December 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

Feliz Navidad! I hope that this note/letter finds you in wonderful health and high spirits as we celebrate the birth of our risen Savior! It is very different this year from last year this time of the year. Last year, the weather was warm, no Christmas tree, and the celebration was on the 24th going into the 25th as the placed baby Jesus in the manger at midnight. This year it is quite cold....which some don't like, but I do after not having cold weather for so long! We just finished decorating the Christmas Tree, which was VERY different for us since Mom and I like to have the tree up as long as possible and usually have it no later than mid-December.

As some of you know, Mom came to visit me my last 2 weeks in December before heading home. It was a FANTASTIC time other than the cancelled flight in Houston, but it could have caught fire like the plane did in Denver heading to Houston! Praise God for watching over us and keeping us safe. First we got to meet up with Rachel Tarvin, a missionary from our home church. She is quite the busy girl though, and we only spent Sunday with her, but had dinner on Friday night with her. We took a train to Machu Picchu, which was beautiful! I faced my fears that day though.....my fear of heights! And we conquered it! It was great though! Then we went to the coast and visited "Las Islas Ballestas". They are the islands near where they had an earthquake last year. There is marine life on there year round, and it was neat to see them! We saw sea lions, penguins and LOTS of birds. Then we went back to the orphanage and spent the last week there. We baked cookies with the kids, which was tiring but well worth it! One day was spent with Miss Aly, the on-site school teacher. Her family LOVES to learn new things to cook, so Mom baked a carrot cake (her favorite) and no-bake cookies! It was a fun-filled trip and Mom really enjoyed her time in Perú.

It has been a little different being back with no kids here at home and let alone getting ready for the Christmas season. It is WAY different from last year. Last year there wasn't snow, it wasn't REALLY cold, there wasn't a Christmas tree, we celebrated Christmas on the 24th into the 25th. We placed baby Jesus in the manger at midnight last year. This year Mom and I have felt Christmas a little rushed. Normally we have the tree up at least by mid-December, but we weren't home yet. I am enjoying being home though. I hope to see most of you sometime in 2009.

Even though my time ministering to the little ones at the orphanage is over (other than through prayer) I will be working with 6 new little ones starting January 13th. I head to Winston, Montana to nanny for a year saving up money to go back with YWAM. I will be helping a mother of 6 children (A LOT different that the 45 I just left!!). They are a Christian couple and I look forward to helping them and serving them in any way that I can. Afterwards I hope to be joining YWAM again, serving at a base in Washington state. There I will be serving in a ministry called Adoption Ministry, which is a YWAM ministry. I have seen how adoptions are internationally, and now I hope to see how they go nationally. I pray this is the path God is calling me down. I don't have any hesitations at the moment, or any red flags. I have been praying about it for awhile now, and I really believe this is where God is calling me to serve after raising my own support nannying for a year.

I pray that this holiday is a new and exciting one for you....one that is life-changing! God is always at work in our lives, and I love it! I am not the same person that I was last year, let alone a month ago. He is always shaping us and molding us into the person He has created us to be. I pray that you are celebrating not only the birth of the risen Savior, but rejoicing in the life He lived, the death He bore for our sins on a cruel rugged cross, his burial, and resurrection on the 3rd day! He is alive sitting at the right hand of the throne of His Father! I pray that you know Him personally! Without Him I am nothing! Like I said before, I hope to see all of you in 2009! Know that I love all of you and have missed you A LOT, but most importantly, God loves you more than you can imagine! His blessings to you ALWAYS!

I have been given the opportunity to share at 6 services what God has done through me while in Perú!
December 28 AM - First Christian Church of Kearney, MO
December 28 PM - Mt Calvary Baptist Church of Richmond, MO
January 4 AM - Rayville Christian Union Church of Rayville, MO
January 11 AM - Antioch Bible Baptist Church of Gladstone, MO
Call me or email me for times, for I am not 100% sure of the times!

Serving Him in Love,
Amy Elizabeth Pitchford
Webpage: http://home.att.net/~greatcommission/Pitchford/
Blogspot: http://hogar-de-esperanza-amy.blogspot.com/

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.  Mark 10:13-16