Tyler and Emily in PNG

If you want to say Happy Holidays you must not forget today is Kwanzaa. So…Happy Kwanzaa!

I hope you found Joy this Christmas as now we can start counting the days until next Christmas or 364 more days.  This Christmas was cold and dark as I stayed in the frozen state of Alaska. On the way to Anchorage for Christmas Eve temps fell to -23 along the highway. When your nostril hairs freeze for being outside in 1 minute you know it is bitter cold. Nonetheless, I survived and yet another testimony that yes it is tougher in Alaska.

As we remember the birth of Christ and celebrate love, joy, forgiveness, and peace we must look forward to the new year in just 6 short days. 2011! Wow, time marches on. As time marches so does the date that I will be leaving. I look forward to be leaving the frigged temps to warmer topical climate near the equator. I am still working with the travel agency but it appears I will be leaving on the morning on Jan 21.

This past week was highlighted with the spectacular full lunar eclipse and witnessing the moon turn to an amber red before returning to a bright white full moon. Last time that a full lunar eclipse happened on winter solstice was in 1638. If the magi had a full moon as we experienced it, they would have been a great benefit as they traveled by night to the manger in Bethlehem. Christmas was shared with relatives and cousins over a ham and the side fixings. Of course, I went home with a gut plug that was righteous.

Of course New Years always bring light to New Years Resolutions. Let me challenge you this 2011 to ask what are you expecting God to do in your life in 2011? If you expect him to do a lot, God can do a lot. If you expect him to do a little, God can do a little. If you don’t expect him to do anything, he won’t do anything. But we must seek his kingdom first (Matt 6:33). We must seek God’s purpose and plan and righteousness for our lives, and that requires that we give him our trust. Ask God to help you give your trust entirely to him this coming year, and then watch what he does in your life.

Prayer Requests:
Purchase of airfare and tickets

Praises:
100% of Financial Support
Work Permit – obtained
Resident Visa – received 2 weeks ago

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The 4th Sunday of Advent and the last Sunday before Christmas…what does that mean? We get to sing your favorite Christmas carols one last time. I’m not sure what your line-up was but we sang songs:  What Child is This?, Silent Night, O Come O Come Emmanuel, The First Noel, and O Holy Night. I got to thinking what does Noel mean? I researched the meaning and origin of Noel. Here is what I’ve found:

Noel is believed to be either English or French word. The English claim the French stole it from them in 1800s because Noel means Christmas in French. The First Noel was a traditional English Christmas carol wrote in the 1700s. Noel in Latin means ‘birth’. So what I have gathered is Noel means Christmas, birth. We celebrate Christmas (Noel) as the first birth of a king whom we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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This past week has been another week worthy of praise. On Friday I received my visa and passport back from the embassy in D.C. Thank you for your prayers as the process went quick, smooth, and without error. I now am cleared for entered into the country. Work Permit – Check. Visa – Check. Financial Support – Check.

This week my charge will be to find airfare. PBT requires at least 90% total support commitment before you can purchase airfare. I have surpassed that amount and have all government required documents so I have been granted approval of purchase of airfare.

Prayer Requests:
– Airfare: good quotes and itineraries for travel to Papua New Guinea
– Preparation of moving and packing

Praises:
– Work Permit and Visa were accepted, approved, and obtained
– Financial support is over 100% (Praise God)

(I remember a few other points on my previous yet lost post but the highlights I have remembered. Plus this week you get a bonus video of a short winter hike in Alaska.)

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First I must apologize for no post last Sunday. The last post was from the Anchorage Airport and since then I have been nonstop visiting family and friends in Indiana over the Thanksgiving season.

I had the pleasure to visit with my growing family as I am now blessed with 6 nieces and nephews ranging from 8 to 0 yrs. The boys are currently out numbering the girls 2 to 1 so that meant a lot of horsey rides on my back and wrestling. The boys would wake up and ask me, “Uncle Tyler want to play rough?, We want to play rough, Want to go downstairs and play rough?” I think that must be their favorite word, rough. Nonetheless, I have fun playing rough and wrestling with my nephews. Memories were made all week with my two older brothers and younger sister.  It will be the last time for at least two years that we will all be together. It seems tougher and tougher for the family to get together as we are all in different time zones and soon I will be in a different day across the ocean.

I had the chance to go to church with my parents and family and the message was geared towards rest, peace, and keeping the Sabbath during the holiday season. The youth minster preached from Luke 10:38-40 about the difference between Martha and Mary. Martha the doer and Mary the watcher. So many of us are doers, constantly have to find something to do while the rest of us are the Mary’s you watch, consume, and wait. As we prepare for Advent and Christmas, let us not forgot to take the attitude of Mary and not get caught up in the rat race of the season. Not do, do, do but listen, watch, and rest.

Praises:

– Resident Visa – has been lodged and accepted in PNG and I have the go ahead to apply to the embassy in Washington, DC

Prayer Requests:
– Financial Support – God will continue to pour out His blessings as I move toward 100% support
***I am approximately 80% funded, need 20% in the next month.
– General prayer for myself as I prepare to pack, move, wrap up work, and prepare for overseas living.
– Resident Visa – I will be mailing all required documents this week to D.C. Pray there will be no hangups or errors. If everything goes well, I should obtain my official visa in two weeks.

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