The Graf’s are Coming Home
Bom dia,
We prayerfully and painfully have made the decision to relocate back to the States. While many factors have been pressing in on us contributing to this decision, by far, and more than all the others combined, the educational needs of our kids is the determining factor.
We are loving living and ministering here in Portugal. So many great, diverse, and wonderful friendships, like in our Alpha group and the Women’s Bible Study that Laina leads. Teaming with our Grace leadership has been rich and Grace is healthy and growing. We are grateful to God!
Laina & I and the kids have been reflecting back on our nearly 6 years in Europe. While these have been some of the hardest years of our life, we all agree they have been some of the best years for our family! Our lives have been stretched and our souls have been thickened.
We will finish up this school year and then relocate the very last days of June 2011. As you know, so much work is in front of us: continuing to raise up leaders here; releasing roles and responsibilities; packing boxes and liquidating items; and the list goes on and on and on…
PLEASE PRAY with us and for us and for all the relationships that God has allowed us to grow deep here in Europe and specifically in Portugal…this is where our heart aches and our eyes begin to flood… We long to see these people grow and connect to communities of faith and more importantly, to Jesus.
As the details of God’s future for us becomes clearer we will send out updates. Join with us as we earnestly seek God trusting Him to continue to direct our steps as we follow Him into our future.
We are so grateful for your friendship. You have covered us with your prayers and fuelled us with your financial investments. As you have been pushing God’s Kingdom out right where you live, you have also done the same through us here in Europe…thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!!
Will you please continue to invest in us through your prayers and your financial giving?
The stress of moving is HUGE and our relocation costs are OVERWHELMING. Although both are BIG, the joy we are experiencing as God continues to use us trumps everything! Just this past Sunday Laina preached one of the most powerful messages I’ve ever heard…more to come on that and other amazing God stories!
for the King and his Kingdom,
phil & Laina
Kelton’s out of the hospital
Kelton was released from the hospital is doing well!!!!!
Thank you for praying…really praying…we heard back from sooooo many of you.
Here’s where the prayers came from:
157 Responses back
16 Countries
13 States
87 Cities
and these are just the ones we heard back from…WOW!!!!!
Kelton is getting stronger everyday and sleeping better and better…YEA GOD!
with much gratitude from a grateful father,
phil
Kelton’s Good News
Monday Kelton wasn’t feeling too good, his stomach hurt. As he got out of the car he threw up and kept throwing up all night.
Tuesday he quit throwing up but his stomach hurt even worst. Laina, Liz, and Alex took him into the hospital around 19.30.
The Drs were pretty sure he had appendicitis but they ran blood tests to rule out meningitis. They thought they would operate at about midnight.
Kelton finally went into surgery at 4.51 and came out of surgery at 6.47. He woke up, talked for a bit, was in pain and quite nauseous, and then fell back asleep.
The Dr didn’t come in until 8.20…
Kelton’s appendix did not burst and the surgery was a complete success…YEA GOD!!!!!
We have been absolutely blown away by how many of you have been praying. From around the world we have been receiving emails all night long! I am sooooo grateful to be a part of God’s great church!!!!!
PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!
They are moving Kelton right now to his room and expect him to remain in the hospital 3-5 days.
in peace and with love
phil
Here ya go
Hi Gang,
The play was a complete success! The kids did great, the food was wonderful, and many guests really enjoyed the evening…THX for praying!
OK, as promised, here’s the scoop from our weekend retreat…
Were any of you praying for us last weekend specifically between 2h-7h Saturday morning, our time? Our house is really cold because we have no heat so at breakfast I asked everyone how they slept under their warm down duvets? They all slept well except for Zuzia.
“I had some bad dreams.”
“What were your bad dreams about?”
“Well they weren’t really bad dreams…it was more like there was this cold darkness in the room.”
As Zuzia carried on with the account of her night, we realized that she had not one but two different demonic visitations. As more and more questions were being asked we realized, while eating our pancakes and bacon, that our group of português young people do not know too much about the Bible. We cleared the breakfast dishes and began to look at Daniel 10 and Acts 19 and we talked about Jesus’ own battle with Satan as He began His adult ministry here on earth in the wilderness and then again at the end of His earthly-body life in the Garden of Gethsemane.
These beautiful people who were gathered in our house, just 12 hrs earlier wrote down their expectations for our weekend together.
“What did you guys ask God for last night?”
“Encounter God”
“Learn more about God and His direction for my life”
“Be still and listen to His voice”
“Do you think that satan wants that to happen this weekend? Look, if we’re trying to draw closer to God, hoping to become more like Him, we can expect satan to not want that to happen! He’s going to do what he can to stop us. He does NOT have all power and he can’t be everywhere. But how cool is it that he must think God’s going to answer our prayers and that this weekend is going to be significant enough that he’s got to try to mess us up!”
Laina went on to talk about how much God loves us. And how much He wants relationship with us more than He wants us to do this or not do that. “We can’t do anything to make God loves us more. And there’s nothing we can do to make Him love us less!”
As we continued to talk with one another and talk with God we could feel the group sensing more and more that God DID love them! Now the questions is, “Will you let Him love you? Will you battle through your guilt and shame about how unlovable you are and will you live like God loves you!!!”
The weekend was not what we expected, and yet, maybe it was, just not the way we thought it would be!
As we listen to Daphne speak in our Grace Church on Sunday she gave us a beautiful illustration about being given a gift but not receiving it…then about getting it but not opening it…opening it but not using it…WOW!
What a gift we have been given in the person: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ! And when He left we got the gift of Holy Spirit! This is almost too good to be true!!!!!
As you get ready to throw Jesus His birthday party, maybe the best gift you could give Him is to receive, open, and use the gift He’s already given you…the gift of Himself and the Guidance and Counsel of Holy Spirit!!!
Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus real loud!!!!!
phil
The Director, Lucy, and Linus
Hi Guys,
I trust you are being well as you prepare yourself for Jesus’ big B-day party!
Thank you for praying for our weekend retreat. As is with most of life, this weekend was not quite what we expected…but more on that tomorrow…I know, now you really want to know…in 24hrs I promise!
Well, what we’re all excited about today is our school’s Charlie Brown Christmas play. London is the Director which means she has done everything: written the script, designed the costumes, set the stage, arranged the practices, coordinated food with her mom…everything! Kelton is Lucy and Branson is Linus…we are just sooooo excited!
The play will have two showings: 7.15p and 8.00p with a delicious dinner to wrap up the evening.
PLEASE PRAY for:
√ London, Kelton, and Branson, and all the kids, that they remember their lines and have a blast!
√ the many guests that we’ve invited come and experience the warmth of Christian community!
√ this night to be used by God to grow CornerStone Academy!
THX for your friendship, prayers, and support!
Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus real loud!!!!!
phil
This Weekend
Hi good people!
I trust you are being well on these days leading up to Jesus’ BIG birthday party! We are sooooo exited to have all five our kids back together on Christmas day!!!!!
Here’s a quick update…
This weekend
In about 9 hrs we are having 10 20-something leaders spend the weekend with us here in our house. They asked Laina & I if we would take them on a spiritual journey helping them encounter Christ and look for His direction in each of their lives and collectively for their group. PLEASE PRAY with us, and for us, and for our time with each of them and their time with God!
Two weeks ago
We served 240 NATO military officers and their families a Thanksgiving Dinner that was outstanding! A very large contingent of French officers and their families raved about their 1st ever turkey day experience!
The next day we served 120 of our Grace church family an equally delicious T-day meal and opened up a time for people to express gratitude and thanksgiving. WOW, several people, who were invited guests, shared words that caused our hearts to flood…our eyes too! PLEASE PRAY for the three Senior Officers each of whom came into the kitchen to personally thank Laina. Each of them heard her talk about our missionary life here in Portugal. Each of them want to get together for coffee and hear more…YEA GOD!
Yesterday
Sydney, who is back in the States taking her college placement exams, just passed her written Driver’s License exam! So be sure to buckle up because she’s on the road practicing for her Driving Test which is scheduled for 18 December…PRAY LIKE CRAZY!
Thank you for your prayers, friendship, partnership, and for your generous financial support!
Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus real loud!!!!!
phil
Moved 5 times in 9 months
16 April we moved into the house we are currently renting. The good news is it has two floors and all 5 bedrooms are upstairs. The bad news is it had no nothing… live wires were just hanging out of the wall where light fixtures used to be, no refrigerator, no washing machine, no dryer, no dishwasher, no nothing. We even had to replace the oven and our gas water heater… but we love it here and love having our clothes out of our suitcases
GOD
Our need for electrical and plumbing work allowed us to meet Rueben. He and his father have done most our work… did I mention we’re renting? Welcome to Portugal.
The Stove and the Flood
When the cook top and oven quit working we needed Rueben again to hook up the stove we just bought to our gas line. Rueben never responded. THX Miguel, for helping us out!
Saturday, 3 days later, I was up early to go for a run and came downstairs to “SPLASH” The entire bottom floor was flooded…what is it with us and floods?
“Rueben, it’s phil.”
“Fee-lip, desculpe, I sorry I didn’t call you. I been sick.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I been in the hospital.”
“The hospital!!! What’s wrong Rueben?”
“My heart.”
“Your HEART!!!!! Rueben, what’s wrong with your heart?”
“My veins are too thin. My heart goes too fast, then too slow…fee-lip, quarta-feira in the hospital my heart stopped… I thought I was going to die!”
“Oh Rueben, you need to call me.”
“I know, desculpe.”
“No Rueben, not for the work…for your heart! Rueben, I pray!” :::long silence::: “Rueben, did I just scare you?”
“YES!”
“Rueben, I don’t want you to be alone.”
avoids the emotion “Fee-lip, I can’t help you today, but tomorrow I can. Can you pick me up in the morning at the Sintra train station at 8?”
“Rueben, don’t worry about us. You rest.”
“No, I want to come.”
“OK, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 8.”
GOD
Our need allowed us to re-connect with Rueben. Do you realize that Wednesday, quarta-feira, was the day that I called him to help us with the gas hook-up!
When I picked him up at the train station, I didn’t recognize him…he had lost so much weight. He looked dangerously thin.
Rueben found our problem but had no explanation for WHAT caused the flood. Just then Laina came down stairs, took one look at Rueben and asked, “What happened?” When he finished telling her his story, I put my hand over his heart and began to pray. His eyes were huge, his body ridged, and his hands clenched. Then his body relaxed, his hands opened, and he closed his eyes and bowed his head. When I said, “Amen” he said, “That’s the first time anybody has ever prayed for me!” I said, “That’s not true. Rueben, Laina and I have been praying for you since we met you!” long silence “Did I just scare you again?” “No, thank you for praying for me!” But that wasn’t church!
“I can drive you home, but I have to go open the quinta and set it up. Then I can drop you off.” “OK.” When we arrived Laina had Rueben carry in some light stuff. Everybody started introducing themselves to Rueben. I welcomed everybody and did some announcements… we worshipped, I introduced Art our speaker and prayed for him.
We walked to our van and as soon as he got in he said, “That’s the first time I ever been to church. It was amazing… but that wasn’t church! I mean it was church but not like any church. I mean I never been to church but I know what church is and that wasn’t church… it was amazing!”
GOD
Art had even begun preaching yet Rueben could feel God’s presence! He heard us announce a worship night at our house on Wednesday and he said he wanted to come. He wanted to come early and help us set up. He said, “You start at 7.30 right?” “Yes.” long pause “Pick me up at 12.00!” Rueben was so excited, he couldn’t hardly wait to be with us again! We know it is really God who Rueben is drawn to!
As I was driving Rueben home he remembered that he had to go fix a washing machine. So I took him to the Mercês train station.
I was jumped and stabbed!
Rueben never showed up on Wednesday. He didn’t answer his mobile. He didn’t come to Grace the next Sunday. After that Grace service some of us drove to Madrid for a fundraising workshop and Laina and the kids drove home. We flooded again! This time our electric water heater broke and water was everywhere. Once again we called Rueben. He answered and caught the next train to Sintra.
When Laina picked him up he was all scraped up and bruised. Laina asked, “Reuben, what happened?”
“Remember when fee-lip dropped me off after church? Well, when I got off the train, I was jumped and stabbed! These 3 guys beat me up and robbed me…and one of them stabbed me right here!” (on the side under his rib cage)
satan
It sure feels like there’s quiet a battle going on over Rueben! And not only over Rueben but this whole Sintra area! And not only over Sintra but all over the world and in each of our lives, our marriages, our families, our work places, our schools, our cities, everywhere!
GOD
I know we win. I know we’ve already won. Jesus the Christ has won the victory!!!!!
But it is for us to to engage in our own battles, not in our own strength, but by the power of the name, Jesus the Christ!
When the circumstances in our lives get all messed may we not get all messed up. May we find the full measure of our worth in the cross of Christ. As we get ourselves off of our own hands and allow Him to reign in us and through us may He also reign in the lives of the captives that He allows us to set free! And all for His Glory that His name may be renown among the Nations!!!!!
Thank you for praying and partnering with us!
for the King and his Kingdom,
phil
Candles
Thank you for reading this and for praying!
It’s 4.15 in the morning and I’m having an unusually restless night of sleep…let me tell you what we saw on the way home tonight…
After leaving Loureiro Café (more on Bruno’s café later) where I was watching Benfica, one of our local Lisboa futebol teams, play in the UEFA Champions League I went to pick up the Syd and Loni. While we were driving home on our very twisty road, we came around a turn and saw many, many candles… my fingers just stopped typing, my whole body just tingled… I prayed for God’s peace to rain over Sintra and all of us living here… His peace just swallowed up whatever it was and now my fingers are working again! I know you might be freaking out right now… I’m trying not too!
So, back to the candles and girls and me in the van…
The three of us immediately felt very uneasy. We were talking very fast and all at the same time. I was staring at the candles in my rear view mirror when I said, “Girls, I’m going back.” “No dad, please don’t!” I stopped our van and tried three times to put it in reverse. It wouldn’t go in reverse. “Girls, I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you! You’re right. I don’t think God wants me to go back.” As we drove away we prayed and Syd said a loud AMEN…Loni still had her hands tightly clenched!
Exactly one week ago today we Prayer Walked this whole area. We had 10 people from Faith Promise in Knoxville come partner with us for one week (more on that too later).
Sintra, where God has us living, is widely known as a spiritual centre. We have seen very “strange” people walking late at night; groups of people all dressed in black and hooded; periodically our two boxer dogs howl late at night for no apparent reason.
Ok, I’m kinda freaking myself out right now as I write all this stuff…I’m going to stop.
God reigns and rules. Through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ evil has been forever conquered. YEA GOD!!!!! But we have to continue to battle daily. So please PRAY…PRAY LIKE CRAZY!!!!!
for the King and his Kingdom,
Phil
Report from Russia
Boa tarde meu irmãs e irmãos! I trust you are being well on these hot summer days…44º here in Lisboa…that’s 107º back in the States! Well enough about the weather. Here’s a quick report back from our time in Russia earlier this month.
We came in a day early to adjust a bit to jetlag and attune our hearts to the Russian culture. Our early arrival was helpful but as we began our workshop we soon discovered that we needed a course correction if this journey was going to leave us in a good and helpful place.
Mike, Brian, and I have been around church planting for quite some time now and in many different countries and cultures. As we coach we’ve come to realize that our good questions are much more helpful than whatever answers, advice, ideas, or suggestions we might conjure up. But Russia is different!
Through the years of communism and the strong grip of the Russian Orthodox Church, the 34 young Russians we were working with had very few healthy leaders they could learn from. At the end of the first day, Nancy Blackman, who arrived two weeks earlier, interrupted us with the admonition that we were missing the opportunity to connect with their hearts. She clued us into the amount of pain so many were carrying…doubts and fears, marital hardship, financial struggles, team conflicts, and on and on and on…
We took some time in larger groups, smaller group, and on-on-one to actively listen and allow our hearts to connect with theirs. God created a safe place for these young Russians to open up!
Then later that night, Sergey, one of the lead planters and coordinator of our workshop, told us that what they now needed was a, “…brain explosion”. We prayed and prayed some more. God guided us down a new path. With their hearts cared for, their brains could now imagine again. I’m not sure how or even exactly when, but God exploded their brains! It was like a damn that was holding them back burst wide open!!!!!
Two years ago, when I first worked with these young leaders, they interacted with one another as colleagues and acquaintances. Well, now it sure feels like they are friends, soul mates, halving each others sorrows as they bear each others burdens, and doubling each others joys as they celebrate God’s victories!
Mike, Brian, and I were humbled by what God did in spite of us and grateful for what He did through Nancy and Sergey. God was so tenderly merciful as He included us in what He was doing. Isn’t that so like God! He doesn’t kick us out of the game. He brings us over to the sidelines so He can talk with us and then He puts us back in the game…for His glory, our joy, and the transformation of many!!!!!
We believe the cities of Moscow, Ryazan, Lipetsk, and Rostov will be better places because of your prayers and the time that these young Russian leaders invested in their own training. PLEASE PRAY for these 34.
PRAY for their quietness, to hear God’s whisper, and PRAY for their courage, to do what they hear Him whispering. By the way PRAY for Mike, Brian, and me the same prayer…and don’t forget to include yourself!
in peace and with love,
phil
