Happy New Year from the Navratils

Dear Friends and Family,

We have celebrated another Christmas here in China, this year with a touch of white.  Of course the news from the States tells us most of you had a very white Christmas.  We hope you had safe travels and special family times.

This month we marked four years living here in China.  As in most things in life, the time seems to have flown by.  There have been some high points and some low points but we have discovered that God has been faithful to walk beside us as he leads us along this path.  We just wish he would give us the gift of tongues (Mandarin)!

In March of this year Tim joined ReachGlobal’s Asia Division Leadership Team (ADLT).   With this new job, Tim has added responsibilities for supervising 2 more city teams in China and one in Mongolia.  He has also continued to lead the Wuhan team.  One major change for Tim has been more travel, and for me more time alone here in Wuhan. 

Highlights from Home Assignment March to August

In May, we attended Chris’ college graduation.   In June we spent a full week with our three boys and Sarah at the lake resort we have gone to for over 20 years.  It was such a gift for us to be together, an added bonus was that fishing was outstanding this year.  Throughout the summer we spent lots of time catching up with many of you, thank you for allowing us to share about what God is doing in China.  If we did not get to see you in 2010, hopefully we can next time we are in the States.  Our time in the US ended in a whirlwind of activity with a Navratil reunion in Great Falls, Montana.  It was good to have the whole family together, but a little bitter sweet since Tim’s mom’s dementia has progressed significantly.  She does not know any of us.  The last weekend before returning to China, I was privileged to attend a “Congo Reunion”.   Anyone who had ever worked in Congo was invited to attend.  Though I lived in Congo as a child it was truly wonderful all these years later to be with these people; many who were peers of my parents, others who were my classmates.  We spent time celebrating the work done in the Congo over all the years.  It was so amazing to recall the courage, faith and dedication it took to share the gospel in Africa in those days.  These humble people are truly examples of faithful servants. 

Family Update:  Jeremy and Sarah continue to live in DeKalb.  Jeremy has been back in college this past semester.  He will take courses next semester and then head back to charter fishing on Lake Michigan for the summer.   Chris, after graduating with an Accounting degree, headed right to graduate school.  He plans to graduate in May and then prepare for the CPA exams.  He is still looking for a job in his field.  David will start an accounting internship in January.  The internship is in Oakbrook, IL so he will live with my mom in Wheaton during the months of the internship.  He plans to graduate in May, also in Accounting.

One side benefit of Tim’s new job is that the ADLT meets in different places around the world.  In December the meetings were held in Hawaii and the wives were encouraged to attend.  We arrived a few days early, did some sightseeing and soaked up the sun.   Then the meetings began and while the men met the wives were able to spend time getting acquainted and finding ways we can encourage and pray for one another.

This past year has brought some changes and challenges for us; but with that has come the reassurance that God is in control of our lives and world events.  We are so thankful that we can trust that He is working all things together for His purposes.  There are many opportunities in our lives now to see God’s hand at work and we are very excited for the next 12 months to see what God will do in us and through us.  We hope as you enter 2011 that you are finding renewed hope and expectation for what the New Year will hold.  
 

Happy New Year from the Navratils