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Tales from Tramore   

Number 4, June 2013

 UPDATE     
 Hi all, just a note to say hi and to update you on my news. I have been working here in Tramore for 6 months now, which is hard to believe, I still feel like I have just arrived!! Since I last updated you I have had to move house again which was a big shock and I wondered what God was doing! I found out just before Easter that the family who I was renting from were coming back to Ireland and needed their house back and so I had just a few months to find a new place, pack and move. They say moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in your life and I have moved 3 times in this past year! I want to thank God for helping me through this time and for those who prayed, encouraged, sympathised, packed and moved stuff for me. A big group of friends, ECM team and church people helped me move a lot of my stuff over one weekend and I am in my new place now since the end May. I went on holidays with my mum after the move which was a good time of rest and relaxation but now I need to unpack and sort myself out in my new place. I also have to pay more money in rent so please pray God will continue to meet all my financial needs too. I am thankful I have a roof over my head (and a very nice one) and that I have food on the table as I know many people in the world don’t have those basic things.  A very close friend of mine (Sharon) who has been battling cancer for nearly 4 years , went downhill over the last few months and passed away just a few days ago, she was a great friend and supporter and a true inspiration as she continued to trust God through her illness, pain and disappointments, she is in heaven now and there is no more pain and suffering for her but please pray for us as we grieve her loss and especially her husband David. Thanks for your continued support and prayers love Charis xx

From left to right:Claire, Sharon and I in Bath , March 2013

Summer Plans

   I will be all alone in Tramore this summer (as regards the ECM team) as 2 ECM families are leaving Tramore for good. The Postmas  leave the 1^st week of July and the McCrackens leave the 2^nd week of July. Both families will still be working for ECM; the Postmas back in Holland looking after short term teams and the McCrackens will be starting a new work in claremorris, Co Mayo. The other ECM family (Malschaerts) will be in Holland on home assignment but  don’t worry there will still be plenty of church people around to keep me in check and there is also the ECM team in Ferrybank if I get into too much trouble !!   As there are so many people away over the summer I am looking after the Sunday school (TBC kids) for July and Aug. The older class will stay in the service and either listen to the sermon or do work sheets at the back and I will teach the younger ones, which means I will be teaching every week!  But don’t worry I will have help as the beach missions will take the class for the 3 weeks they are around so I will have 5 weeks total to do; 2 before beach missions and 3 after. Pray for me as I prepare for this over the next few weeks.  I also hope to run a 5 day club from the 29th July -2^nd Aug  in the same hall and estate where we have club during the year. I will also have help from the beach missions which will make it possible to do the club as we will have lots of manpower! Please pray for me as I plan the week, there is a lot of work to be done, and please pray that many kids will come and that God will be at work that week. I will also spend time with the beach missions when they are here 20^th July – 10^th Aug, they work with kids and families on the beaches of Ireland.  See www.ubm.org.uk for more info.

King’s Kids (kid’s club)           

We studied the life of Joseph this term in club and looked at the fact that he had lots of up’s and down’s in his life but God with him through it all, that God was in control and had a plan for his life even when it didn’t seem like it. It spoke to me a lot over the term as I came to terms with having to move again. The numbers of kids coming to club usually goes down a lot in the summer term as the weather is better and kids have athletics on the same afternoon as club so we decided to finish up club the end of May. The numbers were not too bad, we had between 10-12 most weeks but the number of helpers was the problem and this will be an issue next term too as some people have left  etc. Please pray I will know what to do next term if we don’t have enough helpers. 

Prayer and Praise Points:

• Praise and prayer for continued support through prayer and finances
• Praise I found a new place to live and got moved in ok
• Pray for the church and team as they say goodbye to the Postmas and McCrackens and for both families as they move onto new challenges
• Pray for preparation and running of the 5 day summer club 29th July -2^nd Aug  
•  Pray for wisdom as regards king’s kids club for the new term as regards helpers etc
•  Pray for me as I look after the Sunday school (TBC kids) over the summer
•  Pray for the Beach missions as they come to do evangelism in Tramore for 3 weeks from July 20^th
• Please Pray for Sharon’s husband David, her Dad, brothers, sister, nieces and the rest of her family  and friends at this very difficult time 

Sadness

It is with great sadness that I write this blog entry, my beautiful, courageous, loyal, fun  friend went to heaven yesterday the 21st June. Please pray for her husband Dave at this time and for her dad, brothers, sister, nieces and all the extended family. Sharon loved God and trusted him throughout her illness, she was an inspiration and a great friend she will be missed but we will meat again in heaven. I thank God her suffering is over and that she is cancer free now.

Claire ,Sharon (in the middle) and I decorating cupcakes Feb 2012

snake handling march 2013

I am back in my new house and I have broadband again!!

Hi all just to let you know I got back from my holidays safe and sound (the sea was a bit rough on the way home). I have been catching up on work such as replying to emails etc this week which was made much easier by the fact I got my broadband back a couple of days ago as before that the only spot i could get coverage (on the dongle) was in the window ledge upstairs in my bedroom!! I was also trying to unpack and sort some of my house out this week too but I got some very bad news about my friend Sharon last saturday which means it has been difficult to concentrate on work this week, she has been battling cancer for the past few years and on friday she was admitted to hospital (in england). She is now in a coma and the outlook is not good; please pray for her and her husband Dave and the rest of the family at this very difficult time! You can get more information and updates on her blog www.sharonpnews.blogspot.com

Claire, Sharon (in the middle) and I in Bath in March! 

All good things must come to an end...

Well my holiday finishes tomorrow, I have had a nice time away doing things other than packing and moving but the weather here has not been as nice as it was in Ireland!! I still have no internet in my new house and I am not sure when i will get it (they said it could take a month) I will be back to unpacking, sorting and getting ready for summer activities such as a 5 day club, beach missions and sunday school (I am looking after it for the summer) as well as goodbye activities (the Postma's and McCracken's leave in July). I will write again when I can but please pray for me as I prepare for all the summer activities and as i settle into my new home thanks charis x

On holidays

I am away for a much needed holiday (with my mum), but guess what the weather is fab in Ireland and cold here on holidays!! It is good to relax and do other things than pack, move, unpack and sort stuff!! before i left for my holidays I was in my new house for 3 nights so it is not sorted out yet but at least i am in it!!! I don't have internet yet in my new place and it could take a few more weeks (so i will not be on here much) , but i have some internet here on holidays. anyway I am enjoying my break as there is a lot to do when i get back so I had best be ready!!!!