Christmas in Venezuela, 2008

What a week this has been. Christmas in Venezuela is just as busy as at home in Fort Wayne. We've had Christmas parties, Christmas play practice every night, sewing costumes for the play and our regular work and activity as well.

The Macaracuay and Guatire churches both did Christmas plays of the Christmas story,the birth of Jesus. These were both outreach events into the communities of the churches, a first for this kind of event since we have been here. The Lord worked in really neat ways by bringing the church people to work together and have a great time in doing it. As well as a great way of sharing the gospel story with the community.

The Macaracuay church did the play in the mall area where the church is located. The shoppers and store owners seemed to really enjoy the play and requested that the church do it again next year.

The Guatire church preformed for a Christmas dinner for about 50 families in the urbanization where one of the church families live. This afternoon they did it again for our La Urbina Church Christmas dinner and did an excellant job.

For us it was just really exciting to see these churches reaching out to their communties with the Good News of the Lord Jesus in a different way. At the end of the plays, the pastors were able to give a devotional on the meaning of Christmas in our lives.

Check out the pictures of these events (to the side there is a link to Pictures of the Association of Bible Church ministry in Venezuela).

Something that happened this past week that we really praise the Lord for, is that we received our new visa for another year so we can continue to live here. Over 6 weeks ago we turned our passports in to the government. This has meant 3 trips downtown on the subway at 5:30AM to wait in line till the offices open at 8:00AM. Things don't move here by appointments but by who arrives first. Fortunately for us, we are Senor citizens and have a special line and are allowed to go in first otherwise we'd be outside waiting for many more hours as others have to do.

VIEWS FROM VENEZUELA

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

1. God became one of us. He came to earth as the baby Jesus. Today, He can come to live in people’s hearts. One day He will come again in all his holiness and power and glory to reign over the whole world. Let us celebrate with joy this Christmas season!

2. We are thankful for our ministry here in Caracas, Venezuela.
 For teaching ministry leadership classes.
 For the Youth Bible Study series we are writing and teaching.
 For the discipleship of new believers in the house church in Guatire. We were 21 for the Thanksgiving service and luncheon.
 For leading the Bible study at the women’s prison half-way house.

3.The three Venezuelan Bible Churches that we relate to are growing and effective ministry is happening! Praise God.

4.Our family is again increasing. We’re looking forward to welcoming Jeremy and Gwen’s baby boy, Daniel, in January and Jonathan and Abby’s baby in February. Granma is very much looking forward to coming home in February for a couple of weeks to do some bonding with these two new blessings as well as with our 7 other grandchildren.

NEW YEAR CHALLENGES

1. That the Lord will use the youth Bible study series to be a challenge to commitment and obedience to Him. That lives will be changed.

2. Planning for women’s, men’s, youth, children’s and marriage retreats.
 That these retreats would continue to be outreach, evangelistic tools in reaching family and friends for the Lord.
 God would lead us to a retreat center that is reasonable in price and easily accessible.

3. That God would lead a couple committed to persevere and work in starting a new house church or church plant.