MARKWELL'S UPDATE
E-Mail: amarkwell@abwe.cc
Aaragon and Malinda felt God’s call to Eastern Europe about five years ago… and by His grace left for their new home and ministry in Eastern Europe in January of 2007, where they now live with their three children: Josiah, Alathia, & Sophia. Aaragon attended Word of Life Bible Institute and Appalachian Bible College in preparation for God’s call, as he is teaching at the Bible Institute there – equipping national pastors to plant churches. Currently they are beginning a church plant in a nearby town of about 12,000 people.
DECEMBER UPDATE:
Dear Friends and Family,
I have made an important discovery, -6 Fahrenheit is not the right weather in which to frame up a house! I enjoy framing, and working with my hands but when the skin on your hands sticks to the metal tools in your pouch…it is time to sit inside and drink something hot. Oh, if incase you find yourself framing something when it is -6 outside be sure and not hold nails in your mouth, a mistake I only made once! Construction is basically what I have been occupying myself as of recent. The first project I have been focusing on is a rehab center located in a city nearby. There they plan to complete two rooms and convert an attic into livable space as well as build a banyah (a steam room for bathing and washing clothes). The need is so great for rehab centers here that we could open 100 today in the state of Perm alone and this would still not be enough. The center is run by an elderly pastor. He has a pastor’s heart and has already helped many with their alcoholism. It is a real joy to help someone who is so busy helping others.
The second project is a house/future church building in another town nearby. Working side by side with Easte Europeon brothers is an education. There are certain ways we do things in the west; I never thought that a tape measure was an ‘optional’ luxury when it came to carpentry work. So at times, while helping these dear brothers, I have had much opportunity to learn how to bite one’s tongue! Nevertheless, we are making progress. The other thing that has been filling my time is preparation on a hermeneutics course which requires much time and focus.
Malinda has been busy with decorating, and thinking about what Christmas candies and cookies to make to pass out to our neighbors. Her time is always full, as you moms of small children know full well. This last week, she enjoyed doing “Cookie Recipes in a Jar” for a MOPS group. This was new to the ladies and they thoroughly enjoyed that! She was hoping it would be a good, inexpensive idea that the moms could make as gifts for others this year.
As we come to the Christmas season, often it seems like it is a time of old traditions: putting up the tree, buying presents, decorating with lights, baking Christmas treats, but a thought strikes me this season. Christmas is about new things. It’s about new beginnings. It was 2000 years ago that a small baby came into the world (an old world) to start something new. Men, women and children can find newness, a new relationship with God through what this baby did. Christmas is a time of old traditions but it is ultimately a celebration of new life, relationship, hope and finally, perhaps not in the too distant future, a new heavens and a new earth.
We hope and pray that you will be blessed and be a blessing to others!
Merry Christmas!
Aaragon, Malinda, Josiah, Alathia & Sophia Markwell
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