Happy New Year, a little late. But better late than never, right? I trust that you are all cozy and warm as you endure snow, snow and more snow. It actually sounds really inviting to us. Hard to imagine, huh?
With the New Year comes new opportunities for ministry, for which we are very grateful. We continue to be part of various small groups with the professional class. The Kienzles are leading 2 small groups, one a chronological Bible study and the other called Spiritual Discipleship. We are excited about the friends who have committed to attending. We started back up the English class Bible Study and opened it up to both men and women. That meets Thursday nights in our home and will meet until the end of May. Our monthly church service at the Kienzle's house will start back up on the 28th and we will up that to twice a month in April. It's exciting to see our friends growing in their faith and hungry for more of God and His word!
We also have a couple here for two months, Joe and Julie Kidd. They are from our home church, Trinity Presbyterian, in Charlottesville. They are a great couple who are eager to step up and help wherever there are needs. They both have medical background/interest so will be working some with fellow missionaries and doctors, Placido and Toni Mercado. They are also helping us with our English class and various other activities. What a blessing it is to have new friends from "home" here to help serve the Lord.
Next weekend Joe and Julie along with our family, the Mercados, and 7 other missionaries will head back out to San Jose and Fua, the ayore village we went to last summer (remember the 6 hours down the dirt road?) We are going to help finish the church that we started last summer, hold a medical clinic, encourage the ayore believers, and make plans for another trip in June with a group from the states. We are looking forward to finishing the church for this group of believers and also for the time of fellowship with the other missionaries.
That's probably enough for you to read for now :) Our family is well. The kids continue to do great in school and in life in general down here. We are thankful for you, our dear friends and family.
