Update from Cami

It’s been along time since I have wrote on the Blog, so I have a lot of stuff to talk about. Let’s start with our first team of the year, Lifegate Team. The Lifegate team came in February and we did a Life Book Camp at a school called Hope. We did the usual stuff with them. I really liked that team because they all were very different, in a good way.

After that team came we went to the Imagine Thailand retreat. In that time I had a weird thing going on in my nose. I had an infection or something like that, so it wasn’t as enjoyable as it could’ve been. It was still good because I got to meet all the people that work for Imagine Thailand. After we got back from the retreat, I had to do school and words from my Dad didn’t really help: “You just have to crank it out”.

A week later a new team came called the Ibex team. This team is from the same church as The Lifegate Team. They were staying for 5 weeks. We did 2 long and hot Life Book camps at Nya Li Ah Tar and Hway Klar. The team stayed out at the first school, and we took the second one to the waterfall. On the 4th week they split into 2 groups with 4 in each, and went to a school for a week to teach Leadership Training and English. While the Ibex team was at the schools, we had another team come called the Vanguard team. I woke up at 5:00 am to go pick them up from the bus station. We already knew one person on the team. We did a Lifebook camp with them at Good Morning school. At the end of the Life book camp the kids started a water fight and the foreigners were defenceless. We just ran and got soaked by them with their mini water guns, which we had given to them as their camp gift. The Ibex team came back to Mae Sot, and we had a Birthday Party that night for one of the members on the Ibex team. Great food, cooked by my mom, and my dad got fireworks which we lit off in the rice field. The Birthday guy really enjoyed his birthday party.

In the early part of April, our intern came. Her name is Stacey and she helps me with my school. After both the teams left we had the water festival, called Song Kran. We went around town throwing water at people. Lots would say that they like the foreigners water because it was warm. We were able to take our neighbor kids and Daymu and her friends through Mae Sot. It was a lot of fun!! We got soaked and gooed up for the rest of the year. On the last day, of Song Kran, we went walking through Mae Sot rather than in the vehicle. I have had a great year so far! I’m not sure if I’m ready to give it all away forever. I’ll miss it here for sure!

HMI Pacific Mar/Apr 2012 Newsletter

Dear HMI Pacific Team,

How are you doing? When I read the list of my teammates, I take time to thank the Lord for all of you. I trust you are doing well, and that your life in the Lord is strong today.

Here is the latest news from HMI Pacific. As you read, please remember to pray for all that God has for this ministry. Enjoy the newsletter...

In faith believing,
Don Richmond
Hockey Ministries International Pacific Region

HMI March/April Update

Great Results for Carrie

I am so pleased to say that the results of my CT scan and lung function tests, plus blood work today are really positive. Hallelujah and thank you Jesus!

My lungs are clear of all bacteria from the extrinsic allergic alveolitis as well as the chlamydia bacteria. These were the evil two that took me down. Because my lungs are completely clear it is known that the antibiotic (Clout) and the cortisone were effective and this was an acute attack and not a chronic condition. This is wonderful news. The antigen which caused the alveolitis is not known and could be one of many things either in the air or a fungi or mildew or a combination.

The other issue is that I am still suffering in the stomach, colon and bowel, which will take another couple of days of antibiotic to kill this bacteria. Then comes the rebuilding. I will need a few weeks to slowly begin the rebuilding of the walls of these three areas as they have been stripped away by the antibiotic. I will be taking some natural products like metaflor, pro biotic yogurts, and lots of healthy foods, as well as some good old exercise a little at a time to help me on the road to recovery.

Today already is like a new day. I am so very thankful. I want to thank you from the top of my heart for following this journey with me, standing in the gap, sending your intercession, thoughts, scriptures, humor, love and words of encouragement my way. You made the difference. How important is the family of God? Way important!! There were times when was in excruciating pain which wouldn't lift and all I could do was cry out "Wake up oh sleeping saints...or heavenly hosts fight the battle for me" and I know the family of God everywhere was holding me up.

There are so many suffering within your and our circle of family, friends and neighbors that need us to stand in the gap and hold them up. Let us all be faithful, awake, alert, on guard and spiritually alive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. This is not the time to sleep. We will be meeting with our church family tonight to hear testimonies of last week's challenge to meet with their neighbors and begin outreach. We can hardly wait to hear what happened. May the Lord ignite us one and all to outreach this spring and summer and go before us as we endeavour to let our lights shine. Each one reach one...or two or three...let it be.

In victory, hope and gratefulness,
love Carrie

Carrie Is Home

Hi everybody, I am pleased to let you know that Carrie is home as of late this afternoon. The battle isn't over; it'll be a long recovery with continued meds and with further tests in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for your on-going backing in prayer. We count on and appreciate every one of you so very much.

Love,
Ralph & Carrie

April Unrau Update

Dear Pastor Derrick and the Emmanuel Church family,

Here is our latest family news which we would like to share with you. Once again we would like to thank you for your support for us personally while we continue to follow the Lords will for our lives here in Mexico.

We trust that you are well and looking forward to the Spring with all its colour and new life. Thanks again and God bless!

Have a great day!

In Him,
Dennis & Diane

Spring 2012 Unrau Update (0.3MB PDF)

Carrie Better / Computer Stolen

Dear Family & Friends,

Carrie is feeling much better and we thank you from our hearts for your prayers and intercessions. There has been a breakthrough in her health. Tomorrow morning she has 1 more blood test and if the doctors are satisfied that Carrie is well enough to go home, she will be home tomorrow afternoon. We believe for this.

On a very sad note, Carrie’s computer was stolen out of her room around noon today (Sunday). The nurses whisked her off to a C/T scan the doctors had ordered for her sinuses and they forgot to lock her door. By the time she got back (10 min.) her computer was gone.  We may get some money for this, as the hospital is insured, but when/if it will come and how much it will be is a big question, as Carrie’s Macbook was 4 years old. This was Carrie’s link to many of you, and brought her so much joy. She is also shaken as a result of this, and feels her privacy has been violated. Again, we know in our spirits that the enemy is coming against us. We are standing, with our armour on.

Thank you for your continued prayer and concern.

Much love,
Ralph & Carrie

Hallelujah from Carrie

Dear family and friends,

I want to thank you with all my heart for the prayers, intercession, words of encouragement and simply for the way you held us before the throne of God. Honestly, we feel closer to each one of you in a deeper way having felt the powerful meaning of the "Family of God." It has been a deep valley and yet I feel on top of the mountain in an amazing way. We are confident in our spirits that this has been a direct attack. If you have been following my blogs the last couple of months and our latest newsletter, you will know that we are taking significant ground from the enemy here. He has had dominion for far too long. All I can say is I am convinced in my spirit that we are in for some amazing breakthroughs in the next few months. Hallelujah!

As far as the results of all the testing that has gone on on my behalf, there are only a few things that are conclusive and the rest is yet to be discovered, with the Lord's help. A chlamydia bacteria as well as Asperqillus Fumigatus (a fungus) caused much of the havoc in my lungs and spread to the lining of my ribs. This was treated with heavy doses of antibiotics and cortisone and will continue after I get released. The other, is the extrinsic allergic Alviolitis which was also treated with heavy antibiotics and cortisone. This condition could be chronic and have been in my lungs for years. A sudden exposure here, possibly when we were renovating (not conclusive) brought about an acute attack which brought this all to light. There are numerous foreign antigens or dust, molds, etc that can cause this. Unfortunately, the best cure is removal of the antigen of which there could be numerous possibilities. Lastly, I developed yet another bacteria in my stomach and bowel this week brought on by the antibiotic strangely enough. This caused incredible and steady pain, and steady trips to the toilet (if you know what I mean). I feel for the first time today that this is coming under control. Not being trained in medicine, it's all been such a mystery to try to figure out. We have felt I was in very good care. The concern now is to rebuild all the damaged cells and to try to find the source antigen that brought me down. I will be able to go home soon and not need oxygen tubes :-) I will have another CT scan in a month or so which will give a good picture of the condition of my lungs. It is going to be a very long and tedious recovery. The interesting thing is that I haven't had a single migraine throughout the last 2 weeks or so. There is always a ray of light that gives you hope. The Lord has drawn me even closer to Himself in a beautiful way which I wouldn't trade for anything. I have felt close to my family and friends just knowing they were with me all the way. Our church here is moving forward in a powerful way which I wouldn't trade for anything either. To God be the glory.

We do count on your continued prayers as we seek to find the miserable, wicked antigen that brought me down, and remove it from our space, if possible. We ask for complete recovery and healing. We would also ask you to intercede on our behalf for our house to sell and for continued support as we continue to take back ground from the enemy here and see success in every way.

I have managed to find some humour in all of this. For example, the other day Ralph did the laundry. he has never used the machines here before. Well... after running the machine through 2 complete cycles (more than 2 hours), he opens the machine, takes out the wash and discovers it's still soaking wet. Then he proceeds to hand- wring the items. Thinking to himself, this is too difficult, he loads the laundry back in the machine and sets it on the "fling" cycle. It works (after a bit of time). The wash was very clean, to say the least. Now, to hang the wash in the dry, sunny room. Try to imagine Ralph with his big hands with the puzzled look on his face... "hmmmm, did she say I hang it upside down... do I drape it... or use clothes pins to keep it on the line?? I guess I should crank up the heat, 'cause it's not a sunny day and Carrie needs her PJ's tomorrow, 'cause she can't stand the hospital nighty that's open in the back." It was all so much fun, for my neighbour to hear, too. Isn't it true, we all have our roles to play, ja? 

I want to leave you with these words, serve your Lord well, draw near to Him, and walk in the power of His might. Push back the darkness... we are more than overcomers!

April 11 Update on Carrie

Dear family & freinds,

I'm with Carrie as I write this. She took a turn for the worse today. It has now been established that a new bacteria has gone to her stomach and bowel, therefore explaining why she hasn't been able to keep anything down for the past 4 or 5 days. It was thought that it was a side affect from the heavy dosages of antibiotics and cortisone, when in fact the antibiotic introduced this new bacteria. It's been excruciatingly painful. She needs relief from this pain as well as sleep, desperately. They have put her on a new antibiotic to treat this new bacteria. She feels she's at the border of her pain threshhold and simply can't take any more. But she also knows that Jesus is holding her in the palm of His hand.

The lung function test she took yesterday shows signs of improvement, so we are very thankful she no longer needs oxygen. The other positive note in all of this is that she hasn't had a migraine for the past 2 weeks. This is an absolute miracle!

We haven't been given any answers as to when she can go home, so we really covet your on-going prayers and intercession. We're counting on our world-wide family to stand in the gap.

Much love,
Ralph & Carrie

Please Continue to Pray for Carrie

Thank you so much for your many prayers and words of encouragement. Carrie is still in the hospital. It's coming on 3 weeks now. We are believing that her condition is slowly improving, but she is still in much discomfort. Her breathing is easier, but presently she can't keep any food down. This is a great concern. She is also having great difficulty sleeping and has literally only slept a few hours in the past 5 days. We are still waiting for the results of many tests, so there is no official diagnosis, just a lot of guess work. We know the Lord is in control and is ministering to her. She desperately needs a healing touch. Please, please pray more fervently than ever. The battle isn't over.

Much, much love and thanks,
Ralph & Carrie

It's a Perreaux Boy!

Friends & Family,

We'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family: Solomon Jean Perreaux. Easter weekend inspired this eager kid to show up two weeks early, on April 9th, 2012 at 7:50am. Andrea was amazing and showed tremendous spirit and strength through the 5 hours of labour. Although it was entirely a surprise arrival, scrambling to put together a bag and heading to the Midwife clinic at 3:30am, labour was quite peaceful and there were even a few moments between contractions where Andrea nodded off in the tub. Solomon came into this world underwater, 7lbs9oz, 20in, and has been tranquil over these past 24 hours.

Solomon is a Hebrew name that means peace. Jean was the name of Andrea's grandmother (Gibault) who past away over a year ago and will be pronouced the French masculine way. We are beyond happy that Asher has a brother to share his abundant energy with and we hope his peaceful spirit is a balance in their brotherhood. In the scriptures Solomon is given the gift of wisdom, simply asking for what he needs to do the task God has given him to do. We are grateful for this family God has given us and are blessed to be seeing Jesus making all things new in this Easter season.

We hope to get back in the routine of posting photos, videos, and updates at our family blog: www.perreauxcreating.blogspot.com.

love,
James & Andrea, Asher and baby Solomon