Christmas Newsletter

Hi all if you follow the link below you can read my newsletter in a PDF in dropbox (you do not need to sign up to dropbox to view it)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qkaby6xyac7x3jl/final%20prayer%20letter%20dec%2015.pdf?dl=0

If you not wish to view it that way you can see the text of the newsletter below

Tales from Tramore! 

Number 10

December 2015

Happy Christmas!

Dear friends, I hope this letter finds you well and I do hope and pray you have a lovely Christmas and a great New Year!

I want to start off by thanking you all for your continued love and support during 2015.

I want to fill you in on what has been happening with me over the last few months and on what I hope to do in the year to come, (there are a lot of changes and challenges ahead).

Thanks again for your love, care, prayers and financial support;  I couldn't do what I am doing without people like you standing with me! 

 ‘The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord make his face shine

on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’

 Numbers 6: 24-26

Ministry News:

I have lots of news for you as regards what will be happening with me and my ministry in 2016.

As you know my colleagues Daniel and Inge have decided to return to the Netherlands, but up until recently they were unsure when exactly they would go, they have now decided that they will leave in May 2016. Their decision to leave has implications for the church (as Daniel is an elder) and for me (as I would then be a team of one).                                               

After much deliberation, prayer and discussion we feel it is time for the church here in Tramore to try manage things without any missionaries helping out, I am sure they will find it strange and difficult but I am sure they will do a great job with God's help!

It is exciting to see the church here in Tramore take this next step but it will be hard to say goodbye (but at least I will still be living in Tramore as I don't plan to move house again at the moment). 

 As a result of this decision I am no longer going to be working with the Tramore Church and early in 2016, I am going to join the ECM team in Ferrybank/Waterford.

I am going to join the Ferrybank/Waterford team and church but I am planning to spend most of my time doing schools work in the Waterford area using mainly Bible Explorer and the amazing journey ( from time to time).

Before I start this next role and take on new challenges I have requested some unpaid time off in Feb and March to refresh, recharge and for part of the time I will help my mum out with some practical  things at home. On my request I won't receive my normal allowance for these 2 months but it would be great if you can continue to send your gifts/support as it will be kept for me and it will also help build up my support fund (which has been running a little low).

There are lots of changes and challenges ahead of me in 2016 but thankfully we follow and trust the God who NEVER changes!! 

News:

Summer clubs:

Last time I wrote was just before the summer clubs started,  we ran a football club and a minion club and both went well and we had new kids at both.

Club: 

Kids club has been back up and going for the past few months and continuing to meet every second week.  We have been learning about the Bible and have also been learning the names of the old testament books.  There have been about 11 kids coming along.

I am not yet sure what is going to happen with club when I leave but in January I will chat with the other helpers and see what we can come up with.

Church: 

As there will be a lot of changes in church over the next few months and a Transition committee has been appointed to think about roles and to decide how and what ministries the church can continue etc

Handover: 

As a team we have been compiling a list of the jobs we do here in church so that when we go we can hopefully handover these jobs and roles to others. The transition committee will discuss and think about what can be kept on and/or who can take on these jobs and roles.

Christmas activities: 

We have a few activities planned over the christmas season: Dec 19th carol singing in 2 local nursing homes and Dec 20th Carol service in church

Shoeboxes:

I was helping out with the team hope shoebox appeal over the last few months and over 4,200 boxes of presents went from Waterford to needy children in Romania see www.teamhope.ie for more information

Deborah:

In the last few weeks my friend Deborah and her 2 boys Favour and Joseph were granted leave to stay here in Ireland, they have been living in a local direct provision centre/refugee centre. They now have to try and find a house and work and hopefully they can stay in Tramore but they are delighted God has answered their prayers.

Birthday Celebrations: 

I turned 40 in Aug and celebrated with  friends and family  in Cork, Limerick, Tramore and Northern Ireland. Thanks to many who celebrated with me in person and thanks to you all for your cards and presents.

New York: 

Thanks to your generosity (for my birthday) I am going to New York with my friend Eileen for a few days over New year's eve!

 Praise:

·  Deborah's papers to stay in Ireland came through

·  That the clubs went well in the summer and over this past term

·  For the shoeboxes that went from Waterford to Romania

Prayer:

·     For Deborah and her boys to find a house to rent in Tramore

· For the church transition committee

·  For decisions re the future of the kids club

· For Daniel and Inge as they prepare to move

· For my move to the ferrybank church and team

· For the Tramore Church as they face new challanges

· For Daniel, Inge and I to finish up well here in Tramore 

 With love from Charis xxx

Carol service

Club christmas party

We had our last club of the term this week, here are a few photos. We played some Christmas themed games and watched a cartoon version of the Christmas story. 

Great News!!

I got some great news on Thursday night.... my friend Deborah and her 2 boys were granted their paperwork so that they can stay here in Ireland (she has been living in one of the direct provision centers here in Tramore). She has been waiting on this news for years but has been faithful in praying and trusting that God would grant her request. The next big step is to find her a place to move into so please continue to pray for her at this time thanks charis x

Shoeboxes

I have been busy helping with the shoebox appeal the last few weeks - 4214 filled shoeboxes and 400 tubes of  toothpaste went off from Waterford to Romania on Saturday morning.

Club

Sorry I have not written much recently I just don't know where the days go to!!! We have had 2 clubs so far and we have had 11 kids both weeks. We are learning about the Bible this term as I would like to enthuse the kids to read the Bible for themselves and we are also learning the books of the Old testament instead of a memory verse  (which is maybe too big a task for us!!) we are using actions to try and remember them and also a song!! please continue to pray for the club, for the kids and for me as I prepare thanks

books of the bible song 

Shoeboxes

Here are some picture from the hall where we are sorting out the shoe boxes, I have only been in helping in the hall twice as I am mainly getting extra things to put in the boxes, 'fillers'. The last Picture is of 2 german girls who are here working with the ferrybank team and who have been helping with the shoeboxes too.

Christmas shoebox appeal

I am helping out with the christmas shoebox appeal this year, contacting schools, getting extra things 'fillers' to put in the boxes and I will also be helping with the sorting of the boxes in the warehouse in November too. 

4,000 boxes went from Waterford last year! 

Shoeboxes

Club

We are starting back the kids club tomorrow week Wednesday 4th Nov, please pray for me as I plan what we will learn this term and for the kids to come back too thanks charis

Friends

susan, avril and I up the galtee mountains 

I was in Limerick last Sunday sharing about my work in a church there called Mallow street Christian fellowship, and as the weather had been so nice recently I thought I would camp in the glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary on my way back on Sunday night. I was arranging to meet my friend Avril in Limerick for a coffee as she lives just an hour from there and I don't see her often, but as we were arranging when and where to meet via text it came to light she was going to the glen of aherlow on sunday as well to stay in a hotel with another mutual friend, Susan, and so they arranged for me to be able to stay with them in the hotel and we had a great night of fun and laughs together and I didn't need to camp outside in the cold!!  It was another reminder to me that God looks after all our needs!

The Dentist and an answer to prayer

I don't know if you remember but in June/July I had a bad tooth and needed a root canal and a crown, this was going to be VERY expensive so I got the root canal done here in Tramore and I was going to get the crown in the north in Novemeber. In the last couple of weeks I was in contact with my dentist here in Tramore to get an x-ray I needed to bring up north with me, the dentist phoned me back to say sorry I hadn't received the x-ray yet but also that she could offer me the crown at a reduced rate as she had been given some vouchers from suppliers and so the reduced price will be about the same as if I go north, it is still very expensive but I wont have to travel up and down to the north to get the work done!! Thanks for your prayers about my tooth and thanks to God for this answer to prayer!! I have NEVER heard of a dentist reducing the cost by so much before!

Holidays

I was away on my summer holidays (in the north of Ireland) with my mum for a couple of weeks from the end of Aug, it was good to get away but mum and I were both sick and so we didn't do a lot when we were away

Florence court house 

Tuly castle 

Birthday celebrations

Hi everyone sorry for the blog silence over the last month, it was the end of Aug when I last posted something on the blog and believe it or not today is the 1st of October!! 

I had some great birthday celebrations in Aug and September and I even have one more party to look forward to here in Tramore on this Saturday the 3rd Oct ( I cancelled it in Aug as I was sick ). I have attached a few photos from the different birthday celebrations that I had, thanks to you all for your cards, presents and well wishes! 

Feeling better

You will be glad to know I am feeling a good bit better, I am not 100% yet but I am going ahead with my Northern Irish party on sat and then I am staying away for my holidays so I will have plenty of time to recover. Thanks for your prayers charis x

Tramore Party cancellation

Hi all, I just want to let you know that I picked up a bug and I am not feeling very well and so I am going to cancel my birthday get together in Tramore tomorrow the 22nd Aug, hopefully I can reschedule in the future, sorry charis  

Video of some singing at minion camp

Minion Club

We had a good week at the minion camp, we had about 18 most days and we all had a great time together. Thanks for your prayers; God really helped me with the preparations that I needed to do each evening especially for the lessons. I was busy over the weekend collecting kids from camp and with visitors and since then I have been trying to get my house back in order!! My birthday is this week and I am going away for a few days which I am really looking forward to. thanks again for your continued support and prayers charis x 

cake we had on the last day

Minion camp day 2

We had 21 at club today which was great and as the weather was dry again this morning were were able to play outside at the start too, which helps!! Today I talked about what it meant for the minions to serve their master; that they obeyed him, loved him and followed him and and we need to serve God like that too  - thanks for your prayers but please continue to pray as I prepare the lesson each day for the next day, that I will have clarity and wisdom! Pray also for God to be at work in the kids hearts too. thanks Charis x

Minion Camp!

We had 17 today at the first day of minion club, which was good considering its a bank holiday today. It was hard work to get ready over the weekend and I had an early start this morning too(6:30am). I only managed to get the first lesson prepared in time for today, when we talked about the minions serving a master and that we should serve God as our master.   Please pray for me as i now have to prepare lesson 2 and will have to prepare the others as I go along. Thanks for your continued prayers Charis x

our memory verse 

Minion camp

On monday we start the minion camp in the estate where we usually have club during the year please pray for me over the weekend as I try and prepare for this next week (I have A LOT to do), as I meet with the new team and helpers tomorrow Sunday and for the kids to remember to come on monday! thanks charis x 

Football camp

We had a great week at football camp, the numbers went up during the week and we had 20 for the last 3 days. The kids seemed to really enjoy it and listened well during the bible talk at half tame too. Thanks for your prayers , see below for a few more photos from the week

Thanks to Tramore rangers for the use of their pitch. One of the Tramore Rangers team and handy man with Steve(in red) the leader of the beach team last week

The Cups all ready for the prize giving

Kids with their certificates and trophies 

flowers some of the kids got me 

Football

Hi all and thanks for your prayers , we have had just 2 days of football camp so far,  we had 16 kids Monday and 12 today, not many but there are some who have never had any contact with us at all and are driving in from Waterford city each day. The weather has been ok (ish) it was better today than yesterday! we have use of the changing rooms this year which is great in case it does lash with rain some morning. There are a couple of helpers from church and the rest are from beach missions, among the helpers from church is girl who actually goes to America on Sunday as she has a soccer scholarship to go study there!!Please continue to pray for the team as we run the camp thanks charis

using the wordless book football

spot the donkey! 

 

Prayer

It is great to have people like you praying for the work here in Tramore. Over the next 2 weeks I have two 5 day camps/clubs and I was thinking it would be great to get you to pray specifically for me and the team as we run these clubs.
This week starting mon 27th we have the footballl club which runs from 11:30- 12:30 each morning
- Please pray for me as I meet with the helpers from the beach missions Sunday evening to make plans for the camp
- Please pray for the weather to be favorable
- Please pray for the kids to remember the camp is on and to come along
- Please pray for safety
-Please pray for the team as they run the activities, for enthusiasm, energy, care, and for God's love to be evident through all we do
- Please pray for the Bible thought we will have each day at about 12, I will do the first one based on the wordless book but using the wordless football!!
- Please pray for the kids and families to go along to the events down at the beach too
- Please pray for God to be at work through this week

thanks charis x

Getting ready

The football club starts in just a couple of days time so I am busy getting ready; pumping up footballs, gathering equipment, etc etc The weather is to be mixed this week so hopefully we manage to have dry (ish) weather each morning. Please be praying for the week, for the team I will work with, that kids will come and that God will be at work thanks charis x

latest news letter

Hi all I sent out a news letter last week via email but I am using a new provider called mail chimp so if you usually get my news via email it might be in your junk, or promotions box? or I might have missed you when transferring names across, if so please let me know thanks! please find my news below too thanks for your continue support charis x

Hi all, just a short note to update you on my summer news and to ask for your continued prayers. Thanks so much for your continued support and prayers love Charis xx

Praise Points: 

1. That I didn't have to move house this summer!! 

2. That the kids club went well this last term and that the kids remembered to come along even though it was only on every second week

3. For the 3 Bible college students - Jan, Judith and Sabine who were here for 3 weeks in June (from a Bible college in Germany) and for the work they were able to do when they were here such as delivering over 1700 beach missions flyers and christian magazines to homes in Tramore as well as lots of practical work such as painting

4. For God's continual financial  provision; especially though a recent grant I received and a new financial supporter

Prayer Points:

1. For the 2 clubs/camps on over the next few weeks -  football camp 27th-31st July  and for the minion club/camp from the 3rd to 7th August 

2. For the planning and the running of the clubs, that Kids will come and that God will be at work

3. For the work that Beach missions will do over the 3 weeks they are here in Tramore - starting 18th July

4. For the training day in September that many from other Waterford churches will come along 

5. For a good rest when I have a holiday in September

6. For my decision as regards what to do when my colleagues leave, that what I should do next will become clear 

The Beach Missions will be back in town for 3 weeks, from the 18th July. Please Pray that the 3 weeks will go well and there will be many children and families reached with the good news about Jesus this summer.

We will run 2 camps this summer in conjunction with the beach missions. We will run the football camp again this year from the 27th July, please Pray for me as I plan and run this week and Pray that many kids will come along. 

The second camp we will run will be where we usually have kids club during the year. Pray for preparations for this club too, for the kids to come along and for God to be at Work in the kids hearts. 

     

In September we will run another training day in conjunction with BCM and the 'In step with the master teacher' programme. Last year this was a great day and we are looking forward to it again so that we can be trained, encouraged and can share ideas. Please pray that more will attended from the other churches in Waterford so they can benefit from this great training taking place right here in Waterford.

I have a BIG birthday coming up in August (my 40th) and as I have friends all over the country I am planning to have a party in Tramore on Saturday 22nd August from 3pm-5pm in the Riverstown community centre and another in the north at 7:30pm on the 29th Aug in the Tudor Cinema, Comber.  If you can come to one or both please do!! (just let me know) check out my party blog see more information about the parties: www.charis40thbirthday.blogspot.ie