Date: December 30th 2009

Genesis Chronicles 30/12/2009/75 0021 hrs

[To view the pdf edition with pictures, please open the attached pdf file]

To our Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year! We’ve had a very eventful Christmas this year thus far. We are in Singapore right now as Nathaniel’s father hasn’t been well. Thank God for His Provision through a friend to make it possible for us to return briefly till Sunday. It was a rush to get to the plane as immigration policy changed again without prior notice. Nathaniel had to rush out of the airport to the other immigration office to get our re-entry permits done. This was something new since our last exit on 29 May. Thank God that P’Gade was around to help and the officials were able to rush the paperwork through. Got back just as the plane was boarding. Most definitely a heart-stopping event.

We ministered to 30+ children in Chaiyaphum by celebrating Christmas there on 30 November. These are part of the 90 children who prayed to receive Christ last Christmas when we first made our trip to Jot Klang village. We were heartened to see these young children coming faithfully after the 1st cell group meeting on 30 Sep. One girl even read through the Gideon’s Bible presented to her. A complete Bible was given to her as a reward. What a great way to kick off Christmas.

We joined the Payap Spiritual & Community life in an all-campus outreach on 8 Dec. This was the first time we had many other Christian groups involved.

Our ERC Christmas party was on 18 Dec after the exams. Thank God for those who came. We had about 20 for dinner and there were 2 new female students from China who have been quite open and exchanging Thai-Chinese vocabulary with our ERC students. Our Thai and Chinese Maejo University students couldn’t come at the last moment.

Christmas Sunday [20 December] at the Lighthouse was rather eventful. All members were present and we had 5 Chinese young ladies who joined us. There was a gift exchange and we went out carolling to 5 houses. We were especially glad to visit Kao Fang’s home and see his mom in her right mind, able to welcome us. When Kao Fang was to be baptized in October, she took a turn for the worse mentally. It was also our first time to P’Apple’s home after knowing her for six years.

Finally on 25 December, we celebrated Christmas at P’A pple’s village in Wat Jed Yod. We had originally intended to do a Christmas Party at the site of the new church. However, things weren’t fully ready so the Lord gave us a new venue. In P’Apple’s recollection, no church had ever done an outreach in her neighbourhood. We had at least 50 people come for free food, raffle for free gifts but there were those that responded to our brief sharing of what Christmas is all about. Praise the Lord! What a Christmas Celebration. We’ve never celebrated Christmas like this ever before. Next to the piano was the family spirit house complete with incense burning to keep away the evil spirits. Here we were sharing that if Christ was Lord of their lives, they wouldn’t have to fear evil spirits again. May the Love of Christ enter this corner of Chiangmai and the truth of give light to these folk.

Will end here for now.

God’s Richest Blessings,

Nathaniel & Patricia

Church Building Progress and updates: www.lighthousebpchurch.com
Lighthouse Building Project Pictures: http://gallery.me.com/charissaheng#100191
Lighthouse and ERC events: www.erc.gen12.com
Helping Today’s Tentmaker: www.gen12.com
Evangelism Resources: www.greatcontentment.com