Merry Christmas!

We trust you all had a blessed Christmas with family and friends. We are so thankful for the eternal life that Jesus Christ has given us and for the ability to enjoy life during these special times with family. We look forward to serving the Lord in Cameroon soon in 2009. We have our first meetings this coming Sunday in Iowa then in Tennessee on the following Wednesday.

Snow, snow, and more snow

Have you smiled yet today?! Elias thought he'd help you out!

Elena's zoo that we made with her animals and blocks. The school bus is full of people who drive by on their African safari.

If you are in the Midwest than you are experiencing the snow and wind and bitter cold right now. There is twice as much snow now than in the above picture. Stay safe and have fun in the snow! Merry Christmas!

Detroit: Handel's Messiah at A.T. Pierson's Fort Street Presb. Church

Abby and I had a wonderful time out last Saturday night to hear the complete presentation of Handel's Messiah. The church chorale and soloists did a tremendous job. I couldn't help but put in my vote for the Hallelujah chorus to be used on the day that we all crown Jesus Christ King of kings and Lord of lords when he comes to set up his kingdom on earth. It was only the second time either of has gone and the first time we went together.

The presentation was in the historic Fort Street Presbyterian Church in downtown Detroit. A.T. Pierson was pastor there from 1869-1882 when it was the largest church in Detroit. Dr. Pierson was friends with D.L. Moody and George Mueller to name a few. It was Mueller's influence that caused Pierson to change to become a strong and vocal premillenialist and Spurgeon's influence (among other things) that led Pierson as a seasoned preacher to embrace believers baptism and become a Baptist. Pierson led the way for world evangelism by his writing over 50 books, his organizational skills, and preaching that circled the globe. He preached for Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle when Spurgeon became sick and soon died. The church called for Pierson to be the next Pastor. You can find out more about A.T. Pierson at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Tappan_Pierson

Michigan Update

We are in the frigid state of Michigan right now working on several projects before the new year. I received my "complex endorsement" today after 10 hours in the Piper Arrow III above. This is required for the commercial license and is the plane that I will take the test in when ready. It is a 200 horsepower, retractable landing gear, controllable pitch propeller airplane that is great to fly! I hope to take the tests before the year is over.

We are working everyday on letters and phone calls to churches trying to fill up January through March's schedule. We have scheduled several meetings recently but still need more. A big "thank you" to those who have helped us make some calls and verify addresses. We are excited about the thought of leaving for Cameroon in April.

We pray that you will all have a wonderful Christmas and remember all that God did for us in sending Jesus Christ to save us through his death and resurrection. What a thought, that God would come from heaven in human form from miraculous conception and birth into an extremely humbling life on earth. Abby and I are going to listen to and watch Handel's Messiah this evening near Detroit. Truly it is one of the best ways to remember all that the Lord did for us. Abby's home church in Ann Arbor will also be holding their Christmas contata "The Winter Rose" today and tomorrow evening.

Merry Christmas!!

Ypsi

We are back in Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor for while. We had a great meeting in Port Huron and the church took us on for support that night! That is always a huge encouragement to keep on going. Pray with us about our desired April 2009 departure for Cameroon. That will be here before we know it and there will be a lot to do. We still need more meetings January through March. We are at 72% of our support. The Needhams will be leaving on a furlough in May of 2010 and we need to be there a year with them before they leave. Please pray!!

Here are some pictures and a funny video of life at home. You don't see Abby because she took all the pictures! We sure need the time away from travel this December. Pray for me as I finish my commerical pilot's license in Ann Arbor.

Port Huron

We are in Port Huron, Michigan for a missions conference. We knew the assistant pastor from Oshkosh where he grew up.

The Wings as Eagles mission team to Cameroon had a fantastic few weeks in Cameroon according to Tom Needham. We are waiting for more specifics on their ministry.

Have a wonderful week serving the Lord!

By the way, you can reach us on Skype at sam_abby05

Michigan

Elena enjoying a beautiful Thursday with Emily in Ypsilanti. We realized it would be the last good day to rake the leaves, so we spent the next three hours until dark cleaning up leaves....twenty-four bags later it was done!I started the training for the Commercial pilot's license on Thursday at the Ann Arbor Airport. I'm learning how to fly a more advanced plane. The Sportsman in Africa is in this category as it has a controllable propeller. It should take about 4-6 weeks for me to finish. There is a lot of studying and two tests in the end, an oral exam and a flight test. I have already passed the written exam.

Time for an update

This update is long overdue, but what can I say, we have been on the road :)
Our last road trip started with a meeting in Kirksville, MO. I had met the pastor on the Baptist history tour this year.

Elena, Grammy, and Abby at the Pumpkin patch in Illinois.

Watching the rain-delayed World Series with Grandad.

We had a Wednesday meeting in Illinois near my parents before we left for Minnesota for our Sunday meeting.

We stopped at Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on our way to Duluth for a meeting. Elena was overwhelmed with all the action. She loves Dora the Explorer. Our camera is officially broken, so I don't have pictures of anything after this...just videos. Our camera isn't that old, but it just stopped working.

We enjoyed a day in Oshkosh seeing friends and taking care of some business. We are in Michigan reorganizing again. Plus we have a meeting nearby in Port Huron soon.

Michigan Fun

We are enjoying our time in Michigan with Abby's family and some time alone as a family as well. Elena and Elias are doing well. Elena is enjoying all her old toys. She never stops...
Elena's new favorite restaurant...the "Big boy man." We had a good time there with Bio Grams, Aunt Diana, Anna, Emily, Mary, David, Philip, and of course Abby and myself.

Back in Michigan

We are back in Michigan after several months of being on the road. We had a great conference with Believers Baptist in Coal Valley, Illinois. We really enjoyed the time at my dad and mom's farm as well. It was good to see you too, Auntie Em.

My Grandma and Grandpa came for two of the nights!
A beautiful sunset in Coal Valley, Illinois. Thanks for all the pictures during the conference, Mr. C.!!

Chicago and Coal Valley

We had a one night missions conference last night just 2 miles from Wrigley Field. Though Chicago baseball is over for the year, the Lord is working at the Ravenswood Baptist Church and school. This was a our first meeting in the city limits of Chicago. We presented our work last night and spent the night with a family from the church in a Chicago neighborhood.

We are leaving this morning for Coal Valley, Illnois on the other side of the state. I'll be preaching the first missions conference for Believers Baptist where my parents and sister attend. Pray for these meetings Wednesday through Sunday. Lots of people have been invited. I cannot get this picture to expand like the rest of the pictures on the blog...not sure why. Send me an email if you really want to read it.

Minnesota, beautiful Minnesota

I wasn't counting on being able to update, but we had a great day in beautiful northern (as far north as you can go here) Minnesota. One of the men in the church took us, the other missionary couple, and the pastor on a boat ride. We were able to really see what life in Int'l Falls is like by exploring the coves and islands where people have their cabins. It was a beautiful day with lots of fall color. We are staying at the Pastor's house. His backyard is on the Canada border. It has been a great conference so far.

Sportsman Sendoff

Here is a 4 minute (20mb) video of the send-off of John Douglas and the new Sportsman. John is half-way to Africa (as of Saturday night). Keep praying for his safe arrival in Cameroon. Hope you are able to keep up with his trip at the Wings blog www.sportsmantoafrica.blogspot.com

Wisconsin Update

Just a few pictures to update you on the latest...we haven't had and won't have a lot of time to post as you have seen...sorry.

Checking out the Sportsman just a few days before John Douglas took off for Cameroon on his trans-Atlantic flight.
I had a good time with my father-in-law checking out the Sportsman. John Douglas left for Cameroon yesterday at 8:45am. Our church in Oshkosh gave him a good send-off. Pray for his safety and for good weather. You can follow his progress step by step at the Wings blog dedicated escpecially for the Sportsman project. Tom Needham is anticipating its arrival in a about a week.
Tina (Abby's sister) and Stephen Rains had a wonderful wedding at Falls Baptist in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Abby was one of the bride's maids.

My family came up for the wedding and we celebrated Emily's 16th birthday...happy birthday, Emily!
Another Burtt gathering at Culver's.

Relaxing at the lake house in Oshkosh. We all got sick and thankfully had a few days to recover...except for Abby who is still recovering. We are on the road to Minnesota for a conference this weekend.

Quick Update

Elena signing up for our email prayer letter at the last missions conference.

We had a wonderful conference in Marietta, Ohio and are in Ypsi repacking for our next road trip. We thank the Lord for safety and good meetings these last three weeks on the road. We are home in Ypsi for about 24 hours as we repack for the fall meetings we have for the next three weeks.

We are headed to Stephen and Tina's wedding in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin before a meeting in Indiana this Sunday. We wish Stephen and Tina a wonderful day and a wonderful marriage as they serve the Lord together.

Raleigh conference

Beacon Baptist Church Missions Conference 2008- Raleigh, NC
Introducing our family and field
Opening gifts from the church!
By our table in the lobby after the last service.
She is still smiling after a full week of conference!
A wonderful group of missionaries and pastoral staff we had the privilege to be with.

Carson Fremont preaching in the Spanish service. I had the privilege of teaching Sunday School, preaching, and showing my Cameroon slides in the Spanish service. I enjoyed preaching with the Spanish Pastor interpreting. He had a busy job throughout the week. The Spanish missions conference was happening at the same time as the English services at Beacon Baptist.

Elena making a new friend at the Spanish church.
Our family with Mr. and Mrs. Carson Fremont
Elias is sacked out after a busy week.

We have concluded a wonderful missions conference in Raleigh, NC. Beacon Baptist Church is so missions minded and really took care of us all. They took us on for support late last year but wanted to have us in for this year's conference.

One of the best things about deputation is being able to meet new preachers and missionaries. We met Carson Fremont and his wife, who are missionaries to the Far East. He has been a missionary for over 50 years. He was a soul-winning partner with Jim Elliot. He has been a faithful servant and an inspiration to many. We met bro. Mike Patterson who has been a missionary in Mexico for many years. He has been a help in our research for a translation project in Cameroon. These two men were the Missionary Statesmen of the week!

We are headed to Ohio in a few days for another conference before heading back to Michigan for a day. We will then leave for Wisconsin and Stephen and Tina's wedding.