Before we start with our ministry and family update, we send you all good tidings during this Advent season as we patiently await the coming of the true King. While it is certainly different celebrating Christmas in shorts and tank tops, it forces us to remember and reflect on what or who we are truly celebrating.
On with a ministry update. We wrapped up our Alpha class at the end of November. We started out with 18 people, but in the end had 10 faithful attenders. On the last night, we had a time of sharing, which was really special. One of our dear friends who has attended several of our events and classes over the past year said that for the first time, through the Alpha course, she saw clearly that "God is Love." That He loves her and wants a relationship with her. Another couple wrote afterwards to tell us how much it meant to them. He had studied in a Catholic school for 8 or so years but said that he learned more in this course than he had in all those years in school. And that he and his wife are now reading their Bibles daily. It's exciting to see God drawing people unto himself.
In the month of December, we will finish up our English language Bible Study, which has been going well. Chelsea is a great teacher and the women have really responded to her. I'm thankful to be a part of this. December is such a busy month that we are trying to plan well our ministry events while still being there for our families. Sam's birthday is coming up, so is the Kienzle's youngest daughter, then throw in end of the year violin concert, school christmas play, school christmas parties, well you know what I mean b/c your lives look the same! So with this in mind, we decided to focus on a few events where we have folks over to our houses instead of starting up any new studies. Last Saturday, we had a churrasco (or cookout) at the Kienzle's house with about 25 friends (kids included). We wrapped up the night with homemade "chipwiches" and a showing of "The Nativity Story." We plan to have another get together with a different set of friends, again showing this movie and enjoying Christmas cookies together. We will have another cookout after Christmas with the friends who went through Alpha with us. Hopefully we will still be able to find time to be still and quiet our hearts in worship of the one we are here to serve.
We are really excited about one more event. On Sunday the 20th, we will again have a Sunday service at the Kienzle's house. But this time it will look a little different. Placido Mercado, another SAM missionary who works with the Ayore, will give a short message, including a history of who the Ayore are, what our involvement is with them, and what are the Biblical reasons for helping the poor. We will then take our professional class friends out to an Ayore village where we will sing some Christmas songs, have a short message and then deliver a chicken, a bag of rice, a bag of sugar, and a container of oil to all the families that live in a particular village. We are excited to see how God will use this time not only in the lives of the Ayore, but especially in the lives of the professional class.
Please pray for us as we continue to build relationships. Pray that we will continually show the love of Christ to those we are around. Pray for our family to continue to love each other well. And let us know how we can pray for you. Merry Christmas!
