Symanzik Family Update

Wise men still seek Him
This tiny infant King
Just like the Wise men of old followed Him

And if I had been there at His birth
Would I have seen His Worth?
And would I have sought Him as My Lord?
This Tiny Infant King....

And it's a miracle not to celebrate one day a year
But every day giving thanks always
to the Father for the Son
And it's a miracle
This tiny infant king
lying in a manger, a barn for His shelter
is our redemptive King...

O Come let us adore Him, O Come let us adore Him
O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord...

And It's a miracle to be celebrated every day!
God's redemptive plan wrapped up in this small babe
His love for us, uncomparable and never ending
This tiny child, The King of Kings, is our eternal home.

copyright 1984 - Beth Symanzik

We've been busy with Christmas activities here.

The elementary kids presented a selection of Christmas Carols.


Middle school band, that Kirsten is a part of, presented a Christmas concert as well as went and played in some of the poorer neighborhoods around the school.



Kirsten and I frosted cookies.

I helped organize the SIL Christmas party.




Mikayla was part of the ensemble that led the Christmas Carols at the party.

But no matter what we are doing this Christmas season, may we each remember that the real reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ - King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Please pray for all the people affected by this flooding....Thanks.
This did not occur in Davao where we live but in towns several hours here on the island of Mindanao.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/18/death-toll-from-philippine-storm-reaches-569-hundreds-missing/?iref=allsearch
from CNN website:
Death toll from Philippine storm reaches 548; hundreds missing
December 18th, 2011

Devastation from a tropical storm that deluged the southern Philippines mounted on Sunday, with the death toll rising to 548, military officials said.
About 370 people are missing, the Philippine Red Cross said, after entire villages were swept away. The agency offered a different death toll than the military - 532 - but it was not clear why.
The stench of death permeated the air as aid workers scrambled to help survivors.
The vast majority of the dead were found in the port cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, according to military and disaster officials. Water-logged bodies from washed-away villages floated at the shoreline, on the northwestern coast of Mindanao island.
Five people were killed in a landslide, but virtually all others died in flash flooding after Tropical Storm Washi, which is called Sendong locally.
Survivors in the hardest-hit areas now contend with no electricity and a lack of clean drinking water. One woman in Cagayan de Oro collected murky brown floodwater in a bucket, just meters away from where a destroyed vehicle was submerged.
Flash flooding overnight Friday - following 10 hours of rain - fueled the devastation. As much as 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain fell within 24 hours in some areas.

Perhaps you have heard Mindanao was hit by a tropical storm.
While we here in Davao faired well, in other parts of Mindanao devastation has reigned....over 400 are dead....villages swept away in flash flooding....pray for those affected by this storm....

just one of many, many images of devastation

James and I were walking in the cemetery this afternoon.
He pointed out to me the pretty clouds and said Jesus was up there.

I said, "yes, Jesus is everywhere"

"In my heart, too, Mom"

"Yes, in your heart too!"

"I want to see Jesus face to face."

"When we are in Heaven we will see Jesus face to face!"

"Maybe on FaceBook, Mom! Maybe on FaceBook!"

I just had to laugh....It was just the soul-refresher I needed to hear today. Little kids have such simple faith. I am thankful for the gift of James and his innocent, fresh faith. He is so sensitive and will spontaneously say to me, "Mom, I love Jesus so much!"

Matthew 11:25"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father,
for this is what you were pleased to do.