Dear All,

Jean & I send our Christmas greetings to you in the wonderful name of Jesus. I trust you are all well. Our latest good news is that our fourth grandchild arrived on the evening of 9th December. Sophia Grace Ellen weighed in at 7lbs 9oz and we think it’s going to be the best Christmas present we’ll get this year!! Mother and baby are doing well although neither of them are sleeping much!!! Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Hayley.

Well, Bruce Millar and I arrived back from India at the end of last month. It was in the mid 30s Celsius there and so it is 30 degrees cooler here. Brrrr! It was a great trip and we were able to accomplish many things. Bruce taught on Principles of the Kingdom and within that context I launched the vision for multiplying disciples instead of just ‘doing church’. We were very pleased with the response from the pastors. We had 29 guys signing up to be a part of the vision going forward and I am looking forward to seeing how things progress from here. I will probably be returning there in February and October of next year to see how things are going and to bring encouragement and more input.

We also spent a day visiting the Childrens home in Tanuku. It was a joy to be with the children again. We have had two additions this year. Two brothers, Srinivas and Satyanarayana, became orphans. Their father died of AIDS in 2008 and their mother followed in 2010. They had been staying with their grandmother, but since she is a poor widow and cannot afford to keep them it was decided that they should join the family at Tanuku. I must say, under the circumstances, they seemed extremely happy. I think God that, due to your support, we are able to help such children.

One particularly exciting thing happened whilst we were there - In a fishing village called Agadalalanka there was a special celebration going on when a Hindu woman, named Kumari, fell unconscious. The doctor was sent for and he administered some medicine and told the people she would come round shortly. An hour later Kumari was still unconscious. The doctor was sent for again, but he said he had done all he could. Kumari had been comatose for about three when someone spotted the pastor of our village church returning from our conference in Eluru. Vijay Kumar was sent for by the Hindus and he went to the place, prayed for her and she instantly revived as though nothing had happened. Everyone was amazed. I met the woman the following day and was able to lead her to the Lord. Afterwards I was informed that the woman had been speaking out against the church. Her nephew attends the church and she has been persecuting him. She now has joined the church . . .. Oh! The grace of God!! Not only that, but on the following Sunday Kumari was in church with her husband and family! In a fishing village of this kind it is certain that everyone will hear of what has transpired.Jean & I send each one of you our love and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.