G’day Praying Partners:
Is anyone else finding it difficult to believe that it is almost the
end of 2014? It’s hard to grasp that in a matter of days it will be 2015! Is
this THE year? That’s always foremost on my mind as the calendar turns over to
January 1 – could this be the year that Christ returns? I don’t know, but I do
know that it only gets closer with each passing year! Oh, that we would live
each day like it could be THE ONE! It makes me think of Rev. 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward
is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” May we be
able to respond as John did in Rev. 22:20
“He which testifieth these things
saith, ‘Surely I come quickly. Amen.’ Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Maybe in
2015!
We pray that each of you is enjoying this blessed Christmas season. It
is definitely a different one for us this year! Today our daughter-in-law used
FaceTime to let us watch our grandson perform in his school program. How
thankful we are for technology – but how much we miss our family this time of
year! Tori will be with Jackie’s family in Florida for Christmas – it’s our
first year that both of the girls are not with us. Big adjustments all around!
For the most part, days go by and life goes on, but during the holidays it can
be tough to be so far away. Thank you for lifting us up to our heavenly Father,
who knows what it means to be separated from loved ones! We’ve been busy
getting prepared for the season. Jackie has been working with the children’s
church kids as they prepare for their part in our Carols by Candlelight. We are
joining with our sister church – Grace Baptist Church – to have our carols
night. This is a very popular event in
Australia – each town may even hold their own carols night. It’s just what it
implies – singing carols by candlelight! Generally, it’s outside, but we’ll
have the comforts of being indoors with battery operated candles! Please pray
for this – in the evening of 14 December – as there will be many unsaved
friends and family members there. Also,
as a church family, we will be meeting Christmas morning for breakfast and a
time to praise God for the birth of His Son. This is always a blessed time for
us and allows everyone to focus on the meaning of the day before getting into
all the family events! Personally, we’re looking forward to spending Christmas
Eve with dear friends who will help us to celebrate even being far away from
our own family.
School will be finishing up next week – remember, this is our summer!
We’ve been invited to the 6th grade graduation dinner which we will
be attending on Monday evening. It’s been such a blessed time at the school
this year. God continues to open doors that we couldn’t have imagined. In
typical Australian fashion, we are only sowing seeds and building
relationships, but we trust God to bring it all to bear fruit in the future. We
are humbled to be a part of God’s plan.
Things slow down dramatically in the summer time here. It’s nice
because it gives us time to plan for the years activities. It also gives us a
chance to take the time to reflect back on what God’s been doing over the past
year. It’s been a crazy year for us – coming back from furlough in April and
getting plugged back in here, saying goodbye to family and friends on that side
– and hello to new friends on this side! God is SO good – we feel privileged to
be able to serve Him in whatever way He deems fit. Thank YOU – each of you –
for being a part of God’s work here in Australia. Who knows what 2015 will
bring our way? “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”!!
Shining the Light Down Under,
Rob, Jackie, Stefanie and Tori
