Blessed New Year

We returned from our trip about 7pm Christmas Eve, and by the time we unpacked the car and our suitcases, it was 9. We were exhausted but thankful for the opportunity to see so many friends and family members. We are pictured here with Wade and Marie. Wade is Nancy's cousin and they live in Old Town, Florida. We also got to see his brothers Dick (Fort Myers) and James (Everglades City), plus all our brothers and sisters (Jacksonville) except for Nancy's sister Kathy, who lives in Texas. Most importantly, we were able to visit a little while with Mama, the loving matriarch of our clan. Since our return home Dan has been studying really hard, trying to make a lot of headway through an independent study course. In five days he has read two books and written four reflection papers. One more book and reflection paper to go, and then a long term paper. Help him Lawd! Nancy is catching up with household business and continuing her own reading projects related to her year-long course on Advanced Healing. We will have a quiet New Year, studying and watching a little football (only Dan will watch football), and probably participate in a Wesley Covenant service tonight at a local church. Dan starts a 2-week intensive course on Monday, and he's facilitating part of the first session, so he doesn't really get a break. But God is faithful and continues to provide strength and wisdom. We had a fun Christmas celebration with John and Tara last night (see picture below), as well as celebrating Tara's birthday. Thanks for all your prayers, and we will post more pictures in the next few days. Much Love, Dan and Nancy

On the Road Again

We left town Friday for our 12-day road trip. We drove to Atlanta where we spent the night with our wonderful friends Ralph and Donna, and had a great visit with them. Saturday we had a meeting with the Venezuela Now leadership team to do some planning related to the Wesleyan Seminary of Venezuela, and then attended a wedding that night in Waleska. After the wedding we drove two hours to Athens to enjoy visiting with our great friends Kent and Sandy. Yesterday (Sunday) we made our way from Athens to Charleston, where we are having fun with our terrific friends Chuck and Katie. Today we will visit the USS Yorktown and share a relaxing day, then tomorrow we hit the road again, heading toward Orlando where I will meet with one of the members of my dissertation committee. We will stop off in Jacksonville on the way to Orlando to visit with family. Please pray for safe travel, and that God will guide our steps throughout our trip. Much Love, Dan and Nancy

Venezuela

Here's a picture of some of our teen friends at the Lugar Altisimo congregation in Venezuela. It's been a huge blessing to get to know them and be a small part of their spiritual journey. Please keep the Venezuela ministry in your prayers. We still need money to finish paying for the Seminary property there, plus we need help with some "gussying-up" items such as bunk beds (82.50) and mattresses (60.00) for the dormitories, etc. The Seminary has a huge impact on the ministry of the churches in Venezuela, and we are grateful for your partnership with us there. Also please pray for Dan's health. He has been sidelined for a week with an acute sinus infection. He started antiobiotics today, so hopefully he will begin to perk up soon. This is Finals Week at Asbury, so the timing of this illness could have been better :) :) :) Much Love, Dan and Nancy

Update from Pastor Sonia

We received an update from Pastor Sonia (in Costa Rica) yesterday. 3 women and 2 men have graduated from the residential ranch program for street teens. Two of them have moved back home with their families and are very happy there, plus they are attending a local church. The other three have asked to stay at the ranch for a longer period of time to receive more training in how to serve Christ in some form of ministry. It's truly amazing what God has done in the lives of these young men and women through the grace of Jesus. Thanks for your continued prayers for Sonia, Edwin, and all who are involved in the ranch ministry. And remember that we're taking a mission team there again August 1-8, 2009. We'd for you to be a part of that group! Nancy is pictured here with some girls who graduated from the ranch in past years. Many Blessings, Dan and Nancy