Merry Christmas!! 2018
Our Fall has been very full, yet unscheduled. Full of joy and
sadness, victories and seeming defeats, the past few months have challenged us
with new opportunities to minister and failures to reach the finish line of
maturity with some we love so dearly. Spiritual ministry stories don’t
communicate “newsletter” well. Life here in Pomona is just life, not a
newsletter in the making. The field is truly white with harvest…everywhere!
You experience the same highs and lows as we
do. The specifics of experience aren’t as important as prayer for one another
in discerning the correct way to turn and having the courage and determination
to walk in that direction resolutely. Please continue to pray for us. We need the prayers of the saints more than
ever. Many days the presence of prayer is palpable. We pray for you too, as
much as we are aware of your struggles and joys! We depend on the Holy Spirit
and know that He will answer all the prayers in His time and way, thank you!!!
We miss knowing all the intimate details of your lives and sharing
those experiences. It has been painful to let go of intimacy in friendship and
family, but comforting that God has prepared the most intimate of eternities to
share with each of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We will know each other
as we are known!! And not knowing the details of day to day life doesn’t
diminish the love we have for all our friends and family stateside. We will
fill our days with stories when we visit, we want to catch up and enjoy your
stories.
Semi-newsie stuff!!
Our children, all grown up now!!
We couldn’t be prouder of them Michael (Todd) and Amy are
expecting baby Henry Oliver in February! Shep will be the best big brother.
Steven is living in Birmingham. He works two part time jobs and is finishing
his Masters in Intercultural studies. Laura will graduate May 2019 with a
degree in Global Business, Lord willingJ Pray for
them, our life choices have made their transition into adulthood lonely and
challenging in ways we could never have known. Our hearts long to be nearer to
them.
Work at
Hosanna House is becoming more focused for us.
Todd is doing many administrative and operations duties for the
director, making her time available for the girls. I have focused on longer
times, without planned activities, allowing me to engage the girls individually
for encouragement and prayer.
Light of the Valley and St. Augustine schools are still our
hearts and I’m proud to say leading their own large group weekly. It is a joy
to see teachers leading those children in worship and bible teaching. We are so
excited for that growth!
Light of the Valley church is our
home church now. They are so encouraging to us, truly without the church family
here we would have wilted long ago. We are blessed with the men’s and women’s
fellowship/bible study we lead on Friday nights, but just being in fellowship
the other days of life is the real blessing.
Just before Thanksgiving we had a
weekend Ladies retreat at Legacy with NO agenda. We laughed, prayed, enjoyed
good teaching and sang. NO technology would work, and we still had a GREAT
time! What a testimony to the Spirit testifying among us of an eternal bond, it
brought tears to my eyes to introduce a friend from my 7am Sat bible study days
in Alabama, to teach me on a Sat morning in this new place, I call home. Thank you to 3 friends from Atlanta area who
came and became one of us for that weekend. My heart was so full when I put
those 3 on the plane on Monday morning. God’s goodness is exceedingly more than
I could ever imagine!!
We are
thankful to God for your partnership in the gospel, truly! The medical clinics
are reaching people and giving us entry into the lives of adults that we would
never reach otherwise. Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus will begin 2019 with the 33rd
consecutive quarterly clinic. What a testimony to the power of long obedience
in the same direction! The sweetest thing is to see some in our church pews as
a result of those touches. Our church visitation on Monday nights does follow
ups and our pastor is now attending to pray on the days we are at Light of the
Valley. God is so, so good!
I know
this is vague, and I wish I could personally have a cup of coffee with each of
you and tell you the stories of how your support has changed lives here in
Belize.
All our love,
Todd and Shirley
Specific needs:
We have an opportunity to partner with Alabama Baptist
Children’s Home counseling arm in April 2019 to host 3 counselors to spend 3-4
days with the staff, to equip and encourage them in the very challenging work
they are called to do. The counselors will donate their time and Hosanna will
house and feed them, we need airfare or miles donated and some cash to cover
their travel expenses. Contact me if this is a need you’d want to meet.
Believe it or not, light weight jackets, blankets (thrift
store new)
Flash drives, colored pencils, markers
White socks, shoes, underwear (children and teens sizes)
Baby clothes
New(er) vehicles-the current ones are more expensive every year to maintain.
https://kk4jesus.networkforgood.com/projects/62004-crossing-off-your-christmas-list-make-a-difference?fbclid=IwAR0APF8r8xnXg1Nf4-rfUa5YhWyfrvFyXzpKMvS_UvH9W-6lLr1pAFf5zjk
New(er) vehicles-the current ones are more expensive every year to maintain.
https://kk4jesus.networkforgood.com/projects/62004-crossing-off-your-christmas-list-make-a-difference?fbclid=IwAR0APF8r8xnXg1Nf4-rfUa5YhWyfrvFyXzpKMvS_UvH9W-6lLr1pAFf5zjk
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