Wishing All A Christ Filled Merry Christmas!

December 17, 2007

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as people the world over gather together to celebrate Christ's birth. All of us have so much for which to be thankful for this year. God in His great mercy has brought each of us through situations that we never would have been able to manage on our own! We are especially grateful to all of you, our supporters, for the many prayers you have offered up on our behalf.

As most of you know, Nangsar, Katherine and I returned to Thailand in mid August. Since then we have been getting reacquainted with the work here, meeting with national coworkers, praying, planning and visiting Christians in some of the outlying villages. Even though Anthony and Benjamin are back in the States, our home continues to be a regular beehive with five to six other coworkers and relatives living with us (Nan, Nenram, Chang, Pungram, Pi Ong, Pungsar and Nanghtoi).

Katherine has made a smooth transition into 7th grade, and is enjoying all of her classes. Sometimes we think she is being given way too much homework, because she is always busy with her studies and is tackling one elaborate class project after another! Just looking at Katherine's homework makes some of us feel really lucky we're not still in school!

Rebecca arrived back home the first week of December after a brief stay in Egypt, where she spent three months enrolled in a Teaching English as a Second Language program. Rebecca has been checking out some local schools here to see if there are any openings for teaching part time. She would like to do this if she can get her one year visa in this way. Rebecca wants to gain additional experience in teaching English while also helping us out with the youth here. She also wants to do research on traditional Rawang textiles and study the weaving methods used in this region.

Nangsar's sprained back improved a lot after Dr. Black treated her and showed her some really beneficial exercises. In fact, it got so much better that she almost forgot about her back and failed to continue the exercises. Wouldn't you know it, after about a month of not following her routine, the pain came back! Well, there's nothing like pain to get you motivated again. Joni's health continues to improve thanks to everyone's prayers! May God continue to protect all of us from harm, quiet our storms, lead us beside still waters, and cause us to lie down in green pastures.

Love,

Joni, Nangsar, Rebecca, Katherine & Family

1). Pray for Our Student Dormitory Work in Thailand

Please lift up the students and staff in the three dormitories that we have been responsible in establishing in Thailand. There are over a hundred elementary students living in these dorms while attending government schools. Pray that God will continue to bless and protect each and every one of these young people.

2). Please Pray for the Many Short Term Bible Schools That Have Been Established

During the last two years, some of the traditional four year Bible Schools have been experiencing a period of low student enrollment. Pray that these trends will be reversed and that our short term Bible schools will continue to meet the needs of the churches.

3). Pray For the Many Ministry Opportunities Opening Up Among the Lahu in China

Evangelists working in the Lahu Autonomous region in southwest China say there is an increased interest in the Christian message among the people there. Some of the church workers in the area have actually been told to double their efforts by sympathetic district officials! Pray that God will work to further open these ministry opportunities.

Our Prayer Priorities for January

1). Pray for the Many Short-Term Bible Schools That Will Be Starting New Sessions in January

Over a dozen Short-Term Bible Schools operating within our ministry area will be starting new training sessions during the up coming dry season. Most of these training sessions last from between one to three months. Pray that God will hand pick each student and set His seal upon every new worker.

2). Pray That God Will Help the Political Leaders in Burma Get Their Act Together

With the US Congress voting unanimously to award Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma's pro-democracy leader who has been under house arrest for the past 12 years) the Congressional Gold Medal, the small nation of Burma is again receiving some badly needed attention. Please pray that Burma's present military leaders will truly want what is best for the country.

3). Pray For the New Christians That Are Being Added To the Church Daily

The outreach efforts of the churches here continue to bear fruit. Many new areas are opening up to the gospel as more and more people learn of God's love for them.

Merry Christmas