November 22, 2004

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays…”

Packages from home

November starts the holiday season as we start our second year far from home, family, and friends. During the festive celebrations that many of you will soon begin with Thanksgiving, we are reflective upon the past year and the many blessings we have received from our gracious Lord during our year here in China.

We have been blessed and are very thankful for our family. In this family we include all of our blood relations, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and all our new acquaintances, both email and Chinese. We are thankful to you all for the prayers that are lifted up for us daily. This week alone, we have had many answered prayers made evident to us.

Many of you have asked what we need or what you could send to us. To be honest, we really have no needs that we cannot purchase here. Last year, there were several wants and needs that were taken care of by family, friends, and churches from home.

We have received things that have made our stay here more pleasant: various foods and spices, cocoa, macaroni and cheese, deodorant, dental floss, cards and letters from Sunday school classes and past students, etc.

We have received items that helped us in the classroom: index cards, construction paper, laminating sheets, felt-tipped pens, cardstock paper, sheet protectors, books, magazines, etc.

We have received items that helped us reach out to others: children’s playing cards, crayons, coloring books, simple children’s books, calendars (American scenes and countryside churches), etc.

Receiving a package from home is a definite spirit-lifter. Last year, on Christmas Eve, a package from our church arrived. On Vickie’s birthday in March, a package from her sixth-grade students arrived. Upon arriving home from Guangyuan this summer, Billy had M-bags of books from friends in Vermont. We have had packages from various groups and people from Louisiana, Vermont, Tennessee, and Kentucky. We have been blessed.

We are well taken care of and are not writing this to ask for more stuff. But we are making a suggestion: Find someone that is serving in a place far from home. Make contact with them. Let them know that you would like to help them in anyway possible and mean it. Everyone cannot travel around the world to serve others. But, all of us can keep one another in our prayers and groups of people can work together to send needed items to missionaries around the world. We suggest groups do this because the shipping can be a little expensive. Also, be sure to check with your person about items that can be purchased in their location—this will save on the postage.

It is our wish and prayers that your Thanksgiving and holidays be bountiful with thanks for all blessings and love for all people.

From Fuyang, Anhui
Vickie and Billy See