|
 Heather's Corner
Happy Holidays, Bethlehem Family!
We've entered the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas
triathlon already and Walmart has put up a tree as a
friendly reminder to shop, shop, shop for Christmas
presents.
It is certainly different than the
Christmases I spent in India. Much colder, much red
and greener, and much more advertised. But still,
people in America can be just as clueless about the
meaning of Christmas as my hindu friends an ocean
away. This season, I'm not in
India, but I still plan on sharing the gospel. My
church has challenged us to open our homes to host
Christmas Tea's to get to know the women in our
community and to share the true meaning of Christmas
with our neighbors. I've volunteered my meager
seminary apartment as one of the outreach homes.
At first I was reluctant to host a
Tea, because honestly, my house is really small and
the furniture is a miss-matched assortment that has
been donated to me and my roommates, or we've rescued
it from the dumpster! I was kind of embarrassed by
what I had to offer the women in my neighbor and I
felt it isn't good enough.
But God humbled me and showed me
that I need to offer everything I have for His
service, even if it's not much, or new. I don't know
what God will do with the Christmas Tea I'm hosting,
but I'm very excited! I plan
on personally hand delivering the invitations. This
will give me a chance to meet the women in the
subdivision, as I don’t know any of them. Then there
is food to be made...women kind of food. This means a
lot of work and only bite sized portions! Picture tiny
sandwiches and scones, crackers and cheese balls,
fruit on toothpicks and that’s just about our menu.
Then on December 8, hopefully some
women will venture into a seminary student’s apartment
for some tea and a testimony by me. I’m both excited
and nervous that I will be the speaker at my own Tea.
I barely know what to say to a houseful of women I’ve
just met. All I know is that what Jesus did for each
of us is so amazing that I have to share this treasure
even if my couch is shabby and I fumble over my words.
Please pray for this endeavor. Pray that my neighbors
wont think I’m nuts for inviting over complete
strangers, that they will accept my hospitality even
though I may be younger than them and that God will
move their hearts to respond to His Word and surrender
their lives to Him. It could be the most memorable
Christmas yet for some of these lost women!
 Now,
I know what you all want to know about – my boyfriend!
:) I think some of you have tried planning my future
spouse for me at one time or another, but God’s timing
is the very best and He has finally brought a
wonderful man into my life. His name is Jonathan Susee
and though there is no ring on my finger yet, he has
asked permission from my parents and received their
blessing! :)
I met him at seminary and he and I
want to be career missionaries together. In fact, this
summer we are going on a mission trip to India with
the seminary. We desire your prayers as we go to
minister and witness together. It will be his second
international trip. I am so thrilled to share my
country, India, with him.
***Don’t forget in the midst of the
Christmas gift-buying frenzy that this time of year is
also the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! Your
financial support has meant so much to me and my
family over the years. Please give generously to
support the real meaning of Christmas. SBC
missionaries depend on you to sustain their work. 100%
of your gift goes overseas. Let’s reach your
“Hallelujah Goal” this year. :)
If anyone has questions or would just like to chat,
you can reach me at
heather.hodges@sebts.edu
Blessings, Heather
General Information:
bethlehembaptist@comcast.net
Website comments:
WebServant
|
