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To: Don Woodard Sent: Tues, July 3, 2007 Subject: Ouellette Update (c/w photos) |
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TEAM NEWS!!
We have waited. We have listened. We have prayed. And we have waited some more. It is with GREAT anticipation that we announce a team decision. We believe God is leading our team to settle on the island of Phuket, in the city of Phuket. There is so much we could say about the process. It has been a significant journey for our team. We are 9 different individuals, with different dreams, passions, interests. We are on a journey of learning to love one another, serve one another, and lay our own desires down for another. While we are very excited about our decision to move to Phuket city, we are equally, if not more excited about the way that God is leading our team together! We know that our team was birthed out of post-tsunami ministry in Phangna province, just north of Phuket. We are excited to maintain a relationship with the Thai workers there as well as other missionaries, and seek opportunities to serve them as God leads us. We see the value of our large team settling in an urban center. Phuket City is the largest city in both of these provinces combined. Thank you to so many of you who have prayed for our team during this time. We are excited to continue the journey of listening to God together and planting a church together....in Phuket City!
FAMILY NEWS
Greg and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on June 24. :) Our wonderful team leaders Rob and Judy invited our kids to their house for a 2 night sleepover. Our kids were so excited for the sleepover that they counted down the days until Greg and I would leave! It was nice to feel so freed to go. We had a restful, relaxing, fun time together in Bangkok. We were also able to satisfy our taste buds with dinner at a Mexican Restaurant! (Not that we don't love Thai food, but simply enjoy variety - the spice of life!)
A TOUGH DECISION
I want to thank those of you who have been praying especially for Luke and Silas in their journey to Thai school. Since the Thai school year started in mid-May, I (Becky) have been going to school with them each morning. It has been a difficult journey for all of us. There were many interruptions to the schedule, but apart from that, the boys have been having a really tough time settling into their classrooms. It has been an emotional journey for Mom too. We feel like we gave it a fair shot, but we also feel like we want to give the boys a break from it and enjoy the "summer holidays" with their older siblings. It was a challenge to communicate these things to our neighbour - the school principal. I made sure to tell her how great we think the school is, and how good the teachers are too. I don't feel that our friendship has suffered. Luke and Silas have had a full school year already from Sept. - June, so I guess it's only fair that they take a break! Greg and I will keep going to language school throughout July and August, so we will need to be creative on how to "holiday" in the midst of life!
OTHER MILESTONES...
It's hard to believe we have been in Thailand for 10 months already! We have really enjoyed the time that we have spent in Lopburi. It has been a great introduction to Thai language and culture. We will both hope to complete our Level 1 language check before moving to Phuket. We will then transition into self-directed language studies. It will then be our responsibility to find language helpers and work towards completing Level 2 (fyi - Level 3 is considered "fluent"... and it's a whole lot more advanced than Level 1!). It seems suitable that our one year anniversary in Thailand be accompanied by our move to the South. We sure appreciate your continued prayers for these practical matters. We want to finish well in Lopburi - though we recognize that this "finish" is really only the beginning of the next steps that God is calling us to.
MORE SCOUTING
Please pray for Greg and Kevin as they head to Phuket City later this week for a scouting trip (Sat July 7 - Wed July 11). They look forward to walking and praying and listening to God as He shares His heart for this city. I will stay home with the kids this time, but will likely take another trip closer to our moving date...
Thanks for all the positive feedback from our last update - the Kids' Letter!! We will be sure to do that again!
We appreciate you,
Becky and Greg
Caleb, Emma, Luke and Silas
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Karen Unger & Kids: We said farewell to Karen Unger, the kids' teacher, this past month. We all miss her! She faithfully taught all our kids during their first year in Thailand! (...not to worry Miss Karen, we won't forget you!!) |
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Lopburi |
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Anniversary |
