Blog on Christmas Break!!!

We will not be writing for the remainder of December. Please check back on January 3rd, 2012. We hope everyone has a great Christmas season remembering the birth of our Savior! Praise the Lord!

November Update

This may be a stretch, but hear me out. The great commission recorded by the Apostle John reads in short, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.” We know this means we are likewise sent into incarnational ministry through discipleship and proclamation. But, those characteristics of His sentness are representative of the last 3 years of Jesus life. What about the years before His ministry began, are there any facts from His “sentness” before His public ministry that are relevant to our lives. Are we sent in any way as He was sent as we consider His arrival as a baby? Are we sent in any way in reflection of His preparation for ministry as a young adult? What does His being sent and spending 30 years before ministry have to do with our being sent? I am not sure. But, I do know a few things that help. I do know He came humbly. I am sure He came in Love. I know His being sent was a radical expression of Grace. As a spiritual baby, I experience the transition from milk to meat and I know that isn’t easy. I know being sent involves a profound preparation that often feels like a little baby learning to walk. I am guessing these things that I “know” are just scratching the surface of understanding how profound our sending resembles His coming. This advent season, I think there is a wealth of grace to be mined from His expression of love towards us in His coming in a manger. May we walk together with Him considering this grace on us.

Our month of November went by fast as we anticipated our return trip to the states. November was a largely normal month highlighted by several special events. The first weekend in November our entire church was invited to a neighboring deaf church for a special service. Everyone loaded up in buses and trekked to the next parish for a “Harvest of Praise.” It was a blessing to see so many of our deaf friends gathered for such an event. The next week, we had our annual fall cookout for our team. This was a time for our team to get together and have a “wiener roast.” This is always a good time of fun, food, and laughter. The next big event was the 2^nd annual deaf sports day. Hundreds of deaf from all over the island come to our town for a day of soccer, basketball, running, etc. It is a big day with lots of fellowship. After sports day, we held our Thankgiving. Our team, some friends, and another missionary couple celebrated Thanksgiving together. This was again a celebration of God’s goodness shared with friends.

Lord Willing, we will be spending the month of December in the states. We look forward to time with family and friends. We anticipate flying back to Jamaica on the 3^rd of January. Hopefully, we will see many of you during this time. Thanks so much for your continued support and prayers.

Good Travels

We had a good day of travels. The kids did great on the airplanes with only minor battles traversing lines, terminals, and security in Chicago. We hit the ground running. After a short nights sleep we set out on our marathon.

Thursday:
Breakfast - Kirk's brothers
Lunch - G-pa/G-ma Kaebs
Dinner - Keri's brothers
Friday:
Breakfast - G-pa/G-ma Kaebs
Lunch - G-pa/G-ma Plattners
Dinner - Peoria
Saturday:
Breakfast - G-pa/G-ma Plattners
Lunch - Kirk' Brothers
Dinner - Tremont

And the story goes on.