NEW ROYAL SERVANTS MISSION TRIP BROCHURES!

I’ve completed the new 2011 Royal Servants Brochure. This new brochure has gone out to our staff and into the hands of thousands of students across the US and Canada. Even with the internet, we still find that a visually appealing brochure in the hands of a student goes a long way to our recruiting efforts. A brochure can give the opportunity for God to work on the hearts of those he is calling to the mission field. Please pray God would use this brochure to accomplish his purposes. Also, please help us out by giving it to a teenager or college student you know!

MINISTRY TRIP TO ARIZONA

We will be in the Phoneix area for several days in mid-February meeting with ministry partners and churches to share more about our work with Reign Ministries. If you recall, Jenni lived in Phoenix and served with Food for the Hungry before we met and married. We haven’t been there in 10 years and are looking forward to visiting and reconnecting with friends and ministry partners.

ROYAL SERVANTS ITALY MISSION TRIP—SUMMER OF 2011

I have been assigned to lead the Royal Servants mission trip to Italy this summer! Italy is a team I can hand off to a new team leader more easily should we need to change plans and travel to Ethiopia if we receive a referral for our adoption. So instead of returning to Sierra Leone, we will be on our way to Italy! Why Italy? One, Italy is much more predictable should my family decide to join us over the summer. Two, Italy is much less expensive (we will be camping it!) And three, Italians need Jesus just as much as Sierra Leoneans do! In addition, we have missionary partners working outside of Rome. We are all excited about serving them with a Royal Servants team. We will share more about this exciting opportunity later, please pray!

WOMEN’S OUTREACH DESSERT NIGHT

Jenni continues to love working with mom’s and children. The “Moms-In-depth” ministry that she helped start in North Branch is still active and growing with new moms and leaders each year. In December, a former Royal Servants student invited Jenni to speak at a women’s outreach event in Cokato, MN with 150 women. Her topic was on “JOY.” It was an amazing opportunity for Jenni to share from her life experiences and her call in missions. Since this was also an outreach event, Jenni had the blessed opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ – our true source of Joy!

ADOPTION UPDATE

We are still waiting for our referral of either twins or an infant girl from Ethiopia. It has been over a year since we began the process to adopt internationally. We remain excited as we continue to wait on the Lord. Please pray for our patience in the Lord’s perfect timing as we continue to trust in Him through this whole process. Also, Thank you so much to the many of you who gave specifically towards our adoption need at the 2010 year-end! We have a total need of approximately $20,000 to complete our adoption. So far, we have raised HALF of our total need. Praise God! He has blessed us in so many ways, through your generousity! Jenni is holding an adoption fundraiser “winter garage sale” in March. Please pray this will be a profitable fundraiser. If you still want to give towards our adoption through “Lifesong for Orphans” its not too late. You can contact us, or give online at www.already-love-you.blogspot.com and follow the “Donate” link. Also, be sure to follow our blog for the latest postings and prayer requests!

Merry Christmas from the Halseth Family!

“Silent Night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend they light! With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King! Christ the Saviour is here, Jesus the Saviour is here!”

We pray your 2010 was blessed! Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2010:
 
Joshua doesn’t walk anywhere; he either runs, skips or bounces. He is enthralled with his brother and sister. He had a tractor birthday party when he turned three in November. We all wait to hear what cute thing he will say next. A recent bedtime prayer went as follows, “Dear God, thank you that batman has swords, Amen.”!!! He really is sweeter than words can say, and has a very gentle disposition.
 
Abby started kindergarten this fall and loves school! This year she has been involved with soccer, gymnastics and swimming. When she grows up she wants to be “a Princess Ballerina Mommy!” She is very good at caring for all her dolls and consistently asks why it is taking so long for her adopted sister to get here. Abby is very social and loves to have play dates. She is energetic and also very kindhearted.

Nathan turned eight in October and is in second grade. He keeps busy with all sorts of activities; soccer, baseball, swimming, football, wrestling, basketball and boy scouts! He still loves to tell jokes. He is an excellent reader and whenever he finishes a book he tells Momma that she really needs to read it too, because it was so good. He is an especially good big brother and plays endless hours with Josh.

Matt loves working with students, leading mission teams and serving in men’s ministry. He enjoyed attending 3 Sonlife conferences in Chicago this year. This fall Matt started working on the house to finish new bedrooms for our adopted child(ren).

Jenni has adjusted to the new 4-day school week, and enjoys having the kids home Mondays. We all loved our August camping trip to Madeline Island and swimming in chilly Lake Superior. She also got to go to 3 great women’s conferences this year!
 
Our most exciting news continues to be our Ethiopia adoption as we await a referral for either twins or an infant girl. We hope to bring the child(ren) home in Spring 2011!

Praying your Christmas shines brightly with many of His blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family

GOD'S POWER ON DISPLAY

Students sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Sierra Leone, West Africa
By Matt Halseth

“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” —The Apostle Paul,
1 Corinthians 2:3-5

I often get a surprised look when I tell people that my job is to take students overseas to tell others about Jesus. I sometimes think behind that surprised look is a question like; “Are teenagers really capable of telling others about Jesus?”

Yes, I know, teenagers can be energetic at times but when that raw faith and enthusiasm is channeled on the mission field, teenagers can be a powerful force God uses to expand his Kingdom. After all, Jesus himself chose 12 wild and rambunctious teenagers to turn the world upside down for the sake of His Kingdom!

A huge part of our summer is evangelism. Most students fear sharing their faith because they have never done it before. Fear is a natural response to evangelism. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 that even the apostle Paul experienced much weakness, fear and trembling.

Throughout the summer we tell students to share their faith NOT in their own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am constantly amazed to see how effective teenagers are when they step out in faith, trust in the Holy Spirit, and experience all God can do through them.

These are quotes I received from our students after a rewarding summer of evangelism in Sierra Leone:

“Royal Servants helped me understand what I believe and got me excited about sharing it with others. I even had the opportunity to share the gospel at a prison to more than 100 inmates! God gave me the words to say.”
--Chad Donnelson

“I strived this summer to not worry about whether my words were perfect. But instead I prayed that the Holy Spirit would work through me, and that the girls in my discipleship group would see God’s love demonstrated through me.”
--Clara Gleason

“In the beginning of this summer I struggled with giving God every area of my life, and trusting Him. Quickly I came to the realization that I could not make it on my own strength, but only through the strength that God provides.”
--Mckenzie Lee

“It is so amazing how God can work through my life. I have never felt anything like this before. I feel privileged to be called a servant of God.”
--Kaylee Hofsink

“In Sierra Leone God gave me more of a heart for street ministry, and one-on-one evangelism; even if it meant being persecuted.”
--Daniel Spelliscy

“I learned how to pray more passionately and earnestly seek what God had for me. This summer also helped me feel more equipped and confident in sharing my faith in Christ.”
--Bekah Basinger

Sharing the gospel with a complete stranger in a foreign land is just one fear to overcome. But bringing our mandated message home to friends and family brings about whole new levels of fear and trembling. Please pray that our students would be bold in their own schools and communities, and that they may continue to see God’s power on display!