News from Myanmar

I've found several news articles on this, but it difficult to know the accuracy.
http://english.gospelherald.com/article/asia/959/section/more/1.htm
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/95502.aspx
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/003/1.42.html
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/9490


Dear Friends,

The News from Myanmar recently has been a mixture of both good and bad. On the good side, churches are growing like never before and three is every indication that God is doing something unusual and wonderful in this impoverished nation. The bad news is that there are indications of a severe campaign against Christians that has already resulted in the destruction of several church buildings and caused believers to flee for their lives. According to an official document that was recently published in London, there is a “Program to destroy the Christian religion in Burma,” (Charles Colson, Breakpoint Commentary 1/31/2007).

I travel to Myanmar on Monday Feb 5th and return on Saturday the 11th. Some strong prayer support, intercession and warfare would be much appreciated.

Thanks for caring!

George Butron
Singapore

Kaarin Swanson in Australia

Whoa.
So, here I am, in Australia. The flight went well, so much better than i expected. On the LAX - Sydney flight, in the morning, they handed me a hot washcloth with tweezers... I pretended I knew what to do with it, but not before laughing at the confusion. It's not hot, just warm, like an early summer day and the geckos are pretty cool and make this chirping sound. There are some stowed away in this computer room whom were chirping last night and we thought it was a bat and even identified a peice of wood as that bat. But we were corrected and told that the bats won't come around until about april and they have a wing span of about two feet. HA.

There are two schools going on at the base right now, a Frontier's DTS and my MAD DTS. The Frontiers focus on underdeveloped countries and reaching those who havn't heard the gospel, so while my school is practicing music/art/dance they will be learning about medicine and stuff. They're leaving for the weekend to stay at a cabin but my school is staying here and we have some classes and are going to go into the city. My school (the Art part) leader was talking to me this morning about some photographers she's been looking into and art events around the city that we'll go to... there are only 4-5 of us art students which is AMAZING. I'm so glad there arn't many of us.

We have breakfast and morning tea, lunch and dinner and there's always a bin full of bread if we get hungry inbetween. So that's good, I'm glad it's bread and not something unsatisfying and lame! :)

I just wanted to drop a note and let you all know what's going on and that I REALLY appriciate your prayers!

Update Phil & Family in Antwerp, Belgium

Hello friends and supporters,

Well July has finally arrived. Besides some very hot days here we have people crazy about the World Cup Football being kicked out in Germany and the Tour de France beginning today. I'm considering catching some of the Tour along the way but not sure I can keep up!!!
Angela and the children have been in the States for 2 weeks now and its very quiet around here without them. I been involved in teaching as a chaplain at a Belgian Airbase every week and I enjoy this. I also have had opportunities to preach at local churches recently which is awesome.

Thanks for your prayers for Luc. He is scheduled for another surgury in the week ahead. Please pray that he would be open to learn more about Christ and living for him from the Word. His hope level has been low because of this health battle. I want him to let the body of Christ come alongside him to battle on the spiritual front (those unseen elements) and to show him he's not alone. I have also met a neighbor who is practicing Dutch/Vlaams with me every week. He's a really friendly guy who is also a dad and needs the Lord. His name is Ludwig.

Please pray for our Hoop Kerk group. This week we will have Pastor David from the mother church in Holland coming down to share. We are seeking to establish some leadership roles that everyone from the Antwerp church can both work with and come behind. This requires wisdom and sensitivity to the Lord's leading, as well as faith to move forward in this leading. Please pray for this Tuesday night and the road ahead.

Those of us internationals are feeling good about what were seeing with the group. It seems this time is the closest we have ever gotten to standing on our own feet and seeing each other not simply as a group but a body- a church! Pray that we keep going forward in our trust and love for both Christ and for each other.

Thanks so much for standing with us in pray and support. Please keep us in mind even as vacation time hits.
We need and appreciate you!!!

Rest in Him,
Phil