Well, here we go into the holiday season, and I can't seem to fend off the past few added pounds. I'm still holding to nothing but fruit before noon and an empty stomach by 8pm. Looks like turning 39 is already taking its toll (ha, ha).

For our friends in the US, Happy Thanksgiving! May you reflect on His blessings and goodness as you fellowship around the table(s).

Oh, I've added a short story at the very end of this page. I hope you find it useful (thanks, Darryl!).

* Be sure to sign up for the Wednesday Weekly.

+ Shirin prayed with her friend who has a heart for reaching women, and you joined them as they prayed for every woman in East Jerusalem to have an opportunity to hear the Good News in a language she could understand... she said they are using the Christmas season to share God's love for the women of East Jerusalem.

+ You prayed with the group as they prepared for the next Children's Party by praying that the children's and mothers' hearts would be open to hear God's truths... their preparations went well, and they plan to do a skit of the paralyzed man and his four friends. They will also do and craft and a game. The party is during the first week in December, and they thank you for your prayers.

+ The three of us were to have had an early weekend trip to assist co-workers in the setting up of computer equipment, so you prayed with us that the travel would be safe and that the setup would go well... that trip has been put on hold until the needed equipment arrives (sigh).

+ You continued praying that 'whatever is in the air' would be kept at bay so we could stay healthy... this was 'one of those weeks' where sniffles would sneak up on us. We've been taking extra Vitamin C, and that seems to help; however, I believe it's your ongoing intercession that is making a difference.

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< Pray that my ongoing saga with ordering computer equipment would come to an end this week and that the overdue equipment would be made ready so I can help meet a co-worker's computer needs.

<>< Ask God to keep us safe and healthy as we travel to a Thanksgiving gathering.

<>< Jasmine turns 4.5 on Sunday, and we're planning a special day. Ask God to continue working on her heart as He draws her to Himself.

<>< Shirin celebrates her 19th anniversary of walking with Jesus on Monday, so pray that her day would honor Him.

<>< Our time to visit the US will be upon us within six months, so the time to coordinate pictures and 'our story' in PowerPoint will need some time. Ask God to grant me the necessary patience to start this project.

<>< Begin praying with Shirin for a Christmas party for women and children who have made some step toward believing in Jesus. She and others are asking for opportunities for the women and children to make a true commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives.

><Pray for the Jebala of Morocco.>

CALENDAR UPDATES

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19, Ask that our marriage grow sweeter.

* One month shy of 16.5 years : -)

20, Ask for the local conflict to end.

* Not yet, so keep praying : -(

21, Pray for Shirin as she shares with neighbors.

* It's good to know you're praying : -)

22, Pray for laborers to share in settlements.

* As I drove past them today I thought of your praying.

23, Hanni’s salvation

* Not yet so keep praying

24, Jasmine’s ability to learn in Arabic

* I watched her review her homework and was amazed at what she's picking up! Thank you for praying!

25, May Scott’s mom fall in love with Jesus even more!

* A recent e-mail gave indication that she may be returning to a local church, so keep praying for her and my family of origin.

A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain?

He was aghast to discover that it was a mouse trap!

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house."

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house."

"I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, Duh?"

So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mouse trap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.

In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital.

She returned home with a fever.

Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.