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MOBILE AGAIN
     Mary and I have started to travel more again (presumably head-on collisions in the air are less likely). In February we flew to the Netherlands to meet with fellow "30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus" coordinators. We continue to oversee the North American distribution of this annual worldwide focus on Ramadan (Islam's month of fasting). Our recuperation period (from the car accident in early 2006) almost prevented it from getting off the ground last year, but as it turned out the distribution of new booklets actually increased (70,000 booklets distributed in N America).
     After those meetings we visited our old YWAM stomping grounds (Samaritan's Inn, De Poort and Heidebeek), and spent time with YWAM leaders and friends, including Jeff and Romkje Fountain (who are now our Europe directors).
     We also visited with Sean and Mary’s mom, Lura (who at 88 is also still part of YWAM) in Amsterdam. Sean has lived with her the last several months while working at The Cleft, YWAM’s ministry in the Red Light district there, but has moved into YWAM housing this week.

THAILAND
     Two days ago we returned from a visit to Thailand. We went there primarily to participate in a consultation with several hundred missionaries and mission leaders from many agencies who focus on ministry to Muslims. Because of the confidentiality required, the event received no publicity and attendance was by invitation only. (It would have made a strategic target for those upset about Christian work in the Muslim world.)
     It was informative, and also fun to reconnect with colleagues--both with some fellow YWAMers who attended and other mission leaders who I have not seen in years, including a former pastor from our time in Afghanistan, and a mission leader whom I met on a military helicopter ride in southeast Turkey years ago.

CAMBODIA
     One unexpected highlight occurred when we visited afterwards with friends in Bangkok. They head up the work of World Concern in Asia and took us on a road trip into Cambodia where we visited several projects that care for, teach and train children. The unpaved roads were painful, the amount of trash extreme, but being shown around by a Cambodian Christian who heads up the work was... priceless.

SEAN & NOELLE
     THE highlight in Bangkok was a completely unplanned visit with Noelle. Part of her Perth Discipleship Training School (DTS), 48 of them, had a 22-hour stop-over in Bangkok--on their way to India for the outreach phase. We were able to get Noelle out of the airport (where the team was going to wait in the transit lounge for their connecting flight). It was a delight to spend a day with her, to catch up, and to see changes in her life. Please pray for her ten-week outreach in India (already the team has been hauled off to police by a mob that resented their preaching).
     Sean was traveling at the same time as well (his website). He went to attend a gathering of YWAMers involved in Frontier Missions (in Istanbul, Turkey)... I guess the four of us, each born in a different country, remain an internationally mobile family...

COMING UP
     Mary and I will be traveling (along with others from our office) to Pune (western India) where we are involved in conducting a conference on communication and information within YWAM. Our travel dates will be approximately May 5 to 17.

With loving greetings!

 

We appreciate your concern, prayers and support.

Paul and Mary (...walking by His grace)

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