Thanksgiving, Christmas Party, & New Year’s Eve:
There were 4 missionary families at our house for Thanksgiving Day making 5 families totaling 28 people. We had a good time of food and fellowship. The Bible verse that comes to my mind at times when we are traveling in the US on furlough or here on the mission field is when Jesus was speaking to His disciples saying, “...Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”- Mark 10:29,30. The phrase I am emphasizing is “now in this time”. This was truly a Special Grace and the visiting families were a Special Blessing! On Sunday evening, CHRIST-mas eve we spent it at church with the church family preaching on the 1st Christmas and ending on Anna, “...which departed not from the temple, but served God”..., being a faithful and a fervent witness of the Redemption in Christ. In Luke 2:38 the Bible says, “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”. Afterward we snacked, played games: Bible Trivia, Awaree (African Game), and Pit. It was pretty noisy! Then the night was topped off with the “White Elephant” gift exchange. After everyone opens their gifts then we exchange 2 more times, bringing a bit of torture to the one that now knows what they have and would like to keep. New Year’s Eve church started at 9 pm and closed well after 12 mid-night with having afterwards Ettel (African dish) and fireworks. To say the least, it was fun, but we were ready for bed when we got home! THANK YOU ALL WHO GAVE US EXTRA FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
Planning Meeting:
On December 14 & 15 was our yearly planning meeting where we go over the past year’s finances; Schedule the new year’s happenings; and intermittently download and listen to some sermons
from November’s Loving & Leading Conference in Milford, Ohio. Preachers need preaching too at times and it was good. We scheduled also our spring semester of Evening Bible Classes. Monday, I teach, starting a 3 part course on The Defense Of The Faith – part 1; Tuesday, Bro Koasi will teach a course on The Four Gospels; and Thursday, Bro Prince will teach on The NT Church. Here the government has an organization called the Lands Department. They deal with all affairs concerning government land, which is said to be the safest to buy from. And for us, the only available spot in our location that we see to buy. In the middle of December they were to have met together and decide on the Church property and it’s pricing for us at CBBC. After a year’s wait on them to have this meeting, they finally had it, BUT DID NOT DECIDE ON ANY LAND ISSUES. I think it must have been a Christmas Party!!! Although these times in this world are very disappointing, we are still praying and waiting. The Only Blessed Assurance We Have Is Jesus!!!
Coming Home:
We are coming home for furlough. We are looking to schedule meetings starting with the middle of April. Also we are looking for a good traveling car/minivan that we can put a lot of miles on. In
May we head towards PCC in Florida and are looking to have meetings on the way there, and back. Our son, Matthew Jr. will be graduating with the Homeschoolers at A Beka and then going to PCC. Please pray for us!!!
Bits Of Bread:
What is your objective in this New Year, or Better Yet, for Your Life’s Objective, is it that “Jesus Might Be Made Manifest” ?????
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” –II Cor 4:8-11
His Manifestation,
Matthew Siekbert
There were 4 missionary families at our house for Thanksgiving Day making 5 families totaling 28 people. We had a good time of food and fellowship. The Bible verse that comes to my mind at times when we are traveling in the US on furlough or here on the mission field is when Jesus was speaking to His disciples saying, “...Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”- Mark 10:29,30. The phrase I am emphasizing is “now in this time”. This was truly a Special Grace and the visiting families were a Special Blessing! On Sunday evening, CHRIST-mas eve we spent it at church with the church family preaching on the 1st Christmas and ending on Anna, “...which departed not from the temple, but served God”..., being a faithful and a fervent witness of the Redemption in Christ. In Luke 2:38 the Bible says, “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”. Afterward we snacked, played games: Bible Trivia, Awaree (African Game), and Pit. It was pretty noisy! Then the night was topped off with the “White Elephant” gift exchange. After everyone opens their gifts then we exchange 2 more times, bringing a bit of torture to the one that now knows what they have and would like to keep. New Year’s Eve church started at 9 pm and closed well after 12 mid-night with having afterwards Ettel (African dish) and fireworks. To say the least, it was fun, but we were ready for bed when we got home! THANK YOU ALL WHO GAVE US EXTRA FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
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| Thanksgiving a game of volleyball |
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| CBBC Christmas Party |
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| New Year 2018 eating Ettel |
Planning Meeting:
On December 14 & 15 was our yearly planning meeting where we go over the past year’s finances; Schedule the new year’s happenings; and intermittently download and listen to some sermons
from November’s Loving & Leading Conference in Milford, Ohio. Preachers need preaching too at times and it was good. We scheduled also our spring semester of Evening Bible Classes. Monday, I teach, starting a 3 part course on The Defense Of The Faith – part 1; Tuesday, Bro Koasi will teach a course on The Four Gospels; and Thursday, Bro Prince will teach on The NT Church. Here the government has an organization called the Lands Department. They deal with all affairs concerning government land, which is said to be the safest to buy from. And for us, the only available spot in our location that we see to buy. In the middle of December they were to have met together and decide on the Church property and it’s pricing for us at CBBC. After a year’s wait on them to have this meeting, they finally had it, BUT DID NOT DECIDE ON ANY LAND ISSUES. I think it must have been a Christmas Party!!! Although these times in this world are very disappointing, we are still praying and waiting. The Only Blessed Assurance We Have Is Jesus!!!
Coming Home:
We are coming home for furlough. We are looking to schedule meetings starting with the middle of April. Also we are looking for a good traveling car/minivan that we can put a lot of miles on. In
May we head towards PCC in Florida and are looking to have meetings on the way there, and back. Our son, Matthew Jr. will be graduating with the Homeschoolers at A Beka and then going to PCC. Please pray for us!!!
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| Matthew, Joseph and Nehemiah |
Bits Of Bread:
What is your objective in this New Year, or Better Yet, for Your Life’s Objective, is it that “Jesus Might Be Made Manifest” ?????
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” –II Cor 4:8-11
Matthew Siekbert
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