Decker Update: Happy New Year!

I know this is a little bit late for a Happy New Year email! But today was the first day back to school for Jacob, so it feels like the beginning of another season-- I hope that counts!

We did a little review of 2006 together one night, and recalled lots of highlights. Dave's trip to Bangladesh in February was one of them. Our All-Area Spiritual Life Conference in March was another, as well as the team-building meetings with the Guinea team. In June, Joey graduated from high school, and in July he left to begin his transition to life in the States. The year included softball tournaments, broken arms, various travels for Mary to Ghana, Minnesota, Florida, and a road trip to Arkansas with Joey... leadership training and council meetings, a boarding-student from Liberia... more classes completed in Mary's master's program... it was a very full year. Through it all, we experienced the faithfulness of God and His loving provision for us, and we are thankful for all that He is doing in our lives.

We had a very nice Christmas break, with Jacob being free from school for four weeks. Joey was able to be here with us for three weeks, and we really enjoyed his visit. He likes his school, loves playing rugby, but really enjoyed feeling at home with his family and his friends. One of the highlights of his trip was our vacation to "the camp" near St. Louis. We've gone up there several times in the past with a few other families, and really enjoy being between the river and the ocean, "roughing it" a bit, playing games, and generally enjoying time with good friends. Joey taught the rudiments of rugby, and many of us played at least a bit of it on the beach!

As we look ahead to the days of 2007, we continue to seek your prayer partnership with us. In February, Dave will begin a round of travels. He will attend an SIM Treasurer's Consultation in Thailand. He will also need to visit Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Guinea in the next few months. Jacob and I will be "home alone" while he is gone, as a dorm space has opened up for Max at Dakar Academy. Travel in West Africa and Asia can be challenging, so please do be praying for his safety, and logistics... and it seems like things go wrong in the house sometimes when Dad is gone-- or the car breaks down... so you could pray for our protection in all those things as well.

February is also the month in which Dave and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been that long! (Or that we're that old! )

And in June we will pack up our house here, and travel back to the States to spent 6 months on home assignment. You could pray for all the logistics connected with this! We would really like to find someone to sub-let our house here, so that the house and the animals will be cared for while we are gone... We will be needing to raise our support while in the States, and that's always a prayer request as well. We are excited that we will be able to rent the same house we were in on our last home assignment, and a friend has offered us the use of a car-- we are most thankful.

We look forward to seeing many of you on home assignment, and re-connecting with our family members. We're hoping that Danny will be able to spend some time visiting us in Minnesota-- we really miss being around him regularly! Joey will be with us for the summer, and then he is planning to do his fall semester in Northern Ireland. We're excited for his spirit of adventure!

We are thankful for continuing good reports from the Carter family. Kate (the mom) and three of the four kids are together in the States now, and Emma (with her Dad in Paris) has been released from the hospital and is now undergoing a few more days of outpatient testing before she and her Dad return to join the family in the States. They'll take the time they need for healing and rehabilitation, and will appreciate your ongoing prayers. God has worked amazingly in the life of this family, and in many people who have come in contact with them. Thank you for your prayers on their behalf, and on ours as well!


Many blessings to you,
from
the Decker family in Dakar!