Dear Friends,

It's winter in India and there is a slight chill in the morning air. We look forward to this time of year not for the weather, although it is nice to be cold for a change, but because it is the time that we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. I have put together just a taste of what took place this Christmas. 

Widows enjoying their Christmas diner.

Ladies playing musical chairs.

On Dec 15th we had our widows Christmas party. We love spending the day with our ladies. We played games gave out prizes shared the word and gave them their Christmas sari and Christmas meal along with some extra money for the holidays.




This year we were blessed with 4 Christmas concerts two of them were made even more special. One in our new church building in Avadi. I am reminded of several Christmases that the concerts were held out doors because we had no church building. This year we held the concert inside the beautiful completed church. Praise God! Thanks to everyone in Canada that made that the building of this church possible.

Boys preform at Thayur Church

The Church in Thayur packed to the rafters.

Another program was the church in the village of Thayur. For years this church was closed to us and we were not able to hold a service in the building while the case made it's way through the Indian court system. This was our first Christmas program in Thayur in 3 year. 

Children decorate their first Christmas tree.

Starting with prayer.

On Dec 24th we held the annual Christmas party at Hope for the Children. Thanks to Trinity Pentecostal Church in Greenwood N.S. and "Scarves of Hope" the kids enjoyed a great party! Which included their first Christmas tree that everyone got a chance to help decorate. A visit from Santa who brought candy. New clothes and toys. A cake and we ended the night with a great show of fireworks.
This was the first Christmas for some of our children they had never seen a Christmas tree or heard the Christmas story.  Making Christmas even more special for us. 

We ended our Christmas with a midnight Christmas Eve service.

Stopping for some ice cream after lunch.

This month along with all the kids "Hope for the Children" we joined the circus! At least for the afternoon show. We started the day at Guindy Children's Park, right here in Chennai. The kids got to see animals and reptiles. They also got to play on a huge playground.

Next we went straight to the circus. It was great watching the kids enjoy the show. Many of the kids had never seen the circus and a lot didn't even know what it was. Boy were they in for a treat!

Looking ahead in a week our pastor from our home church in Scarborough Ontario Rev Dan Colantonio will be visiting us. We are planning revival meetings and special services during this time. February 6th to 9th we will be hosting the PAOC Indian Field Retreat. Our special speakers are Peggy and Jack Kennedy, Dan Colantonio and Peter McIntosh. Please keep this busy time in your prayers.