It is hard to believe we have reached the end of another year, how time has passed by so quickly! God has truly been faithful! We cannot express to you how grateful we are for all of your prayers and financial support for this ministry over this past year. Also, thank you to those who have given to us personally during this Christmas season. May God bless you abundantly for all you do!
It can be discouraging at times when we do not see immediate results of our labor, so we would like to also say thank you to those who have given us words of encouragement along the way. May God bless all of you in a special way!
This month has been a very busy month with all the ministry opportunities and holiday activities. We are thankful for the strength and help the Lord has given to us!
Christmas Program
At the beginning of the month we had a Christmas dinner, and the children and youth from the Bible class sang and preformed a shadow drama for their parents. We also invited several of our new neighbors to come. We are grateful that over 30 people came. We shared with them that we are the reason Jesus came to this earth. We gave them an opportunity to pray. We pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to deal with them. After the program one of the ladies who came, by the name of Galiza, wanted to talk to us. She was asking for advice for a situation in her marriage. As we were talking to her the Lord impressed Reitha to invite her to church. She came with us the following Sunday; she was crying during part of the service and came forward for prayer. She came to church another time as well. We pray the Holy Spirit will continue to work in her life.
Youth Night
Along with the other ministries we have started a youth night for the older kids that come to the Bible class. We ate together and had a Bible study on spiritual growth. Afterwards we did a Christmas gift exchange.
Baking and Christmas Carols
The kids from Bible class baked Christmas goodies. They enjoyed baking and putting together gift bags for our neighbors. Along with the goodies there was also a letter about the plan of salvation and the end times. We gave these bags out as we caroled. While we caroled at a convenience store down the street from our house there was a man who was sitting in his car in front of the store. After we finished singing, he said, “You put a smile on my face!”
It is legal here in New Zealand to put things in mailboxes, unless they have a sign saying no junk mail. We placed the letters in the mailboxes of our neighbors who were not home while we were caroling. We went to our previous neighborhood to carol to some of the people there. While we were caroling one of the girls in the neighborhood, Bliss, she is 7 years old, saw us caroling. She came over to the fence and listened. She then came to the front yard to listen while we caroled at another house. Reitha asked her if she wanted us to come carol for her, she shook her head yes! She was excited that we came and sang to her and her family. We have previously given her a children’s Bible. Reitha asked her if she has been reading it, she shook her head yes. Help us pray for Bliss that she will be saved and win her family to the Lord.
Ethiopian Church
The youth choir at the Ethiopian church sang Christmas songs this month. We taught the children and youth classes as well.
Street Outreach
The Friday evening before Christmas, 2 of the girls from Bible class joined us in handing out Christmas goodies and a letter about salvation to the homeless. They also sang some Christmas songs on the street and passed out tracts. Praise the Lord, some Hindus and a Hare Krishna took tracts. At least 250 tracts were given out that evening. While we were there, a man by the name of Miguel took a tract and talked with us. He said he is a Coptic Christian. He was interested in coming to church and came with us the following Sunday. He has now moved away from Auckland; but has still kept in contact with us.
