It's been awhile.

We know that prayer works and that you are faithful to pray and, yet, I haven’t been very active in keeping you up-to-date as to know what specifically to pray. I will refrain from listing my numerous excuses. Please, please, continue to be in prayer for the ministry here. It is God in Christ who works wonders and does miracles. It is God who our students need. It is God who we need.

“…God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

The end of the semester was crazy as usual. Sometimes, it is hard to know when to hold students completely responsible or when to be gracious. Many students get into the make-up-all-the-work-I-missed-for-14-weeks-in-the-last-week-of-school game. I had been straight forward with all my classes about make-up work this year. If you were absent, you needed to come to me (I was always aware of absences and ready to help make-up in the few days following an absence, but many students never would). If you were in class every day but had refused to do your work, that’s a totally different story. Anyway, grades are finished so thank you for your prayers. They were greatly appreciated.

Our parents came and went… I think I got whiplash. Just kidding. It was quick but nice. I’m trying to get them to write a blog so you can hear about it from them. An overview: met them at the airport with a group of students, went to Mizpah’s Christmas program, visited with our missionary friends Manuel and Mihamm and their two daughters Luca and Yona, went to Truk Stop for Mizpah’s staff Christmas party, had an exclusive land tour of Weno Island, had an exclusive boat tour around Tonoas Island (and saw a dolphin!), played “The Father’s Day Game”, watched Miracle on 34th St., went to dinner at Blue Lagoon with the Chiles, went to church at Logan on Sunday, went to the Christmas service at Logan, had Christmas dinner of Micronesia’s best pizza from Truk Stop, …I can’t think of any more right now. But thanks for praying for their traveling and time with us. God has blessed us.

Christmas break since my parents have left has been, for me, reading good books, catching up on communication with people, listening to music (one of my favorite past times), and watching movies. Doesn’t sound very missionary-ish, I’m sure. It’s nice to have some free time and I know I’ll be tired from the first day of second semester to the time I post my grades in May.

Our puppies died. Both of them. And their mama doesn’t look good at all.

I’ve been reading through many of Paul’s epistles the past few days. With teaching grammar infused into my brain, I have been paying particular attention to the verbs and who it is that is doing the action. God is at work. He saves, calls, grows, begins, fulfills, gives, has, comforts, guides, grants, listens, understands, protects, loves, makes alive, to mention only a few. I do not want to negate my responsibilities but to know His part makes my responsibilities so much easier to bear, so much more joyful to do.

Again, again, and again, know that your prayers are felt and heard and doing good things because it is our good God who hears and answers them.

Specific prayer requests:
- that Em and I will use our time wisely this week so we are eagerly ready to begin the new semester on Jan. 9th
- for our students to also be ready and willing to start the second semester strong
- for our hearts and minds to be filled with the knowledge of His strength and peace and be reaffirmed by Him of our call
- for some sores in my mouth to be healed and also a very irritating rash that has spread through much of my body
- oh! and for a few of the recent graduates who are looking into The Master’s College!!!

Praise the Lord for His goodness, grace, and sovereignty!
May He continue to make us more Christ-like.

Katie