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Sean and Heather Christensen's family and ministry news
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Merry Christmas
December 2020

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

The theme of "weariness" is not only in our conversations these days, but I noticed it's also in a couple popular Christmas carols.  My Grandma's favorite, "O Holy Night," sings "a weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."  Christ is born!  If you don't know why that event causes someone to rejoice even while weary, just ask and I'll let you know why.

Another favorite, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" expounds even more:
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!
I think we all need to rest beside the weary road and listen.  What did the angels sing?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!"


Luke 2:13-14
God literally entered our world, our humanity, our frailty and our ugliness, to pull us out of that ugliness and to bring a taste of heaven on earth--through the life of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and now through all those who love him.  Through the uncertainties of this pandemic, Jesus is our Solid Rock, the firm foundation upon which my family stands.  Come what may, we rest secure in His promises and faithfulness. You can too.
2020, even without the pandemic, was anything but "normal" for us.  We started the year on evacuation status from Haiti because of the insecurity in the country.  We returned in February, I taught at the Bible school for one month and then Covid shut everything down.  I did a lot of ministry virtually and we prepared for the 15-month home assignment already long planned.  Since August we've all been at Columbia International University where I'm teaching on missions and serving in various leadership roles online with World Team.
current mailing address: 7445 Monticello Rd, Apt 428, Columbia, SC 29203
Our missionary support has taken a major nosedive.  If you want to know the details, click on the link below. 
There is a 30-second version and a longer version on that page.

Christensen's financial support deficit
Ellie making treats with Grandma Sherry

Ellie is taking voice lessons and she sings soprano in CIU's Ambassador Choir.  She enjoys playing the piano.  Heather homeschools her in everything except Algebra II, which is dad's domain.  She's made some friends her age and several CIU girls have also befriended her.

Click here to listen to the choir's homecoming performance. You'll see every member of the family except Sean.

Choir starts at 1:16:45

 
Joey is also homeschooled and taking two dual enrollment classes at CIU.  He's making friends and he starts on a local baseball team next month.  He wants Sean to teach him how to golf this spring.

Click here to watch our family sing a medley of choruses in Creole and then be interviewed for World Christian Week chapel.


Haitian Creole medley at 12:52 
Erik dove into campus life, making friends, enjoying his classes and playing a major role in the fall play, Emma, as Mr. Frank Churchill.
Ian starts his elementary education training in force next month.  We're all enjoying getting to know his girlfriend, Christine, who is an English major.  She helps Joey and Ellie with their papers!
Heather keeps busy with homeschooling Joey and Ellie and helping Ian and Erik with adulting. She's auditing two Old Testament courses this year as well as singing in the Ambassador Choir with all four kids and Christine, which she enjoys greatly. It's been a real treat for us to host our kids' friends and professors in our home for a home-cooked meal.

We're thankful to be close to family--Heather's parents share a house with her older brother, John, and his family less than two hours away from us.
Sean kept busy this semester with his dual role as missions professor at CIU and supervisor and ministry coach in World Team.  He and Heather love interacting with the students and staff at the university.
Thank you for your friendship and your investment in our ministry--in Haiti, in CIU students, to new missionaries and veteran missionaries, and in new fields of ministry.  God is at work and you are teammates with us.
 
Prayer Topics:
  • We need more financial support.
  • Each of our boys have decisions to make about summer plans, jobs, location, etc.
  • Joey is deciding between a gap year program and starting college in the fall.
  • For peace and order in Haiti and for the church to shine God's hope there.


We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sean, Heather, Ian, Erik, Joey and Ellie Christensen

Training the next generation of leaders for the Haitian church and beyond
Giving Options through World Team USA Giving Options through World Team USA
Giving Options through World Team Canada Giving Options through World Team Canada
What's App                         Sean at +509 36 32 43 72
 
What's App                         Heather at +509 32 14 85 60

Sean's US cellphone:                   1-608-208-1874
Heather's US cell:                         1-803-915-6531

Mailing address through June 2021:
7445 Monticello Rd, Apt 428
Columbia, SC 29203
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seanchr@yahoo.com seanchr@yahoo.com
Innovative teams multiplying disciples and communities of believers, bringing the Gospel within reach of lost people everywhere we go.

World Team   |   1431 Stuckert Road, Warrington, PA 18976   |   (800) 967-7109

World Team   |   44 Saltsman Drive, Cambridge, ON  N3H 4R7   |   (800) 610-9788
 
Copyright © 2020 Sean and Heather Christensen, All rights reserved.


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