Wooster Ohio Nitzsche Family Christmas Letter

]“The time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God has come near….” (Mk. 1:15). [/i:95ac541f62]We hope you have seen signs of God’s reign of shalom in your world in 2007. Our friendship with you is one of those signs, and we are grateful. Here is what has been happening to the Nitzsche family in 2007. [b:95ac541f62]Wayne[/b:95ac541f62] – The highlight was a three month sabbatical, April – June. It was restful and renewing. Mary and I did some training in family systems theory which is useful for personal awareness and to understand how congregations function. I completed home projects and connected with all my siblings and nieces and nephews. How special! I trained and ran the Cleveland Revco half marathon in Cleveland in May. That was a lot of fun and a real sense of accomplishment. The old body can still respond! [b:95ac541f62]Mary[/b:95ac541f62] – The highlights of my year were celebrating Alison’s graduation from Denison University on Mother’s Day and a sabbatical during the summer months. I spent the three months traveling, making a comforter representing four generations; reading, doing some family of origin work; helping Alison find an apartment in Boston and moving her there Labor Day weekend. I was blessed to be able to spend two weeks with my mother. I continue to enjoy mentoring College of Wooster students, offering spiritual direction to a number of different women ages 20+ to 70+, making comforters, and cross stitching. [b:95ac541f62]Mary and Wayne [/b:95ac541f62]– Even as special as it was to be granted sabbaticals, we also received the bad news that, because of financial difficulty, Ohio Conference will reduce Regional Pastor staffing. Wayne will be half time beginning in April. Responsibilities will change under a new job description. Mary and I are asking what this might mean for our future. We invite your prayers. We recently returned from the annual conference minister’s meeting in Oregon. While there, we enjoyed reconnecting with Wayne’s 92 year old aunt and several cousins. [b:95ac541f62]Alison [/b:95ac541f62]graduated in May from Denison University with highest honors. She spent the summer at Yale University serving as a resident director for a summer exploration program. She is now living in Boston working as an assistant director for the non-profit organization who operates this summer program for high school youth. She is enjoying her work, adjusting to two roommates, playing in a woodwind orchestra, and exploring many sites in Boston. [b:95ac541f62] Megan[/b:95ac541f62] is a junior at Denison University. She is a sociology/anthropology major and will study in Morocco second semester. Megan tutors two mornings each week in an elementary school with America Reads program, supervise the Sociology/Anthropology library twice each week, and is a research assistant for one of her professors. She will be a resident director and will teach three classes with Exploration at Yale University next summer. [b:95ac541f62]Katie and Sydney[/b:95ac541f62] – We were saddened at the passing of Katie on March 28. She was a good cat for over fourteen years. 😥 Sydney frequently finds her way to Wayne’s lap for naps. Memorial Day weekend we attended an Erb family reunion in Ohio. Our family vacation was spent at Hilton Head, SC. On the way home, we reconnected with two of our international daughters and the husband of another. Zipporah, David, and Caleb live in Silver Springs, MD, as does Devoki and her husband. Izona is in her third year of medical school at Wake Forest University. Wayne and Mary attended Wayne’s niece, Ann and Chris’ wedding, in Pennsylvania. We also attend the Mennonite convention in San Jose, CA, in July and spent two extra days enjoying the Santa Cruz beach and San Francisco.

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