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Dear Christian Friends,
Late Merry Christmas! Our family just came back from Thailand-Lisu Christmas convention which held on December 23-26. Over 1,500 Christians from 16 Lisu churches attended at this convention. Stephen was invited to be the main speaker at one service. As Lisu tradition, he was called to preach at the beginning of the service. Traditionally, without informing each main speaker would be called to preach at each service. Since he knew and familiar with such a tradition, he was not nervous much. Throughout the convention, we were much excited and were very blessed, meeting most of our old friends and family. It was great moment for us. As tradition, everyone shared the cost and most of all shared God’s Word. There were no Santa Clause and his reindeer, no Christmas trees, but only Christ and the Bible. What a Christmas!
This past month, we were busy on leveling the ground at the new land so that the construction will be able to start this coming of 2009. Since it was a paddy field, we need to fill it with dirt about 75 cm higher than the original ground in order to prevent flood. We cannot delay the need of people to study God's Word.
Almost every weekend, Stephen is busy with preaching programs with several different churches. Like a circuit preacher in the past some weekend he preached three different churches (a Chinese, Lahu and Lisu Church ), of course three different villages. The preaching program is filled up to the end of this year. Then, his schedule will be packed with teaching program on weekdays and preaching or evangelizing on weekends. The project which they (Stephen and his teammates) call “taking Bible classes from college to churches” will be continued from the first week of January to April 2009. Because of this mission, they will be able to offer various Bible courses to churches here in Thailand , Myanmar and China so that Christians in those countries will be able to stand firm in their faith and sound doctrine.
This month, Isaac had a very cute small birthday. He enjoyed his tiny cake very much. He is speaking now with three different languages (English, Thai and Lisu). He is growing. John is on his Christmas break. He is a good reader. He reads at least a book per week. Becky had a week off of her routine therapy. She went to village and spent her time with her grandpa and grandma. Then she joined the rest of the family at the Christmas convention. She feels very fresh and ready for another course of her therapy.
Please pray for Nick who has spent his Christmas break with Zottola’s family at Pennsylvania . Pray also for Mary, as normal mother, who misses deeply her away son, Nick, at this time of the year. Pray that the Living God will comfort them with his fatherly love.
In Christ's Love,
Stephen, Mary, Becky, John and Isaac
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