Hello and Merry Christmas to ALL! 
We have lots to share on this post, so let's keep things organized with a 10 point list!

1.  Christmas Party – Missionaries and More

Great time with around 25 people in our home for the annual Missionary and More Christmas party.  The majority of the folks are missionaries, but a few just have to put up with us.  We fellowshiped, ate, laughed, drank Anne’s apple cider, passed Baby Micah around, talked about the meaning of Advent and prayed together.  Great way to send off the missionaries headed “home” for deputation. 

Vanessa and Pablo are two who have to put up with all the missionaries!

Ana holding Micah, while a very attentive Gordo looks on.

2.  Finals Week for two

Joshua (far left, yes with the beard) and some guys from his hall at MVNU.

Both Joshua and Kayley completed their exams on Friday.  Both have worked so very hard this term and we are super proud of them for their very high grades.  Kayley is half way through 9^th grade and Joshua in his freshman year of college at MVNU.  Joshua will be home with us soon, and as he puts it, “dreaming of a green Christmas!”  The beach is awaiting us next week!

3.  David – January Team Preparation

David has been busy with travels with two recurring locations:  Palmares and San Ramon.  These are the two cities we will be working in with the team from Washington State that arrives on Jan 3^rd.  Pray with us for safety and good days of evangelism as we help to support the existing work in Palmares (a church that has grown from 25 to 70 in one year!) and start a new cell group in San Ramon, a nearby, even larger city.  We will be working in the city park, in an outlying community of Palmares and in a school in San Ramon.

Palmares Central Park:  The team will paint this kiosk in January!

  

4.  Los Chiles – Dedication of Parsonage

David and Stephen Sickel drove to Los Chiles (near the border with Nicaragua) for the dedication service for the new parsonage there.  Pastor Henry is working hard in Los Chiles and we are so pleased he now has an great place to live.

I love the decoration around the doorway.  It is made of braided leaves and is Pastor Henry's creation.

  

5.  MNU student teachers – highlights

The six MNU student teachers finished their teaching this week and have now returned to the Kansas City area.  We so enjoyed having this great group of young leaders in our home for morning devotions, sharing time with them in the evenings (Kayley loves the Dutch Blitz games) and watching them learn about Spanish and the culture of Costa Rica.  They enjoyed spending a weekend with a Tica family, traveling to the beach for a 3 night stay, and visiting La Paz Waterfall gardens.  You can view more photos of their adventures on the CALL facebook page: Christian Academy of Language and Learning.

 7.  Graduation SENDAS

Graduation was held on the 8^th and as always it was a great celebration.  There were a total of 23 graduates this year, but only 4 in attendance since most live in other countries and take classes online and by video conference.  The first graduates from the Master’s program in Peru were honored at the event:  a father, mother and daughter.  That's awesome!

8.  SENDAS Christmas gathering

We also had a Christmas party for the Seminary.  The staff enjoyed the pool for the morning, had a lunch together and then played some Christmas games.  It was a great way to relax together.  Here is a photo of some of the faculty and staff of SENDAS.

Shelley with the CALL professors, Zeidy and Gaby

9.  This is Pineapple Country!  

Did you know that Costa Rica is the largest exporter of pineapples in the world?  That is amazing when you think of the small size of Costa Rica.  Here is Stephen Sickel next to the pineapple truck.

10.  Sun is out again

 Lastly, it seems the “winter” is finally ending and our “summer” is beginning.  Although we expect to see a bit more rain in December, it is less rain and more sun each day.  Lovely! 

We sure miss being with family for Christmas, but we will be happy to be all 4 Webbs together once again.  

God bless you all.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

The Webb family