Dear Friends,
As I reflect on our recent trip, I wanted to share some thoughts and thanks. It was a long hard trip with seven different flights and 17 days of work in a row. But it was exciting to see how God continues to effect people in the Nordic-Baltic region.
Thanks to Ivan and Susan Veldhuizen, Converge IM Director, for being such great travel companions. They wake up smiling every day, and Ivan’s contagious laugh is wonderful. They did everything we asked and more, even with headaches. And the leaders of our partner organizations were uniformly impressed with them and with Converge.
Thanks to Matt Runion, Campus Ministries at Bethel University, for his consistent gentleness and strategic investment. At every meal, Matt would pull someone into an intentional discussion on behalf of Bethel. He was consistently sought out by leaders, and I believe Bethel will be writing several new chapters in the region. Thanks to Pastor Laurel Bunker for her support.
Thanks to Helari Puu, our Area Director for the Nordic-Baltic Region. Helari and Mirjam made wonderful arrangements throughout the trip, and there were no significant problems thanks to their diligent work. Helari was our driver, our guide, and in many places our credibility. Often regional leaders would take Helari aside and ask what he really thought of these people. His stamp of approval was very important to the success of the trip.
Thanks to Whitney Takacs, our Assistant. Her coordination of all the trip logistics made for a safe and smooth trip. We had rooms where we were supposed to have rooms, we had wonderful meals and meetings. She impresses everyone she meets everywhere she goes, and she is great to travel with. I cannot overstate the significance of her role.
Thanks to Arlie, my wife and Co-Director for the Nordic-Baltic Region. She is a rock I can always depend on and she looks beautiful every day! She helps keep me focused, gives me strategic reminders, is a wonderful hostess, and a great sounding board for me. I apologize to her for my snoring, and thank her for going along on this trip. I think it makes a strong statement to our partners when they see Arlie and I come in as a team.
Thanks to Hal and Marla Lentz for sharing in so many meetings and meal functions about generosity. They have planted seeds that I pray will grow. They also helped host the first “Celebrate Recovery” event in the history of Estonia. Their work to help us resource our vital ministries is very important to our region.
Thanks to you, our faithful prayer network. You “prayed the price” for God to bless our travels and to see lives changed. Thanks to WACC for always caring and praying and encouraging us along the way. Thanks to those who gave sacrificially to make the trip possible. It was a very tiring trip…Nine cities, seven flights, and seventeen days; but your loving and prayerful support was the oil that made it all go smoothly.
Most of all, thanks to God. For the Muslim woman and others who accepted Christ in Stockholm. For the godly men and women we continue to grow in relation with in the region. For His blessing of our travels and the productivity of our trip. For the safe return to our home and our life away from freezing lakes and snow. Thanks to Him…Sola Deo Gloria!
Bill for the team
Rev. William Carl Ankerberg, M.Div., D.Min.
Senior Pastor
Whittier Area Community Church
8100 Colima Road • Whittier, CA 90605
(562) 945-4500 ext. 100 • (562) 945-2300 Fax
Bill@wacc.net • www.wacc.net
Nordic-Baltic Regional Director – Converge Worldwide
www.NBRP.com • www.convergeworldwide.org
