We have just finished the time of year when everyone thinks a little bit more about giving thanks, but for the Christian, Thanksgiving should be every day! “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4. This year, we had an especially blessed Thanksgiving for which we were extra thankful. The day before Thanksgiving, November 21st, early in the morning, the Lord gave us the gift of another daughter—Hosanna Joy. It is such a blessing to see the amazing gift of life. As I see this little girl who cannot talk, take care of herself or even really smile, yet experience the overflowing love that parents have for this little helpless babe, I think of how much our heavenly Father loves us, even though we are so unworthy of His love. How thankful we can be for the Father’s unsurpassed love for us. “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8.

Our family with our new addition!

I am not only thankful to the Lord for all of His many blessings to us individually and as a family, but I want to give thanks to the Lord for His many blessings to our missionary workers in the various mission fields. As I think back on how the Lord has blessed His work over this year, I can only praise His name. The Lord has given us the opportunity to personally minister in several different countries this year. During the summer, I traveled to Malaysia, Colombia and Brazil in addition to evangelistic meetings and teaching here at home. While in these countries I was able to minister in youth meetings and campmeetings and personally see the work that our brethren are doing in these areas. Mike Bauler made trips to the Philippines earlier in the year and has just now returned from Togo where he was engaged in evangelism and worker training. We can truly say that the Lord’s work is going forward—praise His name! Most of the work that goes on through the year, though, is not us traveling to the mission fields, but our faithful workers giving Bible studies, holding evangelistic meetings, distributing literature, ministering to the needy, entering new areas and raising up churches as memorials of truth for the Master. In Congo, the light of truth continues to penetrate through the darkness of error and superstition. A couple of thousand Great Controversies have been translated and printed in the local language of Kikongo, and have already been a tremendous blessing to the believers and churches to have portions of this vital book in their own language. New churches and new areas desiring the teaching of the three angels’ messages continue to pop up all over the territory. The hunger and need for the message is far outpacing the ability of the church planters and brethren to keep up! In Togo, the Lord continues to bless the faithful laypeople as they do public evangelism and give Bible studies from house to house. In Brazil, hundreds of thousands are hearing the message of truth from the faithful efforts of Alexandre and Olimpia as they preach the three angels’ messages to the masses of São Paulo through the radio waves. In the Philippines, entire churches are coming out of Babylon and joining God’s remnant people as Pastor Aque continues ministering to the pastors of other denominations. Brother Nanding continues holding his “Jesus is Coming Again” evangelistic meetings throughout the year and Brother Titing leads out in the missionary training school in the mountains of Mindanao. Praise the Lord for His working throughout the world! We want to praise the Lord for what He has done and thank you for your prayers and support that makes all of this and more possible. There will be souls saved in the kingdom all around the world through your help—thank you so much. May the Lord’s work continue to advance until the entire world is warned and we can gather around the throne in the ultimate Thanksgiving service!

Hosanna Joy peacefully sleeping

Yours in the blessed hope,