Brad and Debbie Ellgen

Debbie and I just returned from a week in Northern Italy spending time in Vicenza and Aviano. Although we enjoyed the sun while we were there we were on official business.

While in Vicenza I was able to meet with Ch McGraw who is the US Chaplain who is in charge of helping the chaplains in Burundi where I have been exploring how Cadence International might help as well. It was a very good and productive meeting and we were given his blessing to proceed in developing our ministry with the Burundi chaplains and military.

We also spent a couple of days just helping out at the Vicenza Hospitality house. Our full time directors returned to the States at the end of January and we have good friends (Steve and Kathy Fisher) filling in until the permanent directors arrive in July. It was fun to join them in the work there.

We then traveled two hours to the air base at Aviano where we had a meeting with the wing chaplain and some of his staff. Cadence is ready to open a house in this community and we were working to make sure that we can over come some of the obstacles which are present when opening a work in Italy.

The chaplain and others who are a part of chapel community will be working very hard in the next few weeks to see if it is possible. If they can get the need documents approved Cadence could open a Hospitality House there by Easter.

This week Debbie and I begin a 4 week trip to the States. We will begin in El Paso where we will visit a support church, Coronado Baptist Church. Then we will fly into Denver and travel north to spend a week with our new grandson and his parents.

Then we fill fly to Phoenix where we will visit two supporting churches there, Lincoln Heights Christian Church and Bethany Bible Church. Then we will fly to Cleveland visiting one a close friend and pastor. We will finish our time in Louisville where we will attend a training conference. It will be a really fun trip!

While we were gone our friends Karl and Janine Kuckhahn were going to be here and keep the house open for the soldiers. However, at the last minute Janine injured her foot in such a way that travel is impossible. Please for Janine that God would bring healing and for both Karl and Janine as they are disappointed. Also pray for us and our community as we navigate this latest development. It is a surprise to us but not to God.