Text of our "Christmas Letter" (yes - it's not even sent yet) announcing this blog.

Dear Family and Friends

While seeking to find justification for our procrastination, I rationalize this untimely holiday letter by the fact that this past December none of the events we are now excited to share where more than just vague possibilities. By waiting a few extra months we have the makings for a very exciting update on the lives of the “Staus Family.”

2009 brought few changes, most noteworthy was a job change for Clarke as the recession took a toll on the insurance industry and he was faced with the need to find new employment. Summer and Fall was a challenge for us as we learned to trust in Gods provision and wait expectantly for answered prayer. With that as the only major “hitch” in our lives we continued to stay active in our church community and enjoyed several short weekend excursions throughout the spring and summer.

2010, while still relatively young is turning out to be an exciting year. Clarke is settled into a new job, and we are turning our focus on two very exciting upcoming events.
First, after almost 3 years of marriage, we feel God is calling us to share our lives with a little one who needs us. We have chosen Bethany Christian Services as the organization to help match us with a birthmother in need of a loving home for her baby. We are excited about the adoption process and waiting excitedly for the child God has chosen for us.

The second event is just as exciting and reflects our main purpose for writing this letter. In keeping with our passion for the lives of children and sharing God’s love with them, we are praying about a short –term (2 week) opportunity to travel with a team from our Church (which includes Patti’s 70 year old father) to South Africa to minister to some of the millions of orphans in this land ravaged by the AIDS epidemic.

On October 17th we will travel to the Gauteng Province of South Africa to work alongside several East Brandywine Baptist supported missionaries at Bethesda Outreach. While there we anticipate helping with any number of construction and landscaping projects and help reach out in various ways both at the Outreach center and in the surrounding area. Of course, we will also have plenty of opportunities to show love to God’s precious children as well.

Each team member will be donating their time to participate in the venture, and is seeking to raise financial support from friends and relatives who may feel led to help join in this outreach by donating to supply the travel expenses we will incur. Each participant is being asked to raise about $2,500 to pay for airfare, food, lodging and other expenses associated with our trip.

So, how can you take part in the lives of Clarke and Patti this year? First and foremost we appreciate your prayers and support, as we wait for God’s provision in both the adoption and the upcoming adventure in South Africa. We have set up an online blog for you to follow our progress in both areas and we invite you to check-in with us on a regular basis. We can be found on the “world-wide web” at www.clarkeandpatti.blogspot.com

Second, if you feel the passion as we do to reach out in even a small way to the beautiful , hurting children of South Africa who have lost many loved ones to AIDS we encourage you considering a donation to this effort. You will find a slip and envelope enclosed with this letter that you may use for your tax-deductible donation. Please make all checks payable to “East Brandywine Baptist Church” and make sure your name and address appear correctly on the slip so that we may provide you with documentation for your 2010 Tax Return.

While Christmas and New Years are a distant memory, we do wish you and yours a very healthy, and happy 2010.

First Post

Just starting out.