Thursday, January 14, 2010

Christmas Letter 2009

Happy New Year!
Fröhliches Neues Jahr!
Viel Grüße von Virginia! Greetings from Virginia!

What a year 2009 has been!

I usually wait to assemble the "Christmas Letter" until after the holiday season has passed, but this year it is a little more belated than usual. Rebekka and I arrived just last week back in the states after many weeks of travel in Germany. In fact travels to Germany was only a part of the way we rounded off 2009. At the beginning of October, Rebekka and I, after finishing up the quarter of studies, finishing work at Fuller and saying goodbye to our church and friends, headed east for a six week stay with my parents, before flying to Germany in November for a longish vacation with friends and family over the holidays.

Overall, our fall trekking was a time of reconnecting with our homes in Virginia and at Bodensee (Lake Konstanz). After a full year of school and busy year of work, it was nice to relax and to have time. (Rebekka, however, began her Master's degree this fall and her vacation feeling was prolonged until early December.) After three years in California, Rebekka and I have felt this past year truly was the year where we were most at home in California, enjoying the rich opportunities of study and ministry and blessings of good friendships. We look forward to being back in California in the summer of 2010.

For now, our travel plans only continue for the new year. Indeed, we are on the eve of starting a big adventure. Tomorrow we head to the Middle East along with 30 Eastern Mennonite University Students and Papa Stutzman for three and half months of travel, study and cross-cultural learning. Rebekka and I are assistant leaders on the EMU's semester program abroad. Basically, we get to come along for the ride, hang out with the students, and help out the ol' professor (dad) with all manner of logistics and support. Please keep us in your prayers this Spring, as we explore the realities and treasures of Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.

Grace and Peace,

Rebekka and Dave Stutzman

Ps Check out pictures from 2009.

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