Update From The Budimir's MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina! (Croatian) Dear family and friends, What a year for our family! This definitely has been a year of transitions: finishing up graduate school, being appointed as career missionaries, closing the chapter of our lives in California, moving in with Jill’s parents in Massachusetts, the birth of our daughter Ema, and starting this fundraising journey. Since late August we have been on the road. Traveling from the Northeast, to the Midwest, and to the South, we drove or flew many miles. We must testify that God has always gone ahead of us. Trusting the Lord, the Provider, has been our ongoing theme and He has shown us His immeasurable faithfulness. This fall we were able to meet with many of you and shared with you our calling and vision. Thank you all for hosting us, loving on us, and sending us out onto the mission field with your blessing and support. Ema has been a great traveler. Sometimes we feel a little guilty for dragging her onto the road and plane continually at such a young age, but the Lord has been keeping her healthy and strong. She is a very vigorous and happy baby. When we carry her in a sling around the city she often smiles at the people passing by, making them laugh and brightening their day. We love her so much and are thankful to the Lord for her. Considering our team building journey; we are traveling to Indiana and Michigan this coming January. We’ll be there for about 5 weeks. From there we are going to California for about two months. So, we have a plenty of traveling ahead of us. Please pray that our time at these places is going to be fruitful and encouraging. We are still not at the 50% mark of our support. We are very close to it, so please pray that money will come in soon so that we can start receiving half of our salary. This might sound crazy, but we are still praying to be deployed to Croatia in early May. God is able to do it! We are also in need of prayer for our start-up fund. This includes one time donations toward our vehicle and some minor household items when we move to Croatia. Please pray for us. We believe in the power of prayer, and we believe that the Lord listens when the saints are praying. We remember you in our prayers and are thankful for each of you and your place in our lives. With Love, Hrvoje, Jill and Ema

Wesleyan Women Newsletter 1/2008

Dear Friends, This letter is an update on various items that concern Wesleyan Women and the churches in the ENY/NE District. There are some important dates coming up which you should set apart to be revitalized in missions, ladies’ enrichment and our District Wesleyan Women’s Convention. Zone Mission Rallies are set for the week of April 14-18. The churches listed on tentative sights for each night. Monday, April 14, St. Lawrence Zone (No host church yet) Tuesday, April 15, Champlain – Cadyville Wednesday, April 16, Central – Corinth Thursday, April 17th, Southern – Waterford Friday, April 18th, New England – Ellington The service will be from 7-8:15. At this time it looks like we will have Ford Carl and Maya Giles (Haiti), Butch and Tricia Alexander (Haiti) and Alan and Aimee Williams (Czech Republic) with us. Each couple will have a chance to share for 10-15 minutes. There will be a short DVD presentation and a little music. A love offering will be taken during the service. The offerings from all the churches will be collected and then divided among the missionaries. Following the service there will be a fellowship time. If your church could take cookies or a snack to share that would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you can do this. If the host church would please set up tables and provide the beverages. Please let me know if this does not suit. Thank you. Ladies Retreat Our annual Ladies’ Retreat is scheduled to be held at Camp of the Woods, in Speculator, NY on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Our speaker for this year is to be Martha Blackburn, General Director of Wesleyan Women. What a great time to get together and become closer acquainted with the women in the district and our general leader. The information should be coming out in February. Wesleyan Women Convention We are planning our convention for June 21, 2008. The location has not been finalized, but will be in the Glens Falls, NY area. There will be more news coming soon on the theme for the convention this year. Plan now to attend. Missionary Support The Wesleyan Women help support three missionary families. We have pledged $5000 to the Aukermans serving in Albania; $2500 to the Caringals serving as Asia Area Director; and $2500 to the Budimirs who are raising support to go to Croatia. About $6000 of this has come in to our treasurer to send to Global Partners. Thank you and let’s keep up the good work. Our WKFM has pledged $1200 to the Caringal children and $1200 to the Aukerman children. You should have received notice from Heather Lamos recently to as how much has been raised so far this year. The most recent Coffee Break from general headquarters can be found on line at www.wesleyan.org/women. The next issue will be printed and sent to churches. Heart of Ministries Offering Next month will be the time for this special offering. The theme this year is A Heart for Life. Please help promote this offering as a way to show our belief in the sanctity of LIFE for the unborn through adults. Funds will be collected for ministries that provide services and protection for others. Complete details can be found on the Wesleyan Women website. The following will benefit from the 2008 Heart of Ministries Offering: *Ministries to fight human slavery in North America and worldwide *Hephzibah’s ministries for the unborn through young adults transitioning into society *AIDS/HIV orphans in Zambia *Evangelism and discipleship tools and materials, including the Proclaimer box (God’s Word dramatized in many heart languages) *Leadership development for present and future ministry leaders * Russian orphans *Livno development project to improve the quality of life in a Bosnia community *Hospital milk—purchase of formula and powdered milk for infants in our Haitian hospital *Missionary care and renewal Thank you for your support of Wesleyan Women and its many facets. If you could announce and promote these things in your church it would be greatly appreciated. Lois Strum, District Wesleyan Women’s Director, ENY/NE