Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

The Christmas season is in full swing here. Erin and I are proud to say that we have a tree up, the stockings are hung, and the smell of baking is in the air. Our place is decorated as well as possible and looks very festive thanks to Erin’s imagination. It will undoubtedly be a different Christmas this year, but it will surely be a memorable first Christmas for the both of us. We are hosting a Christmas dinner for the adult volunteers of our youth ministry tomorrow evening and are looking forward to the fun to be had together, which includes the all-important “white elephant gift exchange.”

The last two Fridays of youth meetings at St. Mark’s have gone very well as we did a video scavenger hunt and then had a normal meeting this past Friday. The scavenger hunt had them singing Irish folk songs in front of statues and interviewing police officers, just to name a few. The students loved it! After we returned to the church, I had the chance to share my testimony and then we had snacks while we watched the videos of each group’s antics.

This past Sunday, the youth were given the responsibility of putting on a short kids’ program after the traditional carol service. One room was decorated beautifully as a winter wonderland type of scene and the kids were led from there into another room where we had a stable scene set up. Several of our youth were dressed up as characters in the Christmas story and put on a short play. About half of the audience was from a rough area right next to the church here so it was quite an experience! But, the Christmas story was told and I got a chance to say a few words to the kids afterwards, so the night was beneficial.

Erin’s student teaching experience is winding down this week as her students have Christmas exams. She has been kept very busy this past week as she is sending back her final projects and papers to Taylor. There is a possibility that she may be able to stay on at St. Andrew’s in a paid position for the duration of our stay. This would be ideal and we are praying hard that it will come to fruition!

Happy Holidays!!!

Tyler and Erin


Prayer Requests:
- Erin: that she would get a paid position at the school for the duration of our stay
- Sportslife: for a great turnout at the signups for our basketball leagues
- St. Mark’s Youth Group: for a wonderful retreat this weekend