Christmas 2008

We did Christmas a little differently this year. First, we gave our children the opportunity to serve others by helping with sorting and distributing Christmas gifts to those in need. Second, we spent less on gifts than in prior years and gave our children Christmas money to purchase some gifts that they would really use. I excerpted some clips from Christmas Day.



The day after Christmas, we took the kid's to a ranch not far from our house to a Bed and Breakfast where they give horseback riding lessons. We had a great time as a family and learned some new skills.

Our trainer, "Ms Tweety", taught us how to groom, bridle, and ride. You'll see briefly in the video that Joshua's horse, Meg, kept walking away and at one point Joshua was facing in the opposite direction as everyone else. It was quite funny!



John

Merry Christmas!

We learned many things in 2008, but above all, we learned in a more profound way that God is faithful. I have seen God do the impossible in our lives, making a way for us to do things I would never have imagined. I hope that each of my readers are encouraged by our testimony and that you too experience God's faithfulness. This Christmas, remember that He has brought hope to the world through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

My blog entry today contains highlights for our family from the past year. We wanted to share these events with our family and friends as a demonstration of God's faithfulness.

In July and early August, I visited Burundi, Africa to teach a 2 day Peacemaking Seminar. Below is a photo of an orphanage that I visited with the other team members during our stay.


Upon returning to the US, I began investigating the possibility of developing a 100 hectare (roughly 250 acres) farm in Burundi as a project with my friend Jean-Marie Nibizi. The purpose of the project is to provide jobs for 100 Burundians. We developed a business plan and are currently working with investors to secure the funds. The farm will be used to grown Jatropha, a plant used for making biodiesel fuel. In the process of pursuing this venture, I was offered a new position in my company to lead a marketing effort for biofuels. The new company we are forming is called Envara Fuels. I traveled to Costa Rica in November to visit a Jatropha farm and to begin the formation of a joint venture with the Costa Rica Seed Company. In the photo below I am touring the farm on horseback.

Kim was asked to be an event planner for Christian HELP. She organized an event called Christmas in July to raise money to provide Christmas for families struggling to survive in the Orlando area. Kim also developed the Christmas toy distribution program for Christian HELP. Below, she is standing with Sandi Vidal, the Executive Director for Christian HELP.

Elizabeth earned the "All American Teen Talent 2009" and "All American Teen Community Service Award" in October. She discovered her love for gardening, cultivating tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and several other plants. As an early Christmas present, she received a 20 square foot rolling planter box that we built over Thanksgiving. She is performing this month in four performances of the Nutcracker Ballet with the Russian Ballet of Orlando.

Our biggest discovery was Andrea's abilities in Art. The front of our Christmas letter is her drawing of Santa Mouse. She easily mastered creating several Wallace & Gromit characters out of clay. Andrea received her 1st degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Joshua loves building with Legos. This past year he competed in a Central Florida Taekwondo competition and won 2nd place in forms and sparring. He was the smallest, but the loudest in his age category. Joshua also earned his 1st degree black belt this year.

Merry Christmas from John, Kim, Elizabeth (age 14), Andrea (age 12), and Joshua (age 9).