Dear family and friends!
As you may remember, here in France they have a tradition which I prefer, and that is sending New Year’s greetings, which you are allowed to do throughout the month of January, instead of sending Christmas greetings like we do in the states. So we wanted to wish you all a wonderful year in 2010, and give you a bit of news that you may have missed in between our prayer letters and facebook posts! We do appreciate each one of you and are so thankful for our wonderful family and friends that the Lord has given us. We think of you and pray for you all often.
The most exciting thing that happened to us this year was just yesterday when Kim had the joy of baptising our son Blake! He had spent the last several years struggling to live the Christian life and failing–or just not even struggling–when the Lord finally showed him he really had no relationship with God. We are so thankful for those of you who have prayed for Blake. (Blake left us his written testimony, so if you would like to read it, feel free to write us and ask for it.) It has been so exciting for us to see the change in him, and see the joy he shows in serving the Lord now. Last summer he worked at a Christian camp and he now has another year of college at Clearwater. Recently God provided in a special way for Blake to pay next semester’s school bill! He would appreciate your prayers in knowing God’s will for his future plans.
We had a wonderful Christmas with most of our children here (all except Wesley, who was unable to make it). We spent a week together in Switzerland, staying at a farm owned by some Christians.
Sarah’s husband Michael (our Marine pilot) will be deploying this month. It looks like he will be in a fairly safe place, for which we are thankful! Sarah keeps busy working at a crisis pregnancy center. They have lovingly housed her siblings at different times as we are over here in France.
Wesley will also be deployed this year, probably in the fall. He will most likely be in a very dangerous setting. We thank God we can trust Him to watch over our loved ones wherever they are, and that He will always do what is best for them. As a sidenote, Blake told us about a stranger giving him $20 in an airport one time when he was hungry (hadn’t eaten for two days) and had no money! How we thank God that He is our Father and He shows us His love so many times when we don’t deserve it!
Alyssa is in her sophomore year at Northland, and plans on serving on a missions trip to Morocco this summer. She will certainly be an asset with her fluent French! We are enjoying having her home for her long break.
Charity is in her senior year in French public school, called ‘terminal!’ I can’t believe as I write this that she will be leaving us and we will be empty nesters next fall! But there is much to think about until then, so I will just put that out of my mind! She still enjoys her gymnastics club, and has many friends at school, but is really looking forward to going to a Christian college next fall. All of her plans depend on passing her ‘baccelaureat’ test in June, which decides whether or not French students get their diploma!
As for Kim and me, we keep busy in the ministry, and are so thankful for all the opportunities God gives. This year we begin Bible studies on the other side of town near the university campus. We would always love to see more fruit, but we know that is His job, and what a relief that is! We feel privileged to serve the Lord, and look forward to what He is going to do here this year.
Love and Prayers,
Kim and Lori and family
