5th Dec 2009

Dear Praying Friends

Mary said "For the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name." We can all say the same. The real 'Christmas spirit' is thankfulness for all God has done for us in Christ.

Thank you for your endurance when we mostly repeat the same prayer requests each time. We have a busy month coming up with a 13-member team from New Zealand coming to help us with evangelism from 11-13th and our main Christmas service on 20th. We are also moving house.

As we think on the past year we thought it would be good to review.
1. Church attendance is fairly steady. Most of the believers are very faithful and we have a steady stream of visitors. But some others have stopped attending.
2. We have put on hold the appointment of a church council because all the believers felt strongly that they didn't want decision-making put in the hands of a few. So we will continue with monthly congregational meetings for the moment.
3. We seem no closer to getting our own land and church building.
4. Mr Long Life has stopped coming to church and cut off all contact. Various others are suffering from sickness or depression and are out of regular contact.
5. Tadamitsu our Bible college student in New Zealand is applying to spend one more year there.
6. We are halfway through the Alpha course and the 3 inquirers we started with are still attending.
7. This year to date we are 58% supported.

So we have much to give thanks for and much still to pray for!

Esther leaves Australia for Cambodia tomorrow (6th) for the YWAM short-term mission trip. Christine travels alone from India on 18th, Andrew arrives on 19th and Amy with husband Sam on 20th.

May you have a really Happy Christmas!

Yours in the grace and grip of the Gospel

love from Rod and Glenda