November 17

Holiday greetings to you!

This year has been wonderful, having overcome obstacles at the start. It was necessary to return to the United States four months early, following medical advice due to Isaiah’s very serious situation. Isaiah had just completed an extensive treatment for kidney nephrosis. But recurring malaria and other viruses causing high fever threatened to remove all the good from the treatment. It was time to go. There was much quick activity of packing and selling. We also could not bear to leave Jock, our Jack Russell, behind, but it was no easy task to get him out of the country.

Charles stayed a month longer than the rest of the family, tying up loose ends. During this month he travelled by bus to hold a conference at a Presbyterian church in the city of Nampula. Also, along with the newly arrived pastor at Pemba, he preached at the provincial prison. He felt a strong presence of the Holy Spirit during these times, and his Portuguese was the best he’d ever spoken.

Mozambican custom official like to see people bring things into the country. But Charles found that to get them back out you often have to pay a pretty price. (He never did receive two big bags of theological books, precious cargo to him.) He flew out of Africa exactly three and a half years to the day of first arrival. This coming year he plans to return to Mozambique for a short time in order to “size up” things and study the situation in terms of further ministry there.

Meanwhile Diane was doing all kinds of work in our house here in Dallas, South Dakota, thriving in it all. We have all grown to love our old little cottage-style house, and now the roaring fireplace adds to Isaiah’s health has been super since arriving to the United States. He jumped a year ahead at the local school and right away was made captain of the class Brain Brawl team and elected class vice-president. He also played football this fall.

Anna Lena has also been doing super. She plays the clarinet in band and loves art and making crafty Christmas gifts. She is dreaming about going to China, considering taking Chinese via Internet. Both she and Isaiah are on the A honor roll and we parents are very blessed by that.

Micah and Jonah live together in a house in Vermillion and are involved in various community activities. They seem to be doing quite well, learning the ropes of what it means to have adult responsibility.

We have had the most beautiful experiences at church after church, 40 plus so far this year. We have, by God’s wonderful grace and mercy, preached and made mission presentations here in South Dakota and in Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York. We also were made happy in participating in the 25th anniversary celebration of the Outreach Foundation in Nashville, Tennessee. Without the wonderful support of the Outreach Foundation, we would not have enjoyed near the freedom of ministry we experienced.

In all our traveling we have made new friends, whom we dearly wish we could somehow see again. We stayed at many homes, each hosting us with such special hospitality and endearing our hearts.

This season may you be filled again with the joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior!

Charles and Diane, Micah, Jonah, Anna Lena, Isaiah

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 63