“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

January 2010

We pray you had a very Merry Christmas filled with celebrations of our savior’s birth. The girls finished school December 16 and are on winter break until January 13. We went caroling on the 23 to several houses in our neighborhood which the kids loved. We also visited a Catholic Orphanage where the girls were able to play with about 45 orphan kids. We gave them gallon cans of sweet peas and clothes.

Our Christmas was very African. Cindy, Christin and Hassi spent four hours Christmas Eve in the market buying food for Christmas Day. On Christmas Day the girls got up, opened their presents and then we spent the day at the Goudel Church with about 100 others. We had traditional rice and sauce for lunch. Christmas night Pastor Yacouba and his family came over for a traditional American Christmas meal of Turkey and dressing complete with Pecan Pie. We had a brown Christmas and escaped the many snowstorms those of you in the states experienced.

A friend who was the administrator at the clinic in K-town left to return home to Germany in mid-December. She left here in flip-flops and short sleeves and arrived home to snow and 7 degrees below zero. What a shock to her system. Pray Samone to readjust well to life in Germany before her next assignment in Eastern Africa.

The week after Christmas we took some time off from ministry and finished unpacking our crates and Ben installed the evaporative coolers. We still have a few shelves and pictures to hang, but for the most part we are settled in again.

Thank you for praying for:

Kanesa and Brandy as they readjust to life in the states. It has not been easy, but I think they are slowly re-adjusting.

The family with the sick baby that Ben has been helping is doing better health wise. The doctor said, “He wanted to wait a few more months before he operated on the baby’s head.” The baby’s back is healing where he had his first surgery. The family had to move as they had built their grass hut on government land and now the government has other plans for that piece of land. Ben helped the family move to another location and now they are settled in their new home.

Ami, finally had her baby. Thank you for praying for a safe, healthy delivery. The original due date was October some time. The baby arrived on December 20. It is a healthy baby boy named Ibraham. His naming ceremony was eight days after his birth so on December 27 we went to his naming ceremony. There was lots of people and food. This like a baby shower in the states, but here they wait until the baby arrives to bring gifts and celebrate. Ami has 4 friends who are ready to join our family. Pray they make that initial leap and follow hard after dad. Pray for Ami as Cindy continues to disciple her. Ask God to continue to give her a burning desire to share Him with others.

Thank you for your prayers for Fati. She is still not doing very well. She came last week and told us she has found a cousin that wants to marry her. We again counseled her on what the Bible says about marrying someone of a different faith. Ask God to give her visions and dreams of Him and to reveal His love for her. Ask God to give her a burning desire to follow hard after Him and for Him to reveal His plan for her life to her.

Thank for praying for Al who was sick and near death. He passed away the week before Christmas. However, some of his relatives are ready to join our family. Pray for them to make that bold step in the power of the H*ly Sp*r*t.

This month has been a taxing month emotionally because of all the demands for food, medical assistance, and other basic necessities of life. Pray that we will have wisdom in knowing how to respond to these daily request and that we know when to say yes and when to say no. Ask God to give us discernment in knowing who to help and how best to help them without creating dependence on us rather than dependence on God. So many times people turn to us for help instead of turning to God or the chu*ch. We do not want to become J*sus to them, but instead teach them how to hear from God and allow God to meet their needs. He can meet their needs far better than we can.

Thank you for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This offering covers 100% of our support and allows us to be here to share the love of Christ. Thank you giving and for supporting us with your prayers.

May God richly bless you in 2010 as you draw closer to Him.

The Sustars

sustar@braveheart.com