The Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For

To the faithful servants of God who are partnering with the Rutledge family as we serve here in Thailand at Akha Outreach Foundation; grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good and His mercies are new every morning. It is such a blessing to be known by Him and used by Him for His glory. I truly am blessed to be able to partner with you to serve the Akha through our work here at Akha Outreach Foundation. Thank you for your willingness to give, your willingness to pray, and above all your willingness to be used by God.

God is at work in so many ways, and His blessings are countless. I am not able to share with you all that God has been doing here, so I have decided create a top ten list. So please sit back and enjoy:

Garuna enjoying a northern Thai delicacy, deep fried termites. Yummy!!!!

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For:

10. This past December I celebrated my 34 birthday. Yes I know I am getting old, I am reminded of this everyday after playing Soccer with the children. I can’t run as fast as I used to, and I’m slower getting out of bed each morning. But we are not focusing on how old I am, after all this is a list of things I am thankful for. Shortly after the New Year it downed on me that I have been out of college now for just over ten years. I finished school in December 1996 and since that time I have been busy looking for a job. At least that is what I tell people. In reality I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a missionary for the Lord for the past ten years. I have been able to serve Him at Idaho State University with Campus Crusade for Christ. I have traveled to many places around the world with the JESUS Film, and for the past four years I have been blessed to serve Him with my work here at Akha Outreach Foundation. It is amazing that the number one thing I never wanted to do was become a missionary, and now that is all I’ve been doing for the past ten years, and it is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing; serving the Lord wherever He sends me. God has been so faithful over the past ten years, and I am so grateful for the chance to be used by Him.

9. This past Monday, our Bible school here at Akha Outreach Foundation started for its sixth year. Akha Bible Institute welcomed nine new Bible students this year. We are thankful for their willingness to come and study the Word of God and are eager to see how God in going to work in and through their lives while they are here. Please remember them in your prayers as they begin their pursuit of knowledge through the Word of God.

8. On May 16^th, we started our new school year for all of the orphans. I now know how hard it is to get everything ready for children as they begin the new school year. You have to buy uniforms, books, pay school fees, lunch fees, get hair cuts, and all needed school supplies passed out. For all you parents out there, I feel your pain. It is a lot of hard work and now I understand why parents love the first week after school starts, because it gives them time to rest and catch up on some much needed sleep. But if you think it is hard for 1 or 2 children, you should see the craziness of 82 children getting ready for school. It was a challenge, but through God’s grace we were able to get all the children registered and started for the new school year. We are thankful for the eight different schools and the opportunity they offer for our children to further their education. With our children divided up in eight different schools, it is a challenge getting them to and from the schools, but we are still thankful for the opportunity our orphans get to go to school.

7. Continuing on with the subject of the children at Akha Outreach Foundation. This past month we welcomed seven new orphans to House of Joy. We are thankful for these lives that God has brought to live here and has entrusted them to us, to raise for His glory. Of the seven, there were two girls and five boys. This brings the total of children now living here at House of Joy to 82. I can honestly say there is not a day that I am bored. There is always something that needs to be done. Also with the start of the new school year, I have been asked to take direction of the children’s ministry here at Akha Outreach Foundation. This means that I am responsible for providing direction and guidance for the 82 children of House of Joy and all the staff that work with them. This is an awesome responsibility, and the thought of leading and aiding close to 100 people scares me. But the directors have placed their faith in me, and with the help the wonderful staff team, my beautiful wife, and our wonderful Lord and Savior, I am certain that we will secede in shepherding the hearts of all the lives God has entrusted to us, for His glory.

6. Onto number six of our top ten list. Starting in June, Thailand begins the rainy season which last around six months. There are many reasons why we are thankful for the rain. The main is it provides relief from the heat that has been burning us up for the past few months. There is hot, and then there is Thailand hot. The rain helps cool the air and makes it livable again. The rains also bring water which is needed in the planting and growing of rice our main source of food. So we are thankful for the six months of rain that are coming.

5. Number five on the list is a new spot I’ve added to my Blog. If you look in the right column you will see a small list of items under the heading “Wish List”. This is a list of items that are not available here in Thailand and are things that we miss from time to time. We aren’t saying that you need to go out and buy everything on the list and send it to us. But our desire was to help answer the question we often get asked; “what are some things miss while you are away from the States.” I love living here and I love serving here, but I do miss some goodies from the States as well. These are little things, but when you haven’t had them for a long while, they are a real blessing. I just received a care package from parents. Actually it contained presents for Garuna and Bratana, but they didn’t forget me and included some of my Dad’s homemade raspberry jam. It makes the morning toast taste so much better, trust me. It is nice to get a little something from the home front from time to time to remind you that you aren’t forgotten. We added the five items on the wish list on the Blog to aide those who want to know what we would like from the States. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 117 Chiang Rai Thailand 57000. Just in case you needed it.

4. Fourth on our list is truly a gift from God and one that I am so grateful for. In April I started my fourth year working here at Akha Outreach Foundation. When I first came here in 2003, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to help, and for how long I would be here. But God has been so faithful and has blessed me with the chance to serve here in many ways over the past four years. I am also trusting Him to keep me here and use me for His glory as long as He sees fit. For now I am so grateful for God bringing me here and providing all I have needed to keep me and my family here for His service.

3. We have now reached our top three. Number three is the three beautiful women God has blessed me with.
Maam is a wonderful wife, an amazing Mom, and a first class cook, as all of us here at the foundation can verify. She rises at 5 AM each morning to go to the kitchen and prepare breakfast for everyone on the facility. After breakfast is prepared she returns home to get Garuna and Bratana up and feed. She is then busy cleaning the house and watching the girls until lunch time when she goes to the kitchen again. Her afternoon is always full and dinner prep comes around at 3:30 PM. After dinner is ready, she comes home and prepares dinner for our family. She is the first up each morning and the last to bed, but she always has a smile on her face and a spring in her step. I try to help her out the best I can, but she is an amazing woman and the three roles she assumes, she does extraordinary. The second wonderful woman in my life is my first born daughter Garuna. She is an amazing little girl and everyday I am amazed at her vocabulary. She is only two but she can converse freely in three languages. She is the inspiration for this top ten list; each night before bed we practice counting to ten in English, Thai, and Akha. This brings us to our third wonderful woman in my life, the youngest but for sure not the smallest. Bratana Joy is now 5 months old and is wearing the same size clothes as her older sister. When she was born, she was skinny and tall. Weighing only 3.2 Kg. By her two month check up she was 6 Kg and at her four month check up she was up to 9 Kg. Now she is 10 Kg only two Kg lighter then Garuna. She is a happy baby and lives up to her middle name Joy. Always smiling and loves her big sister. I am truly blessed with these three lovely ladies in my life and that is why they make number three on our top ten list of things to be thankful for.

2. Number two on our list is the celebration of Garuna’s second birthday which took place on the 16^th of May. It is amazing how fast they grow up and Garuna seems to change everyday. It is awesome to watch her converse freely in English, Thai and Akha. And it was a huge blessing once she was potty trained. Actually she was using the bathroom on her own two months before her second birthday, and it only took her about a week to master it. It is a huge relief for Mom and Dads time and pocket book. Now we only have to buy diapers for one child. We had a small celebration with some of the other staff and their children and Garuna enjoyed the cake Daddy made for her. She is a real blessing and we are so thankful for her. Her favorite present was the picture Bible we bought for her. She and Mommy read it every night before she goes to sleep. She is a great gift from God and we are thankful for her and her sister.

1. Now it is time for number one. Thank you for being patient and reading up to this point. Our number one on the top ten things to be thankful for is you. It is true that you are a big part of the Rutledge Family and our ministry here. Your prayers and faithful support are what makes it possible for us to live and work here. Our service to the Akha can only be possible through your service to us. And for this we are truly thankful. Thank you for your prayers, your financial gifts, and your words of encouragement. Your faithfulness has amazed me and has propelled you to the top of our top ten list. Thank you so much and we pray that God will continue to bless you abundantly and you continue to allow Him to work in and through you.

Will this is the end of the Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For. I pray that you have enjoyed reading through it, and I pray that is has encouraged you and reminded you of God’s faithfulness. God is truly good, and it is such a blessing to be used by Him in order to show His glory. I know that His blessings are new each morning, and I look forward to sharing with you more of His wondrous works in our next Blog. Until then, could you please remember me, my family, the staff, and all the children, Bible students, and churches God has entrusted to our care. As I assume this role of leadership, I know that only through His hand of guidance will I be able to secede and so I pray that daily I will seek Him first and continually give Him all the glory. Thank you for your prayers and support and please feel free to email me. I would love to hear how God is working in your life and if there is anyway I could help you.

God bless and keep you.

Serving together for His Glory

Dan, Maam, Garuna, and Bratana Rutledge.

The Rutledge Review

Happy New Year from Chiang Rai Thailand. Yes I know that might sound strange, specially since it is already the middle of April. I decided to start this by wishing you a happy new year because of two reasons.
1. In Thailand we just celebrated the Thai New Year, (Songkran)
2. Also I have not been very faithful in keeping you all up to date on what is going on here, in fact I haven't shared with you since December. For this I am sorry, and there has been so many things that have happened here over the past four months that now it is impossible for me to catch you up on everything. Sadly I will have to just mention some highlights and promise to be more faithful in my future correspondence with you.

Since I last wrote to you, Akha Outreach Foundation has been blessed to host a number of different teams. During Christmas time we welcomed a team of builders and helpers from a church in Twin Falls, Idaho. Following a wonderful two weeks spent with them, we welcomed my parents and their friend Judy for a while. This was an especially blessed time for us as a family, as my Mom and Dad got to visit our new daughter Bratana Joy for the first time. My sister and her family came up from Bangkok and even though our house was full, it was still so special. We are sad my sister Catherine and her daughter couldn't have joined us, but we trust that they will get a chance to come for a visit too. While my parents were here, my Mom was able to work on loving the new granddaughter(like all good grandmothers) and my Dad was able to bless us with some much needed home repairs and additions. Including kitchen cabinets for my very patient wife, who had waited a whole year to have her cabinets put in so she could have a completed kitchen. It was such a blessing to have my parents here, and I do pray for a chance for them to come back again.

Shortly after my parents left, we welcomed the board of directors for Akha Outreach Foundation and also hosted our second graduation for the Akha Bible Institute. Three days before the graduation, we hosted a revival meeting with many Akha's attending, all caped off with the graduation ceremony in front of over 1000 people. It was a very busy day, and all the staff worked extremely hard, but we can honestly say, "fun was had by all". We are excited to wait and see how God is going to work in and through the lives of these 12 new graduates. Three of them will be working among the Akha in two very closed countries to the gospel. It is exciting to see the Akha reaching out to their fellow Akha across the boarders. Please remember all the graduates and Bible students in your prayers. Our aim is to train them through the power of Christ and then to send them with that power to train others.

Following graduation and school break for the Bible school, we started to focus on the school break that was approaching for all our children. In Thailand the summer break starts in the middle of March and goes to the middle of May. During this time most if not all of our children return to their villages to spend time with their relatives. This is very important and a main focus of ours, to keep the children attached to their culture and their families as much as possible. During school breaks it is a great time for the children to help their families out in the fields and around the house. It is also a great time for them to share with others what they have learned during their time here. We pray that they will be agents for His glory while they are in the villages.
During this school break, is also a time that our staff gets some time off. Last year we were able to travel to the States and visit with many of you. We truly wish that this year we could have traveled back again for a visit, but the cost was too much, and we are just looking for some time to rest before school starts up again in May. We haven't had much time to rest up until now. After the schools were closed, we were busy registering kids for the next school term, and also making preparations for the children's return. We have been reviewing and revamping many aspects of the children's team and our making sure that we are doing all we can to sheperd the hearts that have been entrusted to us. It is an awesome task and none of us are capable to do it, apart from the help of God.
Please be in prayer for us as we look to the start of the new year. We will have 81 children come May, and we desire to see each and everyone of them grow in their knowledge, love, and relationship with God. And as He fills them, they will pass it onto to others.
I am sorry that I haven't written to you before. I missed wishing you Happy New Year, Happy Saint Patric's Day, April Fools Day, and also Happy Easter. But I haven't missed all of the holidays, I can wish you Happy Tax Day. Ok bad joke. Sorry.
Seriously, I am sorry that I haven't written more often, and even though I have been very busy, I still want you to know that I do take time to think about you and thank God for all of your prayers and support which makes it possible for Maam and I to raise our family here and serve the ministry. We ask you to please continue to pray for us as the next year offers new challenges, I will be leading the children's team, and with that title comes a lot of responsibility. I have a hard enough time trying to raise my two daughters, I know it is impossible to raise 81 children by myself, and so I ask you to partner with me through prayer and advice, as I seek God's continual guidance and strength to help me shepherd these lives that He has entrusted to us for His glory. I will be more busy next year then I have ever been, but I promise to take more time to update you on how God is at work here at Akha Outreach Foundation, and in our lives.
I am going to bring this to a close now. Tomorrow, my family and I are running away for a week vacation and to catch up on some much needed rest and relaxation. Since I last wrote to you we have been going full speed, but now we have some time to rest and just be a family. So please pray that we have a restful time and that we will be able to return rejuvenated for the new school year.
I also ask you to pray for my Mom and my Dad. I just received an email from my older sister saying my Mom is in the hospital with possible liver failure, and my Dad is sick also. We still don't know the extent of the problems, and my sister may be flying out to check on them. We know that they are in God's hands, and the best thing we can do is pray, but it is hard when you are so far away from you loved ones when they are in need. Please join me in praying for healing and also for strength for them and us as we are apart.
In closing, if you have a free minute, we would love to hear from you. I know I haven't been very faithful in writing to you, and I know that you are also very busy. But it is truly amazing how wonderful it feels to get emails from you. Fill free to write anything or ask anything. It is nice to know that we are missed and not forgotten.
Thanks and God bless you and keep you for His glory.

Dan, Maam, Garuna, and Bratana.

The Gift of Life

Greetings once again from Chaing Rai, I trust that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and I pray that your New Year will be blessed also. Here at Akha Outreach Foundation we are busy getting ready for our Christmas celbration which will take place on the 31st of December. We decided to celebrate New Years and Christmas on the same day. It may seem strange celebrating Christmas on the 31st but since the schools don't close here for Christmas but do for New Years Day, it is easier to celebrate Christmas on a day that the kids can be home to enjoy it and don't have to focus on school.
We must remember that Christmas is not just about a day, it is about celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Living in Asia over the past few years, I have also come to see that Christmas is more about family time then presents, and at Christmas we can celebrate the truth that we are all apart of God's family through the present of Jesus Christ. Our hope for the World.
Speaking of hope and presents, we would like to introduce everyone to our new daughter born on Christmas day, at 1:15PM. "Bratana" Rutledge is healthy and looks very much like her older sister except she was a lot thinner at her birth then her older sister. Mam is doing great and we are back home now getting 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.
We still aren't sure on an English name, we are leaning towards "JOY" but we are going to wait until my parents come next month to decide on a name. We are also waiting for her Akha name. This Mam's parents will give. Her Thai name "Bratana" pronounced Bra ta naa means hope. We chose this because Christmas is a time we celebrate hope. The hope found in the gift of Jesus Christ. Garuna has already given her younger sister a nick name. "Banana" because she has a hard time saying little sisters name.
We thank you for your prayers and you help. God has been faithful and has truly blessed our family during this holiday season.
We pray that you and your family have a happy holiday season and a blessed New Year. WE miss you all and look forward to the day you can see little "Bratana" in person.
Here are some pictures of the ever growing Rutledge family.
God bless you all
Dan, Mam, Garuna, and Bratana

The Rutledge Review

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 and 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 little 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 19^th, 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:

1. Praise God for the opportunity to live and minister here in Thailand.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

Addresses Needed

Greetings once again from Chiang Rai. Life here over the past few weeks has been busy but blessed. We currently are hosting a team from Colorado and like all of the teams that visit us, they are a true blessing. Each November we welcome a team from Colorado, and each November we try to send back our Christmas cards with them. Yes that is right, it is almost Christmas time and that means I need for you to do me a huge favor.
Could you please email me your mailing address ASAP. The team leaves on the 12th of November and I would like to send something special back with them for you. If you would like to receive your Christmas gift this year, I ask that you please, please send my your address ASAP. I look forward to hearing from all of you and I pray that all is well with you.
I promise to write more later.
God bless
Dan, Mam, and Garuna Rutledge

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 19^th, the military leader has turned the power over to a retired general and Thailand is planning on holding 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 5^th 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.

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

2. 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

The Rutledge Review

"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

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11
Hello once again from the Rutledge family and Akha Outreach Foundation. Each day offers something new here, and today was no exception. Today I found out that cat tastes a lot like pork. Yep, in fact I am just finishing chewing up my last piece of Cat Kebob. I knew the Akha ate dog, and I have come to enjoy the juicy flavor of dog meet, but I never knew they ate cat that was until tonight. I guess when you eat a lot of dog, eventually you will crave cat. MAYBE! Anyway, a stray cat was killed by one of our dogs, and instead of throwing away perfectly good meat, the Bible students started up the grill and we had some cat kebabs for an after dinner snack. I have to be honest with you, it was rather tasty, and it did taste a lot like pork. So now you can say "Cat" the other white meat.
Well with that said, let me welcome you to another issue of the Rutledge Review. I am sorry for the delay in its arrival. Much is going on here, and it is hard to decide what to share with you. Praise God all the Rutledge family is healthy and even the new little one that we are expecting in January is doing great. All the orphans, Bible students, staff, and village churches are doing well, and they send their greetings. The past two months have been so blessed; and I find it so difficult to adequately share all that God has done. Here are some highlights from the past two months; I pray that you are blessed as you read them.

"Planting the Rice"

A lot has taken place here at Akha Outreach Foundation over the past two months, but by far the most exciting event was the annual rice planting. For the past two years, we have planted our own rice in hopes of helping to cut down the food expenses for the facility. This year, was no different and everyone was eager to being planting the rice. In rice planting, you fill the patties with water, then you till the patty using a big rotor teller, and following that you hand plant the rice seedling, three seedlings at a time. It is hard, back breaking work, and when you think of planting many acres at a time, the task is impossible. But the saying, "many hands make light work", is true and with over 100 people working side by side, the entire field was planted in just a couple of days. We could have probably finished the work sooner, but it was too hard to pass up the occasional mud fights that took place. And even though everyone worked hard, we also made sure that everyone played hard too. One of our main goals at Akha Outreach is the help install into everyone who lives here a good work ethic, and making sure that they see hard work as something to be enjoyed. I still believe that rice planting is the hardest work I have ever done, but it is also some of the most fun. When you're standing bare foot, in knee deep muddy water with a bunch of 12 year olds, and you think about all the crawly things that are around your feet. And then you hear someone yell snake, and as quick as can be everyone is out of the water, only to see that it was a twig. You can't help but have a good time. But sometimes there are snakes, and I have included a picture of the one, my boys and I killed while we were planting rice. One snake verses eight 12 year olds and one white man. This snake didn't stand a chance. Everyone had a good time, and we are thankful for the chance to plant our own rice. We are trusting God for a fruitful harvest come November.
Before I came here, I had done little farming, and since I have been here, there have been many passages from the Bible that have come to life as I have been working with the land. As we till the ground and get it ready for the rice seedlings, making sure that each seedling is placed gently yet firmly into the prepared soil. I think of how the Holy Spirit works in and through us to help prepare the soil of many lives. Also how the seeds of God's Words are gently yet firmly placed into each prepared heart. But that is not where the work ends, you have to daily watch over the field and weed out anything that is not rice. So in our lives we have to weed out the things that choke out the seeds that God is growing. And then when it comes to harvest time, and you see the fruits of all your hard work, you feel so thankful and can't help but be overfilled with joy. Come November and harvest, I think of the lives here that we have been investing countless hours in, trusting that one day, through the mercies of God, these lives will be a fruitful harvest for the Kingdom.
I wish you all could be here to take part first hand in the planting of the rice fields, but I want to thank you and remind you that you all are currently taking part in helping to prepare the harvest of many young lives. Thank you for your continued financial support and prayers. One day soon, we will be witness to the greatest harvest the world has ever seen. What a day that will be when Jesus comes back to gather his precious seeds.

"A Typical Day"

The question I have asked of me most is, "What does your typical day look like?" I usually begin my answer with a chuckle and smile as I say that at Akha Outreach we don't have typical days. Everyday is unique and you never know what is going to take place. It keeps us on our toes. But, for those who still are eager to find out what a typical day looks like, I will share with you what last Saturday was like.
First I work up at 4:00 AM, and drove 15 minutes into town to take one of our children to his school. Santie and three of his classmates were going to a scripture memory contest in Chiang Mai. Following taking him to school I returned home just in time for all the other kids to get up and prepare for the work we had planned for today. Saturdays, everyone works from 8 AM to 11 AM, and in the afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30 everyone has studies Thai, Math, Akha, and English. Today I was teaching the teenage boys how to rotate tires on the ministry vehicles, and about 15 minutes into work time, we had to rush one of our 6 year olds to the hospital, he had put a battery into his ear and couldn't get it out. It was a watch battery that he found in the trash and he and another boy decided to put it in their ears. The first boy got his out, but A Kow didn't, and we had to make a quick run to the hospital. Shortly after one of the staff left to take him into town, some of our boys were using a wheelbarrow to move some weeds and ran into the corner of one of the buildings, breaking of a big piece of tile that covers the base of the building. While we were dealing with this accident, another one of our boys drove a different wheelbarrow through a sliding glass door. This all took place before lunch. Following lunch, one of our teenage boys, who had been having back pains, suddenly couldn't move because of the pain, and off to the hospital we went again. They couldn't find out what was causing the pain and had him admitted to stay for further observation. At the public hospital, you have to provide your own blankets and anything else you might need. So this meant that we had to drive back to the home and get his blanket, tooth brush, change of clothes and anything else he might need, and take it back to him that evening. It is only a 20 minute drive from our home to the hospital, but when you do it three times in one day, it seems a lot longer. The day ended with me crawling into bed around 12:00 AM, eager to hear the early morning wake up call which was coming in the next 5 hours.
Praise God though that even though this was a difficult day and at sometimes seemed to be spinning out of control. Still He was with us, and we could thank Him for this day that He had made. Santie the boy who took part in the scripture memory contest got second place out of 56 schools and 72 different teams. The contest was over the whole book of Acts, he memorized the whole book and was able to answer whatever verses the judge asked him. He got second, WOW!!!!!! Also on Monday we were finally able to get the battery and lots of other black stuff out of A Kow's ear. He was complaining of having troubles hearing, but now we understand why. This is his first year with us, and I think is the first time his ears have been cleaned. Also Tawee, the teenager with the hurt back, was able to return from the hospital on Tuesday, and the doctor says that he just needs to rest and not over work and his back well heal by itself. Praise God for His mercies which are new everyday, even typical days.

PRAISE AND PRAYER: Praise Report:

1. Praise God for the rain and the completion of our rice harvest. We are trusting Him for a fruitful harvest and a continual provision for all of our food.

2. Praise God for the 24 lifes that took part in the baptism service we had three weeks ago. There were 7 Bible students and 17 children who received baptism. It was special because we were able to have the service in our newly planted rice field.



3. Praise God for the continual growth in our church plant ministry. Currently we have 13 churches registered under our foundation, and during our monthly training of church leaders we have over 50 people attending. These men and women are hungry for the Word, and we are thankful that we have the opportunity to be used by God to feed His truth.

4. Praise God for the completion of the JESUS Film for children in the Akha language. We are waiting for the test copy to come back for approval and following that we will have another tool to help reach the Akha for Christ through the Akha.


Prayer Requests

1. Thank you again for your willingness to partner with our family as we serve here at Akha Outreach foundation. Your prayers and your financial support are true blessings, and I am so thankful for you. I do ask that you please continue to pray for our personal support. While in the States, I was blessed to speak with many of you who were willing to be a part of our ministry, and I am so thankful for those who have given so faithfully over the past three months, but I noticed that our current support is way below the needed amount. God has been faithful and has provided, but it makes me sad that there are many who are missing a wonderful opportunity to be a part of what God is doing here. If you are giving or praying, thank you for your gifts, and if you haven't but would like to, remember these are gifts that last for eternity. And if you know someone who would like to become a part of our support team or find out more about Akha Outreach Foundation. Then please email me. I would love to share with them more of what God is doing here. One of the biggest ways you can bless us, is in aiding us in finding new people who are willing to be a part of what God is doing here. I can't afford to fly home every few months to raise new support, but through your aid, we can continue so build our support team and share the wealth that is found in giving. If you have lost the information on where to send the money, you can make your checks payable to UBC Worldwide Ministries and send them to (University Bible Church Campus Box 8133, Pocatello, ID. 83209.) We are thankful for the chance to serve the Akha people for Christ, and thankful to have you joining us in this services. Thank you.

2. Please be in prayer for Mam and her pregnancy. She is in charge of the kitchen this year, and has been doing an amazing job cooking for over 100 people. But she is now into her 5th month of the pregnancy and is starting to slow down. We are making sure to help her as much as possible, and giving her time to rest, but it is still hard sometimes and she gets worn out. She is an amazing wife, mother, and cook. And I am so blessed to be with her. The doctor says the baby and Mam both are doing great, and we are looking forward to our school break in October so that Mam can rest. If I can save up some money, I may sneak Mam away for a couple days rest and relaxation at a nice hotel, where she won't have to worry about anything but resting. Thank you for your prayers and we are looking forward to sharing with you more news as the new baby develops.


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

--
Your Fellow Servant in Him
Dan A. Rutledge