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2007 December
Happy New Year from the Filidis Family,

SHOOTING IN DENVER
     For a few days in December I (Paul) was involved in a whirlwind of media-related activity. Following the tragic shooting of some members of our YWAM family 70 miles north of here, our office became the major focal point for media enquiries. While we of course have many dozens of YWAM centers in North America alone, our international leadership instructed them to direct all enquiries to me, to avoid confusion and to allow the Denver YWAM leadership to focus on the pastoral care of the staff and students, their evacuation situation, and other more immediate concerns.
     For three days, the phones basically rang non-stop, and I acted as the YWAM spokesperson in numerous interviews--live and recorded, for TV, radio and printed media, Christian and general-market. I had barely time to process the loss personally, only at our home group meeting on the third day and during the Memorial Service attended by 1,500 people was I able to let the tears flow.

  • 14-minute video excerpt of the Memorial Service, click here (on GodTube)
  • To read a report on the Memorial Service, click here.
  • View a Los Angeles Times article on YWAM (and Paul), click here.
  • To view short new videos about YWAM, click here (on YouTube)

RENOVATION
     After 14 years in our house here in Colorado Springs, we stretched ourselves thin and tackled a major kitchen renovation. It stretched over several months and got done in time for a YWAM team gathering in honor of visiting Tom Hallas (our YWAM Asia & Pacific director... and friend... you can also see him in the above-referenced Memorial Service video; as he cancelled plans and stayed around to assist with the fallout from the Denver shooting). And of course it helped having a nicer kitchen for visiting family.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS
 Noelle bearing gifts     For the first time in many many years we had a family Christmas (beyond our immediate family). It was wonderful! From Holland we had our son, Sean, and Mary's mom, Lura, visit. From Los Angeles we had Mary's brother and his wife visit. Noelle was also back (from Australia); see the picture of Noelle "bearing gifts."

COMING UP
      Sean and Noelle are in Kansas City over New Year, attending a Christian conference. On January 8, Lura and Sean are returning to Amsterdam, and a few days later Sean is heading to Indonesia for a couple months outreach.

With Best Wishes for a New Year!

We greatly appreciate your interest, prayers and support.

Paul and Mary (...walking by His grace)

 

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