A young buffalo herder is redeemed and preparations continue.

Redemption and Preparations This month we each wrote something of our own thoughts to share with you separately. Thank you for following us and praying for us. Authored by Jeanette...felt by all of us. What a month is has been! As we continue to prepare for the trip, I've finally begun to be anxious for Serenity's adoption to be finalized so I can begin her preparations as well (She must have a new birth certificate, new social security number, and then once those are done I can apply for her passport, once received, I can apply for my family's Visas). As you well know, paperwork like that takes time... I'm praying, and confident that if God wants us to leave in May then we will leave in May. If not... then I will be patient. However, during our last move God seriously tested my faith: When we were in San Antonio, preparing for our move to Colorado, I had a foster child in my home who was not returned to his parents until the weekend before June 1st (our moving date). It was nerve wracking to say the least as he actually left 3 days before the moving truck was scheduled to arrive. I lost a few fingernails wondering what God was going to do and I'd really prefer not to have to go through a "paperwork completion faith test" again!! Right now, I have a dry erase board leaning against my wall with a very poor drawing of a man on it - beside most of his body parts are Telugu words for them written beside him. "Mokallu = Knee" "Potta = Stomach" "Thala = Head" Sometimes the language part gets very frustrating, primarily when it comes to figuring out their sentence structure. For instance "Please pray for my family" in Telugu would be in the order of "please my family for prayer do" Whaaat??? I have learned quite a few words now, but the structure is the hardest part for me. Please my telugu for prayer do friends. :) Meanwhile, on the joyful side of things  - In the last month I've had the privilege of seeing Prasad, a 10 yr old boy taken to work for a man to pay off a family debt, be set free to return to school.(To read the full story, click here.) I've been able to see picture after picture of a bathroom and kitchen being built onto the children's home so they no longer have to wait for breakfast because it's raining and the fire for cooking breakfast isn't possible. I've gotten to see pictures of a tiny little baby girl, the newest addition to one of the pastors families. And when I sent clothes, they then took pictures of the baby in the clothes and sent them to me. Through pictures and Skyping I've got to witness families of 5 showing me around their one room home (Picture a studio apartment with under 200 sq. feet), children playing, homes in the villages, and multiple weddings. Each month our contact, Pastor John, arranges a pastors meeting so that the pastors (a group of 13 pastors who minister to at least 20 villages) can get to know us. This is important so that they will come to understand our hearts and motives for coming. Pastor John told us a story of previous Americans who, upon arriving, gave candy to the children. The families did not know them except that they were outsiders giving candy to their children and they became fearful that the American's wanted to take their children - so the church suddenly emptied. None would come to the church while the Americans were there. The women are also closely guarded and as the husbands get to know us, they permitted their wives to be at the last pastors meeting so we could talk with them as well. In the words of Pastor John "We want them to move smoothly with you when you come." It takes time, and thankfully, God has certainly provided that time as we count down the days till we can finally get on that plane to India!!  - As I'm writing this, it's 167 more days. :) I look forward to this holiday season more than usual as I realize that it is possibly my last Thanksgiving/Christmas in the US. I know I am going to India, but God has provided no words on if/when I'm returning. With that in mind, the pageants, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, the carols, the meals(!!), and so much more about this season have become so special, so cherished. I'm thankful to know in advance so I could cherish these last opportunities. Pastor John has told us they celebrate the Christmas season by going every night during the Christmas month and preaching in the villages...not exactly how we spend it here, huh? But amidst my careful cherishing of this season this year, I'm looking forward exponentially to next season being completely different. Full of challenges and surprises that I'm not expecting. Full of busyness that has nothing to do with money and shopping. I'm thankful. I saw a quote on facebook the other day from C.S. Lewis's book "The Last Battle" and it said "If Aslan gave me my choice, I would choose no other life than the life I have had." I can only think how true that is. This isn't anywhere near what my plans were 7 years ago, but my, oh my, I'd choose no other life now. God bless you all, and thank you for staying in touch with us, and please send your emails of encouragement! I enjoy reading all of them. If you haven't found me on Facebook it's simply Jeanette Poteet, my personal email is flyawaynet@hotmail.com (Or reply to this email to contact us all), my skype email is the same, and I also write a blog that you can keep track with as well called "This Walk". Just click the link to get there. In my limited Telugu "meeru  Kristu nandu aanandichalani na prardhana. me kutumbham koraku memu prardhana chestunnamu. dayachesi me koraku prardhana cheyandi" looooosely translated - I pray you rejoice in Christ. I am praying for your family. please pray for me. Devudu mimmu deevinchu gaka - God bless you! Jeanette   Authored by James Amy Carmichael once said, "To have friends help, pray, support makes the venture seem a possibility  – even though there is still so much to do, so far still to go. The danger of course is that we try to do it alone, in our own strength, and think we can cope. We can’t; we none of us can." The prayers of our friends is our greatest necessity. To that end, we would ask that you choose a day of the week most convenient for you and make it a point to pray for us on that day. We hope to have each day covered. Would you be willing to make this commitment on our behalf? If so, please encourage us by letting us know which day you have chosen. And please let us know anytime there is something specific we can pray for you as well.

Authored by Glenda       What a ride it has been.  We got 3 out of 7 passports done!  Whew!!  Who knew that that was such an ordeal?  I guess it really isn't that its a big deal but the government wants money and documents to give you a passport.  LOL   Since the last letter that we sent out, we have had 2 Pastors meetings with all the Pastors in India.  It is completely humbling and totally awesome to be able to meet these wonderful men and women.  We look forward to the coming year to be able to work along side them spreading the Gospel to many unreached villages.  I am standing firm on Romans 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  We are called and our purpose is to reach those lost for God.  I believe we are all called to some degree.  If you are not called to "Go" to another country, you certainly have the opportunity to reach out to those that are in you immediate vicinity.  God is truly doing a work in each of our hearts and lives and for that we are extremely grateful and feel more Love flowing from the Throne of God than ever before.