Freezing in Moldova

It's been so cold here, we don't even want to go outside! The temperature is below zero (Fahrenheit) every night and climbs a few degrees above that in the daytime. My mother gave me her 20 plus year old fur coat and I'm getting a lot of use out of it now when I do have to venture outside! Schools are cancelled because it is too cold for the kids to walk to school and too costly to try to heat the buildings, which don't stay warm anyway. So we stay inside, dress warm and enjoy looking outside.

Prayer needs for us this week:

1. I've been asked to speak at a women's service in a small town the far Western Border of Moldova on Thursday, January 26. Please keep me in prayer that I can speak what God wants. The topic I've been asked to address is abortion.

2. The reality that we must leave here in about 4 months for a year in the states has hit with full force. I can't believe our first term has flown by so quickly. Pray we finish well. We still have many things to wrap up here.

3. We have possible property to buy for our Home of Hope for women. Pray that if this is the one God wants, all things would come together for it.

4. Pray for the young pastors and their wives that we meet with monthly to teach and encourage. Many pastor several churches, having feeding programs for children or elderly in their churches and are working to bring the gospel to their communities any way they can.

5. Pray as Andy works to schedule services for our year home. He's calling pastors and it has been good, but he still has some to do. This is always the joy of upcoming itineration.

6. Pray for home schooling the girls. We have 1/2 the year to go. They are doing well. Natalie is catching on to reading. Elissa can't get enough to read. But we always have days that are challenging. Pray that I have patience as I teach them!

7. Pray also for a young woman who is seeking God about coming here to home school the girls when we return in 2007. Her name is Shauna. Pray that she'd know what God wants for her the year after she finishes college.

8. And lastly, please continue to pray that we can find housing easily when we return to the states this summer.

Thanks for your prayers.