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Monday, October 16, 2006

The Rutledge Review

O God, our help in ages past, our hope

for years to come, be thou our guide

while life shall last, and our eternal home!

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalm 62:8


It is time again to review what is happening with the Rutledge family and the ministry here at Akha Outreach Foundation. Since the last time I wrote a lot has taken place not only here at AOF but also throughout all of Thailand.
By now I am sure that everyone has heard of the military coup that took place on September 19th. Thailand awoke to the news that our Prime minister was ousted and that the commander of the military was assuming power until new elections could be held. Since September 19th, the military leader has turned the power over to a retired general and Thailand is planning on h
olding new elections next October. Everything in Thailand seems to be back to normal, and the Thai people didn’t seem too concerned about the whole situation. For us as Christians, we were reminded that stability and certainty can rest solely in the hand of our Lord. The nations may crumble, but He will remain firm and faithful. Please pray for political freedom to continue, and that the true freedom only in Christ will be found.

An International Blessing:

The military coup was one of the many exciting things which took place here during the month of September. We were also blessed to host three separate teams, from three different countries, all of them bringing a unique blessing to all the lives here at AOF.

The first team consisted of 22 5th graders who were on a week long field trip from their school in Singapore. For most of them this was there first experience internationally and also with Christianity. During their stay, they spent two days teaching English in two of the schools our children attend, and other days working and playing with all the children here. This was a short visit, but their time spent here will have a long term impact on not only the lives of our children, but also on theirs. This was evident as we watched the Singaporean students hugging and crying with the orphans as they boarded their bus. We pray that as these students return to Singapore, they will not only remember the lives of the children here, but they will also remember what the love of Christ feels like.

We barely had finished our goodbyes with the Singapore team before we were welcoming our second team. This team was made up of a Dentist from America and his two Dental Assistants. For the past two years, Dr. Luce has blessed our ministry with dental care for all the children, Bible students, and even the staff. This year he brought with him two of his assistants and they were able to provide extractions, fillings, and cleaning of teeth for all the 80 orphans, 40 Bible students, and 10 staff that live here. But if this wasn’t enough work for one week, they also spent a day in a village doing dental care for over 30 people, almost all of which had never before been to a dentist. Dental work in Thailand isn’t terrible expensive, but when you think of trying to provide for over 100 people, it can be both expensive and time consuming. This one week a year that he dedicates to helping out the lives here, is a blessing worth more then a Gold tooth.

During this week, I was also blessed with the opportunity to play dental assistant. We had two portable dental chairs and one Dentist and two assistants. Each chair needed two people to man it, and so I learned the fine art of suction. The sucking out of the saliva, blood, and whatever else is in the mouth of the patient. I have gained a new respect for Dentists and their assistants. Spending 8 hours a day sitting on hard stools and looking into countless mouths is not my idea of fun. Even though the work was hard, it was all worth it knowing that were are able to not only help with their spiritual needs, but also with some of their physical ones. When the team was leaving, they joking said that I am now able to provide cleanings for all the teeth here, I am flattered, but I think I will leave that for them when they can come back next year.

Following our time with the second team, we were looking forward to a week of rest before our third team arrived at the end of the month. What looked like our rest week turned crazy the moment the military decided to oust the Prime Minister. The morning of the coup, all the schools were closed, and all our plans for that day went out the window. The rest of the week we played catch up, and by the end of the week, we were back into the normal flow of things, just in time to welcome our third team for the month of September.

The third team was a very special time for all of us here at Akha Outreach, because it was our first time having visitors from New Zealand. We have had people visit from all over the world, and every time we welcome a team from a new country it is truly joyful. It amazes me how big the body of Christ is, and how His family is a blend of languages and cultures unlike any other.

This team from New Zealand was made up of a family of five whose spent their vacation blessing our ministry and the lives of others in Thailand. They spent about 5 days here, helping repaint our basketball court and teaching our staff and students some basic first aide. Everyone was impressed by their work ethic and their cheerfulness, even in the heat of the Thai sun. This was our first team from New Zealand, but we pray it won’t be our last. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with this family and others from this small but amazing country.

Time for Camp:

If having three teams from three different countries and a military coup wasn’t enough to keep us busy during September, we also welcomed the end of the school term, and with it a week of testing for all the children and Bible students. Following test week, almost all of our children and Bible students were able to return to their villages to spend some time with their relatives. The schools in Thailand close for about three weeks, and this is a time everyone gets some time off to get away and rest. October is a time to rest from school, but it is also a time to attend camps. Most schools offer special camps during school breaks for students who want to improve their English, French, Chinese, Math, etc, but there are also many different Christian camps offered during this time. For the Akha October is the time for ACY camp. ACY stands for Akha Christian Youth and is a ministry reaching out to the Akha youth. They offer many different things, but their biggest is the ACY camp which they hold every October. Each year they hold it at different places, and this year they are holding it here at AOF. So as I am writing to you, there are around 650 Akha teenagers here with me. Being with all these teenagers forces you to contemplate two truths. 1) You are getting old, and late night hang outs followed by early morning showers don’t appeal to you anymore. 2) The energy level of teenagers is unstoppable, and if their heart is on fire for God, there is nothing or no one who can stop them from spreading that fire. These teenagers are the future for the Akha and if we can disciple them while they are young, the Lord only knows how bright their fire will burn for Him. Please continue to pray for all these campers, not only while they are here, but especially when they return to their villages and schools. Pray that the temptations of this world won’t douse their fire for Christ.

Family Update:

On to a lighter subject, Garuna is doing well, and is growing up so fast. Everyday she comes home after playing with the children with a new word for Daddy and Mommy. Most of the time she uses an Akha or a Thai word, but the other day she surprised me with an English word, “Pretzel”. “Pretzel,” you say, what is so special about that word? One of my favorite foods to eat is Pretzels. I don’t care for chips and sweets that much, but Pretzels I love. The only problem is that until last month, you weren’t able to buy dried Pretzels in Thailand. None of the stores sold them. But the other day I found a bag of Pretzels for sale. They weren’t Rolled Golds, but they were just as good. Now at night when I want a before bed snack, I can have my Pretzels. But I am not the only one who likes Pretzels, Garuna loves them, and before she goes to bed each night she eats some with Daddy. The first day she came in and asked for “Pretzel” it brought a tear to my eye. Ok not really, but it did sound really cute hearing her say it.

A CRY FOR YOUR HELP!

In closing I want to ask you to please be in prayer for Akha Outreach Foundation. For all the staff, orphans, Bible students, and church bodies that are under us. The Bible says that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Even though we know this truth, often times we rarely consider the effects this has on lives. Satan is prowling around and looking for those whom he can consume. And even though the Christians are securely placed in the palms of God, we still sometimes suffer the pain from the sins of others. I can not go into details about all that has taken place over the past week, but I can share with you, that we as a family (all of us at AOF) are hurting. Satan is trying hard to steal, to kill and to destroy all of the lives here. He is trying hard and there have been some who he has almost destroyed, but are hope is firmly placed in the truth of Gods Word. And even though some will turn away, there will be others in who Gods healing touch will be seen for all of eternity. I can’t share more, but I do ask, I plead with you now. Please pray for us. We are hurting, but we aren’t destroyed.

PRAISE AND PRAYER:

Praise Report:

  1. Praise God for the three teams which were able to visit and bless all of us during the past month.

  1. Praise God for the 650 Akha teenagers who were able to attend the ACY camp this past week.

  1. Praise God for the chance to provide dental and medical care in an Akha village where there is no hospital. In one day 30 people were able to receive dental care and over 50 people medical care all for free.

  1. Praise God for a week to rest, Mam, Garuna and I are looking forward to spending a week with my sister and her family in Bangkok.

Prayer Requests

  1. Please be in special prayer for the ministry here and all the lives it touches. The last week was a hard one, and it reminded us once again that unless the Lord builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. We were dealt a blow from Satan, but we are thankful that he can only bruse Christ’s heal, while Christ will crush his head. We are all hurting, but He is the great healer. Already the healing is taking place, but still there is need for more. Please remember us in your prayers. You may not know all the details, but He does. We are crying out to Him, please join us.

  1. Please continue to pray for the Rutledge’s support team. We have been blessed with many great supporters, your financial gifts and prayers are such a blessing. We are still in need of some financial support and also some prayer support. Following last week, I am again reminded how key prayer is. Please, please email me a short note letting me know if you are willing and able to support us with your prayers and with your finances. You can make checks payable to UBC Worldwide Ministries and send them to (University Bible Church Campus Box 8133, Pocatello, ID. 83209.) But I ask all of you who get this to please email me and let me know you are praying. Please?

You have been a true blessing to our family and the ministry here at Akha Outreach Foundation. I want you to know that I am eternally grateful for all you have given, and for your willingness to partner with me in reaching out to the Akha with the message of the CROSS. Thank you for your prayers, and please know that you are always near my heart and in my prayers.

Your fellow servants in Him

Dan, Maam, Garuna, + 1 Rutledge

“He that is blest is himself a blessing. Let us wish

That for each other and be that to all those for whom

We work and for whom we care. That someone should be a

Blessing to others is the greatest thing of all isn’t it?

Not just a helpmate, or a companion or a friend,

but a blessing.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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