47 Long Hill Street David, Joseph

East Hartford, CT 06108 203/ 528-7205

December 1994

Dear Friends & Loved Ones,

Thank you for remembering us by your continued cards, letters, but most of all your prayers. It is very sobering to us to hear of some of you who inform us that you pray for us daily! Our prayer is that our family would grow more like Christ

This year we have seen the hosts of evil at work, but we are reminded weekly and even daily that God is still on His throne, and He still has a work for us to do. In January, I decided that the best messages to preach to the nursing home would be messages on PRAYER from the Lord's Prayer -- lessons I've learned from my Prayer Notebook. This last month's subject was Adoration of God's SOVEREIGNTY. God does as He pleases--according to the counsel of His own will. (Psalm 115:3 & Ephesians 1:11) When we spend time setting apart God in prayer, it is easier to pray for His kingdom to come, His will to be done, our needs to be supplied, temptations to be resisted and God's armor to be put on. Prayer will bring revival and salvation. We should all make 1995 a year of PRAYER FOR REVIVAL AND SALVATION of the lost.

The beautiful boys God has given us are growing mightily. Joseph bubbles with joy and activity all the time it seems, He crawled out of our high-step car and cracked a front tooth which had to be pulled! He cried only after it was done and in the oral surgeon's office. Just before that, while playing with David he ran into a piece of furniture, making a 3/4 inch cut in the middle of his forehead. Through it all he remains joyful. David is learning much at home with Chris. Phonics is helping David learn to read. He longs to read when he sees Dad or Mom read Bible-story books with pictures. Both boys love to look at their books. David is asking more and more questions about spiritual matters--even salvation. David loves to listen to the conservative gospel music tapes we have, He asks many questions about what some phrases mean. We are praying that he will be saved soon. Both boys seem to have the capability to become strong and robust men physically. Our constant longing is that they will attain the same spiritually! Chris faithfully tends to our home, church nursery and various other church tasks she is asked to do, and the "office" -- all with contentment.

In March I decided to purchase a truck-mounted Carpet cleaning extractor. It enables me to clean non-stop, and is a bit easier on my back. God has helped me to pay the mount off already (It cost more than the 2 year old truck I had it mounted in), The power and cleaning efficiency has increased my work from 8- to 10-fold. I have wanted to get into more day-time work, which means more residential customers than commercial. However, I have not dropped my janitorial service because Carpet Cleaning is a seasonal business, and I want to continue to serve the business people who have helped make my -- err -- the LORD'S "Glory Cleaning Service" a success. This year also I decided to request certification as a Journeyman Cleaning Technician. With two more credits, I will have enough to qualify for Master Cleaning Technician. The Lord is giving me many opportunities for experience along the way.

In Christ the all-sufficient One,

Pat, Christine, David & Joseph

When I think back on my life, I am so overwhelmed that God has been so gracious to me down through almost 42 years now. By God's grace I have found joy in a vocation I enjoy doing and a church I glory in attending. I hear preaching from the most excellent preacher I have ever heard; I was privileged to meet him early in his pastoral career. I am hearing excellent expositions of significant passages of the Bible over these years.

I found the perfect help-meet I believe God wished for me to have, and now realize 36 years was not at all too long to have waited for her! God has given me a beautiful house to serve Him in and two children as His inheritance to bring up for His glory. They bring me exceeding joy of heart and of spirit. I have opportunities to see the Lord at work in the lives of many people, and have met many people from all walks of life. There are many people who pray for me, and for our family daily, and some I know pray with knowledge, and intimacy for my spiritual growth.

God has given me parents that trained me to understand salvation and ultimately find eternal life in heaven and on earth with Him. They loved me and did not give up on me, even when I surely disappointed them. God gave me a brother that gave me good counsel at two very important times in my life, to wait for His will, and to not quit doing His will.

God led me to two excellent schools to learn of Him and His ways. Though I thought I wasted time, God used every hour to mold me into His image. Each contributed significant and important attitudes essential to live a balanced Christian life. The memories are constant encouragements both to myself and even others I meet and can share past experiences with them.

God has brought excellent business men and women into my business experiences who have been shepherds and guides of prosperous companies, in order to demonstrate to me I am sure that I can do "greater things than these". I have had excellent opportunities to witness to such as these, which one day I pray will reap fruit in God's kingdom. I can really expect nothing more of God now for He has graciously and generously opened His "windows of Heaven" to me and filled my life fuller than I have been able to receive. Yet I am still breathing and in possession of the consciousness that God has a work for me to do.

And at this Christmas time I have a heart full of Thanksgiving to the Lord.

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people. Psalm 116:12-14
I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving ,
and will call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116: 17

For years I have loved serving the Lord. 15 years on the missionary teaching field was a precious experience. Some would say that it was the best years, at least from a physical standpoint. But I have found that God has greatly rewarded me for those years He expected me to remain single.

I thank God for my relationship with Him. I am thankful for my family. I am glad to serve in our church.