DECEMBER 2009Dear Friend
DOULOS, OR NOT TO BE?
 Two weeks before it was due to arrive; we had a
phone call to say that The MV Doulos ship had cancelled its planned
trip to Phuket. The ship needed to undergo further maintenance
and repair in Singapore where it had been in dry-dock. The team
that we had anticipated was just as disappointed in the change
of plans but we accepted that these things happen for a reason.
The Doulos line-up team had spent seven weeks in Phuket
meeting with churches, holding press conferences and preparing
volunteers and translators. We decided that they could do with
some timeout after their hard work had come to nothing. The invitation
to come to Eaglesrest for a couple of days before they flew out
to meet the ship was gladly accepted and so we enjoyed the company
of Aude (France) Konstanze and Katharina (Germany) and Jimmy
(Bangkok) for two days. The night before our guests
left they received a call from the ship. Needed repairs to the
Douols were now estimated to be between 10 and 12 Million Euros.
Therefore decisions had been made to cancel all further ministries
by the Doulos from December 31st this year. (The ship was due
to be decommissioned within a year; this just brought the decision
forward). So, although the planned Doulos team did not eventuate
we had a wonderful time of fellowship with our new friends. (Who
insisted on getting their hands dirty in practical ways while
with us). Understandably this sudden ceasing of the plans of
280 people on board the Doulos, plus new recruits, caused very
mixed emotions. We were all reminded of the verses in Proverbs
that tell us that we can make all the plans in the world (or
to travel the world) but ultimately it is God that sets the path.
Pr. 16:1,9 19:21
 At the same time as our Doulos friends were here,
we were thrilled to have Anniina (Finland) and Paul (UK) join
us. They are a young married couple with an amazing story who
have moved to Thailand as missionaries. Their new home is an
island off the south east coast of Thailand. We look forward
to many times of fellowshipping with them on future visits.
END OF YEAR LETTERS TO
YOU FROM THE CHILDREN
 What a year! First and foremost I want to thank
our Father God. I also want to thank our prayer supporters; please
keep on your faithful praying. Thank you, our financial supporters;
God will reward your generosity. Thank you to all our ministry
helpers, from those who scrub the Eaglesrest bathrooms, to those
who organize supporting events for us, and to our all volunteers.
Thank you all for EVERYTHING. Our God sees everything and He
alone knows all things that you have done. May He greatly bless
you all. I can honestly say that this was another year where
God has soooo shown His faithfulness. I learnt a lot and I hope
I keep on learning from, and about, my Good Shepherd (but, maybe
not the hard way all the time...:)) . Let us never forget His
promises and His love. May His work be evident not only in ‘big-official-ministries’
like Eaglesrest, but also in every heart that belongs to Him.
I wish you all the best for the coming year. Colleen
(15)
To our Dear Supporters, I hope you are all well and that you
are enjoying our newsletter as you read it. Thank you for your
prayers and support. I like being a missionary kid. I like Phang
Nga far better than Phuket. It is more beautiful with all the
mountains having different shapes. I call the mountain that is
at the back of us “Mt Sinai” but to tell the truth
I don’t know what Mt Sinai looks like. Our mountain is
very beautiful and sometimes in the morning it is covered by
fog. I love the mountain because it reminds me of how glorious
and wonderful God our father is! If you would like to visit our
place please come and I hope you will enjoy your stay here.
Thank
you for your love and support and prayers for our family. May
the Lord bless each one of you with a special blessing from us.
Please keep praying for our family, I know no matter what happens
each day, God is in control. He is not only God of the good times,
but also of the bad times. Stephanie (13)
Dear Supporters, Thank you very much for letting God use you
to help our ministry. We are having lots of visitors come. It
has been wonderful meeting them all and I hope every one of you
guys can visit us here for you are very welcome. I know that
Thailand is different from many of your countries. It rains a
lot here while we pray for rain for some of you. We appreciate
your prayers a lot.
Jefferson (11)
Dear Supporters, God has been so good to my family in answering
our prayers. I like my place, friends, home and education. Phang
Nga is very peaceful; you can even read a book quietly. I am
happy because God chose this place for us to stay. Please keep
praying for more supporters. May God Bless you!
Nicole
(8)
DONNA
Last
month we asked for people to come and help with an English program
here at Eaglesrest. One of our readers took me seriously and
passed the information onto someone we had never met before.
Donna Arukua is a PNG national with training in TESOL (Teaching
English as a Second Language), and a passion for mission. We
are thrilled and very privileged to have her coming at the end
of December for three months of ministry through English Programs.
A full introduction will be given next month. Please keep Donna
in your prayers as she works alongside us. We do hope she will
not be the last Melanesian to serve here.
OTHER ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S
MINISTRY NEEDS
Praise God we have had two
families send sponsorship for Asian families coming into Eaglesrest
for help in the early New Year. Sponsorship enables Asian Christian
families in need to have the refreshment and family time otherwise
unobtainable to them.
UPCOMING MINISTRY NEEDS
Please
share these with people you know. (Just as Donnas’ friend
did)
- Volunteer cooks for guests and visitors to Eaglesrest –
ongoing
- Volunteer English teachers for local Thai outreach- anytime
from end of March when Donna leaves us.
- General helpers for maintenance and odd jobs – ongoing
- Teachers/supervisors for Children’s home School during
2010 (Australian curriculum) Short or long term.
- Office assistant /language helper (Fluency in Thai and English
required)
- Financial assistance to cover wages of our (yet to be appointed)
Thai office assistant/language helper
- Approximately $600 for purchase of one set of bunk beds and
mattresses for guest house.
- Donation for new kitchen blender. We use this a lot when
teams are here and our second-hand model met with an accident!
- Increase in number of supporters for the general running
costs and maintenance of Eaglesrest Foundation.
- The van we use for all travel with family, guests and volunteers
is in need of two new tires and serious work on the suspension!
- Increase in regular support for our personal family needs.
*******For more details of any of these please contact Janene******
Limited copies of our story are still available: Book 1 “The
Healing Road to Thailand” and Book 2 “The Desires
of My Heart” Endorsements can be found on the web site
as well as information on how to order.
Thank you for standing with us during 2009. May the Lord Bless
you and yours this Christmas, and always.
Until 2010
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