…Writing to You to Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As you open the many gifts from family and friends remember God’s most precious gift – His Son, Jesus Christ.

…Proud parents of Peter. Peter is twelve and soon to be turning thirteen. Peter enjoys seventh grade at Winfield Middle School. This year he has tried Spanish and Cooking. What he has learned at school, he has shared it with us at home. So far, it’s been good. Other subjects he enjoys are: Advance Math, Science, Social Studies and Music. Peter’s favorite sport to play continues to be soccer. This season was his tenth season. He is aggressive when the ball comes to his area. Awana continues to be a part of his life. In May, he completed four handbooks to receive the Timothy Award Trophy. This past summer Steve and Peter attended the Awana Scholarship camp in Nebraska. It was a fun experience and we all plan to go next year.

…Proud parents of Ruth. Ruth is eleven and is in sixth grade at the Winfield Middle School. We have graduated out of the elementary schools which has been a change especially for mom. Ruth continues to enjoy school especially spending time with friends. She’s doing well in school especially in reading and math. She has been reading her mom’s Janette Oke’s books and enjoying them. Ruth is in her second year of playing the clarinet and doing quite good. This year Ruth tried a new sport – Volleyball with the city recreation and enjoyed it. We will see what happens next year when she can play it in school. Awana continues to be a part of her life. In May, she completed three handbooks to receive the Third Book Award Plaque.

…Computer Lab Supervisor and a Housewife. Steve has been working at Southwestern College for the past five years. He continues to order computers, parts and does maintenance across campus. The Laptop program was started in August and has gone well. Veva continues to hold up the home front. She enjoys volunteering in the school as she is in charge of the Internet Banking in the Middle School.

…Commander and Director in Awana. Steve has taken over the commander position of Awana in our church. He is in charge of the youth program for preschool to sixth grade. It has been a good experience and full of challenges. Veva has been putting her KSU Education to use as she is now working with preschool age children in Cubbies. It has been fun working with this age again but also a shock after working with older clubbers on how much energy it take to keep up with the Cubbies.

…Short Term Missionaries. In July of 1997, Steve and Veva went on their first mission trip to Lima, Peru to help build a church. This past February, they once again found themselves involve in a short mission trip to Allende, Mexico just south of Monterrey. They went along with seven others from their church to help Joe and Marie Clark. The Clarks work with unwed mothers and their children to help them find the Lord and to give them a skill to make a living with. We were there for a week and had several interesting experiences. It always reminds us how fortunately we are in the USA. While we were there the men laid a cement driveway and the women worked with the girls teaching them how to quilt and do other crafts. We also took a trip to the near by dump and ministered to several families who have chosen to live there. We learned that they didn’t want us to change them but to just love and respect them for who they were. Thanks again for all those who help this trip to be possible.