New Direction

The Winters' Report

A New Adventure Awaits…

By Chris

Pack the suntan lotion and Spanish/English dictionary, the Winters are headed to Venezuela. We have just accepted positions at the International Christian School in Caracas, Venezuela. We are very excited about the way God has opened our hearts to consider serving at a small school with only 87 students in the Latin American country. Over the past several months I began feeling drawn to an administrative role. In response to that desire we began looking into options and have been through a character building process that has caused us to cling to God's promise that He really does know the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11).

In the coming year I will be teaching a small 2^nd grade class most of the day and take on several administrative responsibilities including professional development. Jessica will be getting back into the classroom as well. She will be teaching a pre-school class that includes our youngest daughter Annaliese. We will be coming home as scheduled this June and departing for Caracas around the beginning of August.

The logistics of this move will require the expansion our support team. We are trusting God and asking our church in Seoul, YISS faculty, and network of friends and family back home to consider supporting us especially in this first year. Please feel free to pass our newsletter on to others that may be interested in supporting the gospel and Christian education in Venezuela.

Member Updates

Jessica:

I am so thankful that God cares about every aspect of our lives. It is wonderful to know that I can bring everything that concerns me to him.

Chris:

I am so thankful that God gives us the desires of our heart. I am in awe of His faithfulness.

Isabella:

I am learning that you don't have to give some one a toy to make them your friend. You can just be nice to them. I have been busy on Mondays lately with singing praise songs at Seoul Seekers and learning Bible verses at Awana after school.

Annaliese:

I have a new favorite phrase which is "I need to go home." I say this when I get sleepy or just plain tired of being out.

Jessica's Junction

As you have just read, there are many changes that await our family in the near future. Our life in Korea these past five years has been a time of growth, joy, and (of course) challenges. Although Annaliese is too young to know what is going on, we wanted to start talking to Isabella about the upcoming transition. At the age of five, she still doesn't understand the implications of a move like this. Chris and I asked her how she felt about moving to a Spanish-speaking country the other day, (we expected her to possibly object to leaving her school and friends), but instead, she didn't hesitate as she looked us in the eyes and said "Is that what God wants us to do?" We were taken aback by her response. It just goes to show what Christ was talking about when he said that we must come to him like a little child. Complete trust. Some would say it is naive- the innocence of a child. That is what faith is- complete trust. Not in the outcome of the circumstances, but in the character of Our God.

This morning I stumbled upon Psalm 34, which is titled: "The Happiness of Those Whose Trust is in God". It brought peace to my heart as I consider all the changes in the months ahead. I encourage you to read it as well. God is faithful to carry us through the challenging times. I encourage you to read it and entrust your circumstances, whatever they may be, to His very faithful and competent hands.

Join Our Support Team

Donations are administered through NICS and are tax deductible.

For Financial Contributions, please mail checks to:
Network of International Christian Schools
3790 Goodman Rd ESouthaven, MS 38672

Phone: 800-887-6427(NICS) or 662-892-4300

Please write our project number 001638 on the check.

**Please do not write our names anywhere on the check.**

Prayer Requests

• We need to raise support for airfare, car, settling in and moving expenses
  
• YISS Accreditation
  
• Our mission trip to the Philippines this spring break April 4, 2009
  
• God's will in Venezuela
  
• Chris is leading a professional development workshop in March
  
• Preparations to depart Korea including our ministries and dear friends here
  
• For God's grace and hand of protection as we joyfully submit to His will.
  

Guardians With A Message

We have been preparing for a spring break mission trip to the Philippines with YISS high school students. The main purpose of this trip is to disciple our high school students including two students from my 5^th grade class back in 2004. Jessica and I will be teaching vacation Bible school to school children in Baguio City. Our mission team is led by our good friend Ben Horne who has been asking us to join the team since last year. We have been meeting with the team most Mondays since October to establish relationships and prepare for this venture. I am so excited to return to the land where the Lord first called me to foreign missions back in 2000. We are also thankful for the opportunity to have Bella and Annaliese involved in missions.