Christmas and Beyond!

We had an incredible time on Christmas with 16 international students from Jim's and my German Language classes, plus Emily, Alpha and us to make 20!  We baked 3 turkeys, had mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, homemade stuffing (no Stovetop here!), green bean casserole, broccoli salad, homemade rolls and, of course, Jim's famous pies (pumpkin, chocolate cream and coconut cream).  A true American dinner!  Afterwards we sang Christmas carols, watched a cool video about the birth of Jesus and played Bonco!  The students were from China, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Cyprus, Japan, Yemen, and with one teacher and her family from Germany, us from the US and Emily and Alpha from Bangladesh, we were truly an international group!!  It was SO much fun and everyone fit nicely into our living room!  What a blessing our apartment is!!! 

2 borrowed tables from church and a bit of furniture moved around and we are ready for our guests!

Pass the turkey, please!

Get out the dice, it's time for a rousing game of Bonco!

It was wonderful to have Emily and Alpha with us for Christmas.  We even got to lead worship in church on Sunday morning.  Yes...4 German songs and 2 English songs!  Alpha played the piano and guitar, a German friend, Gudrun, played guitar and the rest of us sang!

Singing a German Christmas carol during worship.  Emily is hidden behind the pillar.

We couldn't ask for a better daughter and son-in-law!  We had a wonderful time!

 Christmas day we were able to skype with Nate, Raine and Jared as they all enjoyed Christmas together at Nate and Raine's house along with Raine's parents.  Almost as good as being together!

Thanks so much for praying for us.  Here are a few things to pray for as we enter the new year:

• Jim talks to the local high school tomorrow about starting to help out in the English classes.  None of the kids from this school come to our youth group.  It is the school that came for the Fusion concert this summer (see story here) and the principle is excited to have Jim help out!  Pray for many relationships to be built with the students.
• I will be continuing intensive language course starting tomorrow (Jan. 4).  Pray that I will get a good grasp of the language soon!
• We will be starting to look for a venue for English Camp this summer.  Pray that all the details will come together.  We have one girl intern already accepted and another girl applying.  We still need a guy intern and a church team to come over to help us out.  The camp will be the first or second week in July.  Let us know if you have any ideas!!!!
• Pray for our team mates, Reg and Kim Frank, as they finish raising support.  Pray that they will be here in time to settle in and help out with English camp!

Thank you so much for your prayers!  We are so thankful God has called us here!  We love it!!!