Good News

Four flights, 12 hours in a taxi and a few bicycle rickshaws later...I got my visa renewal! Thank you for lifting my friends and me up this past weekend. We couldn't have made it full circle without your prayers and help from God. I should be all set with visa related issues for the rest of my term. I'll finish here mid-April and will be home by early May. Looking forward to visiting with many of you in-person next summer!

Merry Christmas!

Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again!

Hi Everyone!
I wanted to let you know that I'll be taking my visa renewal trip this weekend to a neighboring country. Please pray for me and other friends as we travel this weekend. Pray for safe & smooth travels, good health, peace and favor with the immigration officers as we exit and re-enter the country. Ask that no one in our group get 2-month stamps locking us out of the country going or coming back in.

I'll be crossing the border around 4:30 AM CST on Saturday, then crossing back at 11:30PM CST on Saturday. If you're awake during these times please remember our group in prayer.

Blessings,
C

I know him!

Jesse Tree

Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots."

Last Christmas, some dear friends introduced me to the Jesse Tree stories. They shared each of these stories with their neighbors and friends. I've decided to read these stories on my own this year and am praying that I'll be able to share some of the stories with ladies and families in my neighborhood.

I've found that people here are interested in symbols and a deeper meaning behind stories, and the Jesse Tree stories have both those elements.

Some people cut out the symbols hang them as ornaments on their tree:

Another resource I found incorporates the ornaments into a paper chain.

What traditions does your family observe during the Christmas season?

Urgent Request for my visa

I am required to leave the country every six-months to renew my visa and am set to exit later this month. There is a possibility that I will not be able to re-enter the country for 2 months after I exit because of a new customs rule. So far, our company people have been allowed back into the country, but some airports have begun stamping a "no-rentry for 2 months" in all passports. At this time, no one knows what's going to happen later this month.
This may mean that I will have to end my term and come home early. I'm packing all my things in case something like this happens. This country has become a second home to me in so many ways and I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet!

Please join me in praying for this situation. Pr. that I'll be able to get back into the country as planned and won't be delayed for 2 months or sent home. I invite you to join me in prayer and fasting for this situation on Monday, December 7th.