Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Stephen, Evelyn, Faith & Elijah Wesco

2011 Year in Review

Dear Family and Friends,

As we approached Thanksgiving again this year, we took some time to look back over the year and count our blessings from the Lord.

The big news of the year is that the Lord blessed us with another little one just after Christmas–Elijah Christian.  He is growing fast, and we are finding it hard to believe that he is crawling already and will be walking very soon. He is a ready smiler, and very few things are more precious than his bright little grin.

Faith Anna continues to grow too! She loves books and being a “mommy” to all her dolls and stuffed animals. She cooks for them, feeds them, potty trains them (!), reads to them, prays with them, and puts them down for naps.  She’s working on her first memory verse, and on occasion, we can hear her saying cheerfully to one of her dolls, “All we like sheep have gone astray …” (Isaiah 53:6).

We are thankful that Faith loves to pray (although her words are still unintelligible to us).  We rarely finish a meal without Faith insisting that we join hands and pray three of four times.  We pray that she will grow to be like her name-sake, Anna in the Temple serving God with fasting and prayers night and day (Luke 2:37).

We love our children dearly and pray that as they continue to mature, they will come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Evelyn’s days are filled mainly with taking care of Faith and Elijah. From reading books, singing songs, coloring pictures, “helping” Mommy with chores, playing with toys, to cuddling, Faith and Elijah keep her very busy! During their nap times, she catches up on chores, paperwork, ministry related things, cooking, etc. In between, she still participates in church music with the piano and the harp and in discipleship and outreach. The Lord is gradually shifting her focus to the ministry of raising two precious little children for His glory. Life is definitely not boring!

We’ve also had the privilege to open up our home for hospitality. Over the year, we have had many hospitality evenings with dinner and fellowship with different families from the church, neighbors, and other individuals that we have met.

I (Stephen) continued to work thirty hours per week at ThrillingAudio.com most of the year.  The part-time hours enable me to spend more time on ministry.  We are thankful for God’s provision through such good employment.  I am thankful to have a great boss (my older brother, Jonathan) and co-workers.

I have continued to teach Family School at Fellowship Baptist.  This year we studied the books of Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah.  This October concluded a 7 year study of the Old Testament.  Currently we are doing a high level overview and review of the Old Testament and looking forward to diving into the Gospels next Spring.

Other ministry highlights of the year include a Chinese New Year party in February. This outreach was focused mainly on the Chinese students who are here for studies. In addition to amazing food, Evelyn’s father, Bill Chu, presented a message on the history of Chinese characters and the Gospel. More details and pictures can be found on our blog.

Thank you all for your love and prayers.  Each day that passes, we are more confident that faithful is our God who called us, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).  May God bless you all!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Stephen, Evelyn, Faith & Elijah Wesco

Happy Birthday Faith!

Happy Birthday, Faith!

Time has flown by so quickly!

Even though she had a birthday cake, she asked for the nearby grapes instead and left the cake to Daddy and Mommy. :)

We love you, Faith!

St. Joseph County 4H Fair

The Amazing Grace booth was at the St. Joseph County 4H Fair again this year. We were able to participate in passing out tracts and witnessing to fairgoers.

Elijah joined us this year and kept Mommy and Daddy busy even when things were slow!

Chicago Trip and Indiana Dunes

We took a day trip to Chicago one weekend. Due to rising gas prices and exorbitant parking rates in Chicago, we discovered that riding the train and walking was actually cheaper.

We had a free family pass to the Field Museum.

Dinosaurs

This made Mommy glad that dinosaurs don't roam around regularly anymore!

This was a beautiful mural with a false statement highlighted in the middle.

A better quote would've been,

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Revelation 4:11

Faith and Elijah definitely had fun!

The next day, we had a picnic at the Indiana Dunes. Faith had fun getting all wet and muddy.

The weekend was a precious time of enjoying each other and enjoying everything together as a family.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the best and sweetest father in the world!

Everytime Stephen comes home from work, there is a general stampede to reach him first for hugs and kisses. We love you!

Biblical Dinner at Fellowship and Arborwood

We had the exciting opportunity to participate in biblical dinners at Fellowship Baptist Church and at the Arborwood Retirement Apartments. These dinners are designed to give one the experience of what it was like to eat together during Christ's time. Eating a meal back then was very different from how we eat today!

For one thing, tables were low to the floor, and guests had to recline.

Hands and pita bread were the only utensils used. Slightly messy, but still delicious!

At Arborwood, we used tables at regular heights since several participants were in wheelchairs. They also enjoyed utensils.

The significance of the biblical dinners was not just to experience a new and exciting way of eating. We also learned the significance of breaking bread together. To "break bread" with someone is to say, "You are my friend. I love you. I will die for you" and with an enemy, "I forgive you." When Christ broke bread at the Last Supper and when he declared that he was the Bread of Life, he was declaring the amazing depth and sacrifice of his love for his disciples and for the world.

The Armor of God

Stephen presented a message on the armor of God recently. He used his replica of Roman armor as an object lesson.

Using a good-natured volunteer, Stephen demonstrated how the Roman armor richly illustrates Ephesians 6. One thing was made very clear - we cannot put on nor carry the armor in our own strength. Stephen's volunteer was dripping with sweat and very ready for a break by the time Stephen had every piece of armor on him!

Mother's Day Weekend

We enjoyed Mother's Day weekend by going to the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend with Evelyn's parents and siblings. We were able to get up close and personal with many animals! Faith and Elijah weren't entirely sure of what they thought of these moving, furry, and noisy creatures.

Faith was disappointed with the zebra when it did not make any exciting noises and simply ate the whole time.

Faith almost got kissed by a flamingo, but she still had fun!

The Stephen Wesco Family

May 2011

Indiana Statehouse

In April, we had the privilege to visit State Representative Timothy Wesco (also known as Stephen's brother) along with Stephen's parents and siblings at the Indiana Statehouse.

Family picture at the House Speaker's podium. Faith apparently felt the gravity of where she was.

Grandpa Wesco opened the day's House session in prayer.

After a short time into the session, Faith made her opinion of the session very obvious.

Representative Wesco hard at work, with stacks of paper (aka bills) around him.

We later met up with Dr. and Mrs. John Whitcomb.

The visit was a very educational and exciting time for all of us. It also gave us a better understanding of the responsibilities and burdens that our leaders in government carry.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

I Timothy 2:1-2

Family School Lesson in Daniel

In Family School, we just finished the book of Daniel. Here is a favorite account - Daniel and the Lion's Den. But how do you make it real when you don't have real lions?

Here are the ferocious and ravenous lions.

King Darius suddenly realizes he had been persuaded into signing a law that sentenced Daniel to death by the lions!

However, the Lord intervened.

King Darius rejoices with Daniel over the Lord's miraculous deliverance from the lions, while Daniel's enemies don't look too pleased.

For the complete account, read Daniel 6.

Chinese New Year Party

This past week, we were thrilled to help with a Chinese New Year Party and outreach along with the Chu and Giegerich Family.

We distributed posters and fliers similar to this one. We thank the Lord for about 25 Chinese people who ended up coming.

We had lots of good food!

We had a time of singing and special music.

Evelyn's father shared in Chinese and English the etymology of the Chinese characters 年 (year) and 福 (blessed). Both have amazing spiritual and Biblical parallels in their modern and historical forms. He concluded with a clear presentation of the Gospel.

We prepared special traditional New Year 紅包 (Red Envelopes) for each of the guests. Inside of each one was a Gospel tract, a bookmark featuring the Chinese character 福 (blessed), and a penny pressed with the 10 Commandments.

We also gave Chinese New Testaments to anyone that did not already have one.

Please pray that God would work in the lives of each Chinese person present, and that he would continue to give us opportunity to minister and reach out to the precious Chinese people.

新年快樂 - Happy Chinese New Year!

There are many faces made in the process of getting one good picture!

New Family Picture

After church today, we hung a sheet over the window in Faith's room and were able to get an updated family picture.

Thankful Parents and Grandparents

Elijah with Mommy and Daddy shortly after birth.

Elijah with 外婆 and 外公.

Elijah with Grandma and Grandpa Wesco.

Elijah with Great-grandparents.