Jesus: God’s Anointed One

This season, God has been reminding us of Isaiah 61, the very passage that Jesus read about Himself in the synagogue:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the [year of the Lord’s favor],
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty [instead of] ashes,
The oil of joy [instead of] mourning,
The garment of praise [instead of] the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3

Jesus truly is the one who heals the hearts of the brokenhearted. He IS the one who sets prisoners free from physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual “imprisonment”. He IS the one who comforts the mourning, who rebuilds what we thought was beyond rebuilding, and who replaces our shame and dishonor with a double portion of honor (verses 4-7).

Jesus: Our Prince of Peace

We invite you to reflect on how Jesus can bring peace and wholeness, even in the midst of the challenges and difficulties of life, as you watch this encouraging Christmas update from Wycliffe.

Financial Need

Thank you for praying with us regarding our needed financial partnership. It’s encouraging to see how God is working in this area! Please continue to pray that He will provide additional partners for our Wycliffe ministry. He is a God who provides!

Prayer and Praise

• Praise: For testimonies of God’s redemptive work in our lives and the lives of others.
• Prayer/Praise: For James’ continued work serving Bible translators around the world.
• Prayer/Praise: For God’s provision for our Wycliffe ministry.

May Jesus bring Isaiah 61 to life for you this Christmas season, as you celebrate His coming. He is indeed Emmanuel, God with us!

In Him,

James and Christina

Christmas Season Highlights

We enjoy the Christmas season and all the fun it brings! Here are a few of our favorite things…

Click below for highlight photos.

“Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.”
~ Deut 4:9a ~

A Story of God’s Provision

Over the last several years, we have had the joy of watching God work in the midst of numerous challenging circumstances. Our recent trip to the east coast was no exception. With visiting JAARS (a Wycliffe support center in North Carolina), attending James’ brother’s wedding in Maryland, touring Washington DC, and seeing family and friends along the way, we needed a rental vehicle large enough for 8 people PLUS luggage. Challenge accepted!

When a rental company said the best they could offer us was TWO vehicles ($$$$!!), we started looking into other options. Christina found a 15 passenger van from a private party for a reasonable price… in Atlanta. So, Christina flew to North Carolina (alone with all the kids) and James flew to Atlanta to pick up the rental van.

Shortly after arriving, James found the rental was unavailable. ARGH!! Shock!! Stress!! Pray… Search… Guess what?! God ended up providing an even more affordable vehicle!

In the meantime, Christina and the kids were delayed due to weather and they missed their flight, even after running through the airport. The airline graciously put them up in a Hilton Garden hotel and provided more meal vouchers than they could possibly use! Enter yummy hamburgers, fries, and even some specialty chocolates and candies to share with Daddy. What an unexpected blessing!

Meanwhile, God caused a young man to cross paths with James in Atlanta. God provided the opportunity for James to share a few meals with him, as well as lodging for the night. And He opened the door for James to share how God has been working in our lives (including the provisions on this trip), begin developing a friendship, share the Gospel, and pray with him. Without the “diversion” to Atlanta and the “delay” in renting a vehicle, James would never have met this man, or been able to share Jesus with him. Isn’t He good?!?!

Experiences like these encourage us and grow our faith, allow us to declare His faithfulness, and remind us that God is with us and that He will provide for us no matter where we go.

“For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?”
~ Deut 4:7 ~

Training Translators for Global Impact

James has been making training materials more accessible to Bible translators around the world, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively in translating God’s Word. His supervisor recently said,

“I can’t think of a better role for [James] to be in… [his] high motivation and willingness to dig in and help, combined with the perspective of what our users need, is a great asset.”

We are so encouraged that God has provided this role! It is a great fit for James and a blessing for our family.

Financial Need

Please pray with us for needed financial partnership. We’ve recently heard from some of our partners who need to decrease/discontinue giving to our Wycliffe ministry. God has always shown Himself faithful and we trust that He will provide what we need.

Prayer and Praise

• Praise: For the numerous ways God has provided on this trip, and all the memories!
• Praise: For a beautiful and fun wedding.
• Prayer/Praise: For safety and quality time as a family and with others as we travel.
• Prayer: For God to provide needed financial partnership.

Thank you for partnering with us in this work!

In Him,

James and Christina

East Coast Trip Highlights

We’ve had a great time touring the East Coast and seeing friends and family!

Click below for highlight photos.

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart…. my heart stands in awe of your words.”
~ Psalm 119:111, 161b ~

So Much Has Happened in 3 Months!

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 3 months since James started working remotely supporting Bible translators. It’s been very encouraging for him to work with and support translators from around the world through email, remote support calls, and making training materials available to them.

During a remote call from Switzerland, one translator shared this encouragement with James:

“I worried about going on furlough. Who would help me? … It’s a real blessing to know that you’re around and able to help… Your efforts are really bearing fruit in the most remote villages of the Pinai-Hagahai people.”

~ Translator serving in Papau New Guinea (PNG) ~

How encouraging that, with your partnership, we are able to help the people of PNG (and beyond) have God’s Word in their language.

God’s Word Speaks to Hearts and Changes Lives

How often does God’s Word speak straight to YOUR heart? All over the world, people like the Pinai-Hagahai above are hearing God speak to them through His written Word. Watch this video to catch a glimpse of what these people experience as they hear/read of God’s heart and love for them through His Word in their language.

Prayer and Praise

• Praise: Being settled in one place has been a great blessing for our family!
• Prayer: For deepening relationships with God, coworkers, family, and friends.
• Praise: Christina’s energy levels have greatly improved!
• Prayer: For James’ weariness and energy levels.
• Praise: We recently got baby chicks and started a garden (pictures below!!)

Your prayers and support are helping God’s Word reach the hearts of people around the world. Thank you!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Fun on the Farm!!

The house we are renting has lots of land where we can play, explore, and have fun outside. We even started a garden and got baby chicks! What a blessing to enjoy these adventures together as a family!

Baby Chicks

Family Garden

We are well supplied… the gifts you sent are a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18b

God Provides!

God is so good! He has fully provided for our Wycliffe ministry and James started his new role this week! We are thankful for the prayer and financial partners that have made this happen, and we are grateful for the chance to support Bible translators around the world through the wonders of technology.

God’s Leading

It’s also exciting and encouraging that God continues to confirm this new path. He knew this would happen long before we did:

“Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16

Last year, we had the opportunity to share our “story” (how God has led us throughout our lives and ministry). Even though we still had plans to return to PNG at that time, God gently led us to this new role. Looking back at our story, we see God’s handiwork all around us in our lives and work in missions.

You can read our story here: Coming Full Circle: Computers in Missions.

Prayer and Praise

• Praise/Prayer: God has provided the prayer and financial partners we need!
• Prayer: For James in starting his new role.
  
• Prayer: For protection from the enemy for our family as we transition together.
• Praise: James is able to continue using his skills to serve Bibleless people around the world!
• Praise: This tropical family got to play in the snow (pictures below!!). A rare treat!

Thank you for all of the ways you all have prayed for us, encouraged us, and supported us!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Fun in the Snow!!

We had a blast going sledding and building a snowman recently. James and Christina also got to go skiing (our first time in 12 years). After living in the tropics for years, this was SO MUCH FUN!!

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