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Newsletter EASTER April 2011

M&S, City Hall  

Stothers head back to Balfast.
People ask how long? We don’t know is the answer.

Our last newsletter spoke about telling God what our plans are.  We try not to do that and we wait.  We patiently wait and we believe in God’s perfect timing.  Our new visas came quickly once the application package was complete.  Our return flights are good for
May 2.  Our time at home has been grand. 

Today is Easter Sunday.  It is the most important celebration of the church year. We celebrate the central event in the Christian faith. Jesus Christ beat death, appeared for 40 days to hundreds of people and changed the world.  That is our hope.  Celebrating with old friends and our home church was a special treat. 

We return to Belfast in a week.  Our work awaits us and we look forward to visiting our new friends who are elderly or shut in; look forward to our own computer and Blackberry comms; look forward to writing some prayers and poetry, and making more porcelain pottery and seeing what happens.

Our plans are few.  For May we renew Ward’s prescriptions, make medical appointments, and insure the car.  Then resuming morning prayer time and a day away with the leaders of our church partnership with L’Arche to see the way forward for The Loom.  An evening with Ethel’s friends to see, Arthur Miller’s “View from the Bridge”.  Ethel is our pied piper who gathers her friends once or twice a month.  Fascinating friends: a Nepalese Indian man who retired from teaching finance and is now doing a dissertation on Nietzsche, two female Anglican rectors, a Bible College history lecturer, a librarian, and so many more interesting Northern Irish people I’ve lost count.  More later on Ethel as she is planning a trip to Beijing and Yunnan province in August where she consults on potatoes.  Marda wants to go. Any one of you wants to go? 

Our visas are good for two years.  Many of you have thought about visiting.  So far, Bill and Beth are coming in mid September for 5 days.  Anyone else?  We want to entice people who might consider living part time and exploring what you can bring to the Irish people or what the people can give to you. 

While we were away, Deborah has rekindled her excitement for the church and for a way forward.  This is very significant because she is a young person and a key community member.  So we return to continue our coming alongside and encouraging faith. 

Thank you for your support in so many ways.


PRAYER POINTS
1. PRAY FOR SMOOTH CAR INSURANCE AND ROUTINE.
2. PRAISE FOR NEW VISAS.
3. PRAY FOR WARD’S MOBILITY AND EFFECTIVE MEDS.
4. PRAISE FOR MOVING THE CHURCH FORWARD TO SEEK MORE APPROPRIATE PROPERTY.
5. PRAY FOR JEREM AND ALAINA WHO MISS US.
6. PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT WITH THE LOOM.
7. PRAY FOR JACK’S HEALTH.

Email: wardstothers@cten.org
Phone: (028) 90 291986  From U.S. 01144.2890.291986

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