Smith Family Christmas Letter  December 2013 Warm Christmas greetings from the Smiths!   Here is a quick update from each of our family members:  Rick:  Busy again this year balancing directing Oasis for Orphans in Kenya, teaching pastors at Moffat Bible College, training pastors in the Trans Mara and being a generally awesome husband and dad.  He found a great friend who loves to golf and they make a habit of this as often as possible.  Ann:  Has found some true treasures in the women of Kijabe this year.  Wrote a lot of child development policies and procedures for Oasis for Orphans and is looking forward to seeing them implemented.  Enjoyed hosting visitors, especially a treasured friend who was here for a month!  Katie:  Is a very sweet 16! Can be found studying, socializing or making smoothies.  Accomplished communicating to the kids on the Hill and the Valley completely in Swahili.  Can off-road 4-wheel drive but can't drive on the highway. Only broke one starter and knows exactly what to do when Rick yells, "Clutch Break!!!" Rachel and her creative Tangled friends Rachel:  Slept on the rim of a volcano. Has determined that saying 'thhh' instead of 'shhh' is a more discreet way to quiet people. Try it! Our family's made the switch! Transitioned to high school and started driving (off-road). Tried a new sport this year - field hockey and she's great at it.  Who knew?!  Still loves babies and children and has loved getting to know kids at the new sites!  Julia:  Made the difficult jump to being a sevie (7th grader).  Still singing.  Wore seven pairs of sunglasses to avoid blindness when viewing the solar eclipse. Switched from clarinet to flute in the band and loves it.  Has great friends who enjoy sipping tea, orating books, and of course, dressing up.   Caleb:  Loves soccer and friends. Hates showers and changing clothes. Received body wash, deodorant and a bike for his 10th birthday.  Has forgotten the 'ational nanthem' for the US but knows Kenya's in English and Swahili.  May you enjoy celebrating Jesus with your loved ones!  We love and miss you! The Smith Fam PS - We'd love to get your Christmas Card!   The Smith Family Oasis for Orphans PO Box 127  Kijabe, KENYA 00220 Kenyan Favorites: Winner this year - The Kikuyu tribe who mixes up the l and r sounds.  They have added a new dimension of entertainment to our family and, yes, they laugh at themselves as well.  We eat lice. We play at church and pray on the prayground. We paint with led paint. We have a mighty c*ap for the Rord at the end of the Sunday service. We swim in the liver. We see linos and clocs on safari.  Special thanks to the family who made it possible for us to layover in Rome this summer on our way back to Kenya! The Annual "Things that make you go, 'Huh!?' ": Hey 16 year olds - things could be worse.  You could learn to drive in a car like this! I must pass this by. I've wasted time before. Technically, since he uses his fingers, this is correct. Umm...okay...thanks for the warning... Sorry for this one, but I could hardly keep a straight face when he handed me the card. He must have a lot to manage. Make it a double!!!

Oasis for Orphans | PO Box 1144 | Wheaton | IL | 60187-1144