Some of you may not receive this in time for Christmas, but whenever you read it, it comes with our prayer that the Lord will bless you with his grace and presence throughout the new year. Each year the Christmas story cheers us with the good news that Jesus came to do just that. Scripture calls Jesus "Immanuel" which means "God with us." What a beautiful name!
What a beautiful truth! God came down to live with us as our brother, friend and Savior. In Immanuel we have forgiveness for yesterday, peace for today and confidence for endless tomorrows with him.

The Leyrer family looks forward to our second Christmas in Taipei, Taiwan. Life here is different from life back in the States, but with each day Taipei feels more like home. I stay busy with the study of Mandarin Chinese, the official language of Taiwan. After more than a year of full time study, I can now walk into any restaurant in Taipei and say things like, "I yes can
very much chopsticks know how to do. Please?"

Tammy studies the language part time and is making good progress. We’ve discovered a constant: no matter what language we use, Tammy talks more than Pete. Besides school, Tammy helps the teachers at the kids’ school, attends an exercise class three mornings a week, leads a women’s Bible study, cooks, cleans, shops. All this, and she was recently voted prettiest grade school mom by an impartial panel of her children and adoring husband. Meanwhile, Pete makes up sentences about chopsticks.

Andy turned nine this year and entered the third grade. He especially enjoyed his science unit on wings and rockets and dreams of being a pilot someday. Outside of school he enjoys computer games and the TYPA (Taipei Youth Players’ Association) sports he plays with his classmates. He’s noticed that one of his soccer coaches, namely Dad, doesn’t seem to know much about soccer.

Second grade Liana just celebrated her eighth birthday. Each Fall their school holds the Storybook Parade in which each student dresses as a character from a book. Her "Karana" costume from Island of the Blue Dolphins won the "creativity" prize in her room. Liana and her friends enjoy sleeping at each other’s houses when mom’s and dad’s say it’s okay. Why do they call them "slumber parties" when the last thing they do is slumber?

Our Christmas baby, Olivia, isn’t a baby any more. On December 23 she’ll turn five. She attends half days at a Chinese preschool near our home. Her teachers and classmates all speak Chinese, so she’s picking up the language. At school she makes arts and craft projects, sings songs, dances and so on. She does well but on Monday’s and Friday’s she has the class in which she excels—English.

Emily, age two, also speaks English pretty well. In the last few months her language has developed rapidly and she speaks more and more like a grown up each day. We don’t have any babies at home anymore! Lately Emily has been in demand as a children’s clothing model. Sometimes the "shoots" get a bit tiresome, but she’s old enough to enjoy the attention lavished on her by the ladies who do her hair and help her pose.

Last summer all of us made a trip back to the US for the wedding of Tracy and Josh Birkholz, Tammy’s sister and new brother-in-law. In a year packed with new and different experiences, we consider trip and the opportunity to see America from a new perspective, to reconnect with family and friends a real highlight. God willing, we plan to return again this summer on
furlough. This longer trip will give us opportunity to share news of the work here in Taiwan with some of the congregations back home.

All of you have been a blessing to us in many ways. Your prayers have not been forgotten—not by us and certainly not by the Lord who hears and answers them all for the sake of his Son, Immanuel.

Be of good cheer! God is with us!

The Leyrer's of Taipei: Pete, Tammy, Andy, Liana, Olivia, Emily