December Update

First of all, we would like to wish each of you a very Happy New Year! We trust that you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas.

This month has been an enjoyable one, since Tom and Jill (Tracy's parents) arrived in Atlanta at the end of November and will be here until the end of January! It was SO good to have them here over Christmas and we not looking forward to them going!

Unfortunately Jordan has been quite unwell for a while with Glandular Fever (otherwise known as 'Mono' here in the States!) He was x-rayed last week and found to have an enlarged spleen, which is causing him quite a bit of pain and he has lost weight and is extremely tired all the time. He has to have a lot of rest and generally wait for the virus to pass (which will possibly mean a period of time off school).

Rhiana is still not back to school either, although (PRAISE GOD!!) her headaches are minimal now. We received a phone call just before Christmas from her Neurosurgeon to advise us that she needed further surgery before her spinal fusion. Rhiana was due to have spinal fusion at 'Shriner's' Hospital in North Carolina in January, however, this additional surgery would have made that impossible. We visited the Neurosurgeon last week and he has suggested that he tries to get Rhiana a date in February/March with her Orthapedic Surgeon, here in Atlanta, and intends to insert a 'stent' into Rhiana's spine during the same surgery as the spinal fusion (this needs to be done, to get rid of the spinal fluid that has collected inside her spine, which could cause paralysis etc if not treated). This would make the surgery an hour longer, but would mean that Rhiana would not have to go through 3 serious operations in the space of 6 months! We would still really appreciate your prayers for Rhiana's health and healing. She is still coping remarkably well but, as you can imagine, is apprehensive about further surgery when she still feels rather 'fragile' after having brain surgery a few months ago. Please pray that God's will be done - whether that is through miraculous healing or surgery, we know He has the best in store for her and will hold and sustain her throughout! What a FAITHFUL God we serve!

Jubilee continues to grow, which is exciting and Trev is now overseeing the children's work. Tracy has agreed to head up the work with the poor and is meeting with a couple of other people to pray and seek God's guidance as to how we proceed. After taking up an offering to help families in the community who were in need over Christmas, we were excited to have several couples/families come into REVIVE asking whether we could help them. One couple had lost everything in a fire, another had lost his job and had his children and grandchildren living with him in a room in a local motel and was in need of food and rent. Another recently widowed lady came asking for help and we were able to offer her employment at REVIVE and practical help too. It was SO humbling and exciting to come into contact with these people and be able to provide them with food hampers, clothing and gifts for Christmas. We know that this is just the start of things to come and would really appreciate your prayers as this is a HUGE endeavour we are undertaking. We want to build something that offers people SO much more than just practical help. Our desire is to support them through the tough situations they are in and see many come into a REAL and living relationship with Jesus Christ!

Please join with us in praying for the following:
1. That God would provide us with a venue.
2. That we would know His plan and strategy in helping the poor.
3. That the financial costs would be covered.
4. That God would give us wisdom in 'who' and 'how' to help.
5. That God would put together the 'team' to lead and run this initiative.

THANK YOU!

We really do love you all and thank you for your on-going love and support.