Our Family's Journey of Faith: December 2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord during this Christmas season. We arrived in Colombia a year ago and have had a wonderful adventure getting to know the culture in Santa Marta, improve our Spanish, and begin our ministries here. We had anticipated this year in Colombia for a very long time, and we are very thankful for God's grace during this time. God has demonstrated so much love to us through so many people in our lives. From the people who are giving sacrificially and praying for us constantly, to the 4 amazing churches that have been instrumental in bringing us here and keeping us here. We have been blessed through the support of your family, and we are thankful for each and everyone of you.

Our kids have settled in well and have really picked up Spanish. Everyone always comments on Kendall's wonderful accent. If only we had also started learning Spanish at the age of 4. Kendall completed one full year in the christian Colombian school and will be returning in February. We are also working on a homeschool curriculum in the afternoons. Parker will join her next year at school, though I think he has enjoyed the one-on-one time with mommy while Kendall was gone during the day.

Here is a list our best experiences so far in Colombia:
1) We have been warmly welcomed by the members of the Esperanza Church.
2) Our youth program in underway and we are leading the students through an excellent discipleship program.
3) We have had the opportunity to help with two new church plants in the city.
4) Both of us were able to assist with small discipleship groups at the school during the week.
5) Evangelism Explosion was a great way to jump start our time here. A group of over 30 fifth graders spent three months learning about the message of the gospel and how to share their new faith with others.
6) Kendall was able to perform in several preschool productions throughout the year and of course, loved it.
7) Jon helped with a two different youth camps, one with our church and another with a group of young people in the Guijira (basically the desert).
8) Jon was able to travel to Medellin to help with an evangelist campaign in that city. Next year we will be able to help with a campaign right here in Santa Marta.
9) Baby #3
10) Jon was able to preach his first sermon in Spanish a couple of weeks ago.

In looking forward to the next year, we pray that the Lord will bless and strengthen our ministries and bring more people to a better understanding of Him. We have been truely humbled by the privilege of working in Colombia. Even though there have been times when we have wondered, "Are we really fit to be missionaries?", God has given us encouragement through His word, a teammate, or a kind word from one of the nationals.

Our main focus for the next year is to continue our work with the two church plants, develop the youth ministry, and serve the body in any way that we can.

Thank you so much for your prayers this past year. Please continue to join us in pray for the following:
1) The healthy pregnancy and arrival of Baby Howard in May.
2) We have had to change our Insurance and thus, our premiums have increased almost $300/month. Needless to say, we are praying that God would provide this added support that will allow us to continue His work here.
3) Pray that our lives would be a testimony of God's work in and through us.
4) Pray that our church plants would grow as we think of more ways to reach out to the people of these communities. One area is a poorer neighborhood, while the other has more professionals. Both places greatly need the influence of the gospel, but each has its own obstacles. Pray that the other leaders and us would know how to most effectively work in these areas.
5) Pray that we would be an encouragement and help to the national leaders who we are working alongside.
6) Pray for the quick arrival of another family who is currently raising support in the States.