Do you ever have moments when you feel like you have been blessed way beyond anything that you deserve? That's how I felt this Christmas with all (well, almost all - Aaron and Katie were with Katie's family this year) of our children home. Watching little Jacob toddle around, seeing all of our children's faces at our table, working together in clinics and on airplanes and tractors, gave us so much joy. Of course, the down side to that is saying goodbye to each one. But it was great while it lasted!

We continued to hold clinic days throughout the week. We had a few emergencies as the government clinic was closed for the week but nothing too overwhelming. Tuesday after clinic in Chiminisijuan we were asked to visit a young man who had been sick with "a cough and fever for 3 weeks". We walked down - Duane estimates it to be a 2500 foot drop - to a little wood slat house where we found Dionel lying on the dirt floor. He is an 18 year old husband and father who would not look us in the eye. We could find nothing physically wrong with him - at least nothing obvious. He was so thin and looked so sad. He accepted Jesus as his savior 6 months ago. His wife said that a curse had been placed upon him at the beginning of his illness so we talked with him about the protection that we have in the blood of Jesus. We prayed with him, tried to encourage him but even as we left, he crawled back under his blanket to hide. We often find that people here have more faith in the power of demons that they do in the power of Jesus. Pray for him if you have a minute - he is an example of someone who is truly forgotten with no one to help him except Jesus.

The next couple of months will be very busy for us with lots of visitors. We are thankful that the Allison's are here to help us shoulder some of the responsibility for that. Next Thursday we will have our annual day to honor the local pastors. Pastor Phil Stern comes each year to encourage them with a teaching, some personal ministry and then we will serve a lunch. Our desire is to create an atmosphere of unity and encouragement to these men who serve here so faithfully and often without the gratitude of their congregations.

As we look to this New Year, we pray that you are blessed with health and peace and a closer walk with our Savior!