December Update...

I am absolutely amazed at how quickly time flies! It seems like only a few days ago that I wrote last month's update to you all; but, alas, it's been a whole month! God continues to bless our lives in a variety of ways, not the least of which is His constant and faithful presence in our day-to-day existence. I've been thinking more often lately of how peculiar it seems that God chooses to put so much stock in our relatively puny existence. Christian songwriter Michael Card put it this way in a favorite song of mine, "God shapes every second of our little lives, and minds every minute as the universe waits by." (The Poem of Your Life/1994 Birdwing Music). I realize that God doesn't view our existence as "puny", and that He does value us more than we could ever imagine. But isn't it marvelous that the Creator of the universe takes an interest in the most minute detail of our lives? I think it is, and if you would ponder it for a while I'm sure you would, too.

Concerning work, I am now getting between 25 and 30 hours a week at Durham School Services. With the Christmas vacation beginning next week, though, I will not be putting in any hours there for the next two weeks. I have been given a new student on my route, which is the reason for my hours going over 25. It also means that I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier now, but it's worth it. So, my schedule on Monday through Friday is roughly 5am to 5pm, with a few exceptions. I get up at 0500 to get to the bus yard by 0600 and start my route by 0630. I'm done with my morning route usually by 0900, and I park the bus at the church to start my day in the office there. Then, on most days my afternoon route starts at 1400 and ends around 1630. I'm usually back home no later than 1700. The exceptions are that my students get out an hour earlier on Mondays, and I'm not required to work at the church on Fridays (so, I don't)...:) So, that roughly has me putting in around 50 hours a week, altogether, give or take a couple hours from time to time, and doesn't include any extra events at church or my responsibilities during church services throughout the week.

Dulcy reports that while home-schooling is still challenging from time to time it has most definitely smoothed out. She says that she attributes most of the stress it caused early-on to how she was going about accomplishing the work. She has since changed her routine and theirs, and it's now coming together much better than before. It's neither easy nor convenient, mind you, but now it's manageable. Michael's favorite subjects are history and science. David's favorite subjects are math and history. Katherine's favorite subject is Bible and anything that involves singing. When not schooling, it's hard to get the kids away from their Nintendo DS's that we purchased before leaving Korea. They enjoy playing against each other. Dulcy and I frequently have to tell them to "power-down" and find something else to do, and when we're able we play board games with them or some other activity. We often have some kind of church-related activity or get-together of some kind with folks from the church, too. They miss their friends in Korea a lot, but they are happy to be living here in California, too. The kids have recently discovered the wonder of houses decorated for Christmas. Usually, it's very loud in the car when we drive anywhere because of the arguing going on in the back seat over one thing or another. Now, it's still loud, but the loudness is all the ooohs, aaahs, and wows over all the houses decorated with lights and various other decorations. It is a joy to listen to them as they marvel at all the decorations...most of the time...sometimes it gets a bit too loud.

This is most definitely one of the busiest times of the year for church ministry. There is a ladies' Christmas fellowship tonight, a youth Christmas fellowship this Saturday, a choral performance of a Christmas mini-musical this Sunday (with a final rehearsal on Saturday morning), and a church-wide Christmas potluck and fellowship this Sunday evening...oh, and regular mid-week services on Wednesday night, too. God is good, though. The family I mentioned that has begun attending our church is becoming more regular, now, even after a move that requires a bit longer of a commute to church. Their youngest child, Josiah, has really attached himself to Dulcy, who watches over him when they are here, as he doesn't quite fit into the other age groups just yet. Their other two kids are fitting in quite well in their respective groups, too. Please Pray that God will continue to allow us to minister to this new family, and that they will become members of the church soon. Please continue to pray for the Bible study that Dulcy will be beginning in January. We hit a snag with getting the books ordered, and must wait until after the first of the year to order them.

In the next few months, I will begin petitioning the Christian schools in the area regarding a teaching position for next year. I am content with how things are working now, but Dulcy and I both desire to have the kids in a Christian school next year, and this is one of the only ways we forsee being able to afford such an endeavor. Specifically, I desire to work at Berean Christian High School, as this would provide free tuition for my kids to Walnut Creek Christian Academy, and when the time came, to BCHS. I ask that you would pray towards that end. It should also go without being said that we, of course, desire God's will to be done in this matter, and only want what is best for our family and kid's education.

Well, that's about all we have for right now. We really do desire to hear from any of you on a more regular basis. We completely appreciate how much all of you have prayed for us over the last year, and are completely humbled when we think of how God has so graciously answered your prayers through His various provisions for our family.

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

In HIS Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey
Mark 10:45