From Prague we send you a big hug and our best wishes for this New Year.

Biblical Theological Seminary (BTS) Pelhrimov, Czech Republic

The first Saturday of the year we had the privilege to be in Pelhrimov. That is where the Baptist Seminary from the Czech Baptist Union is going to be. We where there together praying for guidance at the beginning of this very needed project.

The Czech Baptist Union already grew to more than 30 churches and 6 of them are without pastor. Plus some pastors that soon are going to be retired. This indicates a real need for theological training for future leadership in this country, especially since they are also active in planting and starting more churches.

This small scale Seminary (like many Seminaries in Europe), works in cooperation with accredited Seminaries, and may provide 3 to 6 new pastors per year from a two year intensive program. In this way it fully supplies the need of the Czech Baptist Union. The Seminary is going to start in September and has already around 10 prospective students.

• Volunteers to help with some inside renovation, especially for the student rooms, are welcome. If you are interested please contact the International Ministries Volunteer office at 1-800-222-3872 ext. 2366.

It was wonderful to get together at the grounds of the future seminary, and pray together with people who have the passion and vision of training leaders.

Beautiful Christmas present for Nora's Mother in Mexico

Last month, December, my mother needed an operation. She went to the hospital. The operation was scheduled for the next morning, but her doctor was delayed. So the head-doctor who is in charge of that section of the hospital would operate on her.

She entered the operating room and asked permission to pray out loud and the doctor agreed. Just before the injection for anesthesia, the doctor read the files and checked her.... he did not find anything wrong. So he asked my mother what was the reason for the operation and my mother explained exactly the same as what was in her files.

So the doctor checked her for second time... he did not find anything wrong, the third time the same and the fourth time he went and asked another doctor to examine my mother. This doctor also did not find anything wrong.... so to everyone's surprise... the doctor said: "I can not operate you, you are fine, maybe you will need the operation some time, but at this moment you are fine." My mother was very happy and the doctors were surprised. A nurse, who was in the operating room, and who saw my mother before, as she was present when the first diagnosis was done, said "I am a witness that she really had to have this operation." My mother was released from hospital and received an appointment for a follow-up check next month..... the doctor wants to check her again to be sure, she is still fine.

My mother told me on the phone: "Now I understand, when Jesus was on earth, and when he did the miracles he asked to not tell anyone... but still the people told what happened to them. Now, what God did to me, I want to take loud speakers and tell to everybody." We were praying that the operation would go well, but God did beyond our prayers.

To Him be the Glory!

Nora and Pieter Kalkman

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20, 21.