I know time passes quickly, but it doesn't seem possible this is the final issue of Harvest for 2005. But here we are, nearing the end of a year that has been very difficult for many people. CHARLOTTE The SIM family is praising the Lord for our ministry partners' wonderful response to a recent mailing that shared a very serious need in our SIM Medical Care fund. SOUTH AFRICA The pain of recent loss was etched deeply into the face of a grandmother as she spoke with members of a team from Project Positive Ray--an outreach of Christian compassion made possible by your caring support of SIM. This woman's daughter had died of HIV/AIDS just the week before, leaving her with two small grandchildren to raise. The children's father died last year of the same disease, another example of how the AIDS pandemic is devastating the younger adult population of Africa, leaving behind grandparents and children to struggle for existence. The team was able to pray with and encourage this grieving woman.

GERMANY You will recall that last May, SIM missionary Gerlinde Skaggs suffered a devastating head injury in a fall from her bicycle while she and her husband, Ben, were in Germany on leave. ETHIOPIA We thank the Lord for the ministry that SIM medical missionaries have at four health care centers in remote regions of Ethiopia--care made possible because friends like you have responded generously to the need. NIGERIA Through the love and generosity of friends like you, SIM has distributed 79 three-wheeled chairs to disabled people in Nigeria during 2005.