How are you? How has your New Year started? In the past month, our family celebrated two significant milestones.

First, Michael graduated from University of Central Florida with a degree in engineering after four and a half years of academic instruction and life experience. (The family after the graduation ceremony: Mark’s dad, Ross is at the left and my parents, Jim and Helen Larkins, are at the right.)

Second, Bethany returned to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville for the Spring semester. Last March, she came home so we could help her take care of her health. Shortly after that, she was diagnosed and treated for Lyme Disease. While she’s not cured, she’s undergoing treatment and wants to finish her degree.

Just like Michael and Bethany, I’m moving into a new opportunity. Mine is with Writing for Life. Seven months ago, at Cru 15, I spent time with my friends from the International School Project, a ministry of Cru. ISP was formed in 1991 with an invitation from the Russian Ministry of Education to help develop morals and ethics in their youth.

Teachers are strategic in influencing the direction of a nation. ISP staff members, in partnership with local and national ministries of education, sponsor conferences to equip educators in their classrooms and to help raise the moral standards in society.

ISP has trained more than 72,000 teachers in 14 countries, influencing more than 2,500,000 students and their parents.  ISP staff members have ministries that include Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Central America.

From January 21-31, I plan to travel to Taiwan and lead a small group of teachers who want to grow in their own faith and help their students grow in faith as well. I will also look for ways to help ISP collect stories about teachers and students who have trusted Christ to forgive their sins through the years.

Please pray that I will be a blessing to the Taiwanese teachers. Pray, too, that I will collect stories that best illustrate how ISP works. Thank you for the important part you play in our lives. We’re grateful for your prayers and your generosity.

Sincerely in Christ,

Anne Marie, for the Winz family