Winter is here
Dear
Friends and family,
He changes times and seasons; He deposes
kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the
discerning.
Outside
the ground is covered in frost and inside we are bundled up drinking hot tea.
While there is no snow on the ground it is definitely winter in Veľky Krtiš.
Looking back on the fall season, we have so much to be thankful for and I am
happy to share that with you all.
He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie
or change his mind; for He is not a human being, that He should change His
mind.”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
today and forever.
In the
teahouse we have undergone some HUGE changes. In the past we have had mostly
students from white middle class families coming to teahouse as a result of
English camps. However, now we have more and more Gypsy kids coming and other
students from poorer communities as a result from the outreach we have been doing
with them.
While we
are all very excited by who God is bringing to teahouse and Youth Group it also
brings it challenges. We had our annual costume party and not one of the gypsy
kids came in costume, but they did all still show up. And I don’t have any
pictures from the Thanksgiving party because Chello was too busy “policing” to
take any. But we know that the same God who used the teahouse to save Chello is
the one bringing these new kids.
Every day they continued to meet together
in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with
glad and sincere hearts.
When he was at the table with them, he took
bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
Also
this year we had our first Thanksgiving lunch as a church in VK. We had the
whole spread of mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, stuffing and so on. Noah and I
were super excited to bring this American tradition to our church. It really
was a blessed time of all of us sitting down to one table to give thanks to God
and enjoy what He has provided for us; we were at church from noon until five
o’clock. Zoe also had so much fun that as soon as we got home she crashed on
the carpet in the living room.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
A few
weeks ago we had to say goodbye to my father who had been visiting for three
months. It was so good to have him here and Zoe just loves that man so much.
And while we do miss him terribly we are about to welcome our dear friend and
“adopted” son Wes for an extended stay.
We are
so grateful to have Wes back he is such a joy to us. And we really appreciate
an extra set of hands in the ministry.
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s
love and Christ’s perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
One of
the reasons I have been tardy in getting this update out is because it was time
to renew my visa to stay in SK. Going to the foreign police is never fun or
easy, but this year takes the cake. The town where they are located is about an
hour and half away from VK and what paper work you will need and how fast you
get your approval all depends on who is working that day and what kind of mood
they are in.
This
year I had to go back three separate times and make an emergency trip to
Bratislava to the U.S. Embassy to get a new passport (6 months earlier than it
expires) However, I am happy to say that I was approved for a 5 year Visa this
time as opposed to the two year Visa I had received in the past.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness;
and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and
to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to
godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess
these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being
ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:5-8
I am
sorry I didn’t this information to you all sooner, but Zoe’s surgery has been
postponed again. It looks like we will be going on January 12th as
long as she doesn’t get sick in the meantime. Right now she is healthy and
happy and such a blessing to us every day; we could not have asked for a cuter
or sweeter girl.
So Abraham called that place The Lord Will
Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be
provided.”
Yet He has not left Himself without
testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in
their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with
joy.
And I
have to say a great BIG thank you for all the prayers and special gifts to help
us get through some financial hard times. Chello and I are overwhelmed with gratitude
by all the help we received and thank God for each one of you who had a part in
it. We are so blessed by you and glad that God is using you to help us serve in
VK.
Prayer
request~
The Lord
will lead our steps and we will let Him
Zoe’s
upcoming surgery
Wintercamp
Jan 2nd 10 the 5th. We are expecting around 30 students
and 90% of them will be unbelievers.
Safe
Travels for Wes
That the
Lord will continue to meet our financial needs and we will trust Him to do so
always giving thanks to God the Father for
everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Thank
you all again for all you do for our little family. You are such a blessing to
us.
Chello Meghan & Zoe Johnson
Comments