Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  We are so thankful that we can confidently say with Samuel of old “Ebenezer! Hitherto hath the Lord helped us!” (I Samuel 7:12) Just as God has so faithfully in the past, He still goes before us into the New Year and promises His help and His presence.  

The Lord greatly blessed our trip to Slovakia over the Christmas break. The purpose of this trip was two-fold, that God would make us a blessing to our missionary friends and to the Slovak church and that He would refresh and renew us by the fellowship and experiences He prepared for us in this time away.  Over the two Sundays that we were there and on New Year’s Eve, I had the opportunity to teach through a workshop on “Worship and the Christian”.  Kristian translated for three of the sessions and the final session was in English with the young people. 

Our children participated in a Christmas concert on Christmas morning.  

Our friends Don, LeAnne and Vivian Waite graciously hosted us and took us around their area to see and experience the beauty and the history of this beautiful country. 

Our hearts break with theirs over the spiritual needs in Slovakia, and for the lack of missionaries (they serve alone in Slovakia with BMM, in one of only a handful of works in the entire country).  The fellowship was precious with this family with whom we have been connected through ministry for more than 40 years. LeAnne’s parents served as missionaries in the CAR from our childhood through our adult ministry there.

LeAnne's parents were "dorm parents" one year at the boarding school where Jonathan  (front, center) and his brothers were sent for school in Kaga Bandoro, CAR.

Praise for

• a profitable trip to Slovakia and for the opportunity to teach and challenge the believers regarding real-life worship and honoring God in our choices.
• the refreshing time our family had with the Waites and for God’s protection and provision for our return home when a snowstorm in the mountains and treacherous road conditions caused us to miss our scheduled flights.  

• improved attention and behaviour for the children (especially the boys!) coming to the English club and for their good attention to the Bible lessons on the 10 Commandments.  

• Caleb beginning a three year allergen-specific immunotherapy (desensitization) treatment this month to help him build immunity for his severe dust mite allergy.  Praise too that our French insurance has accepted to cover the full cost of this costly treatment.
• the good health that God has given us with the full schedule we have had, aside from the asthma issues that Cherith and Caleb have. 

Pray for

• the Waite family serving God in Slovakia and for the people to whom they are ministering and those they are reaching for Christ. Pray for fruit and lasting effect of the seminar we taught there. 
• visitors that have been to church or to the film outreach to return.  Pray that there would be a few that would participate in a Christianity Explored Bible study. PRAY for God to open the door for a new building with more space.
• Caleb’s treatment to be effective and pray for the Lord to give Cherith improvement in her congestion and coughing.
• Pray for safety and provision for Christians in the Central African Republic (CAR) and for stability to return. There is much turmoil again this week in the area where we formerly worked (Bambari).