I'm usually aware of the risk involved in entering an ESL semester with all of our teachers under maximum work load. With everyone so busy, nobody is available to cover for a teacher if he or she becomes ill. Normally this has not been a big problem for us. This, however, was not a normal semester.

The past three months have been challenging for our team in Ukraine. We found ourselves with a shortage of teachers in fall but decided to offer our ESL program to as many students as possible. As a result, each of our teachers carried a heavy teaching load and each of us had our turn at experiencing illness to varying degrees before the semester was done.

Our schedule changed substantially to accommodate our students. Most of the teachers were unable to participate in weekly ministry and visits to children at a local orphanage. The ESL school's weekly evening program, open to students and non-students, was also postponed for the entire semester. Doors of opportunity have been opening in the local public schools and in other areas as well, but we have not been able to take full advantage because our team is small.

Please pray with us that God would equip and send more people to help with the exciting and fruitful work He is doing in Ukraine but be careful - He might use you to answer your own prayers!

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Join us in welcoming Aimee Marie Page…

Aimee Marie Page was born in Minneapolis, MN at 3:31pm on Wednesday afternoon, December 20th, 2006.  She measured in at 21 inches and 8lbs 2 ounces.  Mother and Daughter are doing great and arrived home at 1:30 Friday afternoon.  There were no major complications, and we are a happy little family, with this wonderful addition, added just before Christmas.  She has interrupted our Christmas shopping, but she is worth it! 

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and for celebrating this great news with us.

Congratulations Chris and Steph!! 

Blessed are the children
who walk in the Lord.
Blessings and joy shall be theirs.
Theirs is the bounty,
the fruit of the vine.
Theirs is the joy of God’s care.(Psalm 128)

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Let me share something personal with you. My grandfather died last weekend. He had had cancer for awhile, but wasn't confined to the hospital. He was up and about, living without too many signs of his illness. On Thursday night he slipped into a coma, and on Friday morning he passed away.

My grandfather died last weekend. The thought comes to me at odd times: when I'm doing the dishes, taking the bus, grading tests. It seems a foreign idea to me. I'd only seen him a couple of times since he got sick, and each time he had seemed himself, only a little thinner and a little more tired.

My grandfather died last weekend.

And see, the thing that really gets me, more than anything else, is that, to the best of my knowledge, he wasn't a Christian. He had never accepted a Savior. Oh, he knew about Christ, but, unless he made a decision in his last few weeks without telling anyone, he died without ever experiencing the tremendous love and salvation of Christ. I mean, let that sink in for a moment. That though has had plenty of time to saturate my thoughts in the past week. Life is short. There are people dying every day who don't know my Savior, my Christ. People who are lost and don't even know it, people who have no hope. I see them every day. So do you. Lost people, rich and poor, happy and unhappy, young and old, surround us all in a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes. They wear all kinds of masks to cover their lostness - coats of confidence paint over insecurity, shells of hardness hide old wounds and vulnerability, and the thin paper of success is pasted over many people's walls of inner turmoil.

I challenge you, whoever or wherever you are, to find someone who doesn't know Christ and begin befriending them. Share with them the good news (and it is GOOD NEWS!) that Jesus Christ came to save them from death and judgement and draw them into new, fresh, eternal LIFE with Him. Praises to the loving King who has triumphed over death!

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life."
John 5:24

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"Do nor be afraid I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You wilt find a baby wrapped in strips of cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-17

While my family and I prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I find myself thinking of that day so long ago. Bethlehem was full. Joseph and Mary could only find a manger. Were the streets not patrolled, presumably to curb violence and theft at the time? Today we see people fighting over parking spaces, gift and food items. Hotels and motels are full. Violence and theft are on-the-rise.

In comparison, have things really changed much?  Do you suppose the people where as rude then as they are today? Some 2000 years ago the people needed the teachings Jesus was to bring. Seems we need those teachings even more today.  

I think we can all agree that Jesus didn't bring His teachings for just His family, or just His followers, or just those of the Jewish faith. The lessons are to be learned and shared by all mankind. Arguably the most important of which are tolerance, forgiveness and goodwill "for all the people".

As we all prepare to celebrate His birthday, can we not remember those teachings? If by-and-large people can't live by the teachings of Christ, can they not exercise them while they prepare and while celebrating His birthday? At the very least out of respect? When someone bumps into you at the mall, takes a parking space you scoped-out, or gets the last item on the shelf you wanted; focus on the lessons of tolerance, forgiveness, and goodwill towards all. Try it, you'll find your heart fills with the joy that is His to bring.

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Have you ever had one of those experiences where a thought is implanted on your mind and heart which is not of your own doing? Let me explain what words were implanted on my heart.

I was walking accross a parking lot and noticed a parking lot full of cars. you know the Christmas rush where the mall parking lots are full. I looked and thought, "look at the masses" doing their last month shopping. I started to think about that word the masses.

I thought about those who are in ministry where they speak to the masses, in front of hundreds or thousands of people. I thought about those who are in ministry that have a congregation of people they are responsible for. There message can be delivered on a Sunday morning where they can speak to many people to share their message.

Then came that moment I shared about at the beginning, words spoken to my mind and heart that I have never considered before. These words were clearly understood by me. Here is the message, "I have not called you to minister to the masses, I have called you to minsister to the messes." Wow what a thought. That is the focus of the ministry God has called me to. Helping those in need, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

There is often pressure in ministry to develop a large ministry. There is certainly a place for large ministries. There is also a place for impacting people on a one to one basis. For sure it wont get the press like a big ministry, but it makes a huge impact to the people you minister to.

If you feel like God is calling you into ministry, follow Him. It does not matter if you minister to the masses or the messes. Trust his leading and impact someones life today. Maybe it is through a mission trip. Maybe it is by seeing someone in need and blessing them (not just with money but with your presence). Maybe it is by encouraging someone. Maybe it is by mentoring someone. Maybe it is……

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