days. I had a fun time exploring the “old town” sections of Murten (on a lake) and Solothurn—cobblestone streets, intriguing shops, remnants of medieval architecture, and cafes complete with nidelkuchen and cappuccino. But honestly my favorite part of the stay was getting to know them each evening over dinner. And I promised to keep their names confidential or else their neighbors would be lined up at the door for a seat at the table!! They delighted in sharing some classic Swiss dishes with me: one night she said we’re having “potatoes and cheese.” That could mean a lot of different things—but here it was boiled fingerling potatoes served hot with a platter of six different (mostly local) cheeses—simple yet elegant, and the 18 month old Gruyere was so tasty I sought out the cheese shop the next day to take some home with me.
God only knows whether our paths will cross again in the future, but I know my life is richer from the three nights I spent with this beautiful couple in a small Swiss village.
Heading back north
On Wednesday morning, I drove back to the Credo hotel to pick up Cal, and together we visited pastors in Interlaken and Lucerne. Both welcomed us warmly and shared openly about their lives and ministries. Each meeting felt like a seed planted for a possible future partnership. We returned to our apartment in Germany and caught up on emails, journaling, and preparation for upcoming ministry. After so many intense days, we both needed some rest.
Just two days later, we headed further north to a Saturday missions conference a four-hour drive away in Herborn, Germany. Driving there on Friday gave us time to stop at Schloss Heidelberg, a world-famous castle that gets a million visitors a year. We toured the restored palace rooms, the crumbling ruins, and marveled at the world’s largest wine barrel—holding 220,000 liters (over 58,000 gallons). On the way out of town, we were pulled over by police for a routine vehicle check. They collected Cal’s passport, driver’s license, and rental car papers, held them for fifteen minutes, then returned them with a brief “alles in Ordnung.”
That evening we stayed with a lovely widow (who had volunteered to host us strangers!) in a town near the missions conference; she showered us with warm hospitality. Her husband had been a brilliant engineer, and though he passed away over a decade ago, she spoke of him with love. She fed us a hearty French breakfast the next morning and invited us to stay again whenever we’re in the area.
Next morning we attended the Calvary Chapel Missions Day, where the keynote speaker from Belfast shared about “mission in everyday life” and the Word One-to-One tool for evangelism. His talks were refreshingly honest, acknowledging that some respond to the gospel and others do not. We also met pastors from Siegen and Herborn, strengthening ties within the Calvary Chapel network. On the way home, we had a long, encouraging phone conversation with friends about life and ministry.
Two Churches, One Lord
Sunday we were introduced at Calvary Chapel Freiburg during both services. Later Cal was able to consult with a pastor about a couple he is counseling, offering input from his background in marriage ministry. Then in the afternoon we attended the Living Hope Gemeinde Church in Friedlingen, Germany, just across the river from Basel, Switzerland. Living Hope is a small but vibrant multicultural fellowship; worship included songs in German, English, and even Turkish, with bilingual lyrics on the screen—a glimpse of heaven’s diversity. Over coffee, we visited with a woman who found faith in Jesus through a YouTube encounter, and an American couple visiting their daughter who ministers to Turkish immigrants. We left encouraged and with plans to return for further conversations.
Praises
A fruitful week of counseling with missionaries from across the globe.
Safe travels and meaningful connections in Switzerland and Germany.
New ministry opportunities emerging in Freiburg, Interlaken, Lucerne, and Herborn.
The beauty of God’s creation on a hike high into the Alps with fellow missionaries.
Prayer Requests
Wisdom as we discern ministry invitations from Budapest, Morocco, and Spain.
Guidance as we prepare to lead marriage/couples workshops in Freiburg, Friedlingen and Stuttgart.
Strength and health in the midst of a full ministry schedule.
Encouragement for those serving in Berlin, often called the atheist capital of the world.
Thank You!
Your prayers and support are sustaining us. We see God’s hand guiding each step, and we’re grateful you’re walking this journey with us.
With love and gratitude,
Calvin & Patience