A Year of Blessings

December 2024

Dear Praying Friends:

As 2024 draws to a close, we are conscious that God has been present with us, through both happy and sad moments, always blessing us with his kindness and goodness.

The year opened with the death of my oldest brother, Peter, at the age of 93. Actually, he was more than a brother to me, having filled the roles of spiritual father, mentor, friend, intercessor, and cheerleader for sixty years. His loss hit me hard, though I recognized God’s sovereignty and perfect timing, and I experienced his closeness as never before.

And this past week, Dori and I drove to Elgin, about 1½ hours from here, for the burial of her beloved brother-in-law, John Cogdell, on the property of Christ the Reconciler. We will miss him dearly, but we are thankful to be near his son Thomas (in Elgin) and his daughter Amy, who lives in Waco, and their families and Christian communities. We are not alone in Texas!

As you may remember, Sarah and Blaise moved into their own apartment not far from us last fall. That left two rooms free for guests. We’ve been blessed by visitors from Taiwan, Texas, California, North Dakota, Maylasia, England, and California (Dori’s sister Jean and her husband Tom). Each person has brought unique gifts of wisdom, encouragement, and love.

In the summer, my heart was immensely gladdened by the outpouring of affection expressed in cards and notes for my 80th birthday. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to respond to most of them, but each one is precious to me.

In August, we returned to Lake Junaluska, in the North Carolina mountains, for another one-week vacation. As he did last summer, the Lord kindly gave us rest of body and soul, and we were once again able to spend time with our old friends Michael and Sarah Dowling, who joined us for three days of rich fellowship as together we drank in the beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains from the deck of our Airbnb. And, as we did last year, we stayed with my nephew Jonathan and his gracious wife Kristin in Charlotte both coming and going to the mountains.

I am still working full time as a non-residential missionary to the Chinese. Our Board of Directors meeting in Charlottesville took me back to our old stomping grounds in September for a one week visit, during which I also saw a few friends. It does me good not only to renew our fellowship but also to gaze once again upon the lovely Blue Ridge Mountains to the west of Charlottesville.

We continue to love our church. Singing in the choir not only refreshes Dori’s spirit but also blesses her with Christian fellowship, as does the weekly Women’s Bible study. We have started attending a small group, at least for now, and I have begun meeting with the assistant music director. We spend our time studying theology and building one another up in Christ. Dori is also forming a rewarding friendship with his wife.

Sarah’s health has improved enough for her to work full time, tutoring high school students and writing curriculum to help them prepare for the SAT. Last week, she resumed writing her blog, The Natural and the Numinous. Go to sarahcozart.substack.com if you want honest, well-written thoughts about all sorts of things, including dealing religious PTSD, processing grief, being a Swiftie, and becoming a rose.

Blaise enjoys being with boys his age in the third grade, though the academic part is not very challenging. His great loves are playing with the kids in our neighborhood (he still gets off the school bus on the corner near our house) and Minecraft.

We are very conscious of our connection with you, scattered though you are around the country and the world. Celebrating the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ as a baby in Bethlehem so long ago reminds us that he has “redeemed us to God by [his] blood from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,” that we are all members of the one Body of Christ, and that he is with us all “even to the end of the age” (Revelation 5:9; 1 Corinthians 12:5; Matthew 28:20).

Yours in his marvelous light and love,
Wright (and Dori)