Peter and Ineke Cook - Thailand |
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Prayer letter May 2009
Staff
We give thanks for new mission and ministry staff. Matthew and Cathy, new mission placements from CMS Australia, arrived in January and are settling in well. A great answer to prayer has been Amanda and Leona Matson. Two sisters in their mid to late 20’s appeared just before Christmas while travelling around Asia intending to stay in Thailand a few weeks, so they offered to do some voluntary work. Mistake. We got them involved – and now they are staying to October! They have taken on our children’s work assisting Ineke. They are great. However we need to replace them as soon as we can so if you are interested contact Crosslinks for details. Sadly Harry and Deanne Iedema, who gave us six months to work with our Karen ministry, went back to Australia just a few weeks ago. We miss them terribly.
From January to early May we have hosted a Crosslinks ‘Smile team’ of 10 young people. We have given them all sorts of mission experiences around Thailand and Bangkok – prison visiting – teaching in playschools in the local slums and various schools – practical work in local ministries - time at Noh Bo – involvement with children and youth at Christ Church – doing an Easter holiday club etc etc. It has been wonderful to watch them respond to the challenge and to grow in many ways.
Since Christmas we have had a number of staff leave for various reasons. The church did not have any job descriptions for any of the posts or contracts or terms and conditions of service written down. We have given a lot of time to putting these together and are just about to advertise. We need:
Children and Youth Minister (mission placement – job description and details from Crosslinks)
Church Administrator – English first language and experienced person hopefully a congregation member
Office Assistant – Thai national
Grounds and Buildings Maintenance Worker
Gardening and grounds Assistant
Development of Worship
Through May and June our teaching subject is worship. Pray that the Holy Spirit would break through and that more people would step forward and use their gifts. As new people, and families join us then change is happening naturally – but there are a few tensions around as change happens.
We have also started a new monthly evening worship event – using CD’s and lots of visuals and quiet – it is going well. Next one end of May.
Buildings
In the next few months we will be having the church electrics replaced and new lighting installed. We are still deciding what designs of lights to go for.
Karen Ministry
Until Matthew and Cathy can get to grips with our Karen ministry Peter will need to pick up a number of the tasks alongside developing partnerships.
The economic crisis is hitting our income and especially our Karen ministry. I am having to put together project proposals which we trust will bring in some funds – but means more work to do.
Us
Pray for Ineke and her various roles as children’s work coordinator, hospitality in the house and church (many people have been passing through again). The women’s work is also developing and she is involved with that. The growing Dutch contingency in church is opening up some interesting outreach opportunities.
Pray for Peter – for wisdom in leading and energy in ministry. Demands have been pretty unrelenting of late and It has been very tiring. In theory June and July look lighter months. Pray that it might be so.
Pete and Ineke