Merry Christmas 2009
Greetings from John, Kim, Shianne and Alexis in Kiana, Alaska!
This is our 11th winter here!
Here are the highlights for 2009:
There have been 9 salvations and 0 baptisms this year; and a total of 147 salvations since we came in 1999.
We have been given the grand opportunity of being parents of two teenage girls, Alexis 13, and Shianne 15.
Zach and Jennifer Greer from Texas are both working at the school and helping us with the ministry again this year. They do have a new addition to their family. Gavin Glenn Greer, was born 7/15/09. Kim gets to babysit him every day while they're at school. Their web site is: http://www.greersonmission.blogspot.com
Sunday school, youth group, and church seem to be growing this year.
Our men and womens group and our Friday night movie night have been well participated also.
November was a busy month for me. Besides needing to be in Anchorage or the Alaska Baptist convention executive board meetings, I also had to be in Anchorage three consecutive Mondays to get injections in my knees to help lubricate them. I should be good for my next 50,000 mile, I wish. LOL
We had a winter blizzard November 11 while I was in Anchorage which brought plenty of snow for everyone to be able to drive their snowmobiles.
We had our Christmas program the "Not So Silent Night" on Sunday, December 6. We passed out filled stockings and Hawaiian made gift bags to each child. There were about 42 present, we all had a good time. The children did a great job.
Pictures will be posted on our website: www.kianabaptistmission.com.
We have seen change in some of our people through the prayers of so many, and know God is still
working in the hearts of many more. Satan's strongholds can be broken, as some have come to repentance and professed Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
In November there was a vote here in Kiana about whether to stay a dry village or to legalize alcohol, the outcome was that we are no longer a dry village. Please please please pray for our Village, that Satan loose his stronghold that is ruining so many lives, young and old, and that people here will start giving their lives right with the Lord.
Kim, Shianne, Alexis and I are leaving on December 11 for a family vacation. Tim and Marylin Savage, from Georgia, will be here on December 9 to fill in for us. Please pray for our travel while we were gone and for Tim and Marylin as they experience an Arctic winter and as they minister here in Kiana. We found some real brave Georgians to fill-in for us or maybe brave is not the right word, LOL. We will be back on January 9.
We have made many new friends, met brothers and sisters in Christ, and prayer partners through emails, letters, cards, phone calls, and visits. Romans 8:28 - All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Please pray for my brother Jerry which is still battling lung cancer, he has been such an inspiration to us all through his cancer treatment saying he does not know where this new adventure with God is taking him but he does know the Lord's will shall be done.
This year has been a tough year for our support and fuel costs are still rising. We will need around 800 gallons of heating fuel to make it through the winter months and at $6 a gallon that comes to $4800. And with the support dwindling from our mother church First Baptist Kotzebue, we need your help and support.
It takes all of us to do the work in Kiana.
All things are possible with God and we need your continued prayers for us and the ministry God has called us to as we too have struggles we deal with. We are so thankful to all who have sent items during the year for "our kids" and us. It's such a blessing to know how many of you are praying for us.
Please continue to pray for us to have wisdom, strength, and good health as we serve in Kiana
Pastor John and Kim Piepmeier
Alexis and Shianne
P.O. Box 145 Kiana
Alaska 99749 (907) 475-2126
