A-Wa and the Deaf School

In Thailand they have a big celebration over the New Year. The schools get a few days off and everyone exchanges gifts. We were told that A-Wa (also named A-Ju) was going to come to Chiang Rai and we were then going to take him up to Mae Salong to see his family during their short break. Well, long story short he didn't get sent up here. We have had a number of communication issues with the school and aren't suprised but are just heartbroken that he didn't get to go see his family.
This is one of the frustrations of not speaking Thai, however, it also helps us to understand much more what it is like to speak a secondary language in a country. We are really learning about prejudices and the struggles that the Akha go through just because theirs is not the primary language in Thailand. These cultural biases exist everywhere in the world, but we are just now getting a taste of what it is like to be on the minority side of them.
We are going to go to Chiang Mai with Dan and Maam and Joe their sister's family in a few days and will go visit A-Wa and the school while there. Please pray for communication, that issues would be worked out for the future, and that A-Wa would continue to adjust and grow in this new environment. Pray for protection over him as there can be many problems in "boarding schools". Pray for his heart that he would know how much his family cares for him.

2006 Prayer Request: Direction

Well, we are presenting our prayer requests in true American "resolution" fashion. We are going to take these next few weeks to evaluate our first step into the missions world. A lot of things went very well and we did a lot of things wrong, but we are resolving to learn from our mistakes and move on. As always, we are asking for prayer for strength and protection on our ministries and discernment as we evaluate our first year.

Specifically, we are first asking for prayer for direction. As our language grows we are seeking our place in ministry. Most of our "ministry" this first year has been in medical help, language learning and whatever ministry we could do in English (surveying, taxi driver, computer work, etc). We have had a number of these opportunities and have more options before us in this next year, but we do not yet know where we are supposed end up. We do know that we still have a heart for young men and women and for discipleship. Pray that the correct steps would be very clear to us and that we would hear God's direction for our education our travel and our future ministry with the Akha.

YWAM Accident Update

Here is the latest update on the automobile crash in Nigeria. This information is from the YWAM Perth website. Please keep praying for the injured girls and for the families of those who died.
Following is the latest update (as at Thursday afternoon Perth time, 22 December) on the situation with the accident in Nigeria, and all of those involved.

Following is the latest update on the situation with the accident in Nigeria, and all of those involved.

We now have three girls in hospital in South Africa - Dagmar, Erin, and Sarah. Sarah being one of the girls that had been in Ghana recently joining those in South Africa.

Last night we were made aware by doctors in Johannesburg that the situation with Dagmar, the leader of the Birth Attendant School, has become more critical. The doctors are not sure whether she will regain consciousness, she could but they are not sure at this moment in time. We are asking for urgent prayer for Dagmar. The family are upset (as you can imagine) so please pray for them as they have just received this news.

Please pray for healing in Dagmar's body, particularly her brain, and that she will regain consciousness as soon as possible.

As far as we understand, Erin is recovering and is in good spirits. It will be a while before she is able to travel though.

Friends and Family

Praise God... for friends and family. This has been a wonderful season for us. We have had many family and friends visiting and encouraging us in our work. Emails, letters and visits have given us energy and passion and encouraged us in our language learning. We have been so blessed with the community God has brought around us, and it is becoming easier and easier to think of holidays and long-term living in Thailand with all of your support and partnership.

Urgent Prayer: YWAM Perth

We just received this email from our friend Adriel McIntosh requesting prayer for a horrible accident which occurred in Nigeria.

A team of Mother and Child Health workers (midwives) have been involved in a tragic road accident outside Port Harcourt, Nigeria where they have been on outreach delivering babies.

Ten girls (of 14 on the team) left in the morning of Sunday, 11 December from Port Harcourt to attend Sunday service with other local YWAMers. Eight YWAMers were killed, six were with YWAM Nigeria and two were from YWAM Perth. There were seven others injured from YWAM Perth with three still in critical condition.

Prayer is being requested for:

• Prayer for the family members of the deceased.
  
• Pray for the injured.
  
• Pray for arrangements necessary to ensure the best possible care for the injured and those who are deceased.
  
• Please pray for YWAM Nigeria and YWAM Perth.

More information may be found on YWAM Perth's site.

Thank you for your prayers

Health

Praise God... for health these last four months. We have been very much healthier and have been able to eat all the suprises that have been served to us! After a tough start this year we seem to be over a major hurdle.

Visitors and English

Praise God... for Paul's dad and Phyllis and Tiffany coming to visit! We had a wonderful time with the sponsor team and these visitors in November. We were feeling a little down because it is so difficult to minister without much language, so being able to spend time driving and talking with all of these Americans was wonderful.

Our Home and "the little things"

Praise God... for our house in Chiang Rai and all the little things that cheer us up. Despite cultural difficulties we also have encountered wonderful things about Thailand. Full vehicle detailing for $5, one little Mexican restaraunt in Chiang Rai, Air Conditioning when it's just too hot, cheap movies and great food. Paul even gets to listen to the Broncos games every once in a while! We are truly blessed and thankful for all the Lord has provided for us in this short time.

He is Working

Praise God... for His timing! We have seen divine appointments so kids without parents could get a second chance. We have seen a broken foot mended. We have seen young leaders develop in their gifts and walk with the Lord. God knows what He is doing and it is wonderful to witness His work.

We're Learning!

Praise God... for the Akha language. Although we have a long way to go, we certainly can speak some Akha and that is a great encouragement to us. (Lori can even speak a little Thai too! - God is great!)

Pray... for our schedule

Please pray for our schedule these next few months. We are trying to plan our trip to the States and have everything prepared for that time while spending time in the village, and celebrating the holidays. Pray for understanding for all the groups we desire to spend time with (from the Akha in our village to our friends and family back home)

Pray... for our Christmas

Please pray for our Christmas. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Chiang Rai (Paul's dad came too!) but this will be our first Christmas without our families.
Pray especially for Lori that she would have the Christmas that fulfills her heart's desires.

Pray... for endurance

Please pray for strength. We have been weary in this last month, and are looking forward to our visit home. Pray that we would redeem the remaining time we have before we return, that we would not neglect our language learning, and that we would receive renewed vision and direction for our return.