Newsletter - November 2008

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Friendship/Experience
Our time in Chiang Mai is coming to a close and we have been very thankful for all of the varied experiences we have gained here and especially all of the lasting friendships we have made. Savannah has finally been able to attend a weekly gymnastics program while Shiloh has regular piano lessons and has gained confidence in her high school level public speaking class.

Smith and Summer gained ground in reading and truly enjoyed memorizing the Bible, Phys Ed, music, and art with other kids their age. I have developed a long‐lasting friendship with my Christian Thai teacher, Kruu Bin, as well as made other friends in the Thai homegroup and home school co‐op I was a part of.

Savannah, our gymnast and the soon and coming birthday girl! (10 years old)
Making ‐‐Being Disciples (Todd) God sent Jeremiah Moore to serve in Thailand with us and he has become an invaluable asset to our family helping in home school, playing soccer with our kids, helping our Thai boys feel at home and worshipping and praying with our family. (He will also help us move.)

Also for the last several weeks I, Todd, have taken Shiloh to piano lessons. We met her teacher, Anabel, at a friend’s wedding. Her father, Don Rulison, is 94 years old. He has been a missionary in Thailand for the past 57 years. I have been hearing story after story of the faithfulness of God. It’s wonderful!!! His mind is amazingly sharp.

He can remember sermons that he preached. He will tell a story with great detail of how he would hike up into the mountains preaching from village to village. Come to find out that he was married to Isobel Kuhn’s daughter. (Kuhn was a famous author and missionary from 20s, 30s, and 40s in Southeast Asia.) It is such privilege to sit with this general of the faith. I asked if the struggles of life got easier. He said, “No… it’s just Shiloh and her piano teacher, Anabel Rulison
Jeremiah Moore and the kids! harder in a different way.” Thank you Jesus for this opportunity.

TYPHOID/JUNGLE FEVER!
The last month of October I (Carrie) contracted typhoid fever that offset our entire family for about 10 days. I had 5 sleepless nights of very high fever, chills and body aches while Todd took care of me plus all 7 of our children, making meals, supervising chores, entertaining, teaching, etc. Many were called on to pray for me and from that point plus a doctor’s visit and a week’s supply of antibiotics; I rested another 5 days in bed before returning to ‘active duty.’

Family MinistryNot only did we have Bang and Judah Garsee with us, we also took care of 2 year old Joseph for the past 10 weeks as well. He is also being adopted by our friends who needed to spend a few months in the USA. These three children have all been from abusive, neglectful Thai home situations or from living off of the streets. We were happy and privileged to serve in this way showing these children the love of God as we opened our home to them. Our children have truly stepped up to help in every way with Joseph, making bottles, helping with baths, playing with him and giving him naps.

94 year old general of the faith, Mr. Don Rulison (son inlaw to Isobel Kuhn) As we spend one last month in Chiang Mai homeschooling, taking care of Judah and Joseph, studying Thai, please pray for us as we continue to make plans to move south in early December. Todd will drive our vehicle the 30 hours while I (Carrie) will take two overnight trains as we split the seven children between us. We will try to mail some of our things ahead. We will spend a few weeks in Hat Yai during December as we renew our one‐year visas and spend some of the Christmas/New Year’s holidays with a few other FIRE missionary families there. Pray we find the perfect house to move into!

Prayer needs:
1. From November 24 to December 1, Todd will join a ministry team on a special survey trip to Vietnam with a good missionary friend‐‐‐please pray for a successful trip, health, and safety for the team.

2. Pray for our upcoming move, safe travels, for us to find the perfect house to rent for 2009 in Narrathiwat.

3. Pray for grace for all of our children as we make this transition.

4. Pray for God to open up new doors of opportunity to share the Gospel with those who have never heard.

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Jesus Christ.”

Thank you for your faithful prayers for us as we continue to serve the Lord in Thailand,

Todd, Carrie, Shiloh, Savannah, Summer and Smith