Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus! If you'd like to read this e-Mailer with photos, or see a past issue, click on "Ministry" at www.jonesjournal.org. My purpose in writing this is to share updates on ministry, family, praise and prayer.

It's 1:49am. I just took a Melatonin. I can't sleep, I guess it's because I'm excited. So I thought the best thing to do is just put my thoughts and feelings down on paper (digitally speaking, of course) for you to share.

We're finally here. We're in Panamá!

Thanks again for all your prayers, support and finances that made it possible.

We arrived on New Years Day--by the way, *Happy New Years!* I wish I could capture the joy in our kids' voices as we drove from the airport into Panamá City. You can see a little of it as they strain to see something new on the way in. Anthony was even thrilled to see the trash alongside the road!

Today, I guess technically it's yesterday, 1/2/03, we looked at five different houses. The first one we saw looks pretty good. It would be funny if it turns out to be the one we choose because that's exactly what happened our first term too!

Anthony surprised his good buddy Luis by showing up on his doorstep and spent the time catching up and just hanging out while we were house-shopping. He'll go with us to the top choices later.

We appreciate your prayers for God's will to be made clear to us which house to choose. Having a working phone line is a big must, and this first house that we like doesn't. So please pray for grace upon the landlord to be willing to install a line before we sign a rental contract.

Today, 1/3/02, I will go and greet our Superintendent and other officials at the Concilio AG HQ. Begining Sunday I'll attend the Annual Session, which is the national General Council Business Session. It'll be a wonderful opportunity to greet our national brethren and get back on track in the Children's Ministry. In fact, I was told by e-mail from our Assistant Manuel Miranda that we (probably "he" mostly) will be doing ministry with the children of our ministers at this event.

Please pray that we "connect" well with our Panamanian leaders and workers to continue even stronger raising up a generation of "Children Reaching Children."

Now I quoted "connect" above on purpose--it was the theme of the Latin America & Caribbean Missionary retreat that we just came from in Florida. It was a terrific time to connect with missionary friends, some of whom we haven't seen since language school--12 long years ago! Mostly it was a time to connect with the Master of the Harvest. While we were definitely worn out physically from the travel before and after, we feel full spiritually. It was a springboard event launching our third term in Panamá.

As I have had the privilege to do the past two missionary retreats in Central America, I got to baptize my third child, Celina, in the presence of her missionary aunts and uncles. We're so pleased with her growth in the Lord, and her obedience following Jesus in this step of her Christian walk. I'm sure you can see the love that we feel for her in this hug just after she came up.

Well, I've put my sleeplessness to good use, (I hope :-). We appreciate your prayers for our kids and their adjustment. We appreciate your prayers for us as well and that we would always be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I'll close with a verse that has spoken to me since we heard it preached on the Sunday following Christmas:

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works. Psalm 73:28 NASB

God bless you. Yours for Them,

Kirk for all