Merry late Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year! I hope that all of your Christmas' went well and were full of Christ and family! The month of December went fast because it was cram packed! There was a lot of excitement, relaxation with family, tight schedules and food. I'm very thankful for how the Lord provides and for His faithfulness. God is good! 

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"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

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        Around the beginning of the month we began to prepare for finals for the term. Some were more stressful than others but we all made it! The most time consuming final was our music final. We all learned to read and write music and play the piano this term. For our final we composed a song, wrote the lyrics and performed it. I based some of my song after Psalms 27. I really enjoyed doing this, but it was a lot of work! Synthesis class, (1 Sam- Esther) was the most challenging test for me. This last term was a challenge emotionally, spiritually and physically but Jesus is always faithful and he is teaching us to depend on Him.

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        Before we left on break we had a Christmas party here at Teen Missions with staff and students. It was a nice time to hang out with everyone. Mr. Terry and his wife, Mrs. Sherry, did a wonderful job cooking as always and we were full. The students performed a few songs and sang. I ended up playing guitar. Singing "Go tell it on the mountain," was my favorite because we jazzed it up!

 

     On a sadder note, as the term was ending we knew that Mr. Terry was was being called by God to move on and go back to Oregon. Mr. Terry has been such a blessing to the students and everyone else here. He worked very hard to give us five star meals, that we did not deserve, and he was such a spiritual leader and encouragement to us. The joy and love he expressed in his cooking for us is always remembered and we are grateful to have spent the time with him that God gave. 

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"For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better."

Philippians 1:21 NLT

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        Before break, Hannah F and I also took a free weekend to the Ayre family's house. The Ayre family is a big family that has been on staff here and knows Teen Missions well. Mr. Bryan has been my teacher and I have worked with Mrs. Dawn some. Their daughter Abby is an intern here and I am grateful I have gotten to know her too. The weekend we spent there was relaxing and fun. I was very excited because they have a black Lab named Bella. Mrs. Dawn and I got to talk some and I really appreciated her encouragement and prayer for me as we spoke. We played some games, did our homework and talked. It was a wonderful weekend. They are a great family and we appreciate them.

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       TESTIMONY: I want to tell you a testimony of God's provision. One morning in chapel, when we were about finished with the term, the Barbers raised their hands and mentioned that we needed to say thank you to some people from their sons church. They also said that we all had something downstairs for us. The students went to class and we thought it was nice and that it might have been a card or something like that. When students started to go down and get their envelopes we were shocked... At the church, the pastor was trying to encourage being mission minded. The church of 200 people in Ohio each had picked about 4 people to pray for, write to and support. When we opened up the envelopes, we found written cards and a handful of gift cards worth $200 all together. Every single person here, staff students and interns received one.​ I also received a not from a young woman who somehow knew how my life was going. I'd never met her or heard of any of these people and she wrote me. She specifically encouraged me about struggles that I was having in my walk with the Lord and I knew it was from the Holy Spirit. We all were so encouraged by this. The generosity, prayer, love and care that they showed us was unbelievable and it was a picture of what the church should look like in building each other up and encouraging one another. God provided through those people that I could take care of things for Christmas and for preparing for my internship. It amazes me how God can use others and paints pictures and teaches us through things like this.

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"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV

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         As the middle of the month rolled around it was time to go home! Praise the Lord! It is always exciting to be able to see family that we have missed. My mom and dad picked me up and we went to dinner at Denny's. It was a bit of a crazy break because my family is moving houses. My grandma has been diagnosed with cancer and my parents felt that the Lord was leading them to move in with her and sell the house so they could help take care of her. So, we had a lot of cleaning out to do and prepared things to move in and out. We celebrated Christmas on the 24th this year due to my grandma having a procedure on the 26th. Poor woman couldn't eat on Christmas day! So we moved it back. My Uncle Johnny, mom, dad, Reed and Grandma spend the day together after church and it was nice. I really enjoyed reading the Bible and discussing before we opened presents to get our minds set on the purpose of the day. I was very grateful for how the Lord provided for me through my family. I received some basic things that I really needed like socks and clothes. It was nice to spend time with Reed my brother, my mom and dad and my grandma. I was also very happy to spend time with our two pugs, Cooper and Beasley. I miss them all and am very grateful for the break I spent with them. New Years Eve night was spent with family and I spent a little time at a friends painting rocks for fun.

 

      There were other times that I had the opportunity to talk with people and catch up with them. I really enjoyed those conversations and visits.  My moms sister and her family came from Nevada to visit family and my grandma. It was so nice having them there. I have not spent time with them like that in several years. I am grateful for their joy, company and kindness. They were willing to help out with some things while we have been trying to prepare. We did lots of various things, but I think the biggest was the day we spent in Hays. We went to a museum, saw buffaloes, ate at Freddy's and dropped by Reeds school. Please pray for my family and my grandma as they go through a trial. Jesus is our rock, joy, strength and peace. We are grateful we can cling to Him.

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"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV

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       I'm so grateful for the blessings and good that He brings out of the difficulties in life. Spiritually the Lord is teaching me I need to seek Him more! Prayer is so very important and it is necessary to be in continual communication with Him about everything. Having a relationship with the Lord is similar to a human one. If you don't spend time talking to them you are not very close. In the same way we need to be in the Word everyday, seeking truth and talking to Him about whatever is going on in our head or lives. 

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        Thank you so very much to everyone that spends time looking at these, praying for me, thinking about me, or supporting me. God uses you and I desire to know you more and pray for you. Please contact me with prayer requests or just a hello or whatever! (885 E Hall Rd. Merritt Island FL, 32953, annierussum@gmail.com or Facebook message me) God fill you with joy and peace for this new year and may we all continue to look to Him for our everything!

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