December Update

Hello Everyone,

As always I hope this finds you all well.

Seasons come and go. With each season comes change, past memories, the making of new memories as well as new feelings, some good and some bad.

Many of times I refer to what I am doing at that time as a season in my life. I would say that this time for Amanda and I is a season we are in. As the months and maybe years go by God will have us doing something different and we will be in a different season. With each one of those seasons brings the same as seasons of weather, (Change, memories, feelings) sometimes it is easier times than others but through any and every season we are in, God our Father says that His grace is enough. I find much comfort in knowing that. This season for us is easy and yet somehow hard. It is easy trusting that God will provide your needs, he has proven it over again many times, yet it is really hard because he does not do it how I want Him to or even in my timing. I believe many of you can probably relate to that.

I am learning to embrace the season that I find myself in and to be grateful in it.

As we have come into this new Christmas season, we as a family have so much to be thankful for. As I have been able to travel some in the last few months, I have seen how even in controversy over economics or politics that we live in a great country with a lot of wonderful people. I am proud to be an American and I hope and pray that we as a people would rise to the occasion that is set before us to demonstrate the goodness and love of God.

We have had a great time the last month, we were in OH a few weeks ago and had a wonderful time with our family there and were able to share some specific needs with them as they are planning a trip to Pine ridge next summer.

Last sunday and the next few weeks we will be around the newnan area in a few different churches locally.

Still planning our trip south to the gulf coast in Jan.

We will be having another benefit concert the last friday in January, which is the 25th. We are planning an amazing night filled with a great night of worship and some testimony from my Native brother Mike Brennon and from Amanda and I sharring about our time there last summer as well as casting our vision for the years to come that God has us there. I would love to encourage you to bring your church and families to this night. I believe it will light a fire in your heart for Native American people.

The following Monday (the 28th) two close friends and I will embark on a journey to the northwest territory to encourage a handful of pastors there and to minister some aid to the Dene people. Please pray for finances and cold weather gear for this trip, if you have some really cold weather gear such as coats and boots, we are in need of these things and would like to borrow some if possible.

In closing I want to encourage you this season of your life to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and embrace the relationship you have with Him. If you dont have a relationship with Him, there is no better season than the one you are in right now to start one.

We love you all and hope you all have a blessed Christmas,

Matt, Amanda, Jacob and Leah

Needs;

We are at %35 of our monthly support needed

We have some Dental work needed for Matt and Jacob

We will need tires for our van before we leave in February to head back

Musical instruments to start a music program in Pine ridge

Cold weather gear to borrow for Northwest Territory trip

Any support is greatly appreciated and can be made out to YES (Youth Evangelism Stratagies) and sent to

HCR 49 Box 242

Porcupine, SD 57772