Colossians 1:28-29
“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every
man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For
this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily
works within me.”
God is so good, and it is His greatness that our family is
grateful to be able to proclaim not only to those we are ministering with here
in Thailand but also with all of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who
partner with us as we serve our amazing God in this wonderful country. This
update is going to be full of praise for God’s wonderful workings. I have also
included a lot of pictures to help you experience some of the wonderful things
we have been blessed to be a part of over the past few weeks.
Currently in Thailand most of the schools are on break which
frees our family up to rest a little from the pressures of school and also
enables us to connect with some of the college students who are enjoying their
break from studies as well. The actual break is only three to four weeks long
depending on what school you attend, but as most of us remember from our
college days, any break is a welcomed break no matter how long it is.
Most of the students returned to their homes for this break,
but for those that have stayed here in Chiang Rai we were able to spend some
time, seeking to deepen our friendships with them and working together to plan
out meaningful ways to interact with other students once the new semester
begins.
One of the first things we were able to be involved with was
a three day trip to a nearby village, where about 20 college students went to
spend time evangelizing with a church in the village. The students helped by
offering some children’s programs and showing the JESUS film in the villager’s
native language of Iu Mien. Our family was blessed to be able to help provide
transportation for the team to the village and we wanted to stay and minister
with them for the whole time but our children still had three more days of
school left before their semester break and so that meant that we had to return
to the city and be diligent helping our daughters study for their finales. It
was a blessing though to hear the excitement of the students who went on the
outreach and to be able to serve them by providing transportation to the
village. We are already making plans for the next outreach which will be taking
place in December and this time, Lord willing our family will be able to stay
with the team the whole time in the village.
The next great adventure was finales week, and we are
thankful that God helped Gracie, Joy, Hope, and me as we finished up our
studies for the semester and were able to pass our finale tests. The girls did
amazingly well on their exams considering it was their first semester studying
at a Thai school and all the tests were in the Thai language. Their teachers
all said they did well on their tests and were looking forward to teaching them
again once the new semester starts on October 24th. As for me, I too
was able to finish my second round of classes which included one final exam and
two research papers. One of the papers was on hope and the other one was on the
sufficiency of Scripture. Both papers were challenging but the material I
studied to enable me to complete the papers was priceless and I am so thankful
for the chance to gain a deeper understanding and a greater appreciation for the hope we have in Christ and the
sufficiency of Scripture to enable us to live godly lives which are glorying to
God. With the completion of this last round of classes, it means that I am
2/3rds of the way through my degree in a Master’s in Biblical Counseling which
I have been working on. I have at least one more year left and then my Thesis,
so Lord willing we are hoping I can finish my degree by May of 2015. Thank you
for your prayer for our family over the past few months as we have been working
hard in our studies. We ask that you will continue to pray especially for the
girls as they start the new semester and continue to grow in their understanding
and use of the Thai language.
The third adventure
our family has undertaken during the month of October involved a short four day
trip to Chiang Mai, where we spent time resting as a family and also visiting
some fellow missionary friends who live there. The highlight for everyone was
the trip to the 3D art museum from which I have included some photos. The kids
really enjoyed it and it was something Mam had wanted to visit for a long time,
so it was a blessing to be able to enjoy the gallery together as a family.
Following our trip to Chiang Mai, our family returned to
Chiang Rai and spent the last few days of vacation working around the house and
catching up on a lot of little things which have been left undone over the past
few months. The kids are helping out a lot and every morning they are actually
fighting over who gets to wash the dishes. Crazy kids I have, but I do love
them. Mam and I have also been busy helping a young couple who are getting
married at the end of November get ready for their wedding. Mam was able to go
with the future bride and help her shop for the wedding dresses and I have been
helping the future groom prepare for his part in the wedding. This is the
couple we have been doing some pre-marital counseling with and it has been such
a blessing getting to know them and watch them grow in their love and
understanding of each other based on the truths of Scripture. Please continue
to pray for them as they wrap up their last few preparations for their wedding
and as they begin their life together as a couple? I have also been starting a
men’s ministry with some of the college guys and other guys in the church who
have recently graduated from college. One of the young men named Ben has been
meeting with me weekly as we study through Ephesians and grow together in the
truths of God’s Word. The other men have started to come to our house twice to
three times a week for some soccer (football) and fellowship. This Friday night
we will be having our official back to school night and have invited the
college students to come to our house for praise and worship time followed by
games and fellowship. Please pray that God will bring many students to our
house this Friday and that we will be able to continue our ministry among them
as we seek to instruct them in the ways of God.
Schools opened again on the 24th and it has been
a good first week at school for the kids. The universities also opened this
week and so we are looking forward to continuing our ministry among the college
students. At the church we have been helping with, we will begin an adult
Sunday school class next week which I will be teaching and we will be doing a
study on the overview of the Bible, since many of the students have little to
no knowledge of the Scriptures. Mam is also starting to work with some young
female students who will be helping lead the children’s church and Sunday
school times. This will help Mam be able to rest and enjoy the sermons and also
enable some of the college students to learn how to serve the church through
helping with children’s church and nursery care.
Well I believe that is enough for now. I am looking forward
to updating you more as the new semester continues and our ministry with the
college students and the local church we are attending kicks into full gear
again. We have been thankful for this short break and also for your financial
gifts which make it possible for our family to live and minister here full time
in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Our family has been richly blessed throughout our
years in full-time ministry and we are so thankful for the faithful financial
gifts and prayers of supporters like you which make that possible. Your prayers
and support are used by God not only in our family’s life but also in the lives
of those with whom we are reaching out to with the Gospel through Hearts
Redeemed Ministries. Thank you for
taking the time to read this update and may we always hold to the truth
recorded for all believers in Romans 8:28 where we read, “And we know that God
causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who
are called according to His purpose.”
Amen and Amen
Your fellow servants in Him
Dan, Mam, Gracie, Joy, Hope, and Kyle Rutledge
Seeking to serve and share the Gospel with the people in Thailand
and faithful proclaim God’s glory through our service with Heart Redeemed
Ministry.
