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Can't see this email? View it in your browser. To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add cvi@cristovive.net to your address book. www.cristovive.net December 23, 2009   Dear Friends, Christmas is the season! Wow has this month ever filled our lives with much wonder and joy. From the very beginning of the month in the final blasts of preparation and the fulfillment of the 3rd annual Winter Retreat at Osceola, Wisconsin there weren’t many long sleep filled nights. We love it though when God whispers our name and tells us that He will keep our strength up to complete the race we have entered. This race, the Winter Retreat, was won with great exuberance and glory. Sixteen campers and forty-one shining stars to help showed up and made this weekend one to remember. Just a few short days before we weren’t aware that we would have snow and cold enough weather to enjoy all of the winter outdoor fun, but just in time, 2 days before camp, we were blessed with a great flurry of snow and cold weather. It was perfect for snow sledding and hay riding through the camp. It was truly awesome to experience God’s love there as the team of shining stars excelled in their love sharing with the campers, one on one, and in some cases two on one. And Christmas it is, as we are now here in Ecuador with Jordana’s family getting on with the joy of family fun and excitement of meeting once again. There is little to compare the pleasure it is for Dad and Mom, as well as brothers, to have daughter and sister with them for this season. For them, this is the first they have seen her since her visit with her heavenly Father this past February and this is the first Christmas the family will be together in over 10 years. To say there is much ado here is a short expression to the ecstasy felt by all. Osito continues to steal the show in every encounter he has here. We arrived on late Wednesday evening but early Thursday morning he went off to school with grandma (Nony) and got more attention than any child should ever have to put up with. The second day of school, he rose before the whole school in a Christmas program practice and on his own led them in the song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. Our first day here wrapped up the ministry outreach experience for Mindy Wormwood. We held a meeting with her and the group she has inspired here in Quito. She did everything we expected and hoped for and much more. Her efforts while here in Ecuador since August have produced a great encouragement to the ministry contacts throughout the region and in Quito set in motion the opportunity for a great team of enthusiastic leaders to develop and expand the work here. It was refreshing to hear each of them as they shared their ideas concerning the upcoming outreach in March 2010. Thanks Mindy for a job well done. Mindy also is the first extended period of mission servants we have placed in the field. She set the pace well. We are tremendously excited for your continued support and prayers for us as we set out in this new adventure in faith with our Lord. The work of ministry remains demanding and crucial even in the office at home while we are in Ecuador, please keep your support coming and growing. May you have the best Merry Christmas ever and truly enjoy God’s greatest and everlasting gift to you, Jesus. He remains unequalled in all His glory and beckons us at every moment to enjoy our Father in awesome relationship. We love you all, Gene & Jordana Engebretsen Submit monthly gifts to: Cristo Vive International • P.O. Box 527 • Big Lake, MN 55309 or Click here to make a donation via PayPal.     Think green. Please only print this email when necessary. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.