Symanzik Family Update

Kirsten and Ben have joined the after school sports being held for K-5 kids at Faith. Currently we are doing football. In the US this sport is called 'soccer'. (But I really think 'football' is a better term!)

Next quarter we will play baseball, and then fourth quarter will be basketball. (I say 'we' because I and two other Moms are heading up the After School Sports Program for the kids!! It's fun!!)

The Middle School had a band concert last night. Mikayla played a duet with one of her school friends as part of the concert. The music director here is a blessing. He does a great job with the kids.

Well, we now have a teen ager in our family!

Her birthday party was a lot of fun.

We are thankful to God for each one of our kids!

We are also thankful to all our friends and family for your prayers, support, letters, packages....we are truly blessed.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge...Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."1 Corinthians 1 : 3 - 8

Mikayla turns 13 today.

When she was a baby I remember praying as I held her that God would ordain the circumstances of her life and that of any future children we'd have to know that there was more to the world than "white, middle-class Americana". God has richly answered that prayer. What an adventure we are on.

Mikayla is growing in wisdom and grace. She is a blessing to us and others.

Last week she and I went on a three day mother/daughter retreat. We had a lot of good uninterrupted talking time, time to swim, play games, and discuss various issues. It was a very enriching time for both of us as we celebrate her entry into the teen years.

We pray that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will continue to give her the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that she may know him better. We also pray that the eyes of her heart may be enlightened in order that she may know the hope to which he has called her, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

It's always amazing to watch our neighbors climb up a coconut tree to get the nuts out! No ropes, no ladders, just notches in the tree!

Saturday we went on a snorkeling trip with colleagues to Talicud Island.

We stopped at two snorkeling sites - one called 'Coral Garden' and one called 'The Wall'. When I'm snorkeling I feel like I'm living out a National Geographic special. The scenery under the water is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

We ate lunch on the beach at Talicud Island. It was a lot of fun.
And for the first time our family survived a day on the ocean without sunburn thanks to sunscreen sent to us from the states!!!!! We were happy about that!!!!!