Christmas 2015
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth
Philippians 2:8-10
Dear Family & Friends,
I honestly have no idea how to start one of these letters… but since I’m 24 and I’ve been trying harder to adult this year I figured I should continue adulting and write and send out a Christmas letter. Look at what a good adulter I am! In all seriousness, I can hardly believe 2015 is coming to a close! Where did the year go? Well, wherever life finds you at the present moment, I hope you and yours are well and that you are getting to spend time with loved ones near this blessed holiday season.
This year has been one for the books! Some quick highlights of 2015 include:
- Performing twice at the Reno Latin Dance Fest in front of 1200 people
- Visiting Ecuador in March
- Co-teaching a 40-hour intensive study of the second half of the Gospel of Mark with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
- Visiting a missionary friend in Eastern Europe, traveling to Istanbul, Turkey; Bulgaria; and Greece
- Turkish coffee in Turkey
- Exploring castles in Bulgaria
- Teaching salsa to Bulgarians
- Driving up Mount Olympus
- Road trip to Seattle, WA with my brother
- Traveling to Rosarito, Mexico for a Latin Dance retreat (where I got up the courage to socially dance with a world champion!)
- Moving to Quito, Ecuador to begin work with InterVarsity Link and the Comunidad de Estudiantes Cristianos del Ecuador
Four countries, three continents. It’s been a year I will never forget. What excites me most about this year is that the preparations I’ve been working on for over a year were completed with my move to Quito to begin full-time ministry as a staff worker working with university students through the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). God is moving in incredible ways here in Ecuador and I’m never lacking things to do. We currently have 11+ groups meeting on 9 different university campuses every week, in Quito alone, so with only 3 staff workers, we stay busy.
I am adjusting pretty well to life here in Ecuador. I’ve mostly figured out the public transport system and only accidentally call myself a girl in Spanish about once a week now (there’s some progress right there!). I’m looking forward to getting into Latin Dance again soon as well. Until then, I keep myself entertained by making semi-regular vlog (video blog) posts about my adventures here. Feel free to check them out on YouTube (search for my name).
As we are closing out this year, I am grateful for all that God has been doing in my life. Saying goodbye to so many close friends and family members was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. What a blessing to have such friendships that makes saying goodbye so hard! I am grateful for people like you in my life that have made each day such a gift. I’m looking forward to all that 2016 has in store. It’s not even here yet and already getting full with possible trips to Panama and New Zealand as well as being on the International Communications Team for our Andean Regional event happening in Quito during the summer – again… never a lack of things to do.
Thank you for your friendship, partnership, and prayers! And may God bless you and yours this holiday season.
In Christ,
Brett
Here are a few of my favorite photos from the year:
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