Christmas celebrations have begun please pray!

Our Christmas Celebrations began last Friday evening, Dec. 11th with a special evening for women. Refugee women from Chechnya, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Dagestan, Armenia, and Syria enjoyed the evening. Often when refugees flee their homeland they have to leave quickly and can take very little with them. Often women think of what to pack for their children and sacrifice packing their own things for the sake of their children. Friends in the USA sent a special gift (Satin Hands from Mary Kay) to pampered these women- moisturizing their dry hands this winter. Then at the end the evening, we gave each woman a tote bag filled with other practical gifts- lip balm, flip-flops for the shower, a mug, coffee or tea, a toothbrush, headscarf, pen, pad of paper, and a calendar in their mother tongue with God's word for 2010. Churches in Austria and individuals from various other countries also gave to make these gifts possible. Thank you.

Today we found ourselves surrounded by gray backpacks that we were filling with other practical gifts to give out tomorrow night at the end of our adult Christmas program. We are so thankful that this year an abundance has been provided for Christmas and we can lavish God's love on the refugees through gifts as well as sharing in words the story of Christmas. We want to ask you to keep some specific dates and programs in prayer in the next week as we share Jesus with those who come through our doors this Christmas season.

Weds. Dec. 16 - Oasis Adult Christmas program

Mon. Dec. 21 -Kids' clothing room when the children will be given gifts and invited

to come back the next day for a Kids Christmas program to hear

the reason we celebrate Christmas

Tues. Dec. 22 - Kids Christmas program

Weds. Dec 23 - Christmas coffeehouse - the last chance this year (2009) for people to

see a movie about the life of Jesus in their heart language.

Thanks you for your prayers!