Merry Christmas and Happiest New Year to you, Dear Friends and Family!
As you can see...we are one happy family! Having added Zinha to our family makes 2016 the perfect year and we celebrate all that 2017 will bring!
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As we look back at 2016, we feel blessed beyond words. Having brought in the year with the first 4 months in the US we thoroughly enjoyed being with friends, family and visiting supporting churches. Our return to Mozambique was exciting and brought lots of time of adjustment and hard work. Then, in October the Lord revealed to us how our family would expand...adding Zinha Joy to our family on December 30th, has made our year perfect. The adoption paper work is not 100% finalized yet, but it is very close. The orphanage gave us the authorization to have her home with us for 4 days and we ask you to pray, with all that you are, that she won't have to return to the orphanage on Tuesday, January 2. All we are waiting for now is for the judge to give a court date and finalize everything-- everything else is done! She is making progress with us over the last 2 days, so we don't want to undue the trust that we have built.
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Highlights of the year in photos!
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Time in Arizona with friends and family. Enjoying the snow at our home in MI.
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Wonderful family time. The blessing of our new vehicle.
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Completion of the compassionate care center. Our tiny house, construction of the "big house" and play ground for the girls.
We are blessed to live in beautiful surroundings and are daily grateful that we now have the luxuries of running water and electricity.
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The palliative care team has completed its 2nd year of caring for patients. This year the team made 688 visits-- that's a lot of trekking through the bush-- much sweat and tears goes into this work. The ministry blesses many but we also receive many blessings in return.
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This year 1,500 audio Bibles were distributed throughout Mozambique. Despite huge challenges with the break-in and theft in Xai-Xai, the team has been determined to re-establish and continue to get the Word to all who need to hear. We praise God that the police were able to recover about 50% of all that was stolen from the studio in October.
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As you can see, 2016 has been a year full of amazing blessings. It's had significant challenges but we see the Lord's love and provision through everything. We continue to praise God for how He has brought us together as a family, and now, being blessed with Zinha. I often think on this quote and pray about it for our girls,
"A child born to another woman calls me mommy. The magnitude of that tragedy and the depth of that privilege are not lost on me."
-Jody Landers
We are so blessed by our beautiful daughters.
Please pray as Zinha's adoption is finalized (and that she'll be with us indefinitely) and as she adapts to our lives. We look forward to this process and pray for much grace.
Nede will soon be starting 5th grade and Zinha will be concentrating on learning English.
We pray that as you continue in your busy lives that it's never to busy to be grateful for all that you have. We pray you draw closer to God and all the good plans He has for you and we hope that we communicate well for you to feel connected in what you support us to be doing. We're never sure how we can properly express our gratitude for your support. We are indeed, so blessed! Thank you! All our love from our hearts, to yours. Merry Christmas and a blessed 2017! Love,
Chad, Dara, Nede and Zinha
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If you would like to send our family personal support or choose from specific project support, click here:
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If you'd like to support the construction of our larger house, click here:
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Buy Arbonne products and 100% of proceeds help operational costs of the compassionate (palliative care) program, click here:
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