Good Afternoon Everyone!
Sorry this is kind of late but here is a February update. I trust everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! It was different (and hard) spending Christmas down here without family but we certainly enjoyed our Christmas dinner with all of the missionaries! It is amazing how we missionaries rely on each other to be our family. We sure enjoyed all of your Christmas cards!
One highlight over Christmas for me was visiting the home of a very poor old woman. Dad and I driven for quite a while(via motorcycle), looking for a really poor home, when we spotted this old lady sitting on her porch. She said she was sick and unfortunately didn't know Christ. We gave her a dress, some rice and beans, and several tracts. I pray that power of Christ will work in her heart. Please pray that she will accept the Lord before her time on earth is over.
"The heaven declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." Psalms 19:1

I had an amazing two weeks in early January. My fiend, Autumn Hohulin from Denver, CO came to visit me. She found such joy in all of God's creation...and encouraged me to stop and smell the roses. We had so many great talks, walks and bible studies. While she was here all of the missionary kids got together for a New Year's celebration with food and games...and of course a countdown! It was a blast. We had a prayer ushering in the new year asking God to guide each of our lives...what a wonderful way to start the year!

My friend Autumn

I have gone out with several work teams to work on benches for the schools we do. It is always an adventure to go out into the bush!

Here are some dedicated church ladies making our delicious dinner.

With the last work team, 6 of us climbed a "near-by" mountain. On the way up we blazed our own trail paying for it with scratches and eventually some sort of poison ivy for several of the hikers. After reaching the top (2,700ft) we asked a farmer up there how to get down--not liking the idea of going down the way we came from! Soon we found a trail and FINALLY made it down (6 hours later) with parched mouths and sore bodies! What a workout but what a view!

Up, up and away! Tyler Gutwein, Ed Sanders and I scramble up some rocks. Harv Gutwein, Chris Huber, and my dad were the other hikers.

Recently I have been reminded that worship is does not only involve God. A life that lives out what the mouth says. The Pharisees were big talkers but their words and lifestyles were rejected by Christ. He called them blind hypocrites! (Matt.23) Caring for others, responding in a Christ-like manner, and taking time to truly listen to the spirit, are a form of worship to the Lord. Samuel 15:22, "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Not much else is new. I hope you are all doing well--would love hearing from you! Please continue to pray for us. God bless!
Love, Tess