OCTOBER Malia turned 8!

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2 OCTOBER Malia turned 8! Church friends from San Diego visited. After church, everyone files out while singing, we shake hands in a line, and finish up singing in a circle.

3 NOVEMBER: We had our annual Wycliffe Day of Prayer, a special soccer game of our office staff versus the Bureau of Anti-Corruption, and our annual multi-national observance of American Thanksgiving. Kids going through prayer stations. Our prayer day included the usual Mon-Fri office people (including cleaners and gardeners) plus wives, kids, and teachers. Kelly helped lead the younger kids in their own prayer group. Thanksgiving with Dutch, German, and English friends.

4 DECEMBER: The kids finished up the semester and did a program for the parents, including an authentic Asian lunch in honor of their Asia geography unit. For Christmas, one of our colleagues helped our kids put on a Christmas pageant. Elliot s first time presenting. He gave us instructions on how to make scrambled eggs, which, interestingly, involves a rocket. The older kids did a drama about Archimedes. Christmas morning.

5 JANUARY: As we ve written about previously, for a long time Michael has been getting more involved in translation project management and administration, and less involved in the actual translation work. A project of eight languages requires a lot of administrative support, but Michael feels his gifts are more in the language work side of things. Because of this, Michael decided to move away from administration and back into translation checking. The first step was to acquire more training with the hope of finishing his Master s, and then to move into translation consulting. In October, Michael was accepted into a 5-month intensive Biblical Hebrew course in Israel, and in January we moved to Israel to begin those studies. The course is accredited by Hebrew University in Jerusalem. ש מ ע י ש ר א ל י הו ה א לה ינ ו י הו ה א ח ד (Deut 6:4)

6 JANUARY cont.: Our journey to Israel began when we said good-bye to friends in Musoma and set off for Nairobi to get Israeli visas. We stayed with our new missionary friends from Grace Point Church (California) who visited us 3 months earlier and live in Nairobi. Then we moved to Yad HaShmona (ancient Kiriath Jearim and on the road to Emmaus ) for Michael to do his studies. We were so pleased with the way God provided a wonderful house for us in this moshav (small gated community, like a kibbutz) where the kids are safe to play outside and could make good friends. They even have been taking music lessons! The Corn roast Wagnells with the introduced kids and our kids to their friends waffles for the first time. Musoma, Tanzania It s freezing here! Nairobi, Kenya I can t read this language!. The Bible translators group heading to class at Hebrew University Joe made us Brazilian BBQ.

7 FEBRUARY: Our good friend, Ronit, came to live with us and homeschool the kids. She is a former colleague of ours from our project in Musoma, so it was really helpful for the kids to have a familiar face. Another blessing for this time of transition was that the moshav we moved to was also in transition with the recent addition of 20 new families, some of whom also didn t know Hebrew. This meant the kids didn t stand out so much as outsiders and could join in with the rest of the kids who were trying to make new friends. Our house came with a trampoline and a cubby house, which drew the neighbor kids to us. Our kids room, thanks to some very kind volunteers who found, fixed up, and installed all the furniture! Michael was able to meet up for lunch on our first homeschool field trip to Jerusalem. He spent the first 6 weeks taking a daily intensive Modern Hebrew course at Hebrew University.

8 FEBRUARY cont.: When Michael s Historical Geography class started up, Kelly was able to participate in some of the field trips. We also were able to squeeze in a trip to the snow at Mount Hermon when Michael had a 2-day weekend. This was the first time ever the kids had seen snow and they LOVED it! Field trip to the hill country south of Jerusalem which inspired much of the imagery in David s psalms. Exploring a huge Islamic/Crusader fortress in the Golan Heights on the way home.

9 MARCH: We thought the intensive Hebrew course Michael took in the beginning weeks was busy, that is, until he began his regular course work. We didn t see much of him except at late dinners and on the Sabbath. But he has been learning a lot that is useful in understanding the Bible, especially if you work in Bible translation. Meanwhile, the kids got to participate in life on the moshav, the most exciting of which was Purim, which involves dressing in costume, reading the Book of Esther (while cheering for Mordecai and booing Haman), and eating oznei haman (Haman s ears) cookies. Sun: Field trip for Historical Geography Mon/Thurs: 7am-7pm Hebrew University in Jerusalem Tues/Wed: classes at the JCBT (Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators) in Yad HaShmona Fri: various classes Sat: Sabbath rest In class at Hebrew University, Jerusalem In class at JCBT (Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators), Yad HaShmona

10 APRIL: This is an exciting time in Israel because spring is making a fantastic appearance and it is time for Passover. We took 2 quick trips up to Galilee with the kids. We also had a wonderful visit from our good friends and colleagues in Tanzania, Mark and Laura Woodward. It s warm enough to do school outside! Sea of Galilee We were privileged to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem with this family, where we also had a view of Temple Mount! Swimming in a mineral pool full of fish that eat the dead skin off your feet. Elliot loved it! With the Woodwards at the Western Wall. Mount Gilboa, where King Saul and his sons were killed in battle against the Philistines.

11 MAY: Kelly s brother and parents came out for a very special visit and Michael s course load became busier than ever! Kelly was sometimes able to assume the fun role of tour guide while Michael was in class and the kids did homeschool with Ronit. Celebrating Israel s 69 th birthday! Homeschool field trip to Hezekiah s tunnel (2 Chron 32) Celebrating the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) on our moshav Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) The Garden Tomb The Pool of Bethesda (John 5)

12 JUNE: At this point, Michael s course load had lessened enough for us to be able to see him in the evenings and on Wednesdays! The weather is now warm enough to be in shorts all the time and we keep going to bed late because it stays light for so long. We were privileged to participate for a day on an archaeological dig in Shiloh. Even though our group was tasked with just clearing away rocks, etc., in order to start a new square, we found 2 ancient coins and a bronze ring! Michael has been enjoying riding his bike and exploring the area. There s so much history around here that he always finds something. Malia has really been learning a lot during her weekly piano and ballet lessons. She was glowing during the recital. Ancient cistern

13 JUNE cont.: On Thursday, 22 June, Michael, along with the 9 others in his class, had their graduation service. And thus ends our 6 months of study in Israel! We re ready to head home.

14 More Details & How to Pray We are in our final days now of our 6 months in Israel. Please pray for us to end our time here well and to have a good transition period. We will be saying good-bye to our dear friend Ronit as well as our new friends here and going back to Musoma. We have a potential issue with our visas as the wrong dates were written on them. Pray for favor with immigration here that we can leave without issues. Michael will be returning to his role as Translation Coordinator and also working more on his studies in order to finish his Master s degree in the next year. Kelly will resume her role in hospitality and member care. A lot of changes have happened with the kids school situation in Musoma while we were away and Kelly will be taking on several extra responsibilities upon our return. Pray for wisdom and good time management. Pray for our family that we would each have a clear vision of how we are to serve in Tanzania during the remainder of this term. click here to support us from Oz click here to support us from the US ( us if you live somewhere else)

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16 LINKS/INFO Our blog: chronicholls.com. Our Wycliffe Australia bio: wycliffe.org.au/michael-kelly/ More about our work: Uganda-Tanzania Branch thetask.net and Mara Cluster Facebook page. To join our Prayer Team, or sign up for newsletter notifications: us. To support us financially: support To give by mail, make a check/cheque out to: and send it to: Wycliffe Bible Translators Wycliffe Bible Translators Wycliffe Australia P.O. Box or 70 Graham Rd Orlando, FL Kangaroo Ground, VIC 3097 USA Australia *Include a note saying Preference for the Wycliffe ministry of Michael and Kelly Nicholls. Our Tanzania mailing address: Michael & Kelly Nicholls Box 1235 Musoma, Tanzania EAST AFRICA Birthdays: Luke Jan 19; Michael Jan 30; Elliot April 24; Kelly Aug 15; Malia Oct 16