There was much anxiety, in the Christmas story but when the promised one arrived it was all swept away because of obedience to God and His miraculous plan.
We started the year with the great celebration of our first grandson, Arden, who was born in January. We enjoyed watching Michelle, our older daughter and her ever so helpful husband, Josiah, become wonderful parents. Our facetime chats and surprise visits are treasures we hold dear.
Krista continues to work for the General Church in the Clergy Development Dept. which requires some travel and organizing of conferences and much more. She introduced us to her boyfriend which she met at her work. We had met him before when he was in Ecuador doing ministry and was part of our home church Work and Witness team.
Beside being new parents Josiah and Michelle continue with their same jobs. Michelle works in marketing for "The Foundry" which is a part of our church and Josiah is a police officer for the JO CO Parks Dept which at this time of the year allows him to be Santa in schools and parks. Arden went to see Santa, not knowing it was his dad, but it was not an earth shattering experience for him.
The rest of the year was a year of good bye's and hello's, some were times when we heard God say "Fear Not", where we had to hold on to the fact that God has a greater plan. As a missionary, one gets accustomed to hello's and goodbye's but that doesn't make it any easier.
We worked with 10 dedicated teams and saw God work in the lives of over 150 short term missionaries and also in the churches we worked in. We are so thankful for the sacrifices that team members make to further the Kingdom as literally thousands of children now have a place to eat a warm meal twice a week and to learn about God's love for them. The testimony of the children will reflect in their lives and flow over into their parents and grandparents. The churches are growing rapidly and God is being glorified.
The field where we serve is called the NAF that includes Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. We live in Ecuador and much of our ministry, Work and Witness, which involves building churches and or classrooms for churches takes place there.
The NAF has and is going through a re-structuring process. Our NAF, directors and great friends of ours, retired after serving 32 years in Ecuador. We love our new directors and they have shown great leadership but recently accepted a new position which will require us to say good-bye again. On the plus side, our missionary family has grown by the addition of regional missionaries from Argentina to live in Ecuador because of economical reasons.
We finished the end of the year by saying an earthly goody-bye to Jon's dear dad. He did not live out his prognoses of pancreatic cancer that was diagnosed seven weeks before. We give much thanks that Jon was able to have almost a complete day of quality time with him right before he passed and that we were both able to be with the family during the time of bereavement. This is what his family said about him, "He was loved by many for his quick wit and humor, loving and warm heart, mind for inventions and compassion toward others. There is not enough space to list all the lives he impacted, and what he meant to those people. He will be missed by all who knew him."
Grandparents corner: In Jan we get to celebrate Arden's first birthday. These are comments Michelle wrote about him, he is an active little boy and never sits still. His favorite toy at the present is a little people nativity scene. He knows how to sign for "more" and throws his arms up to play "so big". He is trying to prove that he is a big boy not wanting to sleep through the night and giving up his afternoon nap which could be because at the moment he is having too much fun with his many cousins on his daddy's side. You can tell he adores his mommy and daddy by the way he lights up when he sees them.
We will also be at the memorial service for Jon's Dad which will be held on Jan. 19.
We are looking forward to 2019 with great anticipation and putting all "fears" in his care.
As you celebrate the season of Jesus's birth hold on tight to the times with loved ones as and treasure those moments. We want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and an Blessed New Year.
Jon and Shirley Fischer