The REST of the story--2015

I’m not usually one for communicating through “Christmas letters,” but I guess this is a form of one. I'm not sure why today I'm feeling this need to reach out. Maybe I’ve been affected by the eerie isolation I’m feeling on this foggy December 22^nd, or it’s the prospect of spending this Christmas without the presence of our dear daughter for the first time in 29 years. (She’s traveling to British Columbia to spend the holidays with Mike’s family. We'll miss those two, but we're happy to share!) Whatever the reason, I'm feeling this urge to communicate. Also, many have asked for “the rest of the story” of our wanderings in 2015. So here goes.

Young Life Club in Yerevan

When I last wrote, it was late August and we were still in Armenia, heading into the home stretch of our stay there. We enjoyed working with our final volunteer team, Tom and Susan Holmes, who joined us at Young Life’s “Fellowship House” in Yerevan for ten days. We loved being housemates with this gracious couple, as Susan and I did English language assessments with Young Life staff and Tom and Doug worked on projects at the camp property. We also had some time to explore the neighborhood together and visit Young Life clubs in the city.

Bolshoi Theater, Moscow

After the Holmes left, Doug and I had the privilege of traveling to Moldova and Moscow, where we were warmly welcomed by Young Life folks who were happy to introduce us to their clubs and staff members. We will forever be amazed at the universal embodiment of Christ that exists in Young Life people. We were overwhelmed with their hospitality and eagerness to share the “local color” of each of the places we visited this year. There is no better way to travel! For all of these connections we owe a debt of gratitude to our Young Life Expeditions "angel" Carrie Fraser, who was our advisor and prayer warrior for our entire summer sojourn. 

On September 24, we said goodbye to Armenia, with a pledge to return, God willing! After a visit to Vienna on the way home, we returned to Michigan on the 29^th.  We were happy to be home for two weeks before leaving on October 14 to spend two weeks in Jamaica, where we enjoyed witnessing the wedding of Doug’s niece, followed by a time of total relaxation at a remote beach resort. It was a great way to “wind down” from our travels—Ya, mon!

Now we’re back home and settling in for the winter (or should I say, the winter that we wish would come!). Doug has resumed his work with Fasteners, Inc. I will rejoin the work force in January at Top of Michigan Trails Council.

We don't foresee being in any kind of rut in 2016. God has placed a Young Life-shaped space in our hearts, and we are hoping to fill it by staying involved in some way in the year to come, hopefully with another (shorter) trip to Armenia. Recently we were thrilled to see pictures of the construction that is taking place at the camp property there, and we are excited to go back and see the progress and visit the beautiful people that we met this past year. Meanwhile we are happy to be supporting the Young Life ministry in Moldova, St. Petersburg and even here in the Little Traverse Bay area with financial gifts. It’s exciting to be a part of reaching kids with the life-altering message of Christ’s love.

We want to wish all of you a most blessed Christmas. May the reality of “God WITH us” be the source of your joy and your peace. We pray that His presence in your life will be manifest as you move into the adventure of a new year! 

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23