I can’t believe it’s Dec 17th 2023 already. One year ago today Bella and I were on our medivac to Australia to get her broken arm fixed! Praise GOD for all he has done for us this past year and healed Bellas arm so it’s good as new. Last year I was overwhelmed and upset over our time in AU and that we were missing all our Christmas traditions of baking cookies and watching Christmas movies together. This year I am thankful and grateful that I am able to do them with the family!

I wanted to give an update on David and his family. Last time I wrote about him he was extremely interested in what the Bible had to say as well as was coming to every meeting. He genuinely listened to what was preached. Caleb and I decided to fast and pray for him one weekend because we had never had anyone so interested in the Bible before. We prayed for him and that the LORD would save him as well as another man Harry. The next day after we had done that we saw David outside waiting to talk with Caleb. Caleb went out and was gone for about an hour. When he came back in the news was not good. David said that he would not be coming to the meetings anymore because he had work to do to build his house etc… Honestly we were heart broken we had just pleaded with God for his salvation and now he was saying he wasn’t even going to come to hear the word anymore. Caleb asked him if there was a problem or if a demon spoke to him. He denied it but obviously something happened. We were extremely discouraged but God knows what he is doing and we trust that HIS will, will be done!

How can I love a National as Christ loves us? Is a question I ask myself a lot lately. In my sinful actions, I get upset or frustrated with things they say or do towards us and then become very angry with them. What kind of missionary am I if I’m angry with the people I’m supposed to be showing Christ too! I can’t really explain what life is like living in a village, you have to live it to truly understand. There are days that I’m ready to take on the world and help in every way I can and other days I want to hide in the house and not really try to problem solve their life problems. Being in the village as a foreigner you are looked too for all things. They expect us to help in everything, with fixing things for them, whether it is gluing a water tank, putting tape on a book or giving them things like a piece of paper to write on. All these are small insignificant things and we are happy to help! It’s when they come demanding things from you like fuel, to use the satellite phone, or money that starts to make me upset. We always help in the medical needs and community issues, but if it comes to a family issue or a problem between two individuals we are not involved. There is a small court here in our village and all disputes are handled there, such as… married people committing adultery, who stole something from someone’s garden, or a threat from another person. Loyalty is not something they care about and being that no one seems to be saved they will use and abuse a situation even if that means that they lost the friendship. Culturally that’s not how it works in America and a friendship means something to you, many go through great lengths to not have an upset or tiff in there friendship.

BUT GOD, yes GOD did this same thing right around this time 2000 years ago. GOD sent His son JESUS, to earth to so that he would be the propitiation for our sins, the last sacrifice! Jesus came because he loves us so much. Think of what sinners we are and yet he looked past that to literally become the GOD-man, fully GOD yet fully man. As I complain (which is sinful in itself) about my small roll in MOKA and how I’m not cut out for this and this is so hard….I have to humbly repent of my sinful ways and attitude, which not going to lie is hard because pride takes root. I have to remember there is someone much bigger then I in charge of the MOKA people and I need to be the vessel he wants me to be. When Mary was given the task to bore the son of GOD her first question was, Well how can that be since Im a virgin? But the angel goes on to say

“ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God.”- LUKE 1:35

after saying these tings it goes on to speak of Elizabeth and how she will conceive but the point I want to get to is this, verse 37. Here the angel says “For nothing is impossible with God. 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant if the LORD; let it be to me according to your word.” and the angle departed

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! the fact that Mary spoke and said. “Behold” it was if now she was bringing a message, she trusted GOD and knew this is what you want me to do so I am your humble servant. This is what I am taking with me when we go back into Moka in Jan 2024. I am your servant lord, I AM to trust you for nothing is impossible with you and I have to own that and trust that always. Save your people and help me to be the your hands and feet, let me not be troubled with the sinful acts but to pray and speak of you to them.

I challenge you reader as you too have had hardships and might be feeling sorry for yourself, Remember Marys reaction to GOD when she was told she was going to carry the Son of God and how with her humbleness the Lord used her greatly.

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