A Little Bit of Christmas

It's been a bit busy here the past couple weeks. That is to be expected with Christmas. God has been so good to answer your prayers for good outreach opportunities. We were able to proclaim the Gospel so much...continue to pray for God to plant seeds and grow them in the hearts of the Thai people.





Christmas Eve we were frantically trying to wrap gifts as well as deal with two very excited little boys. We tucked the boys in but Calvin just didn't want to settle and so he started his whimpering. After a few minutes, it stopped. Later, when I went up to check on the boys, this is how I found them. Big brother with his arm wrapped around little brother to keep him safe and sound. It melted my heart! Thank you Lord for these children who love each other and look out for each other (and yes, they do have their spats...less you think otherwise!).



A few days before Christmas we got word from some fellow PCA church members that this guy, Abe, was in need of some medical attention. He lives in a nearby country but the medical treatments aren't available there so his leadership thought it best to send him to Bangkok...and as our Lord would have it, to us! Abe has been a blessing to our family and has settled right into our lives and our home, for which we thank God. To get him in the Christmas spirit, we forced him to wear this hat and decorate our Christmas tree with candy canes!!! (I'm just kidding we didn't have to force him too badly). Anyway, please pray for Abe. He is still recovering from a flare up of Chrone's Disease but we rejoice with him that he didn't have to be hospitalized and was able to be with us for Christmas, too! Pray that he would be back to normal health before he has to go to Chiang Mai on January 12th.







Adele has a growing interest in her baby doll! I love that she loves to feed her, rock her and tries to sing to her in her play with "Dolly." We got her some accesories for her dolly for Christmas and they have been a big hit with Adele.


Christmas day started with Paul praying and then opening of gifts. We ate breakfast afterwards and then we went to church to worship. We were treated to some special music by the Veldhorst wife and children and Aunt Melanie. It was beautifully done and such a blessing! We then headed home to prepare for the feast we were hosting later that evening (and for little boys, they played with new toys!)
[Pictured playing Risk from left to right)- Abe, James, Paul, Jonathan and Dave]

[Pictured watching "Little Women"- Rachel, Katy, Jan, Bekah, Melanie and Calvin]
Christmas night we had the American component of our team over for a meal and other fun. The guys played Risk, the women watched "Little Women" and the kids played Legos. =) It was a lot of fun. We also drank some wassail and sang "The 12 Days of Christmas".
One evening after Christmas I also enjoyed a hot cup of cocoa with a candy cane and marshmellows with some homemade apple pie. Thank you to Rachel for sharing her hot cocoa and marshmellows that her mom sent her! It was a yummy treat, that is for sure.

And to finish up our Christmas season this year, Paul preached his first Thai sermon on Sunday. Needless to say he was nervous but God graciously sustained him and helped him through each word and phrase. Thank you to all who were praying for Paul.

So, that was our Christmas in a nutshell. I trust each and everyone who reads this blog had a blessed day treasuring Christ in your heart.