Visiting parents and Christmas

We were able to go down to San Jose and spend some time with my folks. It was a great visit of time to just hang out, talk, and cook.

Madison, mom and me

my dad, Madison and Mike

f eating home made cinnamon rolls, opening presents and just spending time together.

Visits and Anniversaries

Last night the Pettengill family got together to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of Mike's parents. It's was a great time indeed.

Today we are driving down to San Jose to visit my folks for two days, cook a nice Christmas dinner, then return back to Sacramento for Christmas day.

Our time in California is coming to a QUICK close, and our new adventure in Arizona is about to begin.

On The Radio – Part 2 or 2

Today Mike and I will be on KFIA radio (710 AM) at 4:30pm (west coast). We will be on the show Abounding Grace for a 30-minute interview about Honduras and our work there. This is the second part of a two part interview.

If you are near your radio tune in and listen. If you are near your computer KFIA streams their shows live from their website.

Or, you can listen to the entire interview right now by clicking HERE.

The show will re-air twice on Saturday and once more on Tuesday.

Part one of the interview aired Thursday, December 16th and can be heard HERE.

Hanging out in San Francisco

My dear friend Mindy and her husband Chad wanted to take us some where fun before we left California. What better place than San Francisco? Our other dear friends, Sonia and Mario are also here hanging out. We've been to Coit Tower, Muir Woods, tons of great food, Fisherman's Wharf, and even geocaching.

Watching the Sea Lions

Coit Tower

Open up those Golden Gates....

On The Radio – Part 1 or 2

Today Mike and I will be on KFIA radio (710 AM) at 4:30pm (west coast). We will be on the show Abounding Grace for a 30-minute interview about Honduras and our work there.

If you are near your radio tune in and listen. If you are near your computer KFIA streams their shows live from their website.

Or, you can listen to the entire interview right now by clicking HERE.

The show will re-air twice on Saturday and once more on Tuesday.

Part two of the interview will air Thursday, December 23rd.

Urgent Need in Honduras

Since January our mission team in Honduras has been constructing a
two-acre ministry center in the super poor community of Armenia
Bonito. On this property we are building a high school, a medical
clinic, a church and a covered soccer field.

We are asking you to prayerfully consider giving a one-time financial
gift to help us meet the construction costs. Here are two exciting
reasons why you should consider giving now:

1) For a limited time MTW strategic funds has agreed to match every
gift received 1:1. If you give $100, $200 will go to our project.

2) Any gift you give is tax-deductible. Giving before December 31st
will help your 2010 taxes.

Honduras has the 2nd poorest economy in Latin America. The average
Honduran makes only $3,000 a year and the unemployment rate is above
30%. The people of Armenia Bonito cannot afford to take a bus into
town for medical care and only 1/3rd of the kids attend school beyond
the sixth grade. This ministry center will greatly address the
physical and spiritual needs of this 3,000-person community.

There are two ways you can make a onetime contribution:

1) On-line:

Use your credit or debit card at this address:
https://www2.mtw.org/donations/donate/default.aspx

Please make sure you enter 92410 as the designation.

2) Check:

Mail your check to:

Mission to the World
P.O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368-6284
Attn: #92410

Make sure you write "#92410" in the memo of the check.

If you would like to learn more about this ministry center you can
watch this 3 minute 20 second video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rVhcsf-yYs

Or, you can look at recent pictures of our progress here:
http://www.pettengillmissionaries.org/abpictures

Please be in prayer that God will provide the funds we need to
complete this ministry center. Also, please consider forwarding this
information on to your church or friends and ask them if they would
be interested in supporting Gods work in Honduras.

Thank you so much your prayers and support.

Mike, Erin and Madison Pettengill
Missionaries In Honduras

Wine and Cheese Event

About a month ago Mike and I had the opportunity to go wine tasting with some dear friends of ours. I looked at him and said, "honey...there's no way we can be in California and not take advantage of all this wonderful wine while we are here." That prompted me to host a wine and cheese event. So - yesterday - we had about 20 great people over for a few hours and enjoyed each others company, tasted new wines, at lots of cheese, and just had a wonderful time! The kids enjoyed the cheese, crackers, bread, sweets, soda, strawberries, and Martinelli's. A GREAT time indeed!

Look at that spread!!!!!

Last Weekend

Last weekend we went down to Paso Robles to hang with some great folks at Covenant Presbyterian Church. We went down on Saturday, had a great dinner, then woke up to a beautiful brisk chilly morning. Mike preached at church, we shared our vision and ministry of Honduras during the Sunday School hour, I then had the opportunity to go to a Women's gathering where I led the devotional, then we went off to Youth Group to share with the kids there! A great weekend - so full - but so rewarding as well!

speaking during Sunday School

leading a devotional at the women's gathering

Madison making tamales with the youth

Three-Day Theological Conference On Leadership

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week our team hosted a conference on Biblical Leadership. The conference provided substantive theological training to 80 church leaders and pastors in La Ceiba.

This is the fourth theological training conference we have hosted in Honduras.

Watch this 3 minute and 15 second video to see the conference:

Christmas Traditions

Starting before Madison was born, we have gone to a tree farm to cut down a fresh Christmas tree. Once Madison was old enough, each year was a different persons decision on which tree we were going to cut down. One year Mike (usually a small non-frills tree), then Madison (kind of in the middle), then the next year mind (typically the biggest tree I thought would fit in our house). And so it went on - year after year - alternatingwho would pick the tree. Then...we went on the mission field. No real Christmas trees to be found in Costa Rica - our first year away from The States, and no real Christmas trees in Honduras. Only fake trees. So...begrudgingly I purchased a fake tree - couldn't imagine my house without a tree forChristmas. So, as we are back in The States for Christmas this year - we made the same trek over to the Christmas Tree farm and cut it down. We decided since this may be the last time we get a tree while Madison is still in the house (I can't even THINK about that!!!!), that the decision would be hers! She picked a blue tipped tree. Quite pretty, although the coloring is difficult to see in the pictures. Anyway - I'm thrilled that we have a live tree again for the first time in almost 4 years!