Happy New Year! or «Bonne Année!»

Anna and I are thrilled to share our holiday experiences and continue into the New Year with you all. These past few weeks have been filled with the rewarding evidence of God's blessings in our lives. We recognize that every good and perfect thing comes from Him, our provider and sustainer.

On the 15th of December, we had our last basketball game before our Christmas break began. The next morning, we walked with our packed suitcases down the road to our train station and began our trip. We spent that day in Reims, a wonderful city about halfway between Charleville-Mezieres and Paris. Shopping, delicious food, le Marché de Noël (Christmas Market), and a quaint hotel in the downtown made for wonderful memories. The following morning, we took an early train into the Paris airport and headed home.

Our time at home was incredibly meaningful. Spending time with family and friends is something that we value deeply, and being away for the past few months has made us appreciate it all the more. Anna and I are convinced that we are the luckiest people on earth to have the families that we do. We praise God that we married into the families that we did. As we continue in our marriage, we see how much of a blessing that is. We were able to find time to see all of our family and some great friends as well. We are so thankful for the places that these people have in our hearts and all that they mean to us. Highlights from our trip home include our six family gatherings, a Grace basketball game, Christmas Eve morning service at First Missionary Church, enjoying the foods/drinks that we do not exist in France (root beer, Cracker Barrel, Grandma Frey's waffles, Uncle Matt's egg casserole, etc.), Davidson family karaoke night, Mom Frey's birthday, and much more.

We got back to France on the 28th, and have loved being back. I started up practice with the team right away and we celebrated the New Year at one of my teammate's new homes with good friends. As we look back on 2023, we are incredibly thankful for all that God has done in our lives. He has been our guide in new seasons of life. Marriage has been a wonderful blessing and it continues to draw us closer to one another and the Lord. France has opened our eyes to see the beauty of the world around us and caused us to depend on the Lord. He continues to push us out of our comfort zones and grow in our faith and trust in Him. Being here has also simplified the Gospel in many ways. Personally, I have felt the Gospel stripped down to its purest form; Jesus desiring an intimate relationship with His people. I have felt the Lord continually put that on my heart. As Evangelical Christians, we are an incredible minority in Europe. More than likely, our ideas of religion will not connect with these people. Their background, culture, and way of thinking is different than ours. What I pray will resonate with them is the simple invitation of life through Jesus Christ. I continue to pray that hearts are softened and people see their need for a Savior, and that Jesus is the only way to salvation. All of the ideas and preferences around Christianity have become secondary. Seeing this incredible need has made us desperate for any sign of Christ in the lives of those around us. That is what we continue to pray for.

With that being said, it is God's Word that encourages and equips us in these situations. "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us." We are described as "children of the light", bringing the light into darkness, where it cannot be overcome. One of our favorite passages is Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." We pray that as we move into the New Year, Christ is able to work through us and reach those around us for His glory.

A passage of Scripture that touched my heart recently was in John 9, when Jesus heals a man blind from birth. The Jewish leaders then question the man, asking how he was healed. They accuse Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, and the man responds, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” The previously blind man did not have all of the answers to their questions, all he knew was that Jesus had healed him. So that's the story that he told. Later, the man meets Jesus again and learns that Jesus is the Messiah. To this, he instantly starts worshipping Him. I felt God speaking through this with the message of telling our story. God has done incredible things in our lives. We are all blessed beyond measure and given much more than we deserve. We have a God who loves and cares for us. Just like the blind man, we have an obligation to share our story! Share what God has done in our lives and how He has proved His faithfulness time and time again. And when we encounter Jesus, our response should be worship! God has given us all incredible reason to rejoice. I pray that this encourages you as much as it did me.

In the upcoming months, we have the second half of the basketball season. The team is playing well and I am really enjoying it. Basketball is such a beautiful game and competition such a great blessing. I pray that somehow the way that I play is able to reflect my heart, my love for the Lord, and my joyful response to the wonderful opportunity He has given me. Anna will work to complete her master's degree online, while serving two days every other week at the DS Café in Châlons-en-Champagne, France. She is set to graduate this coming May. Continued prayer is greatly appreciated.

We love you miss you all. Looking forward to being with you soon.

a) Anna and I back at our alma mater watching Marcus and the Lancers play b) the prettiest girl I've seen in the USA, France, and beyond! c) Christmas in Reims, France d) the Christmas Market in Charleville-Mezieres e) Anna and her great friends Sierra, Kacy, Adilynn, and Kate f) after our most recent game