Life Goes On

Wow has the time gone quickly. It seems like only a short time ago we were waiting patiently for our house to sell, then went through what seemed like a 6 month orientation, and now since arriving on the field we have been running constantly to set up our home and get ready for the coming year of ministry. Sometimes it feels like we need to take a break and catch our breath. Well, thank the Lord for visa runs! We will be heading to our regional office in another city for a Language Workshop/visa renewal today. We will be gone for 6 days and meet up with some people we went through orientation with as well as a couple we met a year ago at our conference who are living in the city we are traveling to. And with this breather we are getting, we also get to eat BEEF! Yes, we live in a country that does not serve any kind of beef, so any McDonalds we go to here is Big Mac made with chicken patty (or even worse, veggie patty), so it will be a welcome meal when we are able to eat red meat for the first time in a long time.

During our time here so far, we have been able to set up our house, very near to our team members, and also I have been working on my language with the help of a local believer. He is very good, though I feel like I am progressing slowly. He has said that my progression is good, so he is good at words of encouragement. God provided this relationship, because He knew that I would need to be encouraged through my language learning, and kicked in the pants as well when it is obvious that I have not done the required study. He is good at challenging me, which is what I need. Anyways, I look forward to coming back and continuing my learning.

Everyone here has been very nice and helpful to us, and we are greatful for the relationships we have made here. We have been able to share the Gospel a little with a couple of our neighbors during Christmas, and even give a new testament to a lady in the local language. She says she studies the teachings of Jesus, but the family worships many other of the local gods and idols along with Him. We are being very slow to build the relationship with them, but we are being strong on the fact that we follow Jesus only because God's word has told us to. She was excited to have the Bible and said that she would read it. There have been many opportunities during our short time here so far to share, and we pray that we have many more opportunities to share our personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Thank you for your prayers during this long time of transition. We have felt very lifted up during this crazy time. Please continue to pray for the local people we come in contact with every day that we will reflect Jesus to them and that they see the light in this dark place.