As the next few days are scheduled to be a quieter on this end, I am hoping to post an update from the past couple of weeks. It has been an exciting, yet challenging, time, and I look forward to sharing a few stories with you very soon. I will be including details from our sleepover in the Gypsy village last week, as well as the Gypsy wedding I attended this past Sunday morning, bright and early at 8am. It proved to be quite an interesting experience, to say the least.
I do, however, want to make you aware of one event quickly approaching. On December 28th, our small Gypsy team is hosting a Christmas celebration, at one of our homes, for our Gypsy friends from the main village we visit. There is also a Gypsy family that has been invited from the village we slept over at last week. We are expecting anywhere from 10 to 100 of them to attend…time will tell! This is the first time anything like this has taken place, and with it comes the potential for many things to “go wrong,” but we are trusting that God is very much leading us in this. They have never come into any of our homes before, but as relationships continue strengthening, inviting them into our lives is also important. Neighbours may get quite upset if they see Gypsies coming into the community and entering one of our homes, but we are trusting they do not stir up any problems. Also, one segment of this celebration will include sharing the Christmas story, which I will be leading with maybe one or two other people. I will be working very hard over the next few days practicing the story, which I already have written out, but needing to work on fluency and pronunciation. Please be in prayer for this event.
Until then, please take a moment and watch a brief Christmas greeting I filmed for you all, wishing you a Merry Christmas and sending you lots of love.
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd50BOtLTvE&list=UUx8z2ztrp8Uo7UyuTI5qYcw[/youtube]
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have a great day celebrating with your family, friends, and those you love.
Love you and Merry Christmas.
PS – Here’s the video link just in case the embedded link above is giving you issues. It should be available in HD quality. http://youtu.be/Zd50BOtLTvE
Hi Annie!
So good to see your beautiful, smiling face and hear your voice and message.
I love you and look forward to your updates.
xo Aunt Les xo
Hi Aunt Les!
I’m glad you enjoyed the message and it has been so nice getting to email a bit more with you over the Christmas break. It has been a quieter Christmas for us both, but I guess that’s how He wanted it for us this year!
Love you lots and missing you (and the rest of the fam!!)
xoxo
Annie
Andrea,
Praying for you and your team tomorrow as it is such a BIG thing that is planned. The relationships are growing and going to a new level and that’s exciting. As the christmas story is shared, I pray His Spirit moves and works and brings many to new life in Him……. and for others seeds will be planted. How awesome is it that you get to be a little part of His plan?? (yes, I used that word!!)
Awaiting news when you are able….
Love you, miss you and proud of you!! xoxo
Mom,
I am so thankful for you and your prayers, and your continued encouragement…we really do need one another in this journey. Although I didn’t include it in the post detailing the Gypsy Christmas, one of our Gypsy friends turned to us after the story was shared and said, “It is true. Jesus is God`s son. Like fruit from a fruit tree. It is true.” That is a remarkable statement, miraculous really. Proclaiming Jesus as God’s Son is a truth that we have not heard come from the mouth of our Gypsy friends, to date.
Prayer is a powerful thing…isn’t it?
Love you, infinity.