Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas Rope Holders!!!,

Thank you for your prayers. Though life here in Costa Rica is not hard compared to many places that we might have been called to, it is still a different culture, a different language and a different way of living than what we are accustomed to. As imagined, it is more difficult for our oldest two. They (as well as Joy) have lived in 6 different homes and in 4 different cities in the last 4+ years and have had to say good bye 4 different times to 4 separate groups of friends the past year - once in Fort Worth, again in Richmond, then in Vancouver and most recently, here in Costa Rica (with two more good byes to go before September) .

They have discovered (as well as Megan and I) that Costa Rica not only has its minor difficulties because of the reasons mentioned above, but because Language school is a place of good byes. Because language school is set up in three semesters, there are three groups of m’s that pass through the school. This past week we were all reminded on how to say good bye once again. The people who began their third trimester as were were beginning our first in August, graduated this past week and are in their “own” countries now.

Yes, and thank you again, He is hearing your petitions for us because we are beginning to become accustomed to living here and the children have been blessed with the ability to quickly make friends. It is such a blessing for our children to be able to go to school with other mks.

• Please pray that the kids will understand why they are rapidly making so many new friends and just as quickly, “losing” them.
• Pray that they would understand that their friends are part of the great commission and that people are coming to Christ as a result of their obedience.

Christmas is just a few days away and this will be our first one away from “home”.

Please pray that the kids will be able to joy in the birth of their Savior thus being able to properly celebrate it, as opposed to focusing on themselves and how things are so different here and how this is not “home”.

Megan and I would like to ask you to:

• Pray for cohesiveness in our marriage.
• Pray that the stresses here would not act as a wedge in our marriage.
• Pray that we would properly love one another.

My parents:

• My parents will be flying down here to spend a couple of weeks with us here in Costa Rica. Please pray for safe travel.

The Los Yoses Project:

• Please continue to be in prayer for TLYP. Due to various sickness and the like, it has not been able to take off like we had hoped. Please continue to pray for God’s penetrating Word to take the hearts captive of the ones who live there.

San Igancio de Acosta:

• I would also like to ask that you continue to be in prayer for the small town that I visited a couple of months ago. It appears that at least one of two Baptist churches that are in a nearby town are going to grab the reins and plant two Baptist churches there. Praises to God!

May God watch over you all as you take great joy in serving Him through your prayers for us and your support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Dios te bendiga!!!!

MMJTJLEE