Good News and the Outlook for 2010

So far as our hearts and core values are concerned, 2009 was an incredibly fruitful and productive year. The opportunities for ministry in Zambia and in Cuba were some of the most incredible we've experienced as we were able to do outreach and train leaders.

At home in the U.S. we participated in camps, produced Vacation Bible Schools and began work with a new group of interns. These five young people have grown up as children that we ministered to, and several of them have counted the years until they could be interns with us. They came to us ready and eager to do anything that is ministry. We are already seeing their wondeful work ethic as they go out with us locally.

There has been much less road work than usual as churches everywhere are having to cut back on bringing in outside ministry groups. We have spent more time at home preparing for what God has opened up for us in 2010. It has been wonderful being home. Not only have we had more opportunity to work with our interns, we've been able to do more ministry here. Just yesterday 12 children at a local Christian school gave their lives to Jesus!

We have been invited to return to Cuba and spend a week teaching pastors and church leaders about ministry to children, and then conduct a week of camp for 450 children from all over the nation. The leaders told us, "It will be hot, and it will be in Spanish." Cliff Ann and I are on a crash course to recapture the Spanish we once had as we prepare for this awsome opportunity. Translating our materials is a wonderful way to regain fluency in thinking and writing. Both Rosetta Stone and our Hispanic friends are helping us with this conversion.

To have the privilege of helping touch this nation as it prepares for revolutionary change, and to work with a nationwide group is awesome. For us it will be costly on many fronts. July in Cuba is brutally hot and our physical conditioning will be important! We're also hoping to take part in major outreaches in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, South Africa and Zambia.

We are daily asking God to show us how to cooperate with Him as support aririves. We are still here, and more dependent on Him than ever. We ask for your prayers and partnership! While some consider this to be the worst of time, we are finding this is truly one of the best times for sharing the Good News of the Gospel!