Harris Happenings December 2010
“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” 2 Samuel 7:18 “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!…For the Mighty One is holy, and He has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him.” Luke 1:46,47,49
As we look back at 2010, we are thankful and grateful to our gracious and merciful God for all that He has done for us and our family. We are blessed and honored that He would use us and that He has brought us this far.
On March 8, our third grandchild, Kylie Joy Hicks, was born to Heidi and Daniel. She has brought much joy to all her family and to anyone else who is around her for very long. We affectionately refer to her as “Smiley Kylie”. As you can imagine Heidi and Daniel have their hands full. Isabel is 6 years old and Carson is 4. Besides the home front they also stay busy with the middle school ministry at church that Daniel directs and lead a home-group for several young families. Daniel was able to do a couple of mission trips this year (Brazil and Haiti), doing what he loves to do, teaching the word of God. We thank the Lord for putting it in his heart to go and also protecting him during some unexpected circumstances.
We were also blessed with another addition to our family this year. Tim was married to Taryn Haught on July 31st. We had a great time at their wedding with Taryn’s family, our family, and friends who came from all over, even from Honduras. They are living in Newnan, GA, working and enjoying being married. They are also praying about future mission work and are hoping to make a trip to North Africa early next year. Keep them in your prayers as they seek the Lord as to what their near future holds.
Travis and Kelsey are living in Ringgold, GA. Kelsey graduated in May from Kennesaw State University. Travis finished the science classes he was taking there just last week. He is now preparing for the MCAT , which he plans to take in late spring. The two of them are really involved in their church in Chattanooga and a ministry to immigrants. Both are working part time jobs and Kelsey is starting a dance class that she will teach at their church. They are planning a mission trip to the Middle East with their church in February. Pray for them and the group as they travel and seek to shine the light of Jesus to Muslims.
As all of you know the people of Haiti have suffered greatly this year. When we heard of the earthquake Wesley started praying about going. He prayed, ”Lord, if you want me to go please have someone call and ask me to go with them.” Within a couple of days an old friend that Wesley grew up with, Kirby Phillips, called and asked him to go to Haiti to help with medical relief work. It was amazing how God put the group together and provided supplies and money to help the Haitians. So many individuals and local churches gave above and beyond what anyone expected. The trip was by no means an easy trip, but it was a blessed trip. One of the greatest blessings for Wesley was working alongside Kirby and seeing his love for the people of Haiti. At one time he and his wife, Kay, served as missionaries there for five years. In August Wesley returned to Haiti with Kirby and a medical group. The needs were still overwhelming, and it appears that they continue to escalate, even now as the cholera epidemic is increasing. Please persist in praying for the people of Haiti. Kirby and his family are there this week, and he plans to make another trip in January.
Wesley was also able to make a couple of trips to North Africa to work with a Honduran couple that had been classmates of his in medical school in Honduras. On the first trip the group was very unique; a dental student, a Korean American dentist, three doctors who previously were missionaries in Honduras, a Honduran doctor, and a Honduran dentist, all who shared a common burden to extend the love of Jesus among Muslims in some tangible way. Both Wesley and the Honduran dentist were able to go back and work again with other groups. On each of these trips they went from town to village loving the people with their medical and dental help. We trust that God did and will continue to use their labors to soften people’s hearts and give them a hunger to know Jesus. The missionary couple, after serving the Lord in North Africa for five years, are now living in Central America and are beginning a training center to send Latin American believers to predominantly Muslim countries of Africa and the Middle East. Pray that the seeds they sowed will continue to yield fruit.
In November, I was able to take a group of 19 young people to the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, KY. We had nursing students, dental students, PA students, pre-med and med students, and others to go. Most all of the sessions I attended were informative, encouraging, inspiring, educational, and motivational. This is the third year we have made grants available for students to attend. Every year we have had students to tell us that the conference was life-changing for them. Pray that much fruit will result for God’s kingdom in the lives of those who went.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and support this past year.
May the grace, peace, and joy that Jesus brings be yours this Christmas and in the New Year.
In Jesus,
Terri Harris (for both of us)
World Evangelism Foundation PO Box 327, Royston, GA 30662 706 245-9869
drwesjr@gmail.com terriharris777@gmail.com