Dear Friends, December 2009 It’s so hard to believe that our time in the US has already passed the 5 month mark. We look back and wonder where the time has flown! We’re already feeling the feelings that come when it’s getting close to going back “home”. First of all we say a HUGE thanks for your prayers. There have been so many times when God has answered our specific prayers in amazing ways…what an Awesome God we serve. July was full of family reunions, spending time with friends, churches and traveling across the US. Thanks to those of you who fit us into your busy schedules and made us feel welcome and loved! August was spent getting our kids settled into schools. Cody and Charity are in the local public schools and Chantelle is at Biola University which is about 90 minutes away. It’s been an adjustment for Cody and Charity but they have done well in spite of the culture shocks they feel often. Chantelle, in her words, “absolutely LOVES Biola” for which we are very thankful as it will (hopefully) make the goodbyes less difficult! Pray for our family as we leave Chantelle in the US when we go back to Niger. Feel free to write her. Email: chantelle616@gmail.com or regular mail: Biola University, Box 1475, 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639 In September we moved into the house we are renting for the rest of our time here in the US. It is in the city of Redlands and has been a wonderful provision of God to have a completely furnished house to move right into. It has been a perfect place for us and has a large living area, perfect for entertaining.
October and November have been full of much traveling all across the country! Thanks for your prayers and the many wonderful visits we have had in SO many places! We have been so blessed by catching up with people and blessed by your interest in our lives and ministry, humbled by your generosity and invigorated by your prayers!
We are trying to stay closer to home during December so we can finish getting ready to go back and have some quality time with family here. Our plans are to return to Niger the first week of January. We have been amazingly blessed by new support and increases by people who already support us. God has provided above and beyond what we imagined. SIM says that we still need approximately $450 a month. We have no doubt that God will supply, as He has reaffirmed in SO many ways that we’re going in the right direction. So, in faith, we bought tickets this last week and keep making plans, trusting Him for the details! Would you commit to praying with us about this? And would you let us know if you feel you can help complete this remaining need? We want to be better about that keeping you up on what is happening in our lives. We plan to do more frequent, shorter updates. Please keep us aware of any changes to your email addresses so we can keep in touch! Giving thanks! Love, Brian and Cathy, Chantelle, Charity and Cody. For Prayer Pray for Chantelle at Biola University Pray that our remaining time in the US will go SLOWLY so we can accomplish all we want as well as have special times with our families. Pray for us and the staff at Sahel Academy as we prepare for our ACCREDITATION VISIT in
February 2010. There is much to be done before that which means very busy days once we get back. Pray for Sahel Academy…for staff and for the students that they will SHINE FOR JESUS! Pray for the country of Niger. There are so many needs and not enough people or resources. Pray for wisdom for the missionaries serving there. Pray for us to maintain balance in the many things we’re involved in. Pray for us that we will be God’s Love to those around us…staff, students, Nigeriens, other missionaries, parents of our students, our family, and each other. Pray for Charity as she searches out God’s will for her life after graduation. (she’s a Junior now) Pray for the needed (financial) support for our return to Niger. Pray for God to do His Mighty Work in our hearts and lives!
This is new to us, but we are now informing individuals about the possibility to set up online giving, either by electronic check or by credit card. This can also be tailored for automatic, reoccurring giving. Here is the link. https://usanet.sim.org/SIMGift/detail.aspx Enter our names and our SIM number: Brian and Cathy Bliss 06424, then under designation select “support.” The rest will be up to you.