Dec-Jan 2021 Update

THESE EMAILS ARE SENSITIVE FOR SECURITY REASONS. 

PLEASE DO NOT PUBLICLY SHARE WITHOUT PERMISSION

If you no longer wish to receive this email, feel free to unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email, but please 

do not mark as spam

. Thanks!

Want to change how you receive these emails? You can 

update your preferences

 or 

unsubscribe from this list

.

Picture it. 15 university students from Nigeria, India, Zambia, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, South Africa, and Indonesia gathered together to watch

CROSS Conference

, a virtual conference geared towards mobilizing 18-25 year olds to participate in cross-cultural missions. Over two days, we listened to the preached Word, heard inspiring testimonies, and discussed together how the glory of Jesus Christ among the nations affects each of our lives. 

We were so encouraged to see students soberly processing the material they heard.

One student shared with us, "I've never thought about someone dedicating their life to missions work before!" And another student grappled with the possibility of returning to their home country for the sake of the gospel. 

Todd was able to organize this event because you are partnering with us, supporting us while we are here, praying for us, and encouraging us. Thank you!

We are so grateful for tools like this conference to help cast a vision to students of the opportunities they have on their own campuses here in Dubai. Being in this multi-cultural city, you don't have to travel far to reach unreached people groups with the gospel.

Just the other day, we started up a conversation with a young woman named Dinda who was serving us coffee. Come to find out she belongs to an unreached people group in Bali. Brittany is working now on setting up a time to get to know her better.

These opportunities are all around us here! And for students, every day presents unique opportunities to build relationally with their peers who are still lost in darkness.

- Ethiopia! -

About mid-December, we took a trip to visit our dear friends, Michael and Kenean Granger. This couple led Brittany's small group back in Louisville. They moved to Addis Ababa three years ago to start preparations for planting a new Sovereign Grace church, Trinity Fellowship.Our trip coincided with a visionary trip of some other friends, James and Katherine, as they sought the Lord's will on possibly joining the Addis church planting team. We spent eight days in fun-filled, meaningful conversations and adventure.We met some amazing people while there:

• "E", a Somali who converted from Islam to Christianity 10 years ago and has a passion to train indigenous pastors.

• "B" a South Sudanese man, running for his life after converting to Christianity. 

• "A" a young woman with two children whose husband and family left her after she chose to follow Jesus.

It is simply humbling being in the presence of such brothers and sisters, seeing their commitment to picking up their cross and following the Savior. May we all follow their example!We are so encouraged by the work that is going on in and around this church body and so grateful to have friends close to us who are partnering in the same mission of bringing the matchless gospel of Jesus to the nations.

- Christmas in Dubai -

This Christmas looked a little different for us as we chose to stay in Dubai. It was our first Christmas away from home and we wanted to make the most of it.Christmas Eve, we had a group of individuals over (both believers and unbelievers) who were spending Christmas away from family as well. We enjoyed breakfast for dinner, sang some Christmas carols, and Todd took time to recount the glorious Christmas story (complete with burning myrrh and frankincense!).Christmas day we spent quite peacefully, enjoying more rich food, opening a few presents, and taking a walk to the beach with our friend, Ivan. Though the Christmas season wasn't without its emotional difficulty, we're so grateful for how God met us during that time. 

There's a peace that can be foundWhen sadness gathers near,When family's not around,And your heart is hard to cheer;A deep peace that can be foundDespite what might have been;Joy can here too aboundIn celebrating Him—The Hope for hopeless nightsThe Star of morning lightThe Strength for weakened fightsThe Source of our delightThe Grace in Eden's woeThe Seed of mercy sownThe Mighty One made lowThe Peace of God bestowedThere's a peace that can be foundIn making Him your home.- By Brittany Hope, 12.09.20 -

- Joy's Birthday -

December 29th was "Joy"s birthday and a few of her friends asked me (Brittany) if we could throw a surprise party for her at our place. Boy was she surprised! We were able to gather a couple of her unbelieving classmates to join the party as well, which made it extra sweet. 

After enjoying homemade Nigerian shawarmas (that the girls helped me make), we took some time to share memories we have of Joy. I was deeply moved as I recounted first meeting Joy at FOCUS week, just days after Todd and I had arrived in Dubai. To think of how many good days and bad days this girl has witnessed in my life, and how much she's GROWN! I now regularly receive care and encouragement from

her

. God is so kind. 

- Looking Ahead -

Excited to start off a new year, one week into January Brittany tested positive for Covid-19, and I (Todd) tested positive a week later, which has taken us into a three-week long quarantine–just a few days left to go! In God's kindness, we seem to have contracted a milder strain of the virus. Our symptoms have been quite manageable and Brittany's health is back to normal this week. Our baby seems to be doing quite fine, growing and kicking like crazy. :)

We're especially grateful for how our church has served us by checking in regularly and bringing us multiple meals. We even had a student who has no car and lives 30 minutes away, drop by with food to care for us during our isolation.

We're also thankful (once again) for technology that enables us to continue meeting with students, make preparations for Bible discussions this semester, and stay connected to our church family. 

- PRAY WITH US -

• For a quick, complete recovery from Covid for the both of us.

• That the students who attended CROSS would be doers of the Word who act, with an immediate vision for their campus and a long-term vision for their lives. 

• That we would be able to set up a time to get together with Dinda from Bali. 

• For the Grangers and Trinity Fellowship Addis Ababa.That God would give them grace for a life-long sustained obsessing love for the person of Christ.

• That Joy would grow in her passion for the lost and that God would give her courage and creativity in starting conversations with the many unbelieving girls in her dorm.

• That Michelle (Joy's sister) would find a healthy church in Nigeria to join. 

• That we would be diligent and creative with engaging students as we come out of quarantine.