Good Tidings and Great Joy!
Dear
Friends and Family,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
Christ.
Praise
God for another year, new graces, opportunities to serve and rich blessings to
take part in. Now as I look outside at the fresh 6 inches of snow outside I
still can’t express how honored we feel to be chosen for this work in this place
for the Lord’s kingdom. We look forward to 2013 and all that the Lord is going
to do this year.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but
whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Looking
back we were so blessed with so many opportunities serve through the holiday
season. We had an amazing Christmas party in the teahouse. As we do every year
we had a white elephant gift exchange;and we brought back the ever popular
Santa Photo booth. It was a great and blessed night.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
We also
had the opportunity to start a new ministry. The local mental hospital heard
about us serving at the retirement home and contacted us to see if we could
come and do a Christmas program for them. We gladly accepted and were
incredibly encouraged and blessed to serve there.
We also
had the privilege of delivering Christmas gifts to two orphanages. It was such
an amazing time and really reminded us of how much better it is to give than to
receive. I was so moved when one of the orphanages gave us all a gift of
friendship bracelets and sang Christmas carols for us!
The
retirement home was such an emotional and amazing time for us this year. Not
only did we do our normal program, but we also had the opportunity to go to the
rooms of those who are bedridden to sing Christmas carols and give them gifts.
Even now it is hard for me to fight back the tears when I think of how greatly
moved they were to have us. And it amazes me how something so small can make
such a difference to someone else.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The
end of December we took part in our 4th annual Winter Camp! We were
able to go up in the mountains to Račkova Dolina (where we have our summer
camp) for four days of fun! About 15 students came so it was a small and
intimate setting.
One
rich blessing that fell on Chello, was that he was able to be the speaker at
camp and all of our Christmas programs this year. It was his first time
publicly sharing the Gospel, and even though he was very nervous God used him
well. I was very proud of him being willing to fill this need and his obedience
to God in it.
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows.
James 1:17
This
year Chello and I received the most beautiful gift. On the morning of New Years
Eve we found out we are going to have a baby! I am just a few days shy of two
months now, so around the end of August or beginning of September our Baby
Johnson will arrive! Just today we were at the doctor and got to see the baby’s
heart beating on the ultrasound,our hearts melted. It is amazing how much we
can love someone we haven’t even metand who is causing me such physical
discomfort.
Prayer Request~
For Baby
Johnson to stay healthy and grow strong
We are
still trying to buy a car, now more urgently as we will most likely be going to
a private clinic to have the baby. The one that was suggested to us is about an
hour and a half from here.
For our
church that God will continue to grow us and work in and through our lives
First, I thank
my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your
faith is being reported all over
the world.
Romans 1:8
Thank
you all again for you partnership in this ministry and the blessings you give
to us though gifts, prayers and support. We are truly blessed to have you and
thank God for you!
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