December 19th, 2006
"Well may we rejoice to ‘talk of all His wondrous
works,’ and show how practical a thing
it is to trust in the ‘Living God.’”
Dr. William M. Bergin
"You have hedged me behind a
nd before, And laid Your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5
Welcome once again to the Edge. I started this blog in the hopes of being able to communicate more often about what is happening with the Rutledge family while we are serving here at Akha Outreach Foundation. Sadly though the past few months have proven to be crazier then most and I haven’t been able to update you as often as I would like. In fact you can say that since I last shared with you life for the Rutledge family and also for the ministry here has been on the EDGE. I don’t intend to use the term on the Edge as something bad, instead we are focusing on life lived on the Edge of Gods greatness. Each day brings new challenges and new blessings as we follow God and His work in our lives and also the lives of those we come in contact with. Even though the past few months have been crazy, and there are days we do fill like we are teetering on the edge of insanity, God’s faithfulness is so great, and when we feel we are on that edge, He is always there to push us forward for His glory.
A life of ministry always offers new challenges, but this is the life that God called us all to, and we can press on knowing that He is not only with us, but has gone before us and is following behind. That no matter where or when we are. He is there for us. Life here is a challenge, but it is not boring; because we are living on the Edge of Gods greatness.
Now that I have warmed you up, let us jump right in and look at some things that have been going on here at Akha Outreach Foundation.
Quick Response Team:
First I want to thank you all for your quick response to my last Rutledge Review. I was able to get most of your addresses in time and your Christmas gifts should be arriving soon. Honestly we wanted to send each of you a special card, but we simply ran out of time to get them all written before the team left. Even though there was no card this year, please know that you are in our prayers, and we are truly thankful for all you do to help make it possible for our family to live and serve here in Thailand. I trust that your gifts arrive before the New Year and ask you to please continue to partner with us throughout the upcoming year. Your prayers and support are priceless and we could ask for no greater gift. Thank you.
Packages full of Care:
Second I would like to thank you who do take the time to read our Blog. I know that there are so many other things out there to read, and sometimes my letters get a lit
tle long, but I am thankful that you do take the time to read about what God is doing in and through the Rutledge Family. I was amazed when I received an email from one of you asking for our mailing address. After receiving the address, they proceeded to mail us a care package, filled with Christmas gifts for Maam and Garuna, and also some Pretzels for me. Words can not express the gratitude we felt at receiving such a small gift. Sometimes the fillings of being forgotten do visit us, but it is little things like emails, and small gifts that remind us that we aren’t alone, you are here with us, and that together we can press on for the Glory of the King. Thank you for your emails, your prayers, and your little gifts. They seem small, but they are bigger then you could imagine. Thank you for your time.
Emmanuel:
Thirdly, I would like to share with you what the next few weeks hold for us. It amazes me how faithful God truly is. There have been times over that past few months that I can honestly say that I was at my end. I didn’t have the answers to the problems we were facing, and I for sure didn’t have the strength to fight them. But God being always present, and all knowing, was not only able to guide us to a solution, but also refresh our weary souls. I can honestly say that the past few months have been the busiest I have ever been, and the next few weeks are going to be even busier. But God is our hope, and I especially enjoy the Christmas season because it reminds us of a crucial truth. “Emmanuel” God with us. I love the truth that Christ’s birth brings hope for all our days, because no matter what we may face, God is with us. I know that the past few months were hard, and the next few weeks will be even harder, but God is with us. With this truth we rejoice to see what tomorrow brings.
The Gift of Life:
But what does tomorrow bring? Well for all of us at Akha Outreach Foundation, it brings the beginning of a very busy two weeks. First, my sister and her family arrive for a four day visit and a short Christmas celebration. The day after their arrival we have a team of 18 people from Idaho arriving to help celebrate Christmas with everyone here, and also bless us with some different work projects. We are looking forward to this time spent with both my sister and her family and also the Idaho team, but as a family we are also looking forward to spending time with someone else. That is right the baby that we thought was going to be born in January has now decided to join us for Christmas. After visiting the doctor, it looks that we will be spending our Christmas at the hospital welcoming our second daughter into the world. We are so very excited, but we are also extremely tired because this is our busiest time of the year and we are doing all we can to get everything ready for our daughters birth. On top of all the normal stuff that is going on: Christmas celebrations in villages, sport days at the schools, and daily care for all the orphans and Bible Students, last week we found out that Maam’s brother was arrested for drugs, and is facing the possibility of spending the next 15 years in prison. He has two children, his son is living with us already and his daughter is at home in the village with her Grandparents. He was arrested because a friend of his told the police that Maam’s brother had sold him the drugs. We believe he is innocent, but here you are guilty until proven otherwise, and it would cost a lot of money to try to fight this. So right now we are doing what we can do to help and trusting that God will continue to use this situation for His glory. It looks like with the help of a lawyer he can be out of prison in about a years time, but we still need to find enough money to pay for the lawyer. We found a good one, who is Akha and works a lot on cases like this one. She gave us a good deal on her fees, but still it is going to cost about 50,000 Baht or $1,500. We don’t have this money, and right now we are stretched in helping to provide for Maam’s parents since her brother is not able to do that anymore. So we are waiting and trusting in God for His solution. Please be in prayer for Maam and her family during this time. We have been able to visit her brother a couple times in jail, and thus far have been able to help provide for all his needs, and the families. But emotionally this is really hard for Maam, and she really longs to help, but knows she isn’t able to help completely. And with the birth of our daughter coming in the next week, it has proven to be a real stressful week for us as a family.
Please pray that Maam will be able to stay calm during this time, and that we will have enough money to cover the birth and also help out in anyway we can with her brothers legal fees. Also pray for all the staff as they pick up the slack of our absence during this time that the team is here and everyone is busy with the holiday celebrations.
I know this is issue is short and kind of sporadic. I wish I had more time to share with you what God is doing, but I know this is the last day I will be able to write to you before all our guests arrive and life gets really busy. So I am working hard trying to get this out to you tonight. A great way to spend ones birthday, isn’t it. Yes that is right, it is my birthday tonight. December 19th, Happy Birthday to me. Thank you for taking time to read this issue of the Rutledge Review. I look forward to celebrating with you the arrival of our new daughter 
_____________. We still don’t have a name for her yet. So, in hopes of choosing a name soon, we are open to any suggestions you might have. And in the case of us using the name you suggested, we will award you with a very special gift. So think carefully and please email us back quickly with name suggestions. For her birthday is only a few days away.
Thanks for your time and we are looking forward to hearing back from you. May your Christmas season be joyful and your New Year blessed. Remember that Emmanuel has come, and God is with us all.
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year from Akha Outreach Foundation and The Rutledge Family.
God Bless you all.
“To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:25
PRAISE AND PRAYER:
Praise Report:
- Praise God for the opportunity to live and minister here in Thailand.
- Praise God for the wonderful wife He has given me and the two beautiful daughters He has blessed us with. We know that each of them is fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you God
- Praise God for the opportunity to host teams from different parts of the world, even Idaho. And for the opportunity to be a blessing to others, as they bless us.
- Praise God for family. Tomorrow we get to spend four days with Dawna and her family, and also my parents are coming in January for a visit. We only pray that Catherine and Hannah can visit us soon. We miss you all.
Prayer Requests
- Please be in special prayer for Maam and her family during this time of uncertainty about her brother’s future. We don’t know what lies ahead, but God does, and we trust in His provision, His faithfulness, and His hope.
- Please prayer special for Maam as she is preparing for giving birth. She is stressed, and we need her to be as calmed as possible. We are trusting for a quick and non problematic delivery. And also for the funds to pay for the birth. It is a lot less expensive giving birth here, but it still will cost around $800. We know God will provide.
- 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. I would again like to remind you how key prayer is. With out your prayers, we can’t continue, so please say a special prayer for us during this holiday season. 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.)
Life here on the Edge is exciting, and I pray that you feel the excitement too. God is at work and we are so blessed to be a part of His work. You have all 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 us here on the Edge. We press on in our hopes of reaching the Akha with the love of Christ, through the love of Christ. Thank you for your prayers, and please know that you are always near our hearts and in our 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
ing back into the swing of things. Garuna loves her new sister, and always is asking where she is. Daddy, is doing great too. I have been blessed with two wonderful daughters and a super wife. Both Garuna and Bratana have been easy babies. Bratana sleeps throughout the night and is doing great nursing with Mam. Mam is great too, and all I have to do is change diapers and make sure Mam has all she needs. Which is my pleasure.
