We just had a Pertemuan RT, which is a meeting for all the men in our neighborhood. We meet once a month in a different home. Within this meeting, the Pak RT (leader) tells us any governmental issues, concerns, or information that Indonesians need to know.

We were able to have sate and lontong, which happens to be a real treat among Indonesians. They were really grateful and appreciative of us for having sate and lontong. Sate is basically chicken on a stick and they grill it. Lontong is rice covered with banana leaves. Over all of the sate and lontong, they put a peanut sauce, which is my favorite part.

Everything went smoothly and Iz slept well on the plane. We couldn’t ask God for a better transition to our new home.

Great Christmas at home!!!

Christmas time was filled with 1.5 weeks of fun times with both the Currie and Smith families. This will be our last Christmas for awhile, so we tried to spend as much time as possible with family. We are truly blessed!

Pops Currie "Joseph" telling the Christmas story

Pops & Nanna Currie w/ all 11 grandchildren

Pops Currie decided to tell the Christmas story a little different this year, by playing the character Joseph. Look out folks, he is looking to make a business out of this, but I hear he is expensive for adults, but he is free for kids!

Nanna & Pops love being grandparents of 11!  The crazy thing is we only saw Iz at meal time, because he was to busy being with his cousins!

Smith family bleed green

Melanie was supportive of the big football game with her brother and Dad. It was a sad day for football but great to be with family!

• Safety as we travel to TX (Oct. 16-Nov. 3)
• Additional $750/mth to be at 70% for us to go to Indonesia
• More opportunities to share our ministry
• Continual growth in our walks w/ God

• Current Status = 58%
• Needed to be @ 70% = $750/mth
• Currently have 5 churches – 1   pending
• 35 individuals – 35  more needed

As God changed the plans of us not leaving for Indonesia, this past April, we had no idea what He wanted us to do from then on. God directed us to a camp near Niles, MI, called Life Action Camp.  We committed to volunteering for 8 weeks (finishing up the 6th week as of now), while raising support on the weekends and during the week. We have definitely seen God’s hand in all of this as our family has been encouraged by being here and also been able to encourage and serve the campers. God has provided a few families on our financial team while being here, which is an answer to prayers.

Good thing Israel loves the water, since the camp is right on Clear Lake.  Melanie takes him down to the beach front just about everyday to soak up the sun and cool down in the water.

Sometimes we find Israel doing a little bit of this.

Our little car is over 200,000 miles

Our car is officially over the hill!

While on our way back from New Jersey doing a missions conference, we came to realize that our car had reached a milestone.  Life has been in the fast lane (how ironic considering the picture) the last 2 months. This Sunday we go to a church in Hart, MI, and this will be the 7th church the last 8 weeks.

IZ sleeping during the long road trips

Sad News but we continue to Lean on Our God:

We are not able to go to Indonesia in April. We had our visa’s all in place and we were ready to order tickets but had a few set backs. Honestly, it was hard not to question God’s motives, but the Holy Spirit was quick to help us understand that His ways are better and He is Sovereign.

We are praying and hoping that God will allow us to go in November as our finances and placement in language school all settle in. If not then, we will have to wait until April of 2011.

Current Status of Ethnos 77 (financial team)

Have 3 Churches and 28 Individuals = Need 4 Churches and 42 Individuals

Currently have almost 40% of our financial need.