Our love and prayers go out to longtime member of our church family, Raymond Hardee.

Early Tuesday morning, a fire broke out in Raymond’s house.

We are so grateful to God to be able to share that Raymond, his son, Todd, and their dog, all got out without any injuries.

Sadly, Raymond’s home and all belongings, including vehicles, were a total loss. We have reached out as a church family to help with some immediate needs and we will share any information for more assistance as we become aware.

I know that we all join together in thankful praise that Raymond and Todd are safe and will continue to blanket them in prayer as they recover.

Blessings,
Beth Palmer
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I hope everyone stayed safe and warm over the weekend!

Thankfully, this storm was not as harsh as the one in 2021. With less ice on trees and power lines, many of us kept electricity. Such a blessing!

I also want to thank all of the emergency management personnel, first responders, linemen, EMS, nurses and other medical staff at hospitals and care facilities, Calvary Temple Church who provided a warming center and shelter, everyone who regardless of the cold weather, still showed up and made a difference in the lives of so many in our community!

THANK YOU!!!
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I am praying for you this morning...

How bright is your light these days? Is it a flicker? Is it still trying to start? Does it reflect and illuminate God's love to everyone around you?

I've heard it said that sometimes the only Bible some people will read, is the life and example we live.

Think about that. What kind of example is your life to others? Do others see Jesus in you, and me?

Keep your light shining, with humility and sincerity.

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."
–Matthew 5:16

Dear Friends,
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
May the peace, joy, and love of Christ's birth fill your heart and home this Christmas season. Wishing you a blessed and Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with God's grace.

An Abundance of Gratitude and Shared Blessings
Words cannot truly express the depth of our thanks. Ray and I want to extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to each one of you for your faithful and unwavering support throughout this past year. Because of your incredible generosity and prayer-ful partnership, the ministries here in Costa Rica are doing well!

Here is a glimpse of the impact your love has made:
The children’s home is growing and has now begun construction on its third house! To date we have had the privilege of ministering to over 160 children. The clinic is expanding its capacity and will be welcoming a full-time doctor starting in January. We are overjoyed to be building two new churches and a parsonage in the country's northeastern sector, wonderfully supported by dedicated mission teams from churches in the States. Enrollment at both the Methodist school and seminary is up, a fantastic sign of growing faith and education!

Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look forward to the coming year and all the exciting new work it will bring, we also want to share a practical challenge. Our personal vehicles, which are essential for the daily ministry, are getting quite old. Ray drives a 2006 Tundra, and Lidia has a 2007 Sequoia. We truly love our Toyotas—they are workhorses that stand up to the ruggedness of the Costa Rican roads, and parts are easy to find. However, we have now reached the point where the yearly maintenance and repair costs are exceeding the cars' value. We are prayerfully moving forward to begin a Car Replacement Fund. The wonderful folks at the Methodist Church in Uvalde are assisting us by receiving and setting aside financial gifts for this specific purpose. Gifts for that purpose can be designated “Zirkel Car Fund.”

Family News and Continued Prayer Requests
Our family is doing well. Sarah is just days away from graduating with both of her master’s degrees! (MDIV & MBA) Please continue to pray with us for God to open the right door for her future career, as she is actively seeking employment. Emma begins her final semester in her master’s program in January and will start working part-time in a hospital Emergency Room in College Station. We are so proud of her dedication!

Ray’s recent health issues have persisted, and he has undergone a variety of medical exams at Houston Methodist. (A few more to go!) While he is feeling somewhat better, the mystery of the "good days and bad days" continues. We ask each of you to please keep praying for a clear diagnosis and complete healing as we place this fully in God’s hands.

As the year ends, we want to thank you for your incredible generosity and investment in our lives and ministry. We are grateful for each one and look forward to seeing many of you in the States over the holidays or in Costa Rica during 2026.

Praying your Christmas season is richly filled with the peace, love, and profound joy found only in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

With Deepest Love and Gratitude,
Ray and Lidia

2026...Where Is God Calling Us and What Will He Have Us Doing?
THE WESLEY COVENANT PRAYER

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

On Sunday, we spoke this prayer out loud, all together, during worship at Kerrville First United Methodist Church.

As we begin a new year, Pastor David invites us to reflect on this covenant prayer and guides us to consider what the Jesus-way of life looks like, and what is required of us as we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves.

It is a practical description of what Jesus was talking about when he said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23)

The Wesley Covenant Prayer describes missional life devoted to following Jesus and serving as Christ's representative in the world He loves and is working to redeem. It reminds us that being a Christian is more a way of life than a system of beliefs.

The Covenant Prayer describes the Jesus way of self-giving and self-emptying love. This way of living and loving is possible only in a community centered in the life and mission of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. This prayer reminds us who we are and whose we are.

Let us begin 2026 as Christ’s representatives in the world sharing His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with everyone God places on our path