January Newsletter '12

Greetings,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We're fast off of our vacation home to Ohio for Christmas and New Years and as I write this we are busy back in the middle of it at Windermere! The highlights from this past month are our trip home and Christmas with both the Pfeisters and Flunkers, we got a great care-package from our home church, and we've got a couple of "rockin" Christmas programs!

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A Little Song and Dance for Jesus

Last Christmas Micah did a Christmas play with his class. However, back then he was only 2 years old and a wee bit unprepared for his role. This year he was ready to go. Not only did they have him doing all the songs and songs with motions with the rest of the kids, but they also had Micah on the program as being the one to give the "Vote of Thanks" at the end of the Christmas Program.

I must say, if you're ever feeling down, just watch these little ones singing to Jesus for Christmas - it will cheer you up in a second! Micah did a great job and we were taping and taking pictures as proud parents.

Emily also worked very hard to put together a Christmas Program here at Windermere. Each class had to put together a song, a skit, and a dance. Then it was a 3-way judge-off (think American Idol style) to determine which class had the best program.

The Windermere kids loved the competition, but in the end it was the 7th graders who took home the prize. The creativity and costumes the students put together were heart-warming and charming. We had a lot of fun and Emily did a great job!

Click HERE to see Micah's video of his Christmas Program
Click HERE for the Windermere High Christmas Program

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A White Christmas, sorta...

Well, that's poorly titled as it only snowed on our very last day home! But the location was wonderful despite the lack of a snowy Christmas. We were very blessed to head home for the holidays and celebrate the advent of our Lord with the Pfeisters and Flunkers.

While we only had enough time to go to Ohio, the Flunker grandparents made the long drive from Wisconsin (with a lot of help from my sister, Kari); they drove through the Christmas Eve night to make it for Christmas morning brunch.

We had a marvelous time home. It was just the perfect break. Whether it was playing football, shooting the Nerf guns, decorating cookies, or playing with new presents - we had the best time with our family. It was such a blessing to be home for Christmas and we're so thankful to those who made it possible.

Christmas Pictures HERE
Vacation Pictures HERE

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Update

Christmas break was great - we barely made our flights, literally walking off the one plane and on to the next. Somehow like always we all got sick once back in the US, but now that we're back on the island we're healthy and its business as usual. Our official basketball season starts this month and we are working hard to get ready.

Micah got his first report card! How much fun! Emily says he is doing good. He had fun playing with all his friends and cousins in the US, but now he's happy to be back too, and she even says that he's excited to turn 4, even though it is a few months off.

Emily had fun at Christmas, she says her favorite part was being home. She got to see some friends and go to church again without having to watch Micah the entire service long. She says it was cold in Ohio, but now that we're back its really chilly here too… the only difference is we can't turn the heat on here!

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Prayers and Praises

Praise the Lord for our trip home, for safety, for family, and for our wonderful church family
Praise for the supporters we have and their encouragement to help meet whatever needs we have - we are so thankful to our Lord for His people
Praise for the new start and our return back to Windermere (we were very happy to come back and see our little dog again!)

Pray for our ministry this month and the influence we have on our students. Pray that their hearts are softened to the gospel and they choose to live for Christ alone.
Pray for our time returning to discipleship with our friends here on the island
Pray for our churches and teams as we look to prep early for this coming summer

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Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers and your involvement in our ministry with God's mission. To find out more about support CLICK HERE.

- Ryan Emily and Micah Flunker