Recently my sister Michelle and I spent a weekend in Maine with Scott and Jen Randolph and their family.  My girlfriend Karla joined us as well.  All of these dear friends were with us when we served at the school center in Brasil.  It was wonderful being able to spend time with them.  I  know that after we leave for Thailand, it will be at least 4 years until I see them again (unless they come and visit me)!

We spent our time touring historical towns and then went to see a lighthouse.  We also had lobster for dinner (fresh).  The weekend was filled with lots of activity.  We climbed a mountain and also went kayaking.  I do have to say though, the best part of our trip was being able to be there for Scott’s installation service for the church he is now pastoring.  My good friend Scott is now Pastor Scott.  What a blessing to be able to share those times with their family.

I will share a few of my favorite pictures with you, ENJOY! 

Boring, trying, average, challenging?  Would you presume to describe it as a year of miracles?

The year 1666 for a citizen of London was definitely not boring or average.  Many had been dreading this year for some time due to the fact that it contained the alleged “mark of the Anti-Christ”, the number 666. 

London had been ravaged by the plague, known to us as the Black Death, several times during the 1600’s.  However, the outbreak between 1665 and 1666 claimed between 70,000 and 100,000 lives.  Dead bodies were piled in the streets and when they were finally buried they were dumped unceremoniously into mass graves.  Ultimately one in seven residents of London would die from the plague.  Because of the fear of the plague Trinity College in Cambridge shut its doors and sent its students home, thereby interrupting their education.  By spring of 1666 the worst of the plague had passed and the king, Charles II, felt safe enough to return to his London palace, Whitehall from which he had fled in 1665.

Tragedy struck London again in September 1666 when a fire in a baker’s shop got out of control.  Aided by a strong wind, the fire soon began consuming the city.  At the end of four days the fire had burned 500 acres of the city destroying 87 churches (including St. Paul’s Cathedral) and 13,200 homes.  Incredibly, only 9 lives were lost.

We all know that the Middle Ages were a time of misery, death and pretty much awful for all but the wealthy.  What I find amazing about this is that in 1667 an Englishman by the name of John Dryden wrote a poem entitled annus mirabilis which is Latin for “year of wonders” or “year of miracles.”  With 500 acres of London reduced to ashes and up to 100,000 former citizens decaying in fresh graves, how can Dryden consider 1666 a year of miracles?  Dryden’s position was that God had saved England from a possibly greater tragedy.  For 500 acres of London to go up in smoke with the loss of only nine lives was miraculous.  London’s streets were notoriously dangerous and disgusting.  The plague was carried in the blood of fleas and the fleas lived on the rats that infested London at the time.  In four days, the Great Fire of London destroyed the rats and fleas as well as burning up the ancient wooden buildings of London.  What followed was a massive building campaign using brick and stone rather than wood.  London as we know it today owes its existence to the Great Fire from which it was born.

Remember those poor students whose education was interrupted by the plague because Trinity College closed its doors.  One of those students returned to his mother’s farm in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire.  Rather than giving in to self-pity he continued his studies independently.  The result?  “The 23 year old student developed most of the study of calculus, as well as major works on color and optics, and the foundation of his theory of gravity and the three famous laws of motion that bear his name.” (www.pballew.net/arithm17.html)  He made these discoveries during his enforced “break” from school.  As you may have guessed by now his name is Isaac Newton. 

I wonder; how do we see the upcoming year?  Are we filled with foreboding?  Do worries of doom and gloom fill our minds?  Have we already faced hardships or trials and found ourselves overcome with fear and doubt?  I would venture to say that John Dryden witnessed events that cause our “trials” to pale in comparison.  However, though he was faced with the results of death and devastation, he chose to write a poem that highlighted God’s love and mercy.    And what about Isaac Newton?  Surely he could have complained about not being able to continue his studies.  He could have questioned God’s goodness.  Instead he forged ahead and God revealed to him truths about His creation that no man had been able to understand up to that point in time.

Our family is in the process of preparing to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand.  There are many obstacles and challenges that we face during this time.  As we file paperwork, apply for visas, get our shots for various and sundry life-threatening tropical diseases do we praise God for his goodness or complain?  As we pray that He will provide additional financial partners do we get discouraged or do we trust Him to meet our needs as He has promised to do?  When we consider the steep learning curve in the form of a new language, culture, food and religion that we will encounter in Thailand do we become fearful or do we trust the One whose plans are for our good and not our harm? (Jeremiah 29:11)

As I was reading in the book of Psalms I came across a passage that precisely describes our heart desire.  “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them.  The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:2-3)

Thank you to all of you who continue to bless us through your friendship, prayers and financial partnership.  We continue to pray that the Lord would challenge additional churches and individuals to partner with us financially prior to our move to Thailand in July.  Thanks for praying with us.

We praise the Lord that Gina is feeling so much better following her back surgery.  Her improvement feels like a miracle to us. 

As we encounter the storm clouds that will inevitably come our way, may we choose to focus on the sunlight that filters through      to brighten our path rather than on the clouds themselves.

If you would like to partner with us financially, your tax deductible donation can be sent to: New Tribes Mission, 1000 E. First St. Sanford, FL 32771.  Make checks out to New Tribes Mission and on the memo line write “for the ministry of Andy and Gina Templeton.”  We receive 100% of your gift.

 Trusting the Lord with you for a “year of miracles”,                                Andy for the family.       

Wither v. Prosper

“He will be like a tree firmly planted by   streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season.  And its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:3

            As I sit here and write this update, the outside thermometer reads 3 degrees and the wind chill is nearing -15.  I can almost feel my body withering.  What a change from our last 5 years in Brazil where a “cold front” meant temperatures plunging into the 50’s.  I could whine for quite awhile about the weather but I think I should move on to what the Lord is teaching me in all this. 

I have been reminded lately that this concept of withering or prospering is really more about a relationship than an outward appearance.   Psalm 1:2 tells us, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”  As we meditate on God and His truth and delight ourselves in Him we will be firmly planted.  We will yield fruit in due season.  We may visibly go through times of withering, where storms and cold may besiege us. Yet as we remain deeply rooted in God these seasons pass and we can be confident of bearing fruit in our season.

Focus: Thailand

          When we arrive in Thailand, a common sight for us will be the Buddhist prayer wheel.   Prayer wheels are generally cylinders made of wood, metal, or stone.  Prayers are then carved on the exterior of these cylinders.  Buddhists believe that as followers spin or turn these wheels the carved prayers are lifted to heaven.  Interestingly, the primary goal is the gaining of merit or good karma by the follower. 

As I have thought about these prayer wheels I have been challenged to think about the “spiritual” things that I do in my own life for the wrong motives.  Do I attend church, spend time in the word and serve others in order to “gain merit” or impress others?  My desire is that my ultimate passion in life may truly be as Paul said, “that I may know Christ…” Philippians 3:10a

Partnership Development

            One aspect of our home assignment that is not going as well as we had hoped is our opportunities for partnership development.  On a positive note the Lord has raised up three or four new families to partner with us financially and we praise him for them.  However, two families who were supporting us have been unable to continue so we have not made much headway.

            We praise the Lord for all of you who have faithfully partnered with us over the past five years through prayer and finances.  If you feel that this partnership has been a positive experience for you and your family would you consider recommending us to your home church or other church families that you are familiar with?  We would welcome the opportunity to share our vision and passion for global evangelism and discipleship with churches and small groups that you may have an existing relationship with.

            Thank you for considering this opportunity.  Please feel free to forward any of our recent newsletters to churches or individuals that you believe would be interested in increasing their spiritual impact on the world through partnering with us in evangelism and discipleship of students in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Thank you for all your prayers, your financial support and your friendship.  Have a wonderful Christmas season.                        Sincerely, Andy, Gina, Nate, Josh, and Lucas.

For more information about the ministry we are involved in check out our website at: ntm.org/andy_templeton 

To partner with us financially: Make checks out to New Tribes Mission and in the memo line write; for the ministry of Andy and Gina Templeton. All contributions are tax deductible. Send to: New Tribes Mission, 1000 E. First St. Sanford, FL 32771

once again enjoy a cold and white Christmas.  We had our first big

snow about a week ago and even got a snow day from school.  One

down of experiencing our first cold winter in some time is that none

 of our boys have the right clothes for this weather.  We are trying

our best to find clothes at Good Will or find other good deals.  We

 really don’t want to spend too much money on clothes that will be worn for only 4 more months or so.  I don’t think

we’ll have much of a need for winter clothes in Thailand.

Life can sometimes be like a canoe trip down a river.  There are times that are calm as you drift lazily along.  Sometimes you can see or hear rapids up ahead and you tense a little as you begin to imagine what may lay in store for you around the bend.  There are still other times when you are caught in the grip of the rapids.  During these times it seems that all you can do is concentrate on the moment at hand and try to make your way safely through the obstacles.

As we continue through our year of home assignments we seem to be facing a variety of obstacles and challenges.  We know that all of these serve the purpose of directing our vision toward Christ and away from ourselves.  Thank you for praying with us and for us through these times. 

Here are some of the areas that you can praying about on our behalf.

1. Gina has a herniated disk in her lower back.  We will be meeting with the spinal specialist on November 12 to determine what we should.  Please pray that we can get this resolved and that Gina will no longer have to live in pain.

2. Please pray that our boys will be an effective witness in the public schools.  It is easy to get discouraged when they are surrounded by bad language and immorality.  We trust that their faith will become more real to them over the course of this year.

3.  Please pray for us as we continue to trust the Lord to raise up additional financial and prayer partners prior to leaving for Thailand in July.  We praise the Lord for the individuals who have already expressed an interest in getting involved in the ministry of MK discipleship.  We are in the process of contacting local churches and asking for an opportunity to share this ministry with them.

Thanks for praying for us.  You are an extremely important part of our lives and the ministry we are involved in.

When its all been said and done

there is just one thing that matters.

Did I do my best to live for truth,

did I live my life for you

   And when its all been said and done,

  all my treasure will mean nothing.

 Only what I’ve done for love’s reward

will stand the test of time.

Lord your mercy is so great

that you look beyond our weakness.

And find purest gold in miry clay,

Turning sinners into saints

And I will always praise your name,

here on earth and ever after.

For you’ve shown me heaven is my true home,

when its all been said and done.

When its all been said and done,

there is just one thing that matters

Did I do my best to live for truth

did I live my life for You?

*song lyrics by Robin Mark

This summer we visited my brother and his family in North Carolina and spent a day at the lake.  We had a lot of time to play with our kids, watch our boys play with their smaller cousins and watch other people interact with their kids. 

As I paddled around in the canoe with my boys I got to thinking that it was a pretty good illustration of the 18 years or so that we have with our children.  We spend time with our kids.  We live side-by-side and like it or not our kids are observing us all the time.  From us, they learn how to react to certain situations, how to treat other people, how to view the Lord, how to deal with challenges and disappointments.  At the end of those 18 years they will “get out of the canoe” and be on their own.  They will put into practice all the things they have learned from us during our time together and will begin making their own disciples.

It was a good reminder that though we are commanded to go into all the world and make disciples, our first disciples are generally our own children.  How are your disciples turning out?  Are my boys disciples of Christ as a result of being my disciples?  Are my daily interactions with my boys strengthening their relationship with Christ or causing them to be frustrated in their spiritual walk.

As you go through this day remember that you are creating disciples.