One word summarizes this year: Change

CHANGE
As we look back on this past year, one word comes to mind more than others - CHANGE. We say we want to be more like our Lord. Yet, this is one characteristic in which we never want to be like Him. He never changes and we have a need to change to be more like Him. The psalmist proclaimed in Psalm 102: 25-27:
“Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you endure;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You change them like clothing, and they pass away;
but you are the same, and your years have no end.”

CULTURE
The first half of this year found us finishing our various commitments in Singapore and moving from the East to the West (USA), a country Kurt calls home. While in Singapore, Kurt was interning at a missions organization and teaching Spanish at the International Community (Christian) School. Now, he is back to heating, ventilation and A/C engineering in the Bay Area. Sally was serving in the Singapore church she grew up in. Now she is a housewife, childcare provider and learner. She is learning so much about her new culture, discovering more about herself and making many new friends. We have opportunities to be involved in local churches and the community in the bay area. Our job titles and roles may have gone through a slight change, but we are still serving the same God and our identity in Him remains the same.

CAMBODIA
The Krung and Brao peoples in the northeastern province of Cambodia, where we are praying about working, are only 2 of the 9 minority peoples with populations greater than 10,000, yet less than 2% Christian. They are in desperate need of missionaries who can learn their language and culture, and help them grapple with life’s issues. For example, it is customary for parents to allow their unwed sons and daughters to come together in union in their courtship ritual even before marriage takes place. Christians in these hill tribes are now developing a revised wedding ceremony that preserves their traditional symbols and rituals (like the playing of gongs, lighting of candles and blessings from elders), but also glorifies the Lord (no spirit worship and excessive drinking). They are working on ways to keep the ‘marriage bed honored by all’ (Heb 13:4).

CONTINUATION
We continue to do deputation, to raise awareness for the Cambodian people and her church in the Bay Area and beyond. We are always looking for opportunities to share in churches, mission conferences, prayer groups, Sunday School classes, and home groups. We are constantly praying for those (individuals, families, groups, churches) who would send us out into the white harvest field of Cambodia through praying, giving, encouraging. Their partnership allows us to go, because He says, “Go!”

CHRISTMAS
This Christmas we are realizing that a big part of the working out of our Christian faith is to choose which “Christmas traditions” to adopt for our family and which to brush aside. The candles and lights can remind us of Christ the Light who shone in this dark world and our responsibility to shine for Him.

With thankful hearts, join us in praising God for: Sally’s driving license, Kurt’s engineering job, medical insurance, and Kurt’s sister’s visit during Christmas!

Prayer requests: (1) housing in the bay area for our remaining stay in the USA, (2) God’s perfect timing for us to head out for Cambodia. Our target date is July 2006. (3) Sally’s immigration issues, (4) Kurt’s mom’s hand surgery in Jan ’06.

Enjoy a blessed Christmas & a happy, new 2006!

Jesus is the reason for the season,
Kurt & Sally Kovach