Merry Christmas from the Shaftos!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

...(at least what Christmas looks like in Burkina Faso).

Lots of dust, no more rain for several months, cooler temperatures with Madeleine heading off to school in a jacket (only 80 to 85 during the day), street vendors with Christmas trees and blow-up Santas somehow hanging from their shoulders and arms.

  

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and in the Shafto home we love, love, love to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.  We love to decorate; we love to listen to Christmas music ring out while we study and cook holiday treats.  We love to contemplate that special Christmas gift for family and friends.  Jay loves to find the funniest re-gifts.  We love this time of year so much because it is an extended time of reflecting on God’s goodness in our lives through the birth of His son.  And that, friends, is a reason to celebrate!

To all of you, we extend tremendous heart-felt thanks for your support of our ministry.  Certainly, your prayers and notes of encouragement are the driving force which allows us to be ambassadors for Christ here.  To our Southern Baptist friends and family, we add another sincere “thank you,” an enthusiastic “merci,” and a warm “barka goata.”  Your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering are invaluable to us.  Frankly, without your generosity, we simply could not be here.  From transportation to medicine, from food to our children’s education, from literacy materials to leadership training conferences for our Baptist brothers and sisters – your unselfish giving makes possible our livelihood and our ministry here in Burkina Faso.

[Jay & Kathy celebrating their anniversary in New Orleans]