Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas from the other side of the world!!  Friends, we're excited for you to catch a glimpse of what the Lord is doing here, so take a look:

Christmas party with the ladies group:
I spy one little guy who spied food and wooed the ladies into
giving  him whatever he wanted.

Fresh coconut water at a friend's house.  The woman with the machete in the
background is one of my closest friends and helps me with translating at Bible study.

Celebrating this kid after his choir performance.
Do you think they look alike?

While Ken was out of  the country for 5 days, I took the kiddos to school and took a 4 day (all day)
course to learn to be a Doula.  It was so helpful as I prep to have this baby.
I had some anxiety with Ken away, but God grew me through this time.

God gave me the idea to do a Jesse Tree project for the ladies in Bible study.
Many of them want to share Christ with their families but need some equipping.
I recruited 14 friends to make ornaments, one for each of the Bible stories, starting in the Garden of Eden
and ending with the nativity story.  

This was such an exciting day, when everyone brought what they made and
we exchanged ornaments so that we each got a complete set. 
10 sets were set aside for the Thai women as a surprise.

I didn't take any pictures of them opening their box of Jesse Tree ornaments but it touched my heart to see their joy.  They were also given the Jesus Storybook in Thai, so that they could read the story of the day and see how it all works together to tell one story.

  Each bag contains an ornament to represent the story of the day, from Creation to Christ. 
 Ken built the wooden trees and Callie and I stamped the bags and filled them. 
Thank you to our supporters! Part of the money you give goes to evangelism and outreach like this.

It came!  The Jesus Storybook in Thai has been backordered for months, but it arrived close to the time of
starting our advent.  

We played  some fun games and they laughed so hard!  I had a prize box they could pick from.  One woman who struggles between the religion she grew up with and the truth of the WORD chose this book. 

 It's a book I had when I was a kid and it folds open like a star, telling the story of Jesus entering the world as a baby.  What's amazing is that I had this book on display, near the prize box.  She assumed it was a gift option and took it, not even knowing the content.  I love that she left with the this truth for a friend to read to her later.  She told her friend that she felt it was a sign, because she had asked God for a sign.  Isn't that amazing? 

Will you thank God with me for the work he is doing here?  We have many praises this month!  The ladies in Bible study have began asking questions!!  This goes against the ways of the student here, but it's so beneficial when they ask the things they don't understand.  Today's question was about Isaac.  One of the women asked if he was God.  (She cannot read or write so she comes to listen; Thai is her second language).  We were able to explain to her how Christ would come through that chosen family and how we can be grafted into that family as well.

Prayer Requests:

Safe delivery of baby Mungle  (There are no epidurals in Chiang Mai, and only narcotics for pain).

Supporters:  Our family grew this year, with the addition of an older child to our family, and a soon-to-be- here baby.  With that, come more monthy expenses.  Please consider being a monthly supporter or giving as you are able.  

Here's the link: http://www.letsopenthewindow.com/donate.php 

Mail:  (Not necessarily a prayer request, but) If you have sent us mail we may not have received it.  We have lived here over 4 years and have received 4 or 5 cards.  Recently someone told us they have sent us 2 cards that never arrived.  I'm so sorry, friends!  I wasn't aware that this was a problem.  

Disclipleship: We see such need for Thai believers to be discipled.  Please pray that we are able to cross cultural gaps to clearly explain the Word to brothers and sisters here, so that they can grow and teach others.