Dear Friends, lately I have been greatly encouraged by the Lord as I consider my life and the hope that is mine in Christ Jesus. My hope is found in Jesus and my hope is that one day Jesus will be taking me home to live with Him. I am becoming more aware that everything that happens to me here on earth is preparing me for that time when He calls me home. My focus these days has become less on what God is doing in my life with an earthly focus and purpose and more and more on to the heavenly purpose that He has for me. I must say that I am getting more excited and this changing in focus has actually given me more purpose and meaning in life now.

I’m not sure if you are up with the latest on our family situations but this past week has been a bit of a rough week for us. Luke was down in BKK with kidney problems and the surgeon is recommending surgery to correct a kidney disease which is associated with his parathyroid gland – it’s producing too much calcium and if left untreated it eventually cause kidney failure. Poor old Luke has just arrived back home after undergoing almost a week of tests. He will have to return to BKK for further tests on the 13th of March with surgery slotted in for the 16th of March. Luke and Pe would gratefully appreciate your prayers. It seems that ever since they made the decision to come and support mum during her battle with illness the enemy has had a field day with Luke. No sooner does Luke get over one physical ailment then he has another one.

Just this past Saturday night Jaci was hit by a motorbike while crossing the street in downtown Chiang Rai. The motorbike was travelling down the wrong side of the road and was obviously in a hurry. Jaci was hit with such force that she was thrown under a car stopped at the lights on the other side of the road and was knocked unconscious. She is home now but is quite bruised and hurting in many places. Praise God there were no broken bones.

I will be teaching in Adelaide during the week of the 17th of March and I would certainly appreciate your prayers during this time, especially as I will be away from the family. On the weekend of the 23rd I will be back in Melbourne and we are looking at flying Caleb over so that he can see a specialist there regarding his feet. His right foot seems to be healing nicely but we are quite concerned about his left foot. The specialist down in BKK said there was nothing more he could do for Caleb’s foot and we would like a second opinion regarding this. Please pray that the Lord would open the door here for us as there is not a lot of time to get things set up for an appointment with a specialist and then for surgery, should Caleb need it. I think that Caleb feels badly enough already and has not complained about his feet but when pressed he does say how much they hurt him. His back is also giving him a lot of problem and pain. Please be praying that everything will come together while I am in Oz for Caleb to be able to come over and have his feet and back checked out. It has been 10 months since his accident.

I have been feeling lately that the enemy is seeing that he cannot “knock” my wife down and so he is having a go at our kids! We have seen quite an increase in “attacks” on our kids over the past few months. This becomes another “burden” for my dear wife and it can become quite wearing at times. Please be covering Penny’s mothering heart in prayer and that whatever the enemy may seek to throw her way will not get her down nor discourage her. Penny is doing well emotionally and spiritually but physically, she has some good days and some bad days. The good days increase when she does nothing or very little; while the bad days increase when she finds herself doing too much. Please be praying for Penny that she will be able to get a good balance with rest and work, but that she also has a sense of use and purpose while she lives here amongst the people she loves and cares for.

To help Penny I have been encouraging her take time out and go to the beach or else to the health retreat centre down in Malaysia. She had a great time during family holidays down at the beach and then just recently her best friend from her school days came over and they spend just under a week down on the beach again. The problem is that all the travelling to and from is very wearing for her. In a couple of weeks time Penny will be going down to Malaysia again for ten days. Please be praying that the Lord will use this time to increase the healing in her body.

Thank you so much for all your encouragement, your prayers, your letters, your emails, and that many of you gave so we could have a wonderful holiday down at the beach. Believe me, it was simply a fantastic time! We will carry fond memories for a long time. It was so great to have all the kids together and it especially blessed Penny’s mother heart.

With all love and appreciation,
Paul on behalf of Penny and the family.