January 3rd was an amazingly beautiful day, with unseasonably warm temperatures (83 degrees!) - a perfect day for a wedding!  What a blessed day!  The ceremony was beautiful, and God-honoring.  There were many friends and family members present to show their love and support for the new couple.  We are so thankful that God brought Jana and David together!  Their commitment to God and to each other will help them meet life’s challenges.

The Mission family is pretty tight – so Alan and Barbara, Nelson and Jane hosted a “meet and greet” reception for the mission family to meet David.  After all, he needs to know he is marrying into a HUGE family – a very wonderful family!

Jana and David at the beautifully decorated table
Jana with Elizabeth Justl and her daughter, Marcia Stokes
 Don Cole and Guy Key
Ron with Jay and Naomi Key
Carlos with Sharon Cole and her daughter, Jennifer Infante and granddaughter, Isabella Infante
 Bill Ichter and Jim Musgrave
 Jan Musgrave and Margare Johnson
 DD, Barbara with the little girls – Madelyn and Isabella

The Dixon Quads

 
Donny and Logan Dixon
Alana and Elizabeth Justl

We are extremely thankful for our family and for the wonderful blessing of having all of our children and grandchildren together for the two weeks preceding Jana’s wedding.  They arrived in Texas from Milan, Italy, Nairobi, Kenya and Pasadena, California.  We met our two youngest grandchildren for the first time – Joshua, age 8 months and Madelyn, age 3 months.  Even though a nasty stomach virus made its rounds through the entire family, we managed to have a wonderful reunion!

Getting to know Madelyn

 …and Joshua!  
Gabe, Caleb and Madelyn relaxing with Uncle Joel and Pop 

 A rare occasion:  ALL of the Ichter side of the family was together – 29 people altogether.
 




 

What a joy it has been to hear the beautiful music of Christmas presented in so many ways this season!  That is something we really miss in Brazil!  We have seen a Vocal Majority concert, the Singing Christmas Tree at FBC Carrollton, a Christmas concert of the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, a beautiful rendition of traditional Christmas music by the choir and orchestra of Christ Chapel Bible Church and a musical drama entitled “The Bird Family’s Christmas Carol” – also at Christ Chapel.
 The Singing Christmas Tree at FBC Carrollton, TX

We don’t often get to celebrate Jana’s birthday with her – so this year was very special.  We attended a Christmas concert by the Ft. Worth Symphony, ate pizza at Uno’s in downtown Ft. Worth, then when we arrived home, some of her friends were there to surprise her with a big birthday cookie and a party.  What fun!

Joel arrived from California around midnight Friday night and we left bright and early the next morning for a visit in Minden – Joel, Jana, David in the backseat and Ron and I in the front.  We enjoyed the visit on the way.  It is always special to visit Minden, LA, spend time with my parents and our many friends at First Baptist Church.  Sunday afternoon, some special friends had a Meet and Greet reception for Jana and David.  It was great seeing so many who came by to meet David and extend their good wishes to the couple.  Again, they were showered with many gifts to their Italy Ministry Fund.  What a special weekend!

The hostesses Joel, Cindy Walker, Bill Crider and my Dad, Bill Ichter 

We are just beginning to receive news from Santa Catarina.  Last weekend, November 22, the situation became critical after very heavy rains fell on already saturated ground due to constant rains the last three months.  Preliminary reports are that there are at least 30 dead, hundreds missing, and over 100,000 homeless.  Once again Frei Damião was hard hit.  The CADI became “home” to approximately 60 families, providing mattresses, blankets, food, and basic medication to those in need.  The area near Blumenau was hard hit not only by an overflowing river, but by multiple mudslides that literally destroyed dozens of houses and took the lives of many.

The streets of Jardim Eldorado

Flooded streets

Homes and cars buried in the mud

The CADI once again became “home” to many families in Frei Damião

Trying to clean up the mud inside

Rescuing those isolated by the flood

The CADI staff responding quickly to the needs

After the missions conference at Immanuel, we stayed a few extra days in Little Rock and enjoyed Thanksgiving with Ron’s family.  It had been quite a few years since we had been in the States for Thanksgiving!  We enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves and gathering with family.

Meeting a new little great-niece

Ron’s sister and brother-in-law

Our niece and her family

Ron’s mother and some of her great-grandchildren (imagine how this would look if you added our six grandchildren!)

Ron’s mom and brother and sisters

Beautiful fall leaves!

Sunday, November 23rd, while we were still at Immanuel Baptist Church, some of my dear friends from there hosted a wedding shower for Jana and David.  They had been able to drive up for the weekend and we were finally able to meet our new son-in-law-to-be!  We had heard so many nice things about him and we were excited to get to meet him personally.  The shower was a wonderful time of fellowship with family and friends from Monticello, North Little Rock, Conway, and from Immanuel Baptist Church.  Jana and David shared about their future plans and were showered with gifts toward their ministry fund.

The hostesses

Friends from Monticello

Opening presents

Friends from North Little Rock

Friends from Immanuel

Family!

More family!

Proud Dad!

We were invited to participate in a missions conference at Immanuel Baptist Church and gladly accepted! During the conference, we had the opportunity to share a little about what God is doing in Santa Catarina with many different groups. We also had the privilege of staying with different church families. We were truly blessed!

Immanuel Baptist Church

OUR HOST FAMILIES

Mark and Kristin Hodge and their boys, Garner and Grant

Eric and Andrea Parnell with their boys, Connor and Evan

Fellowship at the Vaughan home

Tommy Vaughan with his sons, Calvin, Kyle and Connor

Scott and Amy Rypkema and their children, Keaton and Annie Carol