To Our Fellow Missionaries:
That's you! If you follow Chirst, He has a mission for you, an assignment from God Himself, the Author of Life. Sounds pretty important, huh? Well, it is. We are surrounded by so many who are aching for some kind of hope. We must not grow weary of sharing that hope we cherish in Christ Jesus. Let's lift each other in prayer to carry on our mission.

Concorida U! Yeah! Rah!
Second semester school bell has rung; Paul is back into the books and writing papers. This term he is again taking five courses. Mission of God focuses on God's idea of and work through missionaries in the history of the world. New Testament Survey is an intense look at the New Testament. Leadership is for developing and understanding leadership skills and styles. All Within the Context of the Gospel ties together all the coursework to this point, teaching practical application of Law and Gospel. TV Practicum teaches how to film, edit, and produce videos. He is finding all the classes very interesting, feeling that there is so much to learn in a short amount of time.

Twin Cities Opportunities
Did you know that more than 260,000 foreign-born residents live in Minnesota? That 40,000 refugees live here? And more than 55 languages are spoken by the Minnesota public school students? Tammy is thankful for the privilege to work with a small group of Russian, Hispanic, and African immigrants who are learning to speak English and to live and work in this country. They are so eager to learn and so appreciative of the service. It is a good opportunity to reach out to others and gain skills in working cross-culturally.

Paul and Tammy also attended a seminar on "youth ministry today" that gave us insight and ideas to carry back to Guatemalan youth.

Kid's Happenings
Could we actually be getting sick of snow and cold weather? Well, not quite. But we are overhearing daydreams amongst us of swimming and parks and fishing and fresh produce. We hear the trick to enjoying Minnesota to the fullest is to have fun outdoors–above or below freezing. So, the kids have been ice skating a few times, sledding many times, walking in the snow more times than they wanted, skiing once, to visit the world-famous ice castle and winter carnival (for Josiah's birthday), and become young veterans of the sidewalk shovelers of the North. Now someday this snow will warm up enough to want to stick together into snowballs and snowmen.

The kids have also been enjoying the homeschool group field trips and work at the animal shelter. Ethan and Erin are blessed to be in a catechism class; they are bother preparing for their first communion. Erin is preparing for confirmation on May 2. Our Boy Scouts were honored with religious medals on Boy Schout Sunday. With the guidance of church leaders, Josiah completed the God and Me program, Ethan completed the God and Family program, and Luke completed the God and Church program.

Erin's leg has healed from the removal of the tumor (diagnosed "fibromatosis") in October. She went through several weeks of physical therapy to get rid of her crutches. In a follow-up exam and another MRI, we ahve recently learned that Erin will need another surgery as the tumore has grown back. Six weeks of radiation therapy will follow the surgery.

South for the Winter (Break, That Is)
To take advantage of the time off between semesters, we headed South to visit with a few of the churches and groups that have been so diligent in backing us through these years. We wanted to see them, thank them, and encourage them in this joint work in the Great Commission. God blessed this time and our miles on the road. Erin thought it was pretty neat to spend her birthday in Florida. (That makes two teenagers in the house now!!) We would have liked to have visited with more of you during this trip. Perhaps in the coming months before our departure we will have more time for travel and visiting.

News from Guatemala
Our friend Ixchel had a successful heart surgery in January. Praise the Lord for her healing and her family's faith. Her father, Jorge, is continuing to show Christian videos to various Quiché (key-CHAY) audiences.

We are very happy to see a committee of Moms taking on the responsibility of carrying out the plans for another summer camp for missionary kids in Guatemala. This was an answer to prayer as we saw this as a valuable ministry to our families on the field.

Several Quiché groups are continuing to learn and utilize Bible storying techniques under the guidance of fellow missionaries. They help a Bible storying workshop this month to share and gain skills in this ministry tool.

On a sad note, we learned that our two dogs left behind with families in Guatemala have recently died. We are thankful they found good homes for this short while. Of course, that gets our kids thinking about getting another dog when we return.

Re-equipping for Guatemala
Many times you have asked us to let you know of our specific needs. We deeply thank you for considering how the Lord would have you respond.

Our current ministry support is not covering the expenses of our furlough needs. Sufficient funding to cover our needs in Guatemala must be in place before our tickets are purchased to return.

We will need a vehicle. Actually, we may need two. Our mini-van in Guatemala gave us seven good years, but was thirteen years old with 270,000 km and spending more and more time in the shop, so it was sold. The sale money will be used to purchase another van, but isn't enough. We also are looking at selling the motorcycle and purchasing a small truck. That would allow Paul to travel more freely to the Indian villages in various parts of the country (and not leave the family without transportation meanwhile.) We want to be good stewards of the Lord's treasures and are praying for second-hand vehicles available through the missionary community there (as we did before with our other van.)

Another need is to equip our household when we return to Guatemala. Many items we had were purchases used in 1996 from a departing missioary family. They were in such bad shape that we sold them instead of trying to move and store them. Again, we pray for an opportunity to purchase replacement items second-hand.

Please, indicate ont he memo line of you check the designation of your gift: Ministry, Vehicle, or Household Setup.

Let Us Pray for One Another
• Pray that we would all learn and grow in ways that make us more effective tools in His hands and in His plans.
• Praise for safe travels South and all over the icy roads of the North.
• Pray that God would direct us on our timing to return to Guatemala. We pray, too, for the necessary support to see us through the training program here and that takes us back to the work in Guatemala.
• Pray for Erin's leg to be tumor-free. Pray that we will all grow through this "hurdle."
• Praise for those who carry on the many facets of the work in Guatemala.

In the same way you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. John 17:18
On This Journey
• Paul and Tammy Kinney have been serving in Guatemala among the Quiché Indians. They are currently on stateside assignment.