Here we are, looking back over the last year. Every year I
make one family photo book of the life we live. As I scroll through the
pictures on my computer, I marvel at how fast it has gone and how much has
happened. Faces of old friends, new friends, and family. One highlight was
bringing Levi to America to meet his Grandparents, Great Grandparents and all
the family! Another was watching Nick Hilvers (Lori’s Dad) arrive in China and
eat at a run down meat stick shop. So many great memories were created this
year as kids celebrated birthdays, packages, holidays, summer days, visits with
friends and car rides to the village.
So many people have shared meals in our home and many friendships have
become stronger and deeper. We have a great community of friends around us and
everyone makes this place feel like home. Traditions with friends and with our
kids have created memories that will last a lifetime.
I broke down the year into 4 main areas of reflection for
our family.
New Road: We went from English teachers to a
foreign expert in Agriculture. Now
our relationships consist of village farmers and agricultural government
leaders. Versus before our main relationships were college students. We received
our foreign expert visa Dec. 22, 2013 and are ready for all the possibilities
of 2014! Morgan has worked hard to research, test soil, plant, train, and
develop a green house for high elevation. The new road takes us out of the city to villages and visits
with small farmers. We look forward to spending weeks and weekends at a time in
one village as we spend time with our new friends.
Teaching: This year has been a boom of training
others in many areas. A great group of friends are here to come together to see
those who are ready to grow and learn and then share. We hosted 2 different programs and sent out friends to share all they had learned. We have been
training our children in the way they should go, and Morgan has been training
aspiring farmers in the agricultural area.
Starfish: This year the Starfish-Project started
in March. Lori has been working with exploited women by providing hope and
impacting lives. Lori has been impacted as well. In moments when watching a 44 year old women blow out her birthday
candles for the first time with tears running down her face, because no one has
ever celebrated her life before. Or moments when someone says they feel like
it's the first time anyone has ever ‘really’ cared for them.
Provision: Many thanks to all of our friends who
helped give towards Morgan farming project. Thanks to those gifts Morgan is
able to do the dream he was given over 10 years ago and work with farmers in
surrounding villages. We were also given a gift to provide us a new, well
working truck so we can easily drive out of the city. Our monthly needs were
also provided and we have felt so blessed and supported. Last thing is how we
were provided with our new home. It came out of nowhere and we said yes to a
new place to call home. It’s in an apartment complex with many little friends
for the kids to play with. It’s cozy and very nice. We look forward to seeing
all who will visit in 2014! Maybe it might be you!
We are so grateful for everything that has happened this
year. We look back with joy and have expectation as we look forward. I feel
like it has been a year of getting ‘set-up’ for more. We’ve hit our groove so
here we go! Bring it on 2014, we are ready with visa in hand, and willing
hearts to do His will!
Blessings to all of you in this New Year!
The Joneses
