Thank you so much for your prayers for us. We found a house to rent in Lilburn, GA and were able to move in at the beginning of November. We are now 17 minutes from Clarkston – much better than racing (literally – you Atlantans know what I mean!) up and down I 85 for 2 hours every day. This puts us in ministry and relationship range with the nations who have settled in Clarkston.
In addition to teaching at Clarkston Bible Institute Patrick has been asked to network with the pastors of the different ethnic churches that meet in Clarkston International Bible Church’s building. He has met with the leaders of each church – Nepali, Pakistani, Congolese, and a Swahili speaking congregation. When he returns from PNG he will be spending more time with these leaders to develop relationships and to help them coordinate ministry in the Clarkston area.
I, Jan, have begun my second semester at Clarkston High School and have a new group of students. They come from Thailand, Burma/Mynmar, Tanzania, Somalia, Nepal, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and one from Mexico. They are (mostly :)) an absolute delight to teach and I have many stories I could share. 
Below is one of my favorites…
One of my more verbal students kept saying “I appreciate it” in class. His friend asked me one day what that word was. I wrote “appreciate” down for him and told him that it means “to be thankful” for something, so it is a way of saying “thank you.” The next day the newly enlightened student walked into my room and said, “I appreciate you, Mrs. Hall.” 🙂 Later during class I handed him a worksheet and he said, “I appreciate it.” He “appreciated” everything for the next 2 weeks. It was so sweet!
My Wednesday night ESOL class is growing! I now have 3-4 regular attenders – two from Thailand, one from Madagascar, and one from Sierre Leone.
We enjoyed family time over Thanksgiving and Christmas…
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We also were able to spend the weekend with some special friends from early Papua New Guinea days. And I was able to see bee-keeping “up close and personal.”
As Karis returned for her 4th semester at Toccoa Falls College we had a wonderful answer to prayer. She was accepted into one of the off campus houses that is for college-age MK’s (missionary kids). They provide FREE room and board to full-time students in exchange for 7 hours of work each week. This will enable her to continue to attend Toccoa Falls next year. Praise the Lord!
Patrick is back in PNG and below are the 2 classes he is presently teaching. (We will share about this current trip after he returns at the end of March.)
Praise:
- The provision of free room and board that enables Karis to continue at Toccoa Falls College.
- An affordable house close to Clarkston.
- The opportunity Patrick has to work with ethnic pastors in Clarkston.
Pray:
- For wisdom and strength for me, Jan, as I teach students with a WIDE range of English ability. I find myself too burdened by outside factors that I cannot change. Pray I will be faithful in loving and teaching these students and leave the outcomes to the Lord.
- For fruit in the lives of the students that Patrick is teaching. Pray they will learn and apply sound Bible interpretation principles so that their teaching and preaching is true to God’s Word.
- For direction as we connect in Clarkston – that we will know where and how to invest our time in order to be able to share the gospel and make disciples.
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