At the beginning of this year teachers at our school encouraged students to start and be a part of a small group. After a powerful and moving time at Fall camp (a retreat for all the high school students each September) many students were seeking a place that they could grow in their faith and fellowship with others. I really felt called at that time to start a small group of my own because I had such a fun time doing one with Rachel last year! So I asked around and though only 3 out of the 6 girls that I asked actually had the time to do it, I was very happy that God had given me the opportunity to lead a small group. I have realized over the course of our gatherings how important it is to have a time and a place for Christian fellowship. It is so rare out side of small group opportunities that you really get to share about your faith and how you are feeling with others your age. One girl, a new student to my grade, had quickly become a close friend of mine at the beginning of the year and though I knew she was not yet a Christian, she was openly curious and seeking. She told me later that she had been moved both at Fall Camp and at Vida, a spiritual retreat, but she wanted to learn more about Christianity before she committed to anything. She has such an open heart and I am so encouraged in the fact that each time we meet she shares how surprised she is at different aspects of Christianity, like how God shows no favoritism and how He accepts everyone. I have had a wonderful time learning about God through the girls in my Bible study as well as leading the group in discussions. Most of all, I have learned the importnace of friendship and fellowship in my walk with Christ!

At the beginning of this year teachers at our school encouraged students to start and be a part of a small group. After a powerful and moving time at Fall camp (a retreat for all the high school students each September) many students were seeking a place that they could grow in their faith and fellowship with others. I really felt called at that time to start a small group of my own because I had such a fun time doing one with Rachel last year! So I asked around and though only 3 out of the 6 girls that I asked actually had the time to do it, I was very happy that God had given me the opportunity to lead a small group. I have realized over the course of our gatherings how important it is to have a time and a place for Christian fellowship. It is so rare out side of small group opportunities that you really get to share about your faith and how you are feeling with others your age. One girl, a new student to my grade, had quickly become a close friend of mine at the beginning of the year and though I knew she was not yet a Christian, she was openly curious and seeking. She told me later that she had been moved both at Fall Camp and at Vida, a spiritual retreat, but she wanted to learn more about Christianity before she committed to anything. She has such an open heart and I am so encouraged in the fact that each time we meet she shares how surprised she is at different aspects of Christianity, like how God shows no favoritism and how He accepts everyone. I have had a wonderful time learning about God through the girls in my Bible study as well as leading the group in discussions. Most of all, I have learned the importnace of friendship and fellowship in my walk with Christ!

My Malaysian friend, Hephzibah, asked me to show her how to make homemade dinner rolls. Together we decided to invite a few other friends over for a baking gathering. Two other 8th grade moms also came, (not pictured) one from Japan and another from Malaysia. The young lady from Vietnam just became a Christian last May. This will be her first time to ever celebrate Christmas in her life! She grew up Buddhist. I cannot imagine NEVER having celebrated Christmas. Her love for the Lord was so vibrant.

We enjoyed lunch together of broccoli soup and the dinner rolls we made, along with some yummy sugar cookies (Sean’s Grandma Hazel’s recipe).

Ladies below are from Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, US (me), and Singapore.

Rachel is taking an individual Art Portfolio class this year. Here is one of her big assignments for this semester. She chose a painting of the Creation. I am so inspired by her talent and diligence.

Each year as Advent begins, I have always wanted to have an Advent Wreath. But Christmas decorations as slim here in China. Maddie and I got creative this year and glued some pinecone tree ornaments to a round piece of red paper. Then we melted taper candles into some tealights to act as candlestick holders. Last we placed the wreath on an unfolded dinner napkin. And here you have it…our homemade Advent Wreath. We are enjoying the nightly reading of Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide for our Advent devotions. (I highly recommend this advent story, which is great for the whole family).

Despite the cold, foggy, gray days of winter, God gave me a small gift. The orchid plant I bought for Rachel on her birthday last July added new growth and a blossom opened the weekend of the Thanksgiving holiday. I can see at least five more buds that should be opened by Christmas. What a beautiful gift!

Our high school choir students made a visit to our school’s new campus to say thank-you to the construction workers. They sang songs and passed out cookies. Rachel and Jessie, as part of the video news club, went as reporters to cover the story. At this point in the construction the men are working 24-hours a day in order to meet the January deadline, so that our school can be ready for students. They come from the countryside and live in tin building shelters with no heat. One of my Chinese co-workers at school said that it means more than we know for our students to come and share holiday spirit with these manual laborers. I’m really thankful Rachel and Jessie were able to take part.

Last week while I was at work at school Sean called me to come up to his 4th floor office. I work on the front side of the building on the first floor. Sean is on the back side, on the 4th floor. When I came to his office here is what I saw across the street from our school. Apparently some air conditioner units caught fire on top of this new-construction building. Thankfully this is a new apartment building and no one is living there yet.

Jessie and Rachel are following in their older brother’s footsteps as active participants in our school’s MUN program. This month they represented the Holy See as delegates in the 7th annual MUN conference in Singapore. This year our school’s director asked me if I would go with the group as a chaperone. I was so blessed to be able to witness the girls’ involvement in the conference. They both had opportunities to meet other students from as far away as Australia and Dubai. Representing the Holy See, they were able to speak out with a conservative voice. Here the girls pose in front of the fountain on the hosting school’s campus.

On the weekend of November 11th, Rachel and Jessie took part in the leadership team of our school’s annual retreat called Vida Nueva (Spanish for New Life). Rachel was asked to be the Rectora position (lead female student) and Jessie was asked to be a table leader. Many weeks of prayer and weekly gatherings to prepare went into the weekend. Thirty students from our school came as amigos (participants) in the retreat. The weekend is set up like the “Walk to Emmsus” for adults, that some of you may know of. However this weekend is intended just for teens. The Lord touched many students’ hearts, and there were lots of decisions to accept Jesus as Savior! We are so grateful for the powerful way God is moving among the student body in our school this year.

Here is Rachel with her co-leader, JinHoon, noticed the sweatshirt “Weak = Strong” designed by Jessie