April 15, 2008 update

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note. We are heading out for an over due day off and an overnight stay thanks the generosity of friend on our mailing list. We are looking forward to getting away from the school work and just getting out of town for a day. One request to be praying about: Last week a teenage girl from Dublin who we have know since our arrival here in Ireland came down for a visit with her father. The purpose of the visit was that she was struggling spiritually. The battle still rages because of the adversary the devil. Our friend in Dublin phoned last night and is sending his daughter down again on Thursday to stay a few days. There are serious doubts concerning her salvation. Please be in prayer for Lisa as she counsels and tries to help this girl. Lisa needs prayer for strength and wisdom as she very much sensed the battle of the enemy last week.

Thanks for praying with us.

God bless,

Don and Lisa Thatcher

April 8, 2008 update

Dear Friends,
We had a good day on Sunday even with our morning attendance down a bit. One of our Indian ladies went back to India for her wedding which took place last week. One of our faithful Indian families went along with her for the wedding as well. We had another family out due to illness and one family away for holiday. But to my surprise we had a Nigerian family of 6 walk in just after I had started preaching. The story behind these folks goes back to February when my Lisa was riding back from Dublin on the train. As she was sitting there she pulled out her Bible and began to read. Shortly after a Nigerian lady walked by, and just as she was about to pass, she spotted the Bible and leaned down and softly asked Lisa if she was a believer. When Lisa said yes the lady asked to sit by Lisa for the 2 1/2 hour ride down to Waterford. Well, this past Sunday they showed up. Sunday evening was our second monthly youth service. The whole emphasis is on and for the young people although everyone is invited. Two of the visiting Nigerian children came giving us a total of eleven kids. We sang a couple of choruses, had a devotional, Bible quiz, games and a snack to follow. The kids had a grand time.

Please be in prayer for our work here in two particular ways:

1) On the 4th of May we are going to constitute and charter Anchor Baptist Church. This is something that I believe should be done sooner rather than later. This past year I have preached a lot of doctrinal type messages to help solidify what we believe as a church. We are looking forward and praying for a great day. We are very blessed to have Pastor Bob Wall from our home church, Fostoria Baptist Church, along with his wife come over for this special day and preach a challenging message to all of us at Anchor Baptist Church. Pastor Wall has been a significant help and source of encouragement to us along with our home church. We are thankful for a pastor that is in step with us (or us with him!)in our missionary service to the Lord. This will be a special day with the charter service in the morning followed by a luncheon and then our monthly youth service in the evening.

2) There has been some difficulty with the department of immigration here in Ireland. One missionary recently received a letter telling him that there was a three year time limit for missionaries and pastor following which they must depart and not return. There have been a lot of changes with the immigration policies in the last ten years but no one has ever heard of this. The missionary has gone to see a lawyer the specializes in immigration issues. There is a new bill that is in the process of working its way through now as well that has major flaws and could have serious implications for the future of missions in Ireland in the days soon ahead. Our annual registration comes due in August and we are coming up on four years here in Ireland this coming June. Be praying for the Lord to make a way when at times there seems to be no way. We need his mighty hand to lead us onward.

Thanks for your continued prayers, letters, emails, special offerings helping with the devalued dollar and most of all your love and support for our family to be here serving in Ireland.

May the Lord find us faithful,

Don and Lisa Thatcher and family

March 2008 Prayer Letter

Dear Ministry Friends,

January and February usually seem to be the most difficult months of the year here in Ireland.
The days tend to be dreary and short due to overcast skies and little sunshine along with much rain and very extreme winds. It is always a joy to see spring time come with the heather and daffodils in bloom. The bright yellow flowers on the thorny evergreen shrub called Gorse make the hedgerows come alive.

February was a bitter-sweet month. We had the wonderful joy of having Lisa’s mom and sister
come over for a week long visit with us. This was Lisa’s mom’s first visit to Ireland. We were
able to make some wonderful memories, and the kids absolutely loved having “grandma” here.
The following week brought the unexpected and tragic news of Lisa’s other sister’s husband.
This was a difficult time for our family. We just simply could not all go. After some prayer and
believing that Lisa needed to be there, we immediately booked a flight and Lisa boarded the train for the 2 ½ hour journey up to Dublin to catch the morning flight out. She boarded the plain and taxied out only to return and wait on the plain for 3 more hours to repair a mechanical failure. She missed the connection in Atlanta and ended up with a very long day. It was a very difficult time for Lisa and the family, but I believe that Lisa was able to be a help to her sister.

There were several opportunities for a witness along the way as well. In the midst of Lisa’s 2 ½ weeks away I found myself for four days in the Waterford Regional Hospital with numbness and some tingling in my right arm and leg. After many test they are still not sure what happened. One thought now is that I might have had either a viral or bacterial infection that my immune system attacked full force giving me these symptoms as a result. Anyway, I am feeling fine. For those who caught all of this news first hand via our email updates, we want to thank you for your prayers and the many email notes of love and concern. We are convinced that the prayers of
God’s people are vital in our lives.

In the past two months we have had two families visit our church. Both families are professing
believers. I am not sure at this point of their continued attendance with us. The first Sunday
evening in March was our first youth emphasis night. Everything was geared for the young
people. We had songs, a challenge from the Bible, games and a snack. Eleven young people
attended. It was a great time for the kids.

I won’t say too much concerning finances this time, suffice it to say, that the exchange rate has
simply continued to get worse. We hit 1.60 at the bank this month. The Lord’s knows all about
it. We just ask that you continue to pray for God to sustain us. Our thanks and gratitude goes out to four of our supporting churches who were able to increase their support. What a tremendous
help!

Do pray for the Paul and Bethany Smith family who are making plans, Lord willing, to join us
this summer in the work here in Waterford. Pray that their support would come together very
quickly in the next two months. They will be taking the work while we take a short furlough.
May the Lord find us faithful,

Don and Lisa Thatcher and family