December is in full swing but it has been warm here getting as high as the mid 80’s last week. I’ve been able to go out with shorts and T-shirts the last couple of days.

This has been a winter of activity this year. During the Thanksgiving holiday, we were blessed by doing something almost every day. On Thanksgiving itself, we had our friendship partner students Da & Steven over for dinner and a game of Risk with our boys. On Friday we took a van-load of students and volunteers to experience the Granbury Christmas Parade (check out the really cool pictures) which is put on by the ministerial society and is very Jesus centered. On Saturday we took our friendship partner Da to the Chinese Lantern Festival in Fair Park. (see the AMAZING pictures). What a weekend!

Praise Report

• The three events over the holidays were a great success. The times together were intimate and special for the students. We really became like family for all who came. Several spiritual conversation happened too. Several students inquired about volunteering with the church out of the blue. They don’t know Jesus but they want to serve. That is really cool!
• After the ISI North Texas steam read the book “Please Understand Me II” by David Keirsey, Derrah Jackson made a presentation on how to understand each other better through our temperaments. Several on the team were blessed by what they learned about themselves and others. This time helped us to work together better as a team.
• Friday night at the Hodson’s for UTA and the Saturday Christmas partner were the beginnings of the celebration of the Christmas season. Students were very much blessed. (see pictures) Roy led an M:28 Bible Study on the burial and resurrection of Christ and one Atheistic Chinese student said that if this the passage is true we need to follow God even if we don’t understand what He is doing. Wow what insight.

• Ruthe Ann is feeling better but her arm is still not doing well. Several of the students and volunteers, let by Rob and Jason (including our family) went to her house on Saturday and helped her rake her leaves, and fix things in the house. What a fun time together.