Notwithstanding my perpetual resolution to stop asking leading questions, doesn’t the very idea of 2023 seem a bit incredible?

Thank you for the generous Christmas remembrances! As always, we appreciate the cash (It provides the Bell children with most of their spending money for the year) , but most of all, we are thankful for the care. May the Lord reward you with manifold blessings in the new year.

As Chris mentioned, Sarah suffered a meniscal tear in her right knee on December 31 and has been unable to bear weight or straighten her knee since.  We have been actively pursuing treatment options and she is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery to repair it this Saturday at 7 A. M. Please pray, not only for the surgery but also for her recovery, which involves being on crutches for another 45 days. She has demonstrated remarkable grace under pressure, but it is definitely a rough start to the new year and the second semester.

I took some banana bread to Ann (a.k.a. Ana, because I can’t keep my pseudonyms straight—one of multiple reasons I would make a horrible spy…) the week of Christmas. Her husband was then hospitalized in critical condition, suffering from pneumonia and not expected to recover. As you can imagine, it was a heavy visit, but I was able to listen, and, of course, pray. And eat, because she will feed you, no matter what. I checked in with her last week, and thankfully, he is off the ventilator and the infection is gone! Please keep that family in your prayers and pray specifically that I will have opportunities and wisdom to present a clear Gospel to them.

Thank you for reading and for praying!

In Christ (no matter what year it is),

Brenda