"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

This is my favorite Christmas verse.  I never really thought of it as a Christmas verse until a couple of years ago.  However, isn't that the reason we celebrate Christmas--because God sent his Son to the world to take on the punishment that we deserve?  It is our prayer for you that your Christmas season will be centered on God and all that the gift of his son means to you and to the world; that you will focus on relishing the awesomeness of his unearned favor.  Then, you can find yourself joyfully declaring with the apostle Paul, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Cor.9:15--thoughts taken from devotional by Kay Arthur)

This week we have had a house full of guests.  It has been a wonderful group of people who have been down here hosting Christmas parties for several thousand people from various poor areas around Quito.  We have been extremely blessed as we have listened to their stories each evening.  All of those who attended the parties heard the gospel, and there were several decisions for Christ.  We rejoice with our new brothers and sisters in Christ!

Tomorrow Darryl and I will be traveling with my parents and our field leader and his wife, Tom and Susan Stiles, to Santo Domingo to check out a site for a future medical team.  We will get the chance to work with the Tsachila Indians, which will be a first for us.  We always enjoy getting to work with new people, so we are exited about the trip. 

Praise Reports:

• Praise the Lord for the people who accepted the Lord this week during the EXtreme Response Christmas parties.  
• As always, we give God the praise for the strength to make it through a week with a full guest house!
• Praise God for answered prayer.  A wonderful Christian counselor has volunteered to come down and do some family counseling for us while Courtney is here.

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow.  We are going to be on one of the more dangerous roads in Ecuador.
• Pray that things will go smoothly as we attempt to make arrangements for the medical team.
• Pray for our guests as they return to the states on Tuesday morning.
• Please continue to pray for our support account.
• Continue to pray for our children and their walk with the Lord.

Have a great week!

Serving the King,

Kelly, for the Chambers