2019 Looking Back, Stepping into 2020 Looking Forward
We are really sorry, we have not kept our blog updated throughout the latter part of 2019. 2019 has been a year of transition and stepping into newness, which has kept us very busy.
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The Business as Mission (BAM), has been moving along at a slower pace than we would like. However God has shown us on many occasions throughout the year (and is continuing to show us), that He is laying the foundations for us, and we just need to hold-on, keep focussed on Him and following His leading.
Some of the highlights for us from 2019, not in any particular order have been:
Moving to Chiang Mai, getting to know our neighbours, settling in at House of Praise Church, having the opportunity to do Paul Bradford’s Train The Trainer course in Malaga,
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building relationships with staff and residents at New Life Centre Foundation, Paul hit a mile stone as he turned 50, being invited to attend 2 Lahu Thanksgiving services in Lahu villages, Bible Camp in the mountains with NLCF’s young people and 8 of them getting baptised, falling in love with the beautiful scenery / surroundings of Chiang Mai and finally fostering a 10 week old kitten for about 6 weeks…. Yes you read correctly looking after a foster kitten for 6 weeks and finding him a good home. He was alone on the roof of our
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bungalow and eventually came down into our back garden with no mother in sight we took him in. He was skin, bones and fur and very helpless. Unfortunately we could not keep the kitten, since Sarah is allergic to cats, it was also making her asthma flare up. It was sad to see him go, but we are happy that he is now in a good home.
Praise
We have spent the last 9 months trying to find out our elderly Thai neighbours name, he has hearing difficulties. None of our other neighbours knew his name(including a couple that have lived a few doors from him for 15 years), since it is hard to have a conversation with him. He talks to you, but does not give you the opportunity to respond, talk back and unfortunately he can not hear you when you respond. For Christmas we gave him a Christmas present with a booklet that explained the birth of Christ and the real reason we celebrate Christmas in Thai and a card, that with we wrote in Thai with scripture. The day before New Year’s Eve, he presented us with a lovely tropical fruit hamper with a handwritten note, signed off with his name. The translation to the note is – “Khun Paul and Khun Sarah, this New Year may you have good luck and happiness always, from Lek”. So we finally know his name is ‘Lek’. We thank God for this first breakthrough.
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Praise – Thank God for:
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New friendships we have formed since settling in Chiang Mai from March 2019.
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For the Bible Camp that took place in Doi Chiang, for NLCF’s young people and the 8 young people that made the decision to follow Christ and get baptised – December 2019.
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Getting to know our neighbours.
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Finally getting to know our elderly Thai neighbour who is hard of hearing by name, which is a good first step.
Please Pray for:
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As we continue to trust God regarding our next steps with the BAM company
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As we nurture the friendship with our Thai elderly neighbour now we know his name. Continued creative ways to reach out to him with his hearing difficulty.
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The work at New Life Centre Foundation and our roles there and how God will continue to use us there.
Bringing faith in Christ and the life only He can provide
Paul & Sarah in Thailand 