NEW ADDDRESS:

Chris & Cassy Robinson
122 Essex Ave
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 431-6098

Christmas 1999 / New Year 2000

It's been awhile since our last letter, and we've moved! Please make a note of our new address info as the forwarding order has expired! We are still in New Hampshire, but now on the mission field in Portsmouth. An historic seaport town where NH meets Maine, Portsmouth has a very artistic flavor, as well as a growing technology industry. God is merciful as he continues to build his church. It's been quite a process. It was 1989 that the AF transferred us from OH to NH. In 1992 Chris started seminary full time and I got a paying job. In 1997 after an intern-ship helping to start a new church in Exeter, Chris was ordained as a minister with the call to start a church in Portsmouth. We continued to worship in Exeter while raising support and moving to Portsmouth in June 1998. A great blessing for me is that I am no further from my job as a contract administrator at Willey Brothers, so I've been able to continue working there. I am grateful I didn't need to find a new job too, with everything else that is new! It is awesome to see how everything God has brought us through has been preparation for this.

Well, after meeting on Sunday evenings for prayer for over two years, October 17 marked the first morning worship service of a Presbyterian congregation ever in the history of Portsmouth (settled in 1623). We are looking for a public place to worship, but until then we are meeting in our "upper room." (This large room over the garage doubles as Chris' office/library through the rest of the week.) We anticipate being in a public setting by April, at which point we'll begin advertising more widely.

The house is very cool. Right in town, a mile and a half from the riverfront, and a few short miles from the ocean. 1940's hardwood floors and trim, plaster walls, full basement and attic but light on the closets.  Last summer we lived in the upper room while we painted all the walls (with help from the Exeter church family) and refinished the floors. Don't ask Chris about my idea to have all the radiators powder-coated (like baked enamel). Thankfully they were reinstalled by Thanksgiving and before the really cold weather. Then it was on to building shelves for the pastor's library, installing a woodstove, reconfiguring the kitchen, subduing the front gardens and planting spring bulbs. Phew! Finally we were "ready" for services to begin.

Between all these events we've been able to enjoy the north country. The last week in Sep, during leaf season, Chris & I spent 4 days alone together at a remote cabin in north VT, the only access to which is a 2-hour hike up. It was a great opportunity to prepare for our change in schedule at home. Several local NH skiing jaunts included one with nearly all the Robinsons. I made numerous summer trips to Lake Champlain to catch up with my family, enjoying 4th of July fireworks and sails. We spent a week at Sea Ilse City NJ, with all the Robinsons, and last year a week camping at Lake Francis NH (moose, loon and star country).

We continue to learn a lot about God's mercy and grace. He faithfully brings our hearts and eyes back to the Cross of Christ, where through His blood shed for us, we find Peace among those upon whom God's favor rests. We thank God for the promise of Life through the Son, and rejoice to be here in Portsmouth to share the good news of that promise!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2000 to you!