Meine Klein Welt

Always Grace

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Seven years ago, on a Thanksgiving Day, I made one of the best decisions of my life when Matt and I decided to give this relationship thing a go. In the years since then, we have had some amazing experiences and blessings that have us shouting hallelujahs toward heaven. We have also had some heartaches that brought us face to the ground in brokenness. Always grace.

Shortly after we were married we started trying to build a family. For four years we rode the roller coaster of fertility treatments, pregnancy, and loss. Four miscarriages. Never a “viable” embryo. We decided that the best decision for our family was to stop the fertility treatments. My body was exhausted and our hearts were worn thin. We were told that without the extra help of fertility drugs, there was a less than 1% chance of us becoming pregnant. So much grief. Always grace.

Then, in June of 2012, two weeks before we were to move back to the US, a positive pregnancy test. We headed to the doctor with discussions about the inaccuracies of statistics and percentages. We knew what was going to happen, because we knew what always happens when we get pregnant. As the doctor began the ultrasound he turned to us with tears and said, “Do you see that?” A heartbeat. Amazing grace.

In October of that year we found out we were having a little girl. Our Madeleine Grace. In November we had a doctor’s appointment to check on a concern with her spine. As the doctor started the ultrasound, we knew immediately. No heartbeat. Our Maddie went to meet her Jesus. Grief beyond measure. Always grace.

This I know – our deepest grief is not beyond the reach of God’s redemptive hand. In this last year, I have asked the Lord to show me the redemption he’s working through our loss. His answer has been mighty. It has been gentle. It has been loving. And it has been, always, grace.

This morning, on Thanksgiving Day, I woke up to the most beautiful, most precious answer the Lord has given me to my prayers. The sounds of a brand new life. Matt and I are fostering a sweet little baby girl. She came to us yesterday at just a week and a half old. She came into this world immediately experiencing tremendous grief and great loss. The kind of grief and loss that only the Lord can redeem. I cannot wait to journey through life with her. I cannot wait to rejoice in the good and hold her tight through the bad. I cannot wait to see her meet Jesus. I cannot wait for her to learn that it is all, always grace.

Elementary SEW – Thursday

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Elementary SEW
On Thursday, Jerry shared the Gospel with the students. He talked to them about trust and faith. Then he shared with them that Christianity is not about saying yes to a religion. It’s about a relationship with Jesus. He shared Romans 3:23-24 and Romans 6:23 while explaining that even the best among us is still full of sin. Then Jerry shared Ephesians 2:8 and explained how Jesus took all of his righteousness to the cross to pay the price for that sin. He shared that salvation is a gift. There is nothing we can do to earn it. We just need to accept it. Christ paid our debt, and all we need to do is receive that gift.

Twenty six students stayed after chapel to pray with Jerry. Please pray for the teachers who will be following up with these students in the coming weeks. Please also pray for the families of these students. For the families who are raising their children in the Lord as well as the ones who don’t know Jesus themselves. Most importantly, please pray for the students. Pray that Jesus will be real for them and that they will truly know what it is to walk in grace.

More pictures here: SEW

Elementary SEW – Friday

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Elementary SEW

Today was the last day of Spiritual Emphasis Week. Jerry shared the story of the prodigal son. He shared about how when we make mistakes, Jesus is always waiting with open arms for us to repent. He also shared about how the Lord delights in us because we are his children. We are sad to see the Jacobys leave us, but we are so glad they were here.

Update from yesterday: Of the 19 students who stayed to talk with Jerry, 15 of them made decisions for Christ!

Please pray for the Jacobys to have safe travels back to Michigan. Please pray for the 15 students who made decisions for Christ yesterday. Please continue to pray for the staff as we follow up with these students.

More pictures here: SEW

California Dreamin’

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We’ve been in California for almost two weeks which means that our time here is almost over. 🙁

On June 20, my brother Derrick married his sweetheart Desire’e. It was a fantastic day, and we’re so glad that we got to be here for it!

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We made a quick trip to Santa Barbara last week to visit with friends. I got to show Matt Westmont for the first time, but it wasn’t very impressive because the whole place is under construction. I’ll just have to take him back up there next time. 🙂 I’m super thankful that we had some time to spend with my friends up there. I love them a lot!

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The rest of our California time is being spent in Idyllwild with my family. It’s so good to be home and visit for awhile. The only hard part of living in Vienna is missing my family. I’m so thankful for this time with them.

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Thanks for all of your prayers as we travel. We’re off to Florida on Monday. Klein family – here we come!

Look Out Austria!

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Well, the roads will never be the same. Yesterday I received my Austrian driver’s license in the mail. It’s kind of a fun thing to have. It makes me feel like I really live here. Plus, my picture turned out really cute. Now I kind of want to show it to everyone. 🙂


You can pray for us on Friday as it will be my first time driving a school van full of kids. We are headed to Budapest, Hungary for a basketball game. Fortunately, I’m not in charge of reading the map, but driving in Hungary will be a whole new experience!