Coffee Talk

With Marc & Denise Atchley

JOY!

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 4, ESV

Besides the joy of knowing Jesus as our own Savior and King, we can't help but agree with the Apostle John ... nothing can bring us greater joy than to know that our children are walking with the Lord.  To this end we want to take the opportunity afforded during this season of joy to ask you to commit to pray for our children over the next several years.  We realize that this is no insignificant request ... it's a big commitment that requires significant time and mental and spiritual effort.  But when your effective prayers are part of God's gracious work in our children, we're confident that you will share our joy!

Here are some details on the kids:
- Sam is sixteen and is currently a sophomore in high school, but he is already looking ahead to college.  For over a year he has worked at Chick-fil-A and has proven himself to be industrious and responsible.  He's developed close friendships on sports teams, at work, at church, and at home school co-ops.  Sam has a mature attitude about the move to Greece, but he will need the Holy Spirit to comfort, counsel and guard him as he moves into a vastly different environment.

- Jack is fourteen and is currently a high school freshman.  He had his first job this past summer working as a junior coach for the kids' summer swim team.  He is fun-loving and enjoys working with young kids, whether at the pool or in the nursery at church.  He too has developed close friendships on sports teams, at church, and at home school co-ops.  Jack is apprehensively excited about life in Greece and will need the Spirit to fill him with the wisdom to adapt to new circumstances and yet stand firm for Jesus.

- Liam is eleven and is currently in sixth grade.  He's an extrovert and has really flourished as a student in the co-op classroom.  Like his brothers, he shows skill in soccer and a growing love for competitive swimming.  And also like his brothers, he's developed close friendships on sport teams, at church, and in class.  Liam shows the most enthusiasm for the move (as long as he can study in English), but he will still need the Spirit to help him adjust and to grow in his love for Jesus.

- Nita is nine and is currently in third grade.  She is also an extrovert and is quite passionate about her friendships with girls at church and with the sisters of her brother's friends ... she's starved for girl-time in a house full of boys.  She has varying interest in sports but loves drawing, coloring, and reading.   Nita is the least excited about the move to Greece because she's afraid that she won't be able to learn Greek and make friends with Greek girls.  Nita will need the Spirit to quiet her fears and help her to make friends in the short-term, and over the long-term to develop in her spiritual formation.

Of course, there is no "prayer contract" required!  Pray as often as you think of them, and we will be super grateful.  But if you'd like to make a special effort to pray for one child specifically or to pray for them all, we would love to know so that we can
communicate more specifically with you about what's going on with them.

Thanks again for all of your love and support for our family.  We hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!!

We praise the Lord for providing partners like you! Here are several specific items for which we would greatly appreciate prayer:
- Greek visa application process
- Selection of housing and school(s) for the children (we hope to visit Athens this coming spring for this purpose)
- Decision about whether to keep (and rent) or sell our house here in Maryville.

Thank you for your prayers and generosity!

Marc and Denise Atchley
TEAM Greece