2006 - a Blessed Year

Posted Dec 31, 11:32 AM by Kay Camenisch

The year 2006 is almost gone, but it’s been a good year, marked by major events in which we experienced the blessings and mercy of God. We’re grateful for the Lord’s presence and His mercy in our lives.

• On Easter Sunday Kay’s 92-year-old father died after valiantly surviving months longer than expected. A nurse who cared for him said she had never seen a stronger spirit in anyone. We miss him, but we rejoice that he is finally in his eternal home, praising his Maker.

• In May and June we had a three-week ministry trip to two cities tucked in the Amazon jungle of Brazil. The dedication of the Brazilian workers and the fruit of their ministry impacted us. It was a privilege to visit and minister in their midst. The Lord graciously enabled Robert’s Portuguese as he taught the Blood Covenant and preached throughout the state of Acre.

• Just six weeks after being deep in the jungle, Robert suffered a complete blockage of an artery of his heart. Within two hours, he was admitted to emergency, transferred to another hospital, and had a stint in place with blood flowing freely to the starved muscle. Because of the quick treatment he has no heart damage and had a rapid recovery. Finding medicines he can tolerate has been a process, but we’re grateful for God’s mercy and that he’s alive!

• Kay signed a contract to publish a book, Uprooting Anger, Destroying the Monster Within. It was researched in 2001 as we counseled families in Skiatook, OK at a ranch for troubled teens. As she sought answers to help families that had been devastated by anger, she wrote down what she learned but never dreamed of publishing. Though she was grateful for what God showed her, she put the material away. But every time she shelved it, God nudged her until she got it back out, edited some more, and moved one more step toward publication. Inmates who used it expressed gratefulness for finally finding keys for overcoming anger, so we are moving on in an effort to offer hope to others who are in bondage to anger. We hope it will make a difference in many lives.
  
  Kay’s excited about the thought of it being used to bring others to freedom, but is sometimes overwhelmed when thinking of the work needed to get the book ready and to promote it. She has to keep reminding herself that God has led so far, and He won’t leave her at this point of the journey.

• Robert received his DMin (Doctor of Ministry) degree this year. (Earned might be a better choice of words, but he did receive it too.) He began the work years ago and got sidetracked by circumstances, so it was a particular joy to get it finished.

• The aftermath of surgery on Kay’s right hand has gone amazingly well in spite of the inconvenience of an immobilized hand. She has begun some exercise of her fingers and wrist each day and will be able to remove the splint the middle of January. We’re grateful for God’s grace to work as a team to cover her normal tasks.

• At the top of our list of blessings for the year is the addition of a new granddaughter. Daniel and Julia had Elisa in September. Daniel, Julia, Joy and Elisa are visiting with us now, so our days and our hearts are full. We’ve also been blessed to see all of our grandchildren within a three-week period.

Time and space limit the list of events that give testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives, but we have been blessed in 2006, and we look forward to 2007.

We hope and pray that you have a Happy New Year. However, more than that we pray that it will be blessed by God, and that you will experience His faithfulness, goodness and mercy throughout the coming year.