“I AM FREE”

A refugee named Kabil,  told me in Afghanistan he used to read a bible by flashlight under his covers at night for fear of persecution. I asked him if he’d accept a new testament in his language and read it. He said, “Of course… I am free.” I sat there stunned by his response. Even though Kabil was “stuck” in a fenced-in refugee camp and had no certainty of his future, he now viewed himself as “free.”  While Kabir has not yet committed himself to Christ, he is now free to seek Him like never before. Please pray that Kabil would find Christ and truly be “free!”

PRAY THAT REFUGEES FIND CHRIST

What would compel you to get up in the middle of the night, grab your money and your family and head out of the country?  There would have to be some force of evil that is causing you to leave everything you’ve worked for.  This is exactly what has happened for thousands of refugees. But God redeems!  Acts 17:26&27 says that God has “determined the  boundaries of everyone’s dwelling place, that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.”  Reaching out to refugees or immigrants may perhaps be the greatest open door to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ! Pray that the refugee or immigrant would look to God and find him!

HONDURAS!

You will go out in JOY and be led forth in peace; the MOUNTAINS and hills will burst into song before you... Isaiah 55:12

I love students. I love serving in missions. And I love hiking in the mountains! So when I was asked to join our Kairos students on a mission trip to the remote mountains of Honduras (only accessible by foot & pack mule), it didn’t take me long to say “YES!”

There are few things that bring me as much joy as serving with students on the mission field. Joy was certainly a reoccurring theme through out my trip to Honduras. In fact, the scriptures are filled with verses on “joy” (over 300 times!) At one point during our trip I reflected on specific moments in time where I sensed the joy of the Lord. This list served as a reminder of God’s goodness, which in turn, led to an increase in joy:

· Reaching remote mountain villages (after a grueling but exhilarating 7 hour hike)

· Observing a group of Honduran believers laughing and joking together

· Hearing passionate worship with rhythmic clapping and singing in Spanish

· Watching a student testify of God’s redemptive power at work in their life

· Seeing pastors (some who walked for 4 hours) to join our leaders conference 

· Witnessing faith, despite persecution (one girl had been beaten for her faith)

· Experiencing the love and laughter with a close knit mission team of students

· Enjoying God’s creation: misty mountains, refreshing waterfalls, colorful songbirds

God is so good! I am so thankful for the numerous opportunities our team had to go out in JOY and share God’s word, His love, and His truth throughout our mission trip. Thank you for your partnership. It’s a JOY to serve Him in this ministry with you!

WHAT IS KAIROS?

Kairos Discipleship School is a 8-month intensive, experiential training school for students 18-26, focused on igniting faith and impacting the world. Students gain a foundation in Christ-like character, leadership development, and evangelism. Our desire at Reign Ministries is to equip relevant leaders to be ready to serve in local churches, communities, and on the mission field.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Many of our former Kairos students are serving in ministry or missions around the world. Rachel was a Kairos student 5 years ago. She is currently serving in a orphanage in Honduras as a Transition House Mom and is taking care of four children under the age of 2! While we were in Honduras she made a 4 hour bus ride to spend the day with our team. It was a blessing to hear her share with our current students about what she learned during her Kairos season. Please pray for Rachel and for more students like her to answer the call to missions.

BACK 2 BACK

HONDURAS 

Matt will be joining our Kairos Discipleship School students, serving the poor on a mission trip to Honduras, February 15—March 3.

In Honduras we will work with very poor villages in the Southern Opalaca Mountains.  The Lenca Indians are an unreached people group who have a history of superstition and tribal religion, but the Gospel is starting to take hold.  Our team will serve with local missionaries who are working to plant churches in this remote region.  We will use mules to haul our luggage and will have to hike five hours through a “cloud forest” to reach the people!  Once we reach our destination, we will have the awesome opportunity to teach Bible classes, as well as meet practical needs through construction projects.  We will also use soccer ministry, kids’ Bible programs, and evening church services to share the Gospel.  

MACEDONIA

Matt will be leading a Reign Ministries mission trip to Macedonia in response to the Refugee crisis in Europe, March 18—27.

 

In Macedonia we will be partnering with SEND Int’l to serve those affected by the Syrian refugee crises, arguably one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Just this year, over 500,000 refugees (half of them children), have made their way across Europe looking for safety from war-torn areas in the Middle East. These people are tired, scared and desperate. And with many disillusioned with their religion, for a short window of time, they are open to the gospel in ways as never before. We will be making daily trips to the border, passing out food, cleaning up litter, and caring for the different needs of the refugees. We will have the unique opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them in a real and tangible way.

Merry Christmas from The Halseth Family!

Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2015:

Rachel is our much adored 4 year old. When she’s not wrestling with her big brothers, she loves dance, dolls, and preschool.  She also has learned how to swim!  Mom is cherishing Rachel’s last year at home before she heads off to kindergarten next fall.

Joshua is an energetic 8 year old who enjoys basketball, soccer, and swimming. He loves all things Lego. He is curious, caring, philosophical, and entertaining. He plans to be a spy when he grows up. He likes packing food at “Feed My Starving Children.”

Abby is 11 and more grown up every day. She loves cooking, babysitting, camp, mission teams, and friends, friends, friends.  She enjoys volleyball and basketball. Mom loves her help at the grocery store. She shared her faith testimony with our church and was baptized in August.

Nathan is our TEENAGER! He’s 13 and is getting taller all the time.
He is funny, kind, and helpful. He is into football, basketball, and camp. He enjoys hunting and got his first deer this year.  He got a real treat to go fishing with Grandpa Morse in Canada this summer!

Matt planned a “spur of the moment” family camping trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior in August. He also enjoyed processing his own venison this fall, making jerky, sausage, burgers, and steaks. Besides our mission work in Scotland, he has enjoyed serving locally with “at-risk” youth.
 

Jenni is enjoying how much easier it is to go anywhere, (Scotland or the grocery store!) now that the kids are a bit older! She continues to enjoy biking, reading, road trips, bible study, and women’s events. She was thrilled to welcome a new nephew, baby Joe, in November (Thanks Tina and Brian!)

Praying your Christmas shines 

brightly with many of God’s blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family