New Year Greetings

            For most of us, this has been the first time that we have celebrated Christmas and New Years not only in a different country, but in the Holy Land, the place where Jesus lived.  We welcomed the New Year 2012 happily then we went to sleep.  In the Morning, we woke up; nothing was new!  Everything looked just as old as it did last year yet everyone was telling each other, “Happy New Year!”  Where is the newness of the New Year?  Maybe it is too early to look for the newness of the year, but if one is caught up in such an attitude it would be easy to miss many of the blessings God has given us in the whole year.  With such an attitude it is impossible to be thankful to God.

            We count all that we have as a gift from God; our successes, our struggles toward success, and above all our existence is a gift from God.  In fact, it is as undeserved gift.  It is only when we realize this that our souls can burst into gratitude.  Then we can see and appreciate the newness of the New Year.  It has been a great blessing to begin the New Year in the Holy Land as we continue our journey and strive to become real and true disciples of Jesus Christ by learning about his earthly life.

            Dear friends in Christ, life is primarily sustained by God, secondarily by air, water, and food.  Yet our life is also supported by people with whom we share happiness, sorrow, jokes, advice, and prayer; all of which helps to give us a comfortable world.  Therefore, friends, we would be less than honest if we don’t thank you.  Thank you for touching our lives in 2011 and we sincerely invite you to share our lives in 2012.  As we continue to keep you in our prayers, we sincerely say to you, “Happy New Year 2012.”