Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus! If you'd like to read this e-Mailer with photos, or see past issues, click on "Ministry" at www.jonesjournal.org. This includes updates on ministry, family, praise and prayer.

Yesterday we held our monthly Leader's Seminar as a VBS-style workshop. We had about 35 learning how to make their own teaching aids for Bible stories, memory work, and gospel games. Manuel Miranda made a simple "slide" show stage using a clothesline and pulleys.

The next upcoming event for Panamá's Children's Ministry is the annual Minister's kids (& grandkids) Retreat 12-15 February. Our team is in charge of the elementary age ministry time. Thanks for praying for God to really teach and touch these precious PKs.

At the Annual Business Session we were named to be the Missionary Representative once again on the Executive Presbytery to replace Rod Boyd. Please join us in praying for Rod & Sherry as they go to the US for deputation ministry. This means for us more meetings and travels, but also opportunity to work closely with our national leadership. For several months we will be the only missionary family in country. We appreciate your prayers for travel safety, wisdom and fruitful ministry.

On this month's minister's tour, I met up with Pastor César Rivera from Duíma to talk over future plans for projects at the school/church. I also delivered the next batch of vitamins for each child provided by Riverside Family Praise Fellowship. Thanks to these friends for continuing to touch the lives they met last year on a short-term missions trip.

At the next minister's meeting on the tour, I met two men who are children's ministers that I hadn't known before. We promoted the upcoming Crusade and Parade and Seminar with KidsQuest Int'l (2 - 7 April) and a couple days later Rigoberto called me to say he would be bringing 100 kids from the interior, about 4 hour trip one way, to participate in one day of the Crusade and the Parade! That encourages us, and urges us to pray for an effective week of ministry. Please join us in that effort.

In this picture Gracie is sleepily celebrating her first visit from the tooth fairy! Since then she's lost another tooth. Our baby is growing up!

We celebrated Yvonne's birthday twice--a family party and a Super Bowl party. Last year she said we scorched the cake and almost burned down the house with trick candles. This year, no trick candles were used and we still managed to trigger the smoke alarm!

Our family is now bigger thanks to Kiwi becoming Mommy to 5 little kittens. Our kids, especially Celina, were thrilled to be home when they arrived.

I sent our year-end Thank You letter to all of our financial supporters last month. I mention that here for two reasons: when we see the faithful sacrifice and over-the-top blessings from many of you, we are gratefully humbled. Also, if you have contributed toward our ministry and don't receive your letter soon, please contact us to correct the error. With all of you and the Master of the Harvest on our side, we can't lose!