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January 2010 |
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Last night we observed how the Swiss welcome the new year. From our chalet balcony, we were treated to a multitude of firework displays as each home in the valley sent fire and light into the night sky against the backdrop of the towering snow-covered Alps. The celebration made for a beautiful, exciting and unforgettable sight. As we enter into the unknown of another year, we want the communities around the world that we visit to experience the beauty and wonder of the light of the world visiting their homes and lives.
‘You
are the light of the world...let your light shine before men that they may
see your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven’. Matthew 5:13,
16 We
wish all of you who receive and read this update God’s blessing for
2010. Happy New Year everyone!
Gareth
><> Malou Bolton
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December 2009 |
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The Men’s Day Conference held in St Ives, Cornwall saw a number stand to make a fresh commitment at the close of the three sessions. God gave grace as we were still somewhat jetlagged after our return from India less than 48 hours earlier.
Last Monday, the missions course we spoke at in Bognor Regis Baptist church had already seen three leave for the field. We would love to see other churches offering something similar – the potential is great.
This
year has seen a growth spurt in AMEN
with the adoption of new projects and partnerships. With the need to see a
significant rise in gifts in 2010, we also need
to make some important decisions regarding the future. You can see below
some of the 100s of shoeboxes AMEN has sent this Christmas to gypsy
families in Romania.
We wish all of you who receive and read this update a very happy Christmas, a blessed New Year and a fresh experience of the grace of God sent to us from Heaven and laid in a manger in Bethlehem.
Gareth ><> Malou Bolton
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November 2009 |
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The trip with the 50+ Brits visiting the seven churches of Revelation in Turkey went extremely well. One evening, we arranged for a couple of veteran ex-pat church workers to speak to us in a hotel room. Having just heard of the relative scarcity of churches, we were amazed to find a newly established church only 300 metres away which most of us attended on the Sunday morning and which provided lunch for us all. On the return flight from Istanbul, we had a long conversation with a zealous JW. It concluded with him saying, ‘I will think carefully about what you have said’.
Miscellaneous:
Thanks for your support and interest. God bless you all, Gareth ><> Malou Bolton
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October 2009 |
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Moving from one standard of living to a very different one can be quite traumatic and lead to a condition called ‘culture shock’. From the grinding poverty of the slums and squatter camps surrounding Manila to the unashamed profligate atmosphere of Macau’s 24/7 casinos, the photos below give you a flavour of what we have recently experienced.
Earlier, the 11 Brits who embraced life well among the poor in the Philippines, left us feeling very proud of them. After they had gone home, we continued with a few days teaching in Macau plus a day retreat with the staff of OM Hong Kong. The responses made it so worthwhile, especially when you hear that someone’s outlook and understanding has changed now that they have a Biblical perspective on their situation.
A
few minutes ago, I finished reading ‘The Shack’. I am surprised and
encouraged that a novel that deals well with the difficult subjects of
‘suffering’ and ‘Trinity’ has sold so many copies so widely. LATE
NEWS Due
to the serious effects of the flooding
here in Manila, our charity AMEN is being asked to help our partners. Find
out more and please make a donation NOW at www.amentrust.co.uk
Many
thanks for your partnership and encouragement. God bless you all, Gareth
><> Malou
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September 2009 |
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Earlier this week we returned grateful, but rather tired, after an overnight bus trip from France. We had also slept intermittently the previous night as the temperature outside our tents had fallen to 9 degrees! However, the sight at the final meeting of a number standing to signify various decisions they had made was very humbling.
One guy came to Gareth in tears and said he had recommitted his life after four years on the run from God. He knew a number of things in his life had to change and was now very determined to do exactly that when he returned home.
By the time many of you read this, we will have just attended a two day AMEN Trustees meeting in Worthing. Since AMEN is becoming involved in an increasing number of projects in the developing world, we need wisdom as to how best to make some structural and administrative changes.
On Friday, we fly to the Philippines to lead a dozen folk in a two week missions trip working with street children in Cebu (OM) and amongst the urban poor in Manila (MMP/AMEN). Encouragingly, some of those coming with us this year also came last year. On Sunday, Gareth will speak in two churches in Cebu.
With our appreciation for your prayers and support
Gareth and Malou
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August 2009 |
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I am writing this on a hot afternoon in a Spanish market place not far from where I am speaking in the principality of Andorra. Our recent nine day AMEN visit to three projects in India and Pakistan was significant and the only opposition we experienced came one evening in the form of a relentless bombardment of insects combined with the high summer temperatures. However, it was a small sacrifice to pay when, at the close of that meeting, a number of nominal Christians professed faith in Jesus.
In a week’s time, we fly to a Christian run hotel in Switzerland where
Gareth will be speaking daily on the subject, ‘How to make a difference
in the world’; a team will be simultaneously running a children’s
programme. Just a few miscellaneous matters: 1. Over 20 recorded messages for you to listen to and/or download have recently been added to this website. Click here to see the collection.
2. There is still room for you to join us on our mission trip
next month with Oak Hall to the Philippines from Sept 4-18 but be quick! http://www.oakhall.co.uk/pages/summer09philippinesatom.asp
With our appreciation for your prayers and support
Gareth and Malou
www.garethandmalou.org (Personal Information); www.amentrust.co.uk (AMEN Charity)
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July 2009 |
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The mixture of visiting friends, taking meetings (c. 20) and seeing the sights, seems to have worked out quite well and we will certainly return from this trip awed by the stunning New Zealand scenery, especially in the South Island.
While secularism has made major inroads into society here (affecting everything from politics to education), it is interesting to note the significant part missionaries played in the signing of the crucial Waitangi treaty between the Maoris and the then colonial British government; in many ways this was the birth of today’s New Zealand. While visiting that site this afternoon, we thanked God for the many who have since gone from these islands to the nations with the gospel. Thanks too for your partnership with us in the work we are doing.
Warm regards,
Gareth ><> Malou
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June 2009 |
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Originally named Formosa by the Portuguese (meaning ‘beautiful’), this island has a smaller percentage of believers than her much larger neighbour, China, a nation with which she continues to experience a very unsettled relationship. Some Taiwanese seem to have heard little or nothing of Jesus, so it was a great privilege to speak to about 2300 people at the International Night in the port of Hualien. A local Baptist church had prepared all the follow-up materials and provided all the counsellors. Before the conclusion of the event, I led in a prayer of commitment. Afterwards, I could not get near the counselling tables for the crowds who were there, some filling in forms, some talking and some praying. A few days earlier, Malou had spoken at the Foreign Brides conference. This was for those women from various Asian nations who had married local Taiwanese men. It proved to be an appropriate word and was well received. Meanwhile, twice a week at morning devotions, under the general heading of ‘An Introduction to Christian Ethics’, subjects as varied as abortion, capital punishment, same sex relationships and the 10 commandments sometimes resulted in a lot of discussion later in the work place. Before returning to the UK, we visited the northern Philippine island of Batanes where Malou had been raised and educated. Getting there is always a challenge because of the weather, the few flights and the high price of the tickets. The only other plane operated by the small airline we took had crashed a few weeks earlier with the loss of both pilots and all passengers. Our prayer lives certainly took on an added dimension before and during our flights! Nonetheless we had a great time on the island, eating lobsters, drinking coconut milk as well as swimming daily and fishing. On the Sunday we both shared in the Baptist church which regularly prays for us.
Three
of Malou’s 10 brothers and
Still
crazy after all these years! sisters and a few of her 18+ nieces (that is Gareth, not Malou!!!) and
nephews!
We fly to New Zealand next Tuesday for 3½ weeks of ministry and visitation and to see something of the country. It will be the middle of winter and a first visit for both of us, making it Gareth’s 108th and Malou’s 86nd country. Since we need to redeem some expiring Skywards miles with Emirates airline, the flights are only costing us £61 each. Click here for more details of the upcoming NZ visit. We greatly appreciate your friendship and your interest in our work, God bless you,
Gareth ><> Malou Bolton ( |
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May 2009 |
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Greetings from the Doulos in Hualien, Taiwan.
I (Gareth) have just returned from a reception for local medical personnel where a Christian perspective on suffering had been requested. About 30 doctors and nurses attended.
The International Night last week was attended by over 1200 people and all were given response forms to complete. When we returned from the event, there was a message on our cabin door which said, 'God used the message to break through to one of the main contacts we have worked alongside for two visits'.
A day off in the local park Kaohsiung University International Night
This week, while I shall continue teaching ‘An Introduction to Christian Ethics’, Malou will be speaking at a conference especially for those from surrounding Asian nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines who have married local Taiwanese and often face many struggles. It is entitled, ‘Foreign Brides’. I have again been asked to give an evangelistic message at the close of the International Night on May 9. The stadium seats in excess of 2000.
After leaving the ship, we hope to spend a week on Batanes, the island of Malou’s birth. However, travel there is intermittent and heavily dependent on the right weather conditions. Thanks again for your emails and for all the encouragements we receive from you.
God bless you,
Gareth ><> Malou Bolton ( |
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April 2009 |
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It was a very rough two and a half day voyage to Taiwan from the Philippines and while many spent the time horizontal, only a small number were eating in the dining room at meal times. Earlier, a mega wave had broken over the bow and hit the foc’s’le causing some damage and the incredible strength of the wind resulted in us arriving 7 hours behind schedule. Looking out from our own port hole one night, we were quickly reminded of our own vulnerability.
A
few hours ago the official reception of the Doulos took place here in
Kaohsiung and together with the captain, the acting director, the chief
engineer and a Taiwanese crew member, Gareth was ‘garlanded’.
We then had
front row seats for a programme which included a
colourful and energetic dance performed by some Taiwanese
aboriginals.
Our reason for being on the ship is so that Gareth can deliver the teaching module, ‘An Introduction to Christian Ethics’, run a preachers’/ speakers’ workshop, speak at pastors’ conferences and share in some leadership training seminars etc. Malou will work with the evangelism teams and on Sunday, Gareth will speak at the onboard service. Prayers for clarity, anointing, relevance and good interpersonal skills for us both are always much appreciated.
God Bless you all, Gareth ><> Malou |
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March 2009 |
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On Saturday Feb 21, we hosted our first ever UK day for friends and ambassadors of our charity, AMEN when we showed visuals made by the different project leaders in their various countries and spent time praying together for them.
We leave for SERBIA today, Sunday Feb 22, for two intensive teaching weeks at HUB (Belgrade Bible School) where Gareth will be teaching the prophecy of Isaiah to new students in the mornings and a general introductory course on missions in the afternoons to some of the Bible school graduates. Malou will teach some dramas and share some evangelistic tools with the students. We will also have three church meetings.
At WEST (WALES Evangelical School of Theology), Gareth will take morning devotions as well as a lunchtime session entitled, ‘What on earth is God doing?’
In SWITZERLAND with Oak Hall, Gareth shall be speaking on two trips. Malou will cook for the first before returning to the UK to prepare for our six week visit to the Doulos in TAIWAN. On board the ship, Gareth will be teaching the course, ’An Introduction to Christian Ethics’ and Malou will be involved in evangelism.
Your
support and partnership is a huge encouragement to us. If you have not
written for a while please do so - we try to respond to all personal
mail/emails we receive. God Bless you all, Gareth ><> Malou
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Early February 2009 |
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Mid January 2009 |
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We arrived home a couple of days ago after four excellent weeks on Logos Hope in Denmark, OM’s newest ship. It was quite cold at times on shore and we took some photographs one morning standing on a frozen lake (see below). As well as teaching the training module ‘World Religions and Cults’, Gareth conducted a preachers’ workshop for half a dozen lads after which they themselves preached to the rest of the group and to camera.
Coming home after four weeks away over Christmas inevitably means a mountain of work awaits us not to mention unopened cards, unread letters plus a tree that needs dismantling. We also need wisdom and the right open doors as we put together the rest of our schedule for 2009. Our one week in Italy will take us to many different churches ministering and fellowshipping with the believers.
Thanks
for your many cards and newsletters – we will get around to reading
them all! Belated Happy New Year. Gareth ><> Malou
www.garethandmalou.org (Personal Information); www.amentrust.co.uk (AMEN Charity)
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