Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men

Dear Readers,
I trust that all of you will have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  This blog travels the globe and my solemn prayer is that we would not only be joined by the internet, but that we would mainly be joined by the love of Jesus Christ.  Let's hold each other up before the Father in prayer for an unprecedented outpouring of His presence in all that we do.  Know that I love you very much and pray for my readers daily. 
Below is an e-mail update from one of my newest friends who are missionairies through Savannah Christian Church.

Henry
December 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS
from Ambon
Dear Friends and Partners!

We are quite accustomed to having Christmas without winter. Winter never makes it to Indonesia! We stopped dreaming of white Christmases a long time ago. In Java and in Sulawesi we did have wet weather, and therefore cooler days most of December. In Ambon, the dry season lingers and it is hot. We are in the Southern Hemisphere, so this is the peak of summer, I guess. In Lynn's words, "It is a bit hard for us to have the Christmas Spirit when it is so hot." But then honesty compels us to admit that last Christmas we were complaining about the cold, as we shivered on the frozen sands of Tybee Beach, Georgia.

Whether the weather is unusually hot or cold, it is a great privilege to rejoice, "For unto us, a Savior is born!" Praise be unto to Him.

We are also blessed to have dear friends like you who encourage us, pray for us, and stand by us in our efforts to make Jesus known where so few care about Him any time of year!

Looking back on 2011. We returned from a good time of furlough in the US in March; traveled extensively to visit workers in Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Java into early May. Then we moved to Ambon where we have found a house; sought out ministry openings; enjoyed family, including a new granddaugher (number 5); and watched as the fragile peace of the city has once again unraveled at the instigation of people who seem to have their own private agendas.

We are excited about mobilizing for ministry to unevangelized Muslim peoples here in Ambon, the province of Maluku, and beyond. We have found some people who share our heart. A prayer ministry is taking shape. Further training courses are planned. A farm project is being seriously studied. A children's English program is planned. We have a long list of other things we'd like to try, as the Lord opens doors. These include an English language worship time, and some Kingdom Business efforts.

2011 has not been free of disappointments. We have mentioned the engineered clashes across religious lines here in Ambon. Elsewhere some workers have proven unfaithful and have abandoned their professed callings. Worse yet some of them have even been deceitful in the process. We continue to pray for God's work in their lives! We are trusting HIs Spirit to accomplish His work.

We are encouraged by promising breakthroughs on one of the islands of Mentawai. After a few months of praying and searching, and, in Lynn's words, feeling too much like retired folk (since the schedule was not as full as we are accustomed to) we now see many pieces falling into place for a promising ministry here in Ambon. But, our greatest cause of rejoicing has been the team among the Bees. Even though they suffered the loss of one family, they have been blessed by what I think I can confidently call the greatest harvest in the modern history of mission work among the Bees. A real cause for rejoicing is the number of Bee converts who have been involved in bringing other Bees to Jesus. Developments like that do old hearts good.

May your Christmas be joyous for all the right reasons, and May 2012 give you abundant opportunities to serve and praise Him!

Selamat Hari Natal!

Dennis and Lynn