Hi Praying Friends!

We are in the season of life where we can no longer take it for granted that our kids will be able to be with us for Christmas. This is especially true when you have children who live on different continents! We are so grateful that we get to spend time with our kids this Christmas. Having them all together is a special gift.

One of the requests from our daughter was for me to make deep-dish pizza. As we were coordinating her work schedule and family celebrations - it turns out the only day for us to really do that is Christmas Day itself! So our family meal is pizza! (I make a really good deep-dish pizza!!). It is a treat for the boys, as well - because one of the ingredients readily available here, but almost impossible to find in Berlin is pepperoni. (If you order pepperoni in Germany, you get a spicy pepper - which is ok, but a surprise if you were hoping for something different.)

As we were wrapping presents last night, I was again overwhelmed by the amount of things we have to be grateful for. As we celebrate the Word become flesh, who dwelt among us (see John 1!), I want to thank you again for your prayers and financial support that make it possible for us to go as Jesus went (see John 21) - and live among people who have a historical version of Christianity, but often have never been in a church and do not know people who have a relationship with Christ. Thank you for allowing us to become an incarnate presence of the love of Christ in Berlin.

As we close the year, I know you are probably getting a lot of end-of-year giving requests. Perhaps you have gotten something from the Christian and Missionary Alliance, as well! If you are looking for ways to maximize giving at the end of the year, there is a matching gift opportunity you can use here to support the work the Alliance is doing around the world.

If you would like to give to Envision Berlin, to the Picconatto's, or to the Jone's family - we would also be grateful. If you write to me (you can just reply here!) I can help you find a way that your gift would go to a project that would match up well with what you are interested in supporting the most!

Some prayer requests for this week:

1. Pray for ongoing health. We are feeling much better!
2. Pray for the few, short days we have left with our kids all in the same general location, and for the goodbyes that are coming. They are always hard!
3. Pray for safe travel for our boys as they return to Berlin and jump back into work and school responsibilities.
4. We are preparing for a series of messages we will have in February at Crown College. Please pray for the writing process!

Merry Christmas, friends! Please let us know how we can pray for you this holiday season.

Blessings,

mike