Jan
9
How do we review a year of so many ups, downs, hellos and good byes?
We start with the NUMBERS:
In 2009 we had 1 painful trip to the emergency room, 2 sons on opposite sides of the planet, 3 couples at our first “going all the way” retreat, 4 imagiNations students in our home, 5 major problems with our e-mails, websites and computer, 6 local teens to mentor, 7 great books to read, 8 countries in North, Central and South America, Asia, Europe and Middle East in which to minister, 9 States traveled through or to, and 10 weekly guitar students.
And now the BIGGER NUMBERS:
- We slept in 27 different beds, which is about a new one every 13 days.
- We spoke 214 times to 8319 people ages 1 to 96. These opportunities were in churches, schools, bible studies, camps, congresses, couples retreats, parties, and community events, as well as onboard the MV Doulos .
- We spent 240 hours (10 days) traveling to and from, waiting in Airports, and flying on 23 different flights.
- We actively mentored 42 people, saw 44 young people start a new friendship with Jesus, and 394 made a renewed or deeper commitment in their faith.
- We published 20 articles and wrote thousands of e-mails, facebook messages and texts.
- We led worship in our home church 31 times, and had an untold number of young people come through our home for mentoring, meetings, games and snacks.
- We lost half of our income in March, but God supplied Hospice nursing work, local programs and several miracles to assist us in our work and our life right up to this day. Praise the Lord!
And now a few STORIES from our FAMILY:
This year we had a lot of time with Josiah. Most of the year we were traveling and ministering as three. At our camp for missionary teens in the Netherlands, Josiah only 16 years old took on a leadership role over the teen guys. He planned activities, spoke, and helped organize the daily worship. He thrived and set a great example for other young people. He has also begun to mentor some younger guys at home.
Joshua has just arrived home from the MV Doulos. He got taller and filled up on many great stories. Now he is making plans to receive more training and get involved in an inner city ministry in the States until summer. Please keep him in your prayers.
As parents we are so blessed to not only train up our boys, but also to stand back and watch them follow Gods call upon their lives.
We, Dan & Suzie, are stepping through many doors that have been on the back burner for a long time.
- WRITING: “conneXellence”, our book, is finished and soon published in English and German. We also write weekly for our local newspaper.
- RETREATS: “Going all the Way” weekends for married couples has begun to nurture love for God, each other and the family.
- MENTORING: Mentoring through guitar, magic, juggling, art lessons and life connections.
- CREATIVE ARTS: We have begun DUZIE day camps to help young people develop their creative gifts.
- PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: We are part time nursing and performing to support our income and to strengthen our gifts.
- LOVE: We are in love with each other, our God, and seeking to love those around us, and our world each day.
A STORY in the midst of CHANGE:
During the past 23 years of youth ministry around the world, we have connected with more than we can count. It is a great joy when we are able to meet some again. This summer we came across a young man who we had not seen for several years. During the time apart he went from seeking God to running away. As we sat across the table hearing his honest story from college and beyond, our hearts broke because of his journey. Since that time we have kept in contact through e-mail and he seems to have stopped running, but has many questions. Pray for him and so many like him who are searching for truth. Pray also for us that we may show love, wisdom, honesty and light.
And finally a THANK YOU:
This year has been year on the edge of crisis and connections. So many of you have given us a surprising gift, a prayer, an encouraging word and an opportunity to share in your journey. We what you to know that you are a blessing to us. Thank you for care in 2009.
We still need finances . . . don’t we all! If you are looking for a way to help, please contact us. If you could use us to speak at your church, school, community function, camp or bring our couple’s retreat in your area, please let us know. If you are looking for weekly encouragement from our journey . . . we invite you onto www.DUZIE.com to follow our articles called “Living Life with DUZIE”.
We leave you with our present 2010 SCHEDULE:
January 1-10 Marlette Michigan
January 11-12 Fly to Uruguay
January 13-15 Giving Leadership Training in Uruguay
January 16 – 24 TeenStreet for Southern Cone of South America
January 25 Fly to Paraguay
January 26 – 28 Giving Leadership Training in Paraguay
February 1 – 9 Speaking at camp in Paraguay
February 10-11 Fly Home
February – March Home – local ministry and available for programs
April Giving Leaders Training and TeenStreet in Austrialia
May Home – local ministry & available for programs
June Leaders Training and TeenStreet in Southern Africa
July Home – local ministry, available for programs and camps
August MTO camp and OM Go conference in the Netherlands
September Middle East TCK camp
October – November imagiNations – “ARTISTree” course
May God bless you and yours in this New Year. If you would like to receive DUZIE NEWS more often please let us know personally or send us a request at: INFO@DUZIE.com
Standing Strong & Creating Hope,
Dan & Suzie Potter . . . aka DUZIE, Joshua & Josiah too!
