Merry Christmas

Dear Friends & Family

What can I saw about the previous year other than God is truly good. As most of you are aware I was able to spend five months down in Brazil this past year working with Missionaries from my church affiliated with Brazil Gospel Fellowship. Their ministries focus on a school they began in 2001 for native kids. The school is called Alfa and serves nearly 300 students. In Brazil kids begin school at between the ages of 18 months old to 2 years and must be potty trained. For the parents out there you can relate to how difficult that can be. They have four years of kindergarten and Alfa has students through 9th grade. If you want to hear more about Ken & Lori Stucky and their ministries read about them here
http://www.loristucky.blogspot.com or http://www.bgfmission.com/MSStuckyKen.html

They have been recognized locally and nationally in Brazil for the quality of education provided and have been called a “great benefit to the communities they serve”, by government officials. Alfa provides the kids with sound Christian principles as well as a good education. The other main ministry they have is a small church, Christ is Life Church. They have a small congregation of about 40 people currently; they are continually sending out members from their church to leadership positions in other churches and have sent off a number of families as missionaries to other parts of Brazil. Much of my time working with them was leading the Youth Group for the entire time I was there. Teaching and playing games with them as well as helping to plan activities and short trips.

I was also given the opportunity of filling the pulpit for 2 months near the end of my time there. As many of you are aware I am not particularly adept at public speaking, so this challenge was especially difficult for me as not only was I preaching God’s word, but it was done through a translator into a different language. I must admit that this was one of the most difficult things I have had to do in my life. It was a constant challenge for me to find the words and the courage to stand up there each Sunday and hopefully present a relevant message to the lives of those present. The prayers of all who were lifting my efforts up to God where and are very much appreciated. For anyone who wants to hear more details about my time in Brazil I kept a blog of my trip at - http://followingfootsteps.blogspot.com .

I returned to the US at the end of July and was grateful that I had my job still waiting for me. I am thankful given the situation that many people found themselves in this past year on unemployment. Though working in an Emergency Children’s Shelter has many difficulties and is stressful many nights dealing with extreme emotional situations it has been a rewarding experience. Though it doesn’t feel like it many nights I have had the opportunity to touch the lives of kids that do not have many positive things in their lives.

I have also been blessed with my involvement in a small group of Christian men each Thursday evening. We get together weekly and spend time in God’s word and fellowshipping together. God had been working on my greatly through this group and I am thankful for the impact each of them has had in my life. The small group of four has grown to five now and I look forward to the opportunity of more in the coming year.

Finally, I want to say thank you to all of you who have impacted my life not just over the past year, but through every stage of life that God has led me. I know I am not perfect by any stretch of any ones imagination, but I would be far less than I am without each and every one of you in my life. I know I do not say it often, if ever to some of you, but my life is joyful because of you, and I pray that each of you have many people in your lives like you.