Greetings to you all!

Karin and I are sitting here on this partly cloudy Boxing Day morning in a freezing 23 degrees celsius! (update: 27C!) We get arctic air one day and gulf air the next so we never know if it will be freezing (2 days ago) or like this. I really thought it would be 4-5 degrees out when I woke up. I can do my jog outside today!

Just a few highlights since the last update…

We got to go to a Dallas Mavericks basketball game for free last month! Our seats were nosebleed, so at half time we moved down to 15th row from the court. The last 3 minutes were very exciting! We also went to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra again for free. We dressed up and took our Chinese friends Leo and Ivy. They are not DTS students, or Christians (although Leo is interested in becoming a Christian!) We were 7th row center this time which are the best seats in the house. Sounds like a country club down here doesn’t it? Not so much. They are more like glorified study breaks. Leo and Ivy ran back to homework immediately afterwards, as did I. We are meeting with Leo and Ivy next week and likely discussing Christianity. Please pray that we will have boldness to share the gospel and get them over their objections to the faith.

DTS is right on mile marker 23 for the White Rock Lake marathon, held 2 weeks ago on Sunday. We got there right at the 3 hour mark to start supportive cheering and there were quite a few people going by already. 23 miles in 3 hours. That’s a 3 hour 25 minute marathon – and one young lady was just running too fast. Just before we had arrived our friends watched as paramedics did CPR on this woman, in her mid 20’s, right outside our building for over ten minutes. She never revived. It was kind of a weird feeling for a while as we clapped and cheered for the other runners. I like people-watching and found the look on people’s faces after 23 miles fascinating. There were also many who sincerely thanked us for calling their names and telling them they could do it. It inspired me to push past 3 miles at the gym!

Classes finished up in classic whirlwind style. I believe I did pretty well, given some of the marks I have received back on some assignments. Long faces turned gitty as assignments were handed over and plane tickets wielded for trips home. On the Friday evening that I finished course work, Karin was whipping up a massive Turkey dinner for six. A DTS supporter handed out 125 turkey dinners-in-a-box, all fixings included, even pie for dessert for all those not going home for the holidays. This is traditionally the weekend of the Van Minnen Christmas so we wanted to do something. We had my friend John from my spiritual formation group over so we could meet his wife Natalie and get to know them better, as well as some neighbors from our floor – and two crazy toddlers and a baby! We are still eating turkey daily a week later and are only half way through the leftovers. Karin even made the table runner from scratch. (pictures on the right).

Yesterday John and Natalie returned the Christmas dinner favor by ‘adopting’ us into their family for Christmas day at John’s parents house. Grandparents, children, flown in siblings, and us strangers! Once again we ate like royalty and we were invited back to future events like one of the family. We even got gifts! It was a real blessing to have a family open up their Christmas time to outsiders.

I’ve enjoyed a bunch of free time this week, but since I have enrolled in a winter course I am already back at the homework. Getting one of my spring classes out of the way in winter allows more time to get involved in church and at school, and God willing, a hiring thaw and a chance at campus job. I will have no classes after 10:30 am next semester!

I hope to keep a good standard not just for myself in classes but for our supporters also. We are interested in not only sharing good marks with you, but in building your confidence in us to do what God has called us to, even as we build confidence in ourselves. Although initially I felt inadequate for the task of seminary, I am pleased that after one semester I find myself well prepared intellectually. My understanding level was a real confidence booster. Any fears I had of making it through in other ways are dissolved by patient support from Karin. And some of the character building in class (not just facts!) and by fellow students is supplying growth in all other areas as we learn to serve Him more fully.

We thank all of you who have made this semester possible through your prayers and through your giving. We hope you enjoy the remainder of your holidays and have a very happy New Year in 2009.

P.S. There is a video, but you must be very patient with the hurricane sound! It is a one minute hello to you.