December Newsletter –

The snow is falling again; big white flakes that reflect the creativity and wonder of my Father in heaven.  Just think how much fun he had making each one of  those beautiful creation.  Do you remember being that childlike?  Do you remember being amazed that no matter how hard you might try to cut exactly identical snowflakes, there simply were no two alike? 

I do.  I remember trying time after time to create a pattern that would produce triplets, or even twins.  I would use every scrap of paper I could get my hands on; snipping and cutting, my tongue curled between my teeth and my eyes crossed so hard in concentration I thought they would never come unstuck.  Though I didn’t give up trying until the last time I used blunt nosed scissors while cutting snowflakes with my own children, I never did succeed.  I marvel often that our Creator God took such care creating each of us individually…uniquely.  Can you imagine it?  He takes His breath of life, a kernel of Himself and begins His work.  Carefully spinning, softly blowing the dust aside, snipping just here and folding just there until our lives look like what He envisions them to be.  That is His plan for us.  For me.  For you. 

Our “Christmas” update letter follows this portion.  You will read about each of our children, most of our grandchildren…and some prayer requests at the end.  And, you will read a bit about Wyoming, the Jonah Field, the Chapel.  As you read it, pray and ask God to keep working His way in our lives.  Ask Him if He will please send our way just exactly what each of us needs to be conformed to the incredible image He has in His mind.  And pray that with grateful hearts, we might receive the pruning, and the snipping, and the turning ; knowing that whatever He sends our way comes for our good, and His glory.

The Big Piney Chapel will be open on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas afternoon.  As you celebrate, please think of us and ask God to give Himself a gift for Christmas and bring someone to a saving knowledge of Himself.  We are still madly working to get the chapel open on a regular basis but the cold weather prohibits fast forward movement.  Gary has gotten frostbite on unmentionable parts of the anatomy until he learned to ‘layer up’ like his son told him to.  Now, although he has lost most of his excess tummy (I should be so lucky) when he goes out to work he looks like an adorable fluffy snowman.  (Are missionaries supposed to say such things?!)  He designed and built two covered wooden porches that look more like decks, and a third porch that is a bit smaller for the chapel.  He also designed (I tease him that he does it one board at a time) and built a shed that reminds me of the jolly green giant’s outback house.  It’s really ten foot square, but its so tall it leaves lots of room for imagination.  The next MSC’s who serve the chapel will be well prepared with all the work he has done and is still doing.  He had to replace three doors, run the wiring for the phones and a couple of outlets, and build computer stations.  When we get the new computers up and running at the chapel I will be able to put lots of pictures on here for you to see.  (My computer at this point is so overloaded I can’t even unload my camera–besides the cd-rw drive is stuck shut.)

Thanks to each and every one of you for your Christmas cards…I love mail, even though we can only get it about once a week due to our schedule.  The post office is only a part time office and its closed when we are coming and going most of the time.  Since we don’t have a box yet, well….you can imagine.  Believe it or not the post office in Big Piney puts the “General Delivery” mail in a big box in the lobby and let’s everybody get their own.  I’m glad I don’t get my mail there someone told me its a bit like a post-thanksgiving day sale.

We gave out over 700 cookie packages (4000+ homemade cookies) along with information  about local Christmas services  to the man camps, motels, and other living spots.  We have seen some good fruit from it already and look forward to seeing what God is planning to let us be part of.  Please pray that the fruit that is born from our projects will be fruit born to God alone, and nothing else. 

Finally, please begin praying about spending a week in Wyoming next summer or fall.  We have opportunities for ministry that would refresh your heart and renew your spirit.  There are building projects at these small churches, backyard Bible clubs, and Jonah Field projects that could fill the whole summer.  The fishing is great, the scenery is really incredible, and camping is fun.  All this and ministry too.  If you can get here, we’ll put you up, feed you, and let you enjoy what God is doing here in Wyoming. 

Have a blessed Christmas.  Enjoy one another, and remember to pray for us.  We remember you.

Gary and Roberta

December, 2007 – Christmas Letter

Dear Precious Friends,

Here we are, another season of celebration…and we have so very much to celebrate.  Gary and I are blessed to be missionaries in Wyoming, as Chaplains in a prototype  ministry to the energy industry (gas, oil, coal, uranium) workers.  Our chapel is in a man camp in Big Piney…otherwise known as the “Nations Freezer.”  This totally unreached people group (a phrase that we Southern Baptists normally apply to people outside the country) is deeply on our hearts.  So spiritually bereft, they are  a transient and lonely bunch who develop little real connection to the communities in which they work and live.  God moved us out here in July, has taught us a lot about many things, and is working through us in wonderful ways.  To Him be all glory.

“I(we) have no greater joy than to know that my (our) children walk in truth.”  A Scripture that has become a joyful reality in my life as we have watched our children, and grandchildren become closer to the One  to whom we owe all joy.  Robert and Michelle, Alena and David, are still in Kentucky serving the Lord at MainStreet:  Robert as a beloved Pastor, and Alena as Drama Worship Director (or some such title.)

Ryan began college  (University of Kentucky, Lexington) this year at sixteen and is doing very well.  How I miss hearing him play the drums or guitar in worship to the Lord.  Alyssa and Emily are beautiful (and very different) young women.  Alyssa will be going on an overseas mission trip this coming summer-(has a steady guy friend who lives in Virginia and is a Methodist Believer; they are both very eclectic, )and Emily continues to prepare  for a mission trip next year (2009) through her “Deeper” classes.  A friend who teaches the Deeper classes wrote that Emily is a joy with her sweet and teachable spirit.  Emily is considering a switch to public school this year (as Alyssa did last year).  Michelle still works for 5^th 3^rd  (funny name for a bank-reminds me of some of the church  names ones sees around the country) and uses her lovely voice in Worship leadership and choir. 

Alena and David are taking care of our house in Butler while we are in Wyoming.  They have leased their house out to another couple in the church there that needed a place to be for a couple of years while they build.  (Sort of like “musical chairs” only with houses.) David works two jobs in addition to his regular one as a suppliers representative to Home Depot and Alena works/runs the Day Care program at the church.  That, along with her Drama responsibilities and Christopher, their three-year-old son, keeps her busier than any human should be.  Christopher alone would occupy a full time person, just to keep up with him.  He is so ready for pre-school!

Jacob and Melody have seen a wonderful work of God in their lives this year as He has sustained them through illness, a couple of hospitalizations, the loss of a good friend, and a major move back to Oregon.  After much prayer and heart searching, Jacob applied for a job in Jackson County, again as a Sheriffs  Deputy, which he had been doing in Rifle, Co.  They moved to Central Point in November just before Thanksgiving.  It was a sad/happy move for them and us as our place here in Wyoming was only 7 hours from them in Rifle, Co. so we were able to see them more often than we had for several years.  The school system in Central Point is an excellent one and very supportive of children who have been home schooled as the boys were until now.  Caleb and Isaac, the two oldest will most likely be joining the school system if it can keep up with them.  Aaron, their third son is five and isn’t quite ready for school yet, and Elias their youngest is a robust two year old who pretty much rules the roost.  Jacob baptized Caleb and Isaac while on vacation in Kentucky at Robert’s church. Aaron wanted to be baptized but they thought him a bit young at five. What a joy it was to see.   All three of the older boys are evangelists, and prayers—particularly Isaac in the prayer department.

Scott and Shelly are still in Gig Harbor and suffering a bit from the economic slump on the peninsula where they have their business.  Scott plays drums now in the church band while Shelly enjoys her Precepts classes a lot.  The boys, Scott Michael, Joshua and Blake are a blessing to Scott and Shelly and all three have come to know the Lord Jesus in these last couple years.  Eric is working with his bioparent in Portland and Tia is married and living in the Portland area too.  Scott and Shelly have done a remarkable job of working through the problems that are inherent in raising a blended family and still honoring God and one another.  They will tell you the road hasn’t been easy, but God is good, and their joy is in bringing honor to Him.  It was such a pleasure to see them this fall, and we are praying that they can bring the kids sometime. 

Here in Wyoming, just 100 miles south of Jackson in the Green River Valley, we have found another part of the body of Christ that warms our hearts and sustains us with their prayers.  We live in their parsonage while serving the chapel twenty miles north.  Our dog Hope reminds us constantly what total adoring dependence should look like and anchors us to the realities of our responsibility toward the helpless.  Gary is becoming quite a builder, and believe it or not, public speaker.  Roberta is thrilled to be able to serve alongside him in whatever capacity God allows.  This last has been an awful, remarkable, blessed, challenging, joyous, normal year.  We look forward to many more, as long as the Lord tarries—simply doing what He tells us to.  We do have a blog on WordPress.  I update it as much as I can, and should have a recent addition with pictures before Christmas.  The address is jonahfieldwy.wordpress.com.  Type that into your IE browser and it should go right to the page if you are interested.  We would love to hear from any and all of you; you are precious family and your prayers and love mean more to us than anything on this earth. Speaking of which, here are our specific requests:

Big Piney Man Camp Chapel- (Jonah Field)wisdom for programming and ministry choice  Contact with the men and women in the camps, motels, trailer parks, (we’re looking for Ethiopian eunuchs specifically—those whom God is calling to Himself.) 

Ministry teams for summer/fall of 2008 to work in the Jonah Field doing BackYard Bible clubs, Refreshment Stations, all kinds of creative outreach…we’ve got lots of ideas, need volunteers and provision. 

Wisdom in interfacing with the Wyoming SBC and the other MSC volunteers, and the two sponsoring churches 

Our health-Gary still has no health insurance which concerns me, however God has protected Him wonderfully and I know He still will, if we pray.  Please pray that Roberta will remain able.  We have adjusted very well to life at high altitude, pray it will continue to improve.Pray that we won’t be lonely, especially Roberta.  The people here are so very wonderful, but we miss our family spread out all over the place.  You are all so important to us and you are always in our hearts.  I will never cease to be amazed at how permanently imbedded in our lives are each one of you.  God has truly blessed us with the most wonderful children, grandchildren, and forever family.  I miss you.

Material-Still need some things for outfitting the chapel and/or supplies on a month to month basis.  The Lord provided through NAMB, a wonderful startup budget which had to be spent before the first of the year setting up the chapel. 

We still need kitchen supplies such as a good set of pans and/or an electric frying pan, bottled cold drinks (non-carbonated preferably) coffee, carpeting for the office and small meeting room, large thermal coolers (5 gallons) for serving beverages in the field, a small generator, cell phone booster, and a good laptop computer.  

Pray specifically for Fellowship Baptist Church, Big Piney Baptist Church, the City of La Barge, and Big Piney/ Marbleton.  Filled with people who do not know the Lord.  Pray that the churches would develop a heart for sharing the gospel—and that God would prepare hearts. 

God knows the specific names, but here are a few to mention:  Mike and Cindy, Bryan, Eric, Cathy, Carole, Cindy, Angie and Andy, Tavi and her husband, Cody and Jeb, Jeremy, Brett, Keri, the Johnson Family, The Campbell family.