Missionary Matters

By the time you read this, Johnny and Ann McClean, who normally live in Bangkok, will be in the UK having a family holiday in Northern Ireland and attending their son Matthew’s graduation from Belfast Queen’s University.

John Ryley

Please pray for all those students who are unable to graduate because industrial action by university staff has meant their exam papers are not yet marked; pray too that an equitable solution is found to this longstanding dispute. Younger son Joshua will then spend a couple of weeks in Norwich with his sister Beth while mum and dad attend the Keswick Convention. Ann and Joshua will then fly back to Bangkok for the start of the new school year (and a new school for Ann!) whilst Johnny goes to the UFM (their mission) conference and moves Beth to a new house in Norwich before flying back to Bangkok on August 3rd. Pray for Pastor Pramote during the McCleans’ absence as he takes complete responsibility for their New City Fellowship Church. There is no news of the Afghan refugee K who has settled in Australia now, while the McCleans’ other Afghan refugee friends, A, S and M, wait for a date from the Australian authorities before they can make their own move to the Antipodes. Please pray that a moving date comes soon! M has just graduated from kindergarten and will start grade 1 in August; attending this Filipino-run English-speaking school has helped M’s confidence, skills and English a lot but it is not cheap. The McCleans are very thankful for those who help them support this lovely family each month. And now news of someone at the other end of the age range! Grandfather Taret lives in a small shack about five minutes’ drive from their church. He is in his 70s, lives alone, and until last Monday was blind as he had cataracts in both eyes. He could be treated for free but was left in the dark because he had no one to take him for treatment. Previously he did not have a bathroom or electricity. Church members have helped: through contacting the head person in his community Grandfather Taret got a bathroom; Pastor Pramote put in electricity and lighting and the foundation now pays a neighbour, Bom, to wash his clothes and help him with his eye medication. Grandfather Taret is now clean and has clean clothes and a clean house as Bom got to work while he was in hospital. Overall, the change in his living standards is huge. Praise God for Grandfather Taret’s successful operation. Pray for his continuing recovery. Pray for Bom who has alcohol problems but a heart of gold. Pray for both Grandfather Taret and Bom, that as they hear the gospel they will see Jesus.