January 2009

    Hello everyone from the Philippines where we are basking in the heat and drowning in the rain.  We are so thankful to you for joining us as one team, serving God together.  Your prayers and support help so much.  As of January 7 it will be 12 years that we have been working together.  May God be glorified.

    Nelia's visa interview keeps drawing closer.  Some time around Feb. 11 is when we are supposed to hear about it.  The plan is for her to get her visa and then we will come back to join the ministry in Chicago again in March.  Until then, we are still busy here working with kids, teens, and adults.  Please continue praying for her visa process to go smoothly.

    Last month you heard about all of our Christmas parties here with kids. It was so nice to see the smiles on their faces.  We also had a good time in Nelia's home town with so many children there receiving presents, eating, and having time together to celebrate Christ coming.  Thank you for all your help because it was through this that we were able to do so much.

    Our ministry is mainly with children and teens, but at times we get to interact with adults as well.  For example, I have developed a friendship with Martin here who drives a tricycle and often gives me a ride home.  He works 12-14 hours a day driving, 6 days a week, for only about $5 a day.  As we go we talk a lot and share our lives.  Martin is 26 and is married with a 5 year old.  I took my friend out for lunch at a restaurant for Christmas, his first time out to eat ever, and Nelia and I gave him and his family a nice gift to help them out.  Please pray for my new friend.

    Another one of my new adult friends here is our neighbor, Steve, who is from New Zealand.  He has also married a Philippine lady and they are waiting for her visa too.  Steve and I are beginning to talk and I do not believe that he knows God.  Please pray for him and for me as I begin to get to know him.

    My wife is helping me to catch up with the times.  One way we are going to be able to save some money for the ministry is by emailing our letters instead of mailing them.  It is an option which some of you have taken me up on already.  If this would work for you as well, then please email me and let me know.  My email address is on the bottom.  Also, we each have a new blog site.  Each week I write a column in my home town newspaper called City Cry about how God is using us and these will be one of things on my site.

Shannon and Nelia Ries
Fighting the good fight,
PO Box 508364
Cicero, IL  60804
sries1@juno.com
www.shannoncitycry.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! January 7 will mark 12 years that together we have been doing this ministry! Wow, time goes fast! We can't fix the whole world with all of its needs, but together we can do our part. Thank you so much for joining Nelia and I. People are starving to be loved, cared for, appreciated, and respected all around this world today. For 2/3 of this year we have been reaching out to others for God here in the Philippines and plans are to be here until March 09. The needs are great here, as in Chicago, with the many, many street kids, the kids we are reaching to in our old neighborhood, and the many hungry people now coming down from the mountains (along with many other needs). Even some violence has started here between "Muslims and Christians."

It was a Friday night and Nelia had just arrived home from work when we heard a very loud "BOOM!" We didn't know what it was because we live near a major road and hear different noises all of the time. Sunday morning in church though we found out that a bomb had been detonated among a large group of children. 21 were injured and sent to the hospital. One 5 year old boy who comes to one of our churches' drop in centers was killed. His name was Daniel. Before this bombing, 3 others had been killed in the same area which is a strongly Muslim neighborhood. Please pray for the families impacted by this and for my church here as they are reaching out to them, along with a stop to the violence. The church we go to is only about 1/2 mile from the scene.

Working with the street teens here is exciting but also hard seeing what they are facing. Some were abused or raped at home and ran to the streets. Others were orphaned or in such dire financial situations that they were abandoned or chose life on the streets. Still others were born with no home - like Bon Bon. He is a 1 + year old whose parents are teens that come - Nina and G Boy. (G Boy is standing on right side of picture, Nina is to his right, and Bon Bon is sitting in front of Nina) Life is hard enough for a teen on the streets alone, but then to have a baby too!  What does the future hold for this young one? Even this young, he is already learning the ways of the streets. Please pray.

Finally, due to the rising costs of mailing your newsletters out to you via the post office monthly, I am asking those of you who have an email address to send it to me at sries1@juno.com. You will begin to receive your prayer letters electronically. If you don't have an email address then I will continue to use your current address. I am hoping this change will be more convenient for some of you, and allow Nelia and I to use some of these much needed funds for the continuous mission work. Thanks.

Shannon and Nelia Ries Fighting the good fight, PO Box 508364

Cicero,IL 60804

sries l@juno.com