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It is high time for a Winter familyupdate! I think the last time we wrote wewere in the midst of busy summer plansand activities. Our fall and winter haveproved to be just as full!

We were able to take a holiday to SanFrancisco for a week at the end ofSeptember to visit some friends and totake in the sights. We greatly enjoyedtouring Alcatraz and the Golden GateBridge and spending time with our

friends. As well, Dave made himself alifelong friend when he bought Emma (2years old) a sweatshirt to match his inEmmas favorite color-orange!

After our trip to San Francisco, Jen keptbusy with work and leading 4 ladies fromchurch through the Perspectives course(with muchly appreciated help from the

Aussies back home!). It was achallenging and rewarding experiencefor her.

In November, Dave took a quick, one

week trip home to Australia to be withhis family as his dad had been strugglingwith heart issues and had a minor stroke.

We are happy to report that since then,Peters health has improved, but he isstill undergoing frequent visits to thedoctor to prevent further problems.

In December, Dave took on a creative

idea in order to fundraise for the jr.high youth group. Its time todownsize Dave! People have pledged atotal of $80 per pound that Dave losesfrom December until April 1st! So far,he has lost 20lbs!! Way to go Dave!

We spend a quiet Christmas at home,

spending time with both sides of Jensfamily as well as the family of Davesco-worker, Shawn.

The Theatre at Ephesus - Dave was so

excited to stand in the theatre where the

events of Acts 19 went down.

The Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

would be one of our favorite cities to visit. A

beautiful city!

The Dead Sea Float - It was a strange

sensation floating in the Dead Sea. It also left

your skin feeling silky smooth.

FEBRUARY 2010

WINTER FAMILY NEWS

SUNSET AT WADI RUM

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In late January and early February, wewere able to take the trip of a lifetimean 18 day journey through Turkey,Israel, Jordan and Egypt!! Needless tosay-it was incredible!!Some highlights were:

1) Our 7 churches of Asia Minor tour inTurkey. The ancient city of Ephesus

was definitely the most magnificent. Itwas inspiring to think that we wereable to walk in the same streets andstand in the same theatre as the

Apostle Paul! Along the way we alsoenjoyed a Turkish Hamami (bath). Itwas not for the self-conscious thatsfor sure, but it was incredibly relaxingand well worth the money!! We wokeup the next day feeling like a milliondollarshowever, that was short livedas we got into a car accident that day(due to a blown tire). Dont worry, therecovery was quick (just a few bruisesand sore neck muscles) and we onlymissed out on the church of Thyatiraas a result. And what trip to Turkey iscomplete without bringing a carpethome??

Though we had no plans ofpurchasing such a souvenir, we foundourselves in a carpet weaving co-opeating Turkish pizzaand leaving witha killim. Its a beautiful rug, but itdefinitely put a dent in our budget andin Daves back as he had to carry itaround in his backpack for theremainder of the journey!

2) The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. BothDave and I found Jerusalem to becrowded and dark (literally andspiritually). We were saddened by theidolatry that surrounded us as thereseemed to be a grossly over-decoratedchurch for every place where Jesus didsomething of significance. Legalism alsoabounded as we observed Jews at the

Wailing Wall and throughout the city.Our only refuge was the Garden Tomb-a quiet, serene garden run by Brits thatis truly evangelical in its nature. It was awonderful place to sit and meditate on

Jesus life, death and resurrection. Weespecially enjoyed the message writtenon the tomb door, He is not here, He isrisen. Amen!

3) The Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Petrain Jordan. We joined an Intrepid tour of14 amicable people (11 Aussies, 2Canadians, a Yank and a Kiwi) in

Jordan. Together we enjoyed smotheringourselves in mineral mud and a float onthe Dead Sea (amazing!), a night underthe stars in Wadi Rum desert camp(stunning and inspiring) and of course,the red rock canyon and treasury ofPetra. And no, there is no Holy Grailwithin the Treasury as Indiana Jonesfans might hope-it is only a big emptyrooma tomb.

4) The Red Sea Beach Camp. We spenttwo nights in a beach hut on the RedSea. It was SO relaxing to spend a dayreading and snorkeling by the crystalclear sea-not to mention the cozy hut,good food and friendly volleyball game

on the beach. This was a place where wecould see ourselves retiring to!

4) The Pyramids and Sphinx of Cairo. Itwas breathtaking to see these mammothstructures and to be baffled by theircreation. Though Cairo itself was loud,pollution filled and incredibly crowdedthe mighty Pyramids and quiet Nile

River provided respite amongst thechaos.

How does one return to regular life aftera trip like that?!?! Well, for us it meansgetting ready to adopt a baby!! Thatsright, were finally at the final stages ofapproval to become adoptive parentsthrough Social Services of Alberta. Thisis obviously a very new, exciting and

very scary step for us! Though we couldbe waiting awhile for the phone call wehave begun to prepare. We hope to dosome room painting in the next fewweeks and then to buy the essentials.

Though the last year has been rich andfull, it looks like this next phase could be

just the same! Please be in prayer with usas we try and prepare ourselves forparenthood.

Many blessings to you and yours,

Dave and Jen xxx

Wadi Rum - Beautiful scenery where the

Lawrence of Arabia story had its beginning.

The Temple of Trajan in Pergamon -

The view was awesome from the top of the

acropolis at Pergamon.

The Sphinx & Pyramids - Definitely a

highlight of ours in Egypt were these ancient

massive structures.

Dave & Jen Winter

11137 - 125 Street

Edmonton AB T5M 0M4

www.ordinarycommentary.info / dajmwinter@shaw.ca

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