Well folks, we've finally figured out where everyone is going to be ministering next semester! (For those of you would are not familiar with the program that I'm currently involved in, let me just take moment to explain.) The trip that we are on is broken into two parts, the first is The Awakening and the second is called The Outreach. Basically the first part is a combination of discipleship and ministry with a focus on our learning and growing as believers. And the second half also includes both discipleship and outreach, but we spend much more time working with long-term service projects and missionaries. Starting January 4^th, our whole team of 40 students will break up into three groups, and travel to three different locations to begin the Outreach part of the trip. One group will stay here in Jeffrey's Bay, where we have been for the past few months and continue what has already been started. Another group will drive about 20 hours to the country of Swaziland, where another ministry site is being set up. And for me personally I'll be going to the neighboring city of Port Elizabeth to work with one of the churches there. I don't know a lot about what we're doing there, only that the church has a very large youth group that we will be working with and possibly discipling some of them. The leaders are very excited and looking forward to our coming. We also are very excited to begin, but we still have to finish what's going on here first.

                There are a number of things I would ask you to lift up in prayer, as a body of believers:

·         Health: for all of our team members, Satan is constantly trying to bring our team down with sicknesses

·         Service: Pray for a greater heart to serve the people here and not to get frustrated when things don't go well

·         Unity: Pray that we would learn to be a part of the Body of Christ, and build one another up in love. Especially that we would learn to be encouraging to one another at all times

·         Spiritual Gifts: Pray for me personally: If God has a spiritual gift to give me (and I've been asking for one) that I would learn to use it for His glory and not my own. I've been trying to learn to be faithful in the "little things"-or the gifts I know I have, such as service- first so that God would be able to trust me with the "greater gifts." I'm also going to be fasting and praying a lot the rest of this semester, and I hope that you will join me with this!

·         Focus: Pray that our lives would be focused entirely on our ministry and not at all on our selves. It is getting easier to take more "personal time" because we feel tired or sick. But let us be so consumed by a passion to serve others that we can "do all things through Christ who strengthens us."-Philippians 4:13. "Never tire of doing what is right."-2 Thessalonians 3:13. "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives."-Titus 3:14

·         Discernment:  To especially know what God wants me to do next year (I'm trying to learn to serve Him no matter where I am). "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind; then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good pleasing and perfect will." I sort of feel a calling to continue with missions, but at the same time I don't know whether or not I'm really prepared for it, or if God wants me to finish college first or what. Recently I've been reading a biography about a Chinese Christian named Brother Yun, who has suffered so much for the sake of the gospel in his country. It has really touched my heart-so I've thought God might be calling me to go where Christians are being persecuted.

·         Support: Lastly, although I'm not as worried about this anymore for myself, there are a number of people still in need by one or two thousand dollars. Pray that God would provide all that is needed for them. For those who are thinking of donating again, assuming all the pledged money comes in, I will need only about $850 to pay for everything. Praise God for his faithfulness! There are all sorts of other needs that arise here in our ministry sites if you want to donate to something specific. For example, twice a week we (personally) pay for the street kids to have a basic meal of peanut butter sandwiches