New Heart News
Hello dear friends!
We are back in the US with a fresh newsletter for you! So we don't want to lose many words here in the introduction but let you read some exciting stories that we experienced during our recent trip to Central and Eastern Europe.
Discipleship Training School
Switzerland 2010
February 28 - April 25, 2010
We would like to thank everybody that supported us in prayer and financially so that we were able to take time off and attend the 8 weeks Discipleship Training in Switzerland - a one of a kind life experience which we both didn't want to miss. Actually, come to think of it, we wouldn't mind taking part in another Discipleship Training by Follow Him.
As an encouragement for you we would like to let you know that the Lord met all of our needs. Shortly before we left America we were able to collect $ 5,500.00 in donations which included the flight tickets and the school fees including accommodation and food. But the Lord always does more doesn't He? In the end our barometer exceeded $ 8,800.00 and so we were able to travel to Eastern Europe and do many other things and to be generous in various situations.
Handmade decoration in our classroom (by Nadine Singer and the children of the Follow Him team who decorated all the rooms).
We cannot tell you enough how much we appreciated to be able to take time out and surrender ourselves to the LORD afresh. As you all know, our ministry is called New Heart Ministries and we have been called to birth forth new hearts in the lives of people. But before we could really do that in an effective way our own hearts need to be circumcised.
To summarize, the LORD definitely changed our hearts in Switzerland. We will never be the same. We will never think, feel or speak the same.
The LORD is so good and so He fulfilled His promise in us as we read in Ezekiel 36:26; "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Ah, there were just so many things that we experienced during the 8 weeks of our school. We would like to share some highlights with you here, but you must know that were many other highlights and that we could easily write a book. But as for now, just enjoy these gem stones:
Happy to have seen the UEFA HQ. Why? Because I just love to go International!!!
Testimony by Suzanne: It was really true! These life changing teachings of the Apostles and Prophets reached my heart and a new foundation of truth was laid into my life. The door to my past was shut once and for all and a new door was opened before me. My heart was circumcised and the things that needed to be removed were cut away and will never be sewn on again. In my weakness and the incapability to change on my own, the Lord didn't leave me alone. As I yielded myself to Him, He worked the things in and out of me. Also, the image I had of the Father in Heaven was changed completely as I experienced so much sacrificial love, grace, mercy and tremendous generosity through the hands of His servants. A huge thank you goes to the Leadership and Team of Follow Him International for not holding back anything, and pouring out everything!
Testimony by Mark: Let me just say that God met me personally in all of my areas of need in these 2 months. He addressed and removed things in my life that needed to be removed during the infamous week of deliverance and healing. And then the Lord deposited someone very special in those empty spaces - His Holy Spirit. Am I completely fixed? Absolutely not! But through His servants He showed me how to take the cut. And in His mercy, there was healing in the camp. In me was ignited a new fire for free flow worship and singing in tongues. And hey, people are going to be really stretched in the worship when we get home. Hallelujah!
In the depth and the scope of the teachings we received I saw an amazing grasp on God's word based on real life experience. I really want that. And so through that desire, God has also ignited a really exciting fire inside of me to search out and understand His word in that way. I remember this place tucked away in western Switzerland as the place where our lives changed forever. Indeed, we will never be the same.
Studying in our classroom
This time in our lives was just simply a one-of-a-kind experience and the highest mountain top experience that we have ever experienced. What we both experienced during this time was how important it was to take some time out, and very much like going under an operation, giving ourselves to the LORD and letting Him do that work in us. At times we had three teaching sessions a day; one in the morning, one in the afternoon and another one in the evening. In this time we dreamt a lot, practically every night. Being in the word all the time just brought so much cleansing to our minds and our spirits. We also got to experience praying and fasting on a regular basis. As most of the students were living in the same place, actually a boy scout camp location, we also got to eat breakfast, lunch and supper, clean, cook, pray, worship, laugh, cry and so many other things together.
The students were from: John & Juster and Godfrey & Alice from Kenya, Kassy from the Ivory Coast, Fabien from France, Mike & Sanela with their cute little girls Naama and Anny from Switzerland and us both from the US.
Servanthood 
made practical!
I remember one situation that really had a powerful affect on me. Our dear friends from Kenya would wash their clothes at home always by hand. Juster for example has 4 children and a husband, so that makes 6 of them. She would wash clothes by hand for hours. Now because we didn't have a washing machine at the school, she would very often wash their clothes by hand. I did it for the first time too! I washed my husband's clothes and I thought, "Wow, that is quite a ministry right there!" I mean it is one thing to throw the clothes in the washing machine, but it is a whole other story if you decide to wash your husbands or wife's clothes by hand. But we also have to tell you that there was somebody special at the school that did our washing for us too. Her name is Nadine Singer and she would take our clothes and take them back home in between the lessons and put them in the washing machine for us. This is just one example of how we never had any lack. We always had very good food to eat, we had Internet access all the time, and money was loaded onto the account so that we could make phone calls through the computer phone. We had no expenses. Even the sightseeing tours were paid for and we just experienced such a lot of generosity not only in terms of provision, but also time, efforts, words of encouragement and love.
One of the most intense weeks was the week of deliverance and healing. Some weeks were less intense, like the week we learned better about hearing the voice of God and learning how to interpret dreams. Other weeks we learned about the love of God or how to do business the King's way. But the week of deliverance and healing was definitely the most challenging one, yet also one of the most rewarding ones. We got to experience breakthroughs in areas that had been burdening us for many years. Deliverance and healing had now become something "normal" and we found that the LORD doesn't have so much a problem with our specific sins, but with us often being unwilling to come to Him to confess our sins and receiving the cleansing that He so much wants for us. We truly got to experience in our lives what the Prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 61:1-3;
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
Our hearts were healed as we allowed the LORD to come into some specific situations of the past. We experienced a new freedom in the LORD and with each other and were released from some dark areas in our lives. As we already said earlier on, we experienced so much in these 8 weeks and we just can't fill this newsletter with it all. But if you're interested, call us and come over for an evening or a lunch or a cup of coffee. We'd just love to share all the goodness of the LORD with you.
A New Mandate
Two days before we were sent out from our leaders, we had a meeting with the leadership of Follow Him International. Mark had prepared a long list with the things he wanted to talk to Claude about, but as we sat down Claude said to us, "Well, we don't know the further plans for you right of the top of our heads, so we need to seek the Lord now in prayer". So that's what they did and various members of the team received impressions from the Lord. At the end everything came together and we received a new mandate:
A banner of the Lamb of God.
In a vision was seen that the American flag was lowered and the banner of the Lord was raised high and lifted up. That doesn't mean that we have something against America. What it does mean is that the foundation of Jesus Christ that was laid by our forefathers needs to be restored again in this great land.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
So we are to restore the American Dream to the Americans. That will not mean a house, a car, a dog and a cat. No, it is Jesus, the true American Dream. The remainder of our mandate from the Lord is that we are to be these good Samaritans. We are called to keep our eyes open to help whomever we can help without expecting anything in return. In two words, "Mercy Ministries." This is an exciting new mandate and as we returned back home the LORD has already opened so many doors where we can show his mercy.
Europe in 6 Days
Travelling Through 5 Countries
Actually we got to see 6 countries. Before we left on our 6 day trip through Europe, we also got to see a town called Divonne which is located in France. Right after the school ended we headed out the next day with Claude's English car, a dark-blue Rover, that was given to him, to explore 5 European countries.
So off we went, Sunday April 25th.
Prague's architecture is just fabulous!
Our first destination was Prague in the Czech Republic. It took us 12 hours to get there from Geneva. Thanks to AAA's travel book we found a hotel in the center of Prague very easily. For 2 days we explored the town. We travelled around in a tram, walked a lot, bought a marionette and glass bead necklaces for which the Czech Republic is famous for.
Tuesday, April 27th we left Prague and headed to the Slovak Republic. It was about a 7 hour drive until we arrived in the eastern part of the Slovak Republic. We stayed overnight in Poprad and our plan was to find some of Mark's relatives in the town of Nizna Slana, a place where Marks grandparents (mothers side) came from.
Entering into a new testimony of God as we drive through the village of Nizna Slana.
Wednesday, April 28th equipped with a letter from 1986 of a distant relative of the family we headed our way south into Nizna Slana, also known as "The Valley of the Poor" because many people have been laid off from the Ore mines closing down last year. We got to visit the local authorities and they helped us find this relative. Unfortunately she had died in 2002, but we found her son. He lived opposite the town hall and came to see us. Thanks to Google Translator we were able to communicate in Slovak and English.
Mark's distant relative Ivan.
Ivan Gazdik is Marks distant relative and he came to the government office with a picture frame holding a picture of Marks grandmother and all her children, including his mother Martha Tanner. It was such an incredible moment when we were able experience this. The last American relative that visited Nizna Slana was in 1966 and they were even talking today about that visit that was 44 years ago, quite amazing. Soon we were surrounded by 7 of Mark's relatives, some who had received word that we were there and drove 1 ½ hours to meet us. We were treated like royalty by our beloved relatives that day, and we were so happy that we were able to give a short testimony and preach the gospel and pray for them. As we left Nizna Slana later that evening, we felt that we had truly accomplished all of God's plans for our visit.
[Addition of June 6th, 2010: Today at 6:00 AM we received an email from one if Ivan's sisters. We are sad to report that Ivan has died in an accident. He was found in a creek bed just across the street from his home. Suzanne and I know this creek bed well as we crossed over it several times during our visit there. They believe that he lost his footing and fell hitting his head, lost consciousness and then drown. The final results of the investigation are not in yet, but this is the hypothesis.]
Thursday, April 29th we left Poprad and headed in direction of Bratislava, the capital of the Slovak Republic. Just about a half hour or an hour away lies Vienna so we decided to stay the night there.
Again our AAA guide was very helpful and we stayed in a very nice hotel in the heart of Vienna for the night. We had a look at the town and took a lot of pictures. In fact during our entire stay in Europe we took a over 4,000 pictures! We'd love to show you some pictures, perhaps not all, but if you'd like to see some, just give us a call.
Salzburg and their beautiful castle set high upon the hill.
Friday April 30th we travelled along Innsbruck to Salzburg, the town where Mozart was born. Overall in Europe we got to see so many castles and so Salzburg also offered one high upon a hill. It was a nice day that day, perhaps a little too warm for Mark. We urgently needed to get a hold of our bank because our debit card wasn't working properly. Thanks to being 7 hours ahead of America, Skype and an Internet Café, we were able to make a phone call and clear the problems. We stopped by a very nice shop where we bought a bottle of Italian wine for Claude. The owners of the shop were so friendly. They gave us something to drink and something to eat and helped us find a hotel in Dachau, which is located just outside of Munich, Germany. That was a pleasant stop and we felt that what they had done for us they did unto Jesus.
So, we carried on to Dachau, where the next day we went to visit the Concentration Camp Memorial site. We stayed for the night in a very nice old hotel, had something to drink and eat and fell tired into bed.
Saturday, May 1st we visited the memorial site. It was totally moving but also depressing at the same time. We got to meet with a catholic nun, Sister Teresa that works and lives at the convent inside the memorial site. She was so happy to see an American and thanked Mark and the Americans for liberating the camp and helping Germany in the restoration of their country through the Marshal Plan after World War II. Wow, that was quite something, because when we were in Switzerland we experienced this same situation again. We spoke to a French man, a store owner and when he learned that Mark was American he saluted him and shook his hand. Although he was not yet born at that time, he thanked Mark and the American people for liberating France and for the invasion of the Normandy. It made me so proud to be an American.
Late Saturday afternoon we decided to drive back to Switzerland and stay with our dear friends Daniel and Alexandra Gisler. It was only a 2 hour drive so that was nice. We had been driving roughly 2,000 miles in 6 days, so a short drive was like a stone's throw away. We stayed overnight in Nuerensdorf and had a great time of fellowship.
Our dear friend Alexandra (her husband Daniel had to work that day).
Sunday May 2nd we spent with packing our suitcases, washing our clothes (no this time we had a washing machine) and just getting ready for our last leg to Geneva. We stayed with our friends for another night and then on Monday May 3rd we completed our 6-day tour of Central and Eastern Europe and arrived well, a little late though, at Claude and Daniela's house. We met with all our dear friends Manuel and Kathrin Bestler as well as Nadine Singer.
A favorite gathering place: the kitchen of the Follow Him Team.
We were blessed with one more chance to talk to our leaders before the next day Tuesday, May 4th at 4:30 AM when we had to get up and Claude drove us to the airport of Geneva. We hugged each other one more time, smiled one more time and said good-bye.
Waiting to board our plane we come across Mr. Bean, the English actor. That was a nice and funny surprise! So we boarded our plane that took us first to London Heathrow.
From there we boarded another plane to Chicago. In Chicago we had to collect our luggage and then check them in again. We were concerned because we didn't have any American coins for a cart and were wondering how on earth we could transport all the suitcases. As we were standing there waiting to receive our luggage we saw an empty cart standing there alone. We asked some people if that was their cart. It belonged to no-one, so we said "Thank you Lord for providing this cart for us. You just know everything, don't youJ!" Although in London and Chicago we had only about 2 hours to change planes, everything went very smoothly and we knew that we were safe in the hands of the LORD.
Praise Reports & Things to be Thankful to the Lord:
Mark has now 5 guitar students, praise the Lord, and is open to take on more students. Are you interested in taking guitar lessons yourself or do you know somebody that would love to play the guitar and learn to sing at the same time. Well, then Mark is your man! Give him a call and inquire the details from him.
Suzanne has increased her daily capacity at the YMCA: 4 hours instead of previously 2 hours.
We have the opportunity for Suzanne to offer her Swiss breakfast bread Zopf every Thursday, commencing June 3rd at the Green Earth Farmers Market between 4 PM and 6 PM at the Lighthouse Plaza (Corner Pennsylvania and Jefferson). She's baking the 1 pound loaves either with regular flour ($ 4.00) and whole wheat ($ 4.50).
We were able to buy a keyboard for Suzanne. Now we can worship together as a couple but also at our Wednesday meetings and where ever we go.
We are helping out at Turning Point Assemblies of God with building up a worship team. When we are in town we will often be leading worship there on Sunday's at 10:45 AM. Come and join us. We'd love to see you at 420 Minneopa Avenue, Ottumwa.
Upcoming Events ...
Every Tuesday at 6 PM, as of July every Thursday at 6 PM
Bible Study, 201 North Davis Street in Ottumwa
Every Wednesday at 7 PM
House Church, 201 North Davis Street in Ottumwa
Every Thursday at 4 PM
Green Earth Farmers Market at the Lighthouse Plaza in Ottumwa IA
Most Sundays if we are in town at 10:45 AM
Turning Point Assemblies of God, 420 Minneopa Avenue, Ottumwa IA
Saturday, June 12, 9am - 10:30am
Shane Frazier & Suzanne preaching at the Mount Pleasant Treatment Facility, Mount Pleasant
Sunday, June 13, 7pm - 8:30pm
Shane Frazier preaching at Newton Correctional Release Center, Newton, IA
Thursday, June 24, 7pm - 8pm
Mark giving his testimony at the New Life Community Church, 500 W. Washington St., Fairfield
To view all our engagements and what we will be doing in our ministry, please also visit our online calendar here.
Just as a reminder:
We have some nice items like CD's, pretty jewelry from the Czech Republic, Salvation bracelets by our dear friend Robin Luke and other nice things. Click here for the online store.
Do you need some encouragement? Suzanne's devotionals bring it right to the point. Click here and enjoy some of her devotionals or write to suzanne@newheart.ws and she will make sure that you receive them on a regular basis.
We hope you enjoyed our newsletter. It was quite a long one indeed :-).
We wish you a great summer time! We pray that Jesus Christ will grow in you as you walk with Him daily and you get to know His heart for you and the ones you come across.
With much love,
Your friends the Tanners
Mark & Suzanne Tanner
New Heart Ministries International
201 North Davis Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501 - USA
Home: 641.683.1071 / Cell: 641.740.0407
www.newheart.ws
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