I was born into a large German missionary family in China, (six siblings) not long before the Second World War.   My first eleven years were filled with all kinds of adventure and life threatening dangers.  Dangers involving health, bandits, war, snakes and the usual travel dangers when the travel is hundreds of miles on foot through sometimes mountainous terrain, were around almost all the time. 

Looking back, we had reason to be afraid almost continually, yet we did not live in fear, though some very fearful things did happen.  We were miraculously delivered from, what seemed to be certain death, a number of times.  My parents, however, were convinced that we were in God’s hands and His will would be accomplished.   

The end of the war found us in Chung King.  There was an airport there and after months of waiting we were able to get passage to Shanghai.  On the day we boarded the plane, as we taxied down the runway, officials  stopped the plane and ordered us off the plane because other officials had priority.  While we were wondering what this all meant, the plane took off, subsequently crashed and all aboard perished.  This was a most sobering, unforgettable event.  A lot of people had to give up their lives, so that we might live!  I still do not fully comprehend this event but I do know most certainly that God had a purpose.  It was during our wait for passage out of China, in Shanghai at the British Missionary compound there that, under the persistent urging of my older brother, I committed my life to Jesus with no regrets ever!

Being German presented another set of problems for us.  Since Japan and Germany were allies in the war, we found that we were no longer welcome in China.  Our Papers were taken and we were given Chinese papers, which were not recognized in the West.  After unsuccessfully contacting all the countries of North and South America and being rejected by all, the US consulate reversed it’s, about yearlong, position and gave us the visas.  At dawn of my eleventh birthday we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge.  The adventures have not ended, some involving deep anguish, with the ending of my first marriage and then the accidental death of my oldest son but God has been faithful.   Undeservedly he gave me a new wife and family and a new set of adventures, both hard and ecstatically wonderful, which ultimately have brought us to Willets.  We were immediately drawn to Agape (1996) and, having been trained (Carla; North Park University, Chicago.  Herb; M.B.B. Seminary, Fresno) and involved in Christian Education for most of our adult lives, we have been privileged to serve in Agape’s children’s ministry.