Our family doesn’t really celebrate Halloween, so we don’t have Susanna in a cute costume, but we did visit a local farm and take some photos in front of pumpkins!
Also, you can now download and read our October prayer letter!
Babywearing makes church presentations so much easier!
Last weekend we had the pleasure of speaking at Faith Baptist Church in Sequim, WA, a cozy little town on the Olympic Peninsula (and home to my favorite place in Washington, the Dungeness Spit). We had a wonderful time with the sweet people of Faith Baptist. After Susanna’s first ferry ride, we arrived just before dinner. Pastor Lonnie met us and helped us settle into our missionary apartment. That’s right; this church loves their missionaries so much they have a home for them. The apartment had every comfort of home, and we could not have been happier.
On Sunday morning, we shared our testimonies and opened up the floor for questions in Sunday School. We LOVE the questions people ask missionaries! God used our story to speak to people about being obedient to the Lord’s calling on their life in spite of weakness or circumstance. Then we shared our presentation in church. It was a privilege to update this church on the work that our team in Spain is doing; they are faithful supporters of the Browns. After a delightful lunch with a young couple who have a two month old, we went back to our apartment and all three of us took a good nap (Susanna fell asleep at the restaurant and didn’t wake up until 4!). Then, in the evening service, Chris gave his “What’s Stopping Us” message. He felt like it was less organized than the first time he preached, but I thought it was much improved. He was passionate, clear, funny, and motivating.
A funny story: in the evening service people request favorite songs. I had to think to come up with a song that would fit in this hymns-only church, so I asked for “As the Deer” because I often sing it to Susanna. It was in the contemporary song book! And the hymns we sang from the hymn book were much more rockin’, like “Victory in Jesus.”
THANK YOU, Faith Baptist Church, for your enthusiasm for missions and ministry in Spain. Thank you for praying for us, encouraging us, and welcoming us into your family.
We were especially blessed to have a few high school students thank us for coming and sharing about Spain, and we look forward to hearing about how God uses them for His purposes in the future.
I am so pleased to announce the winners of my recent Shutterfly giveaway! Fayelle, Ally and Lori each win a pack of 25 photo cards from Shutterfly.com. Please check your email for your exclusive code.
In other news, we spoke at a church this weekend and Chris captured this great photo of Susanna and I. Susanna is smiling for the camera, a rarity, so I wanted to share it.
Last year's Christmas Card
It’s that time of year again! Time for our annual Christmas photo card, which I love to send with a letter updating our dearest relatives and friends on what the last year brought for the Duryee family. 2011 is obviously a big year for us, as our Christmas card will now feature not 2, but 3 members of the family: mama, daddy, and little miss Susanna Jane.
Typically, I tend to take advantage of the best deals and coupon codes for prints. But Shutterfly is my go-to shop for photo gifts and Christmas cards. They even have a collection of greeting cards if you’re not interested in including your pretty mug! The 2011 collection features 4×8, 8×4, 5×7 and 5×5 flat cards (my favorite style). Many of the cards, like the one pictured here, make the photo the focal point with only a tiny bit of text on the front.
This year, busy as it is with the new baby and prefield ministry, I am most excited to utilize the new feature on photo cards: an extra photo and large portion of text on the back! I am planning to write our Christmas letter right on the back of our card, saving time and money on the extra letter.
I am also excited to announce Seasoned With Salt’s very first giveaway! Shutterfly has offered me 25 free photo cards to give to three of my readers. Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas tradition (include your email address so I can contact you!) and I will randomly select three winners. For additional entries, leave a comment each time you do one of the following (5 entries max):
1. Share this post on Facebook.
2. Like Seasoned with Salt on Facebook
3. Tweet this post
4. Subscribe to Seasoned With Salt in your email or Blog Reader
Edited to add: I’ll select the winner after midnight on Monday, October 24.
Bloggers, want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q
Shutterfly gave me a free pack of cards for my review, but I authentically love their cards and use them all the time. Shutterfly has the (totally meaningless) Seasoned With Salt stamp of approval!
Source: uhhanna.tumblr.com via Rosalie on Pinterest
One of our partners shared a story this week about his son, who calls himself his neighborhood missionary.
This struck me to my core.
I want to be my neighborhood missionary. Yes, we are called to be missionaries in Spain, and we are obediently working toward seeing that call fulfilled in our lives. But what will be in Spain? Neighborhood missionaries.
We live in a suburba-box (a condo) and we know the names of most of our neighbors and their dogs (Darby and Hawk come to mind). I can think of two young people from our neighborhood whom we’ve influenced spiritually. But we haven’t invited our neighbors to get to know us, really, to a point where we could invite them to hear the Gospel.
People are partnering with us to share the Gospel in Spain. They’ll be credited in Heaven with the souls won there. But their partnership starts immediately. I want our team to be credited with the souls won here as well.
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