Newsletter

From: Norman Rideout [normride@worldnet.att.net]

Update from the Rideouts January 2004

Greetings,

We pray you all had a wonderful holiday season. Since returning to the States in the summer, we've had an exciting time. As allot of you may know, I was bucked off a horse at Debbie's aunt's farm the day we arrived in Texas. I got a compressed fracture in my T11 vertebrae and was totally stopped from traveling for a while. God was good. After 6 weeks of healing, I was back on my feet. In September, I was on a plane to Singapore where I spend 2 weeks ministering to the saints there. By October, I was able to build my momentum traveling here in the States. It's been a slow start, but we are thankful for all the doors of opportunity that God is giving us.

Our objective while in the States as always is to raise the funds needed to continue to fund the ministry in northern Thailand to the Karen people. Since 2001, we have lost a considerable amount of monthly sponsorship and do not feel that we can return until these funds are recovered. Our teams continue in the ministry of evangelism and church planting during our absence. We are praying that we will be able to join them by late spring.

Our team center in MaaJam continues to be used in wonderful ways. There are now 124 young people being sponsored by our team to live at the center while furthering their education. Their ages are mostly between Jr. High and High School levels. Many families continue to be touched through this ministry. Every month from December, the team hopes to be holding leadership trainings until our return. The center is being used for many of these meetings.

To the north of the center in the Musekee district, Pracha and Pirod were persecuted by unbelievers while traveling with some bible students. After preaching the gospel in one village, they were driven out by stoning. Thankfully, they were able to make it to the truck without anyone being hurt seriously. However, the truck took some damage and the glass was broken out. The good news is that many were saved and delivered from demon oppression during this trip. Pray for Pracha, , Moses, Nirand, Pirod, and Malachi as they continue to lead evangelism teams into those mountains. The expansion of the Kingdom seldom comes without a price. Pray that they would continue to walk in the joy and the boldness of the Lord, and that they would always be encouraged.

We also ask for your prayers for our family as we are away from our home these many months. Matthew is home schooling 10th grade and traveling with Debbie and I, while Micah is working in Lubbock, Texas and basing there. Micah's goal is to start university in the fall of the year in Thailand at the Bangkok International University. Prayerfully, he will be able to set some savings back while here.