Dear friends,

We have some catching up to do!

Two months have flown by! This may be a little 'long' but it recaps two months. I hope you find this interesting! Just print this off, grab your favorite hot drink and enjoy! I trust this letter serves the purpose of encouraging you in your faith and prompts you to pray. It has been a season of blessings, favor and testing. I just returned from my holidays to Canada. Because of circumstances, it had been almost two years since taking a break and it was really needed and overdue break. My twin sister met me at the airport with a bouquet of flowers! Oh it was nice to see her. Then once home, another bouquet from a friend awaited me, I felt so special and loved! I saw ALL my sisters while home and spent value time with both my father and mother. My sister Deb drove from Windsor to see me which meant so much to me. Half my trip was spent traveling. I went to Nova Scotia to see my father and his wife and then on to Philadelphia to visit my sister Jill and her family and onward to Connecticut to visit another sister, Karen and her family. My twin Kathy, her two boys and I drove back from Connecticut to Ontario. I have an amazing church and connected with them and my pastors when home. They prayed with me and encouraged me greatly concerning our Guyana situation (see 'testings' below.) I thank God for them. Many also have given generously towards our projects in Guyana and have helped us move forward. I'm humbled and blessed.

WANT TO HEAR MORE BLESSINGS?
I visited the doctor's office for a check up. (I am not under OHIP presently) and after the visit, this new doctor took my invoice from me and said 'no charge'!
I visited the optometrist who also gave me a reduction in fees.
A man in my church is a chiropractor and gave me free x-rays and adjustments after living with a painful pinched nerve for over a year. I am now pain free!! Thanks Peter!
I was blessed with a pedicure from my sister (to get rid of my 'bush feet'!)
I was blessed with a one hour massage…oh did that feel good!
I was blessed with dinners and lunches and great fellowship. I felt so lavished upon while home by family and friends, I thank God for them.
Two ladies in Connecticut financially blessed me so I could buy things for the kids in Guyana and send a barrel! My family and friends also helped me to fill it!

A FEW LITTLE HAPPENINGS!
I returned to Guyana on Nov 28th after an all night flight. My flight was delayed several times and after they loaded 42 people in wheel chairs we departed at 3am!
On our way back from the airport to Parika, the police stopped our car and said we did not stop at a pedestrian walk and locked up our friend Orlando. None of us saw anyone at the cross walk and wonder if a bribe was expected. We had to bail him out!
Once home I settled in, but the next day as I was catching up with one of the staff, the room began to tremble.
I asked Steve, "do you feel the room shaking?" (Our lantern was trembling on the wall!)
"Yes" he said.
"Steve, do you think this is an earthquake?" … "yes," he said.
Steve yelled outside to the guys working… "do you feel the earth shaking?"
They didn't and began mocking us saying "oh yeah, oh yeah…" Then the house really began to shake and tremble and Steve and I ran out of the house. We yelled for anyone else in the house to get out. The man who was mocking us quickly took off his hat and began running towards his house and we all stood there not knowing what to do. Neighbors all began to run out of their homes yelling "it's shaking, it's shaking!".
This was only a tremor, I can only imagine what an earthquake feels like!
This certainly has gotten everyone's attention in Guyana.
The next evening our neighbor Angela had a break-in in the middle of the night stealing all her small appliances, TV and carpets. It was devastating for her. It keeps us vigilant.
It has been an interesting start back. Keeps one on their toes.

RECAPPING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER - BLESSINGS AND TESTINGS!
Our Discipleship Training School is underway with seven students, one an Akawioh family! Many local and international speakers have come to impart into our students.
Their outreach is Jan and Feb, to Suriname and Curacao. The students are tested in their faith as they trust God for their outreach fees! We have two Guyanese families who still need help with their fees.
We now have a new concrete bridge built so now trucks can cross onto our property and deliver sand, stones or whatever is needed for our building projects!
We've been blessed with more than enough finances to have our annual Christmas parties! Someone blessed us above and beyond so we can have some great parties for a Seniors Home, Childrens home, AIDS ward and our community! We are in the process of preparing and planning now.
I attended a pastors luncheon and met a lady from the Canadian consulate. She is excited about what we are doing in Guyana and asked me to submit a proposal for a RECREATION center. She knows an organization that may want to fund it.
The local churches in Parika continue to unite together to pray and intercede for our community and the nation.

THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH
This is a 'good' test.
With so much favor and blessings in our midst, the devil has tried to slow us down!
Annually we apply for work permits enabling us to remain and minister in Guyana.
This year, all our foreign staff have been denied stay… including me!
Wow, when I received the letter from the Ministry of Home affairs, it kind of took me back. I walked through Georgetown market asking God, what to do. I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit telling me "run towards the battle line". Then a song from a local music vendor blared loud and clear through the market proclaiming "when you call on Jesus, all things are possible." I was encouraged.
We are in the midst of the battle. We have been appealing this decision and thus far are still waiting and strategizing. We have many wonderful pastors and leaders petitioning on our behalf and encouraging us. No battle is too big for God. This is our Goliath and as David, we continue to run towards the battle line. Many missionaries must leave Guyana and already one of our staff members has left. We need you to stand with us in deep intercession. As it stands now, we have until January 18th to work things out before we have to leave.
BUT… we continue to move forward in all God has told us to do. THIS HASN'T SLOWED US DOWN! Pray for wisdom and Gods strategy in all of this.
As I visited a church in Pt Elgin, Ontario, one man came up to me and prayed over me telling me that "What doors God opens, no man can shut!" I hold onto that.
Thanks for standing with me/us and helping us to move forward.
OK, did you make it through this long 'book'?
Thanks so very much for your love, encouragement and support. I feel it and I am encouraged. I'll keep you posted as to what is happening here in Guyana and our present situation.

May God bless you!

With love

Kim