Knees Ready?? Let's Pray!

This coming Saturday the 15th is our FIFTH (wow, really??) annual Christmas outreach event for the Hispanic community in Vancouver. Please pray! As before, please pray the people will COME. We are more than thrilled that this year the flyers have been distributed to the Spanish speaking families of two different schools - what a great way to serve families at schools that we are connected to. This time each year, we are always concerned that we haven't made enough efforts in promoting the event - which brings us to our knees in even more prayer, that God would spread the word in a way only He can. Pray that all the details would come together, and that there would be enough hands to help. Along with the usual activities (piñata, hot meal, crafts, games, gospel skit, goody bags) this year we are adding a raffle to give away a basket of groceries, and sending home a New Testament with each family. May God go before, beside, and behind us!

So that's the urgent piece of news to communicate to you before jumping in to this update - here's the rest:

Towards the end of September, José began a new job for the Vancouver School District - thank you for praying! His position as a para-educator has allowed him to work with small groups of children in all grades who are struggling and need extra help and attention. He also takes on the responsibilities of translating school documents, and interpreting for parent-teacher conferences where the parents speak only Spanish. Praise the Lord for such a great job with so many opportunities (and health insurance!). Since this job requires full-time hours, please pray for José as he dedicates his heart and soul to ministry at night and on the weekends.

September: the girls turned 10 and 8 - aren't our three angels adorable???

In October, the women's group began meeting again for coffee and fellowship. End-of-the-month potlucks also provide much-needed fellowship as we strive to unite and connect these precious brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging one another to follow the Lord in their daily lives. José leads in-home Bible studies every Monday and Friday nights, allowing him to guide and direct others toward the Bible in a more personal environment. We are beyond ecstatic to share with you also that a classmate of our daughter prayed to receive Christ as her Savior at school during that month!

We treated the senior women to breakfast, asking them to form a Sunday prayer team

Beginning in October and ending just this week, Ruth was part of a 3-woman team leading a weekly class called Respectfully Yours - a study just for wives from the Love and Respect marriage curriculum. What a life-changing study! For further reinforcement (do you suppose God wants to strengthen our marriage??), José and Ruth both attended a Weekend to Remember conference in November - a highly recommended conference for any couple! What a blessing to attend and to be reminded of many important principles as we seek to become more like Christ in our home (p.s. - it's really hard! But not impossible!).


Also in November one of the ladies in Spanish ministry slipped and broke her foot, requiring surgery. The bad news - she  had to be in the hospital for almost two days. The good news - she went home with not only a new pin in her foot, but also a new life in her heart! She prayed to receive Christ that morning!

New-believing mom and her sweet family

November brought a new addition to our home (I bet that caught your attention!)- a niece of José's has come from Honduras to live with us for a while as she works to save money to finish college. The kids adore her and she is so much fun to have around!

Welcome, cousin!

Worship team with one of the new worship leaders

As we are already a few months in to our fifth year with the Spanish Ministry at Evergreen Bible Church, we ask that you pray urgently for leadership development. Our gifted worship leader, who was also an elder, has chosen to step down and leave the church in order to focus on a difficult home situation. Please pray for him and his family. And pray for our ministry, that God would fill the much-needed role of worship leader, and an additional elder to support the constant work of shepherding. We ask that you also pray for us as leaders in working through all the aspects that have come with these events.

Coffee hour after Sunday service

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. --Jude 1:24-25






We hope to update you as soon as possible after this Saturday's big event, that you might rejoice with us over what God has done in our community! And until then, Merry Christmas to you, our dear friends and family!

For a child has been born—for us!

the gift of a son—for us!

He’ll take over

the running of the world.

His names will be: Amazing Counselor,

Strong God,

Eternal Father,

Prince of Wholeness.--Is.9:6 (Message)