Christmas 2023

It's time to look back with gratitude for all that has happened during the last year.

One of the blessings of being in Trivandrum is that Roshini’s brother Appu and his wife Usha from Madras and her eldest sister Dina from Cochin, and Roshini’s nieces Shana and Shwetha, can drop in on us – something that couldn’t happen when we were living way up north in Lucknow.  

After having extremely poor vision for 66 years from the age of 8, believe it or not, this year my eyesight improved vastly. I had cataract operations for both my eyes. I can now see without specs, though I need them for reading and also for sharper vision of things in the distance. 

Roshini sees a heart doctor and takes some tablets for palpitation but remains very active. 

 

For me, a new health battle was overcoming vertigo attacks. Initially, the attacks recurred in quick succession. But the Lord helped me overcome them with some exercises.

  

In July our daughter Elishba came with our grandson Zach for a visit. Zach was to change schools and so he was pulled out earlier and Elishba was to join a new work assignment in August. Sophie had already changed schools and couldn’t take off, and so she and Joe couldn’t make it. 

One fantastic ministry opportunity was when I was asked to be the preacher at a Youth For Christ camp in September. Eight years ago teaching at Udaipur’s Filadelfia Bible College was disrupted by cancer, and after that, I had not had any ministry to young people’s groups. Blessed doing this. Grateful also that every month I get to preach at Christ Church, Trivandrum, and write for AIM (the magazine of the Evangelical Fellowship of India).

Ishaaq, Jess, Priya, Alisha and Juliet came to see us in September.  

Marking her birthday, Roshini hosted a meeting of a women’s group called “Care and Share”. Roshini is also involved with an online group of the Bible Study Fellowship and once a fortnight participates in an in-person meeting of women to study the Word. 

The Messianic promise is that “a little child shall lead them” (Isa. 11:6) and our Lord Jesus said that His kingdom belongs to little children. So, I like being around babies and little children and they too are happy around me. My beard is an attraction. They feel free to stroke it or pull at it. Doesn’t hurt one bit because they’re all tugs of love. 

 

All our blessings are because of Christmas – because Jesus came into our world, became human, and took our sin and shame upon Himself so that we can live without guilt. Because of Him, the Father will withhold no grace from us and so we look forward to a terrific new year full of grace and peace. 

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

 

Love, 

Roshini and Kuru 

For a fuller version with more details and pictures click on the following link:

https://www.scribd.com/document/694521386/Christmas-2023