We are in the last week of 2016. This is the time where we look back and reflect on the year. 2016 has brought a lot of changes. There are so many things to be thankful to God for. For example, we started 2016 off living in the United States and we end this year living in Argentina. We completed deputation in 2 years and have now completed language school! We started 2016 off barely able to speak Spanish and we end the year almost fluent. There are so many things I am thinking back on through this year. Here are just a few tings that come to my mind as I look back on 2016…

• God has been faithful! I know this is obvious and it is a beautiful thing to see first hand in your own life. Every step we have taken God has proven Himself. I believe God will be faithful through 2017 as we step out even more!
• Worrying about things was a waste. I worry at times…and when I worry, I worry a lot! Worry hurts the “worrier”. It takes away any happiness or contentment. It keeps you from enjoying the “here and now”. It obviously hurts your faith in God as well! I look back on the worries I have had in 2016 and I think, “Why did I worry?” If I will just remember that God is in control and that I am His servant, everything will be okay. There is no use in worrying. It really doesn’t change anything and if it does, it doesn’t change anything for the better!
• 2016 has been a foundational year. This year has been a foundation for our ministry here in Argentina. We moved down to Argentina, we have learned (and are still learning) Spanish. We are continuing on. While it has been foundational for future ministry, it has not been easy. It is difficult to be the different one. It is even more difficult to be the different one and not being able to understand anyone. It may not have been easy, but it has been very enjoyable! For a long time I could not understand almost anyone. The man who picked me up at the airport says we spoke more with our hands than with words that day. Even so, we have had a blast! I have preached and have messed up everything I was trying to say. People have laughed at me for saying something incorrectly, and I have responded by laughing with them! We have enjoyed this time so much and I think this kind of attitude has helped us grow.

There are many other things that could be said. These are just a few things that come to my mind as I think about 2016. So what about 2017? When we look back on this year, it is natural to think about what you would like to do in the coming year. That is for another blog post and it will be coming soon…