Christmas 2018
As with every year I can
remember, 2018 has been full of God’s joy and grace along with some adventures
and challenges. Through it all, God has been faithful and true.
Highlights:
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| Our team with the Latacunga leaders |
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| VBS art crew |
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| Setting up the church tent/canopy in Latacunga |
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| Latacunga Church-1st Anniversary/organizing the church |
It was fun to see where Todd lived and worked for six years before we were married and to see several friends from the past! We enjoyed seeing the sites in Quito and hearing the vision Ardeo has for reaching out to their big-city neighbors in practical ways.
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| Diana & family--in Quito!! |
We were blessed to see our former exchange student, Diana, and her family and Carlos, our former co-worker from Guatemala, with his family while we were there in Quito.
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| Carlos Juarez & family |
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| Clowning around--in the jungle |
Many special connections were made with taxi drivers, cooks, hotel workers, youth and other small groups at church as we visited the local hospital with bread and tea, planned the VBS with different groups in the church, and participated in prayer walks, shopping for supplies, ministry to college students, and playing soccer with strangers in the park.
Todd has
been working at OnSemiconductor for nearly three years, and I have been supervising NNU’s mailroom for the past 2 ½ years. We
continue to enjoy our current roles.
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| Kyle with his NNU Hawk Box (acceptance info) |
Kyle was
accepted to NNU and got his Hawk Box in the mail as confirmation! J He has been busy taking tests and looking for
scholarship opportunities.
Kyle recently completed his fascinating senior project on Leafcutter Bees.
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| Kyle, prepared for his leaf cutter bee presentation |
Kyle recently completed his fascinating senior project on Leafcutter Bees.
On my birthday this spring, Megan had her appendix removed. She
recovered quickly, in time to play tennis.
This fall, she and a friend competed in a district theater competition and went to State with their costume design!
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| Megan and Abby -after hearing that they would advance to State!! |
This fall, she and a friend competed in a district theater competition and went to State with their costume design!
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| Abby modeling their dress |
Future:
Kyle will be
graduating from high school this May! He is planning to study Wildlife Ecology
and Biology at NNU next fall. We are very excited for this milestone and all
that lies before him.
Megan has been
studying Chinese for the past two years and will be visiting China for 10 days
with her class next summer. A Chinese university will be taking care of all of
their meals, hotels and transportation. She will just need to pay for her plane
ticket and visa. What a wonderful opportunity!
Kyle and Megan
are planning to attend NYC (a global Nazarene youth event that takes place
every four years). They have been busy working for their portion of the cost.
So proud of these great kids!
This year, I have been reminded of the difference each one
of us can make in the lives of those around us. Thank you for the difference
you make in my life. May we be peacemakers, patient, kind, generous with our
time, talents and treasures, hopeful, forgiving, not easily offended, enduring
in the face of difficulty, full of integrity…..in agreement with the bells:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
I Heard the Bells
on Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
