Happy New Years!

This morning, at about 6am, we said goodbye to our second oldest daughter, Arryn. She left for Guatemala, where she will be working for at least 1 year. It was a tough goodbye, especially for her, as she had been saying goodbye to family and friends for the past week already. We know that God has some amazing things in store for her as she seeks Him in her life.
On the way home from the airport - a mere 4 hour drive through the mountains and snow - we were listening to the radio and the announcer was talking about New Years Resolutions - you know...those promises you never seem able to keep. This year I am going to lose 20 pounds; excercise more; read my Bible for at least an hour a day, etc. Have you been there? We all have in one way or another.
This year, my resolution is pretty simple - to walk with the Lord each day, no matter what comes, to trust Him with my life and the lives of those I love, regardless of our circumstances, and to step out when I hear Him call, no matter what it looks like.
I want to take risks with the Lord in 2012 that I would not have taken in 2011, not because I have lost my mind and am experiencing some sort of late mid-life crisis, but rather because I am learning that a risk with the Lord is really no risk at all.
Blessings to you and yours for an awesome, inspiring New Year!
Karren

Family...

One bonus of having a photographer in the family is getting nice, good quality family photos. Yesterday afternoon, our family - all 6 of us - went up to Rose Hill and Marshal took family photos for us. We hadn't actually gone out to do this for quite some time. As I looked through the photos, I realized that our kids are no longer kids...they are adults.


It is a really special time in life when you are no longer parenting small children or even teenagers, but are now parents of young adults. Well, I guess technically Hope is still a teenager, but not for long! Anyway, watching our kids make decisions, choosing what to do and what not to do, is really exciting.


One such decision has made us particularly proud. In one week, Arryn is leaving for Guatemala. She accepted a year long position to work with Cross Commission Ministry in San Cristobal, about 1/2 hour away from Tactic. This ministry is reaching out to street kids through a youth drop in center and Arryn is excited about the opportunity to serve the Lord in through this ministry.



We know that as she gives her life away she will find real meaning and belonging. We are trusting the Lord to provide for her needs and make a way for her to minister to those in need. Our God is so faithful!





For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

From our home to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Rocky, Karren, Alex, Arryn, Marshal and Hope

Not Returning With Impact

Well, most of you already know, but I thought I should write something in our blog, in case you aren't on our mailing list.
Rocky, Hope and I will not be returning to work with Impact Ministries this January. The ministry is transitioning from working with one or two long term field workers, like us, to working with a variety of couples, all on a shorter term basis. We know that God has called us to full time ministry and as a result, we no longer fit the ministry's needs. We are sad about this, as we really enjoyed the work we had the honour of doing over the past two years and really love the people of Tactic.
We are also excited, although, about what the future may hold. We believe that God has a plan and He will direct us as we seek other opportunities to invest our lives through foreign missions. We are looking at a variety of ministries and praying that we will find a good fit. Please pray for us as we move through this time of change.
Blessings,
Karren
PS - if you do not receive our newsletters and would like to, simply send us an email (karrenchupa@hotmail.ca) or comment to this post. Thanks!

Christmas Time Again!

Sunday, December 4th we went out on our annual trek into the woods to find a Christmas tree. Every year we have fewer and fewer children along and this year we were down to one...Hope! Hunting for the tree is a bit of an art, because most of the trees growing wild grow in clusters which means they are not very well formed. You have look for one that is standing alone, off by itself so that the branches will have grown evenly all the way around.

Hope spotted our tree after we had been walking for only a few minutes and she cut it down for us. We dragged it back to the truck, took it home and decorated it that night.

There are so many things that I love about Christmas. I love the way we go out together and look for the perfect tree. I love the smell of the pine as the tree is cut. I love taking out the decorations and looking at all the decorations the kids made when they were little.

For me, Christmas is about slowing down and taking time to be with family and friends, and reflecting on what is really important in life. Our circumstances are not always as we would choose, but we are called to live above our circumstances. Rocky remembered an old hymn the other night that included the following thought: we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. How true!

This Christmas Season, take heart and lift your gaze. Join us as we remember that the reason we celebrate isn't just because a baby was born. We celebrate because that baby grew up and became the ultimate sacrifice that enabled us to be restored into the Kingdom. We are sons and daughters of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Now we can twinkle and shine, just like the lights on our tree, and honour Him with our lives.

Blessings,

Karren