Most of the time life here in Thailand feels pretty comfortable and not that far removed from life in the UK. However, just occasionally, we are reminded of the realities of living in a tropical Asian country.

On Saturday 16th January Ann spotted a very large snake at the back of our house only a few metres from the back door. We quickly called the children into the house and shut the door before Johnny and some Thai friends went to investigate further. We then discovered, to our horror, that we had at least one 4 metre long adult python nesting under our home! On Monday, after much digging, spraying and use of floodlights, six Thai men managed to drag the python out of its nest … along with a second equally large adult!

We will be living in our Training House (next to our home) for the next two weeks or so while workmen dig up our garden path, fill in holes and make the area safe for us to live with three children!

Praise God with us for his protection over our family and all the workers involved in this event.

Pray too that we will recover quickly from the stress of what has happened. We are all badly shaken by what has happened even though we can see God’s goodness in the final outcome.

For those who enjoy the gory details a short video clip of the moment when the men dragged the snake from the hole is posted on Facebook and at Picassa

10th-13th December we have our Regional Christmas Camp for around 100 Buddhist students, plus staff, short-term workers and Christian students. This is always a very special weekend… short on sleep, requiring much energy but delightfully exciting to see students engaging meaningfully with the Christmas story for themselves!

• Please do pray for all those who join the camp and hear the true meaning of Christmas.
• Pray that bible studies, activities and personal conversations will stay with them as they return home and ponder the implications for their own lives.
• Pray too for staff as they follow-up students with their varying responses. Some will just want to come back for activities at the Youth House, pray that the staff and Christian students will be able to deepen relationships with these people in coming days. Others will be interested to study the bible personally or in a small group. Some may have professed faith. Pray that staff will have wisdom, discernment and stamina to respond appropriately to each student’s need after camp.
• Please also pray for rest and refreshment for all of the staff team at this very key time of the year for outreach. Pray that we will all have time to reflect on Christ, our Saviour, and the wonder of the first Christmas, as well as ensuring that others hear the Good News that a Saviour has been born.
• Personally we would value prayer for our family as Camp is the start of three very heavy weeks of ministry across the region. With much travelling and ministry to local churches as well as our Student Team, pray that we will know the Lord’s presence and leading as we engage in conversation, teach and preach throughout the coming weeks. Pray too that we are able to find special moments to enjoy Christmas with three very excited little people in our house!

HOT OFF THE PRESS ! … go to ‘Prayer Letters’ to download our 2009 Christmas Newsletter in pdf format