PRAISE GOD!

We received very exciting news this week that a new family visited the church in Landsdale on Sunday. The most exciting part is the fact that Pastor Keith went and visited them on Monday. When he was making his pastoral visit he explained to them the Salvation plan. And, the parents decided to accept Christ as their savior! how COOL! We are thrilled and you should be too! Becuase, it is your prayers for the people of Australia that are moving and changing hearts on the other side of the world! You are advancing the kingdom with your support! And, it is you who are obeying what God has called you to give, and do in your life! Thank you for being a part of our network! Isn't our God amazing!

MTI-Week 2

"Missionary Hostage Training"

Rule #1-Always carry a water gun.

Rule #2- Always carry two water balloons.

Rule #3 always have a gangsta baby!

Now, on a much more serious note! We had a wonderful week learning about Muslim traditions and beliefs. Many of us that are going to the field will be in Muslim countries. So, we have had to open our minds and learn a bit, so that we can understand the people and their culture. We also did some learning on contextualization, and various other things. This week the kids have done really well. They were super excited becuase the pastors to Missionaries took our children to a movie and to the zoo this week. So, they had a blast. The pictures above were taken on Friday night after a long day of work! So, the kids had a blast. Also, I would like to mention is has been in the high 90's the whole time we have been here! So, playing with a bit of water tonight was REALLY exciting! Thank you all for your prayers. We have one week left! So, keep us in your prayers, as each week our kids are getting a bit more tired, but we are able to see the light coming at the end of the tunnel. Things you can pray for.

1) We will be at Chambers Camp next week. Please pray for us to connect with new churches in the CNY district and for them to pick us up!

2) The clock is ticking. We need 45% more of our Faith promise and we need it by September or else the churches in Australia will be with out a pastor for a few weeks. Pastor Keith is going home tomorrow back to Melbourne which is going to leave our church with Phil Hotchkin filling in until we return. However Phil and His wife have already booked their sybbatical in Europe in September.. So, if we do not return, there will be no one to pastor the churches in the city of Perth. So, please pray hard!

3) Pray for us as we go to WNY district Conference and also to ENYNE district conference. Pray that we would pick up new churches and new support.

4) Please pray for us as we call through a list of churches we were given from some missionaries who are coming off the field. Prerfully consider picking us up financially. Again, we are so grateful you are a part of our team and keep us in your prayers. We continue to keep all of you in our prayers.

Missionary Training Institute Week 1

This week has been AMAZING! We have learned and talked about so many topics this week. Every day we have been in sessions from 8:15 in the morning till 4:30. And, then we have been spending our evenings talking, sharing, and learning from our fellow GP family, missionaries. Topics we have trained on are:

-Cross Cultural Evangelism -personal security -spiritual warfare
-Missiology -intercultural communication -working in teams
-Purity -Language learning -spiritual development
-conflict resolution -Hostage Survival


A highlight of this week was training from Dr. Lo. He has played a very key important role in our lives and in our spiritual walks, and with our decision to become missionaries in Australia. Dr. Lo has been a spiritual leader in our lives. Melissa worked as his administrative assistant for World Impact for 4 years while we were at IWU . And, Chris took many classes from Dr. Lo. He inspired us, stretched our hearts, stretched our minds, and left us with many things to think about, pray about, and work on in our lives as we venture back to Australia.


Thank you to everyone who is praying for us. Brayden has been very content except for when we were trying to take his picture! And, the children are loving "school" is what they call their day care class. So, thank you for your prayers God is hearing them and answering them. Because, this week could not have gone any better!

Facing Impossibilities.

It is a distinct priviliage to travel to many different churches and tell people about what God is doing in Australia and be able to challenge them to pray and give to what God is doing. I have been sharing the story of Peter in prison and what happened after the church began to pray. I truly believe that we serve a God that still has the power and desire to work through our 'impossible' situations and show the world what He can do.

This morning I received our finalized budget that we need to raise before we can return to Australia. We knew that it was going to go up with our career status but weren't quite expecting it to be as high as it is. I found myself in my head saying things like, "man, there is no way we can get back to Australia by July" or "with the economy the way it is, raising a budget like that is impossible". Well, you could say that I was challenged today as God gave me a slap across the face and simply asked me what I have been telling His body of believers as we travel around.

Our God still works miracles and still answers prayers. Please pray with us that as we face "impossibilities" that God would make them possible and bring them to pass.

Brayden Charles George, 4 weeks

Makayla, Dawson, Brayden

Introducing Brayden Charles George

At 1:50 pm on March 23rd 2009, we welcomed our son into the world. Brayden Charles George was 9 lbs. 6 oz. (4.24 kilos) at birth and measured in at 21 inches long. Melissa and I are so excited to be parents of another bundle of joy. Makayla is again a wonderful big sister and is already asking how she can help and is so gentle. Dawson took right to Brayden and I can see already that he is his 'buddy'. I was so proud of Makayla and Dawson for being such great big sister and brother. Melissa is doing very well after her c-section and is on track with her recovery. I love my family and can't wait to grow up with these kids as we serve the Lord.

A Working Retreat

Melissa and I are so blessed to have a wonderful home district that takes care of us through their prayers and support. We are so thankful that we were invited to join the pastors from the Western NY district of the Wesleyan Church at their pastors and wives retreat earlier this week. Rev. Steve DeNeff from Indiana shared his heart with the pastors and challenged us to holiness and to the teaching of holiness. It was great to spend a day away with my parents and relax a little bit before our son arrives. The hotel had a beautiful pool, but we had forgotten our suits.

While it was a retreat and it was relaxing, it was also a great opportunity and a priviliage to sit around the tables with pastors from our home district and share our heart for Australia and what God is calling us to be a part of there. I was given an opportunity to share what God is doing in AUS and challenged the pastors to join the network and get behind what God is doing. I challenged those who don't currently support us through faith promise to get on board and those that do to prayerfully consider increasing their faith promise amount. We are trusting God to supply what is needed to get back onto the field so we can serve Him in AUS.

Family News

I set up the crib last night and we are ready (or as ready as we can be) for the arrival of our son on Monday, March 23rd at 1:30 pm. Please be in prayer for us and our family as we meet this new little man for the first time. If you have any names to suggest, we are still open to hearing them.

Home Ministry Notes

Thanks so much for your prayers and your support for our family as we are on home ministries. We had a new church join our team this week and are so thankful for support as they step out in faith to see what God will do. Thanks Big Tree Wesleyan.

This week we are in Avon, NY and the following week we are in Fillmore, NY. For more information on our schedule go to http://www.praygivego.com/ and click on 'missionary scheduling' and find our names.

My grandfather was able to make it up to NY last week for a short visit. It was great to see him and spend a bit of time with him. Thanks for making the trip grandpa, we miss you already.

Global Partners Missionary Orientation!

Chris and I just finished our week of Missionary Orientation out at Global Partners. So many exciting things happen in the GP office. We are backed by a staff that loves God with all their heart and are so real in seeing the word of God go out around the world. They are truly a group of people that we could not minister in Australia without! We are truly blessed to be partnered with such a wonderful organization. Just for basic information I thought I would post GP's
Vision and Mission.

The GP Vision:
Every Wesleyan serving in fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The GP mission:
To exalt Jesus Christ by calling and mobilizing believers to global ministries of evangelism, church planting, leadership development and ministries of compassion.

Thank you for your prayers for the Flame Class!

As you all prayed Chris and I were able to take our last Flame class. God was so good. We came home feeling refreshed and renewed and we learned lot's of exciting things about Holiness in the Wesleyan church.

Our children slept well, (all the way through the night). And, when we came home they weren't even ready to leave. So, they had a bit of tears every day, but that is probably normal.

We were able to connect with pastors and also one of our mobilizers Tim Hibschman while we were at Flame. We were able to make some appts. to speak and then also we were able to pick up some awesome prayer partners along with make some contacts for future support.

Thanks you to everyone who prayed.

DOCTRINE OF HOLINESS
This week Chris and I are taking a FLAME class through the wesleyan church at Table Rock Campground in South Carolina. We are very excited! This is the last class we have to ordination. Some prayer requests are:
1) For our children as we have left them in Roanoke VA with Melissa's Aunt and Uncle. Pray that the kids would sleep well, and get along well without us. This is the first time in two years they have been left for more than 1/2 a day! Pray that Dawson will go to bed without Mommy!

2) That Chris and I will fill renewed and learn exciting things to take back to Australia.

3) That we would connect with Pastors and make contacts for future church support!

On The Road Again!
Our Children are becoming very accustomed to this saying! We arrived home safely in New York on December 8th and have been travelling ever since. Please pray for us as we are travelling trying to raise support so that we can return to Perth, Australia in July. We have been busy making phone calls and trying to connect with new churches and new pastors as we will need to raise the level of support that we currently have. Some praises since we have been home!

1) The guys staying in our house in Australia have passed their first inspection! :) And, all was well. So, that is a praise... (We do not want to loose our rental house in Australia. As it took us 7 months to get the house we currently have!)

2) We have settled with a Dr. for the birth of our baby in March. When we left Australia our unborn baby was in a bit of danger because the placenta was antenatal and low lying. It is still antenatal, however the baby is doing well and Melissa is feeling great. PRAISE GOD for A God who cares about EVERY DETAIL!

3) We have been picking up prayer partners!

4) God provided us with a vehicle we can drive while home in the US.

5) Praise God for providing us with finances to survive on so far for the last 6 weeks we have been home!

PRAYER REQUESTS
1. For our Church in Australia and for Pastor Keith McClaughlin our Assistant D.S. who is arriving on February 1st to fill the pulpit in our church in Perth, Australia.

2. Safe travelling mercies

3. That we would be able to fill our speaking schedule

4. Financially that we would be able to pay our bills in Australia and in the USA. Since we will not receive salary from Global Partners while we are home on furlough!
5. Melissa has started to sell Pampered Chef to raise money for the cost of the birth of our baby. Pray that she would feel well enough to host shows as well as be able to raise enough for the 20% of the cost of C-section delivery that will not be covered by our insurance. (If interested in have an online catalog show or have a pampered chef show email melissa at georgefamilyinaustralia@hotmail.com or check out the PC website at www.pamperedchef.biz/melissageorge

You have probably heard it said that where God calls... He provides and opens doors to make the ministry to which He has called possible. God called us several years ago to serve as church planters in Western Australia and he provided a way for us to fulfill that ministry. Many of you have known that we have been applying to become career missionaries in order to continue our ministry that He has called us to in Australia. The doors were openned and God lead us through the application process.

I am very pleased and overjoyed to report that we have recently been approved and appointed as career missionaries to Australia. We are very excited to be able to be involved in the ministry and the advancement of the church here in Australia on a long term basis. We will be returning to the US on December 8th and raising our support package and raising up partners that will stand with us as we follow God's call. If you are interested in how you can join us in this ministry, email me at any time at snickergeorge24@msn.com.

Our family is doing well and we are getting excited about the birth of our third child (a son) in March. Our kids are getting very excited as well about getting to play in the snow when we arrive in the almost certain to be snow-covered Western NY. It will be nice to spend Christmas with our family and to be able to sled on Dawson's birthday. Thank you everyone for your prayers for our family and our ministry, God is using you to influence His people around the world.

District Conference- Kids Camp!
District Conference was a blast. Our kids did EXCELLENT on the airplane, except on the way there until dawson fell asleep (2 hours into the flight) he kept saying. "Gotta get off" we are lost. "Gotta get off" we are lost! He was cute, but I gave him some phenergen which knocked him woozy and then he could relax for the next 2 hours. He can be a bit uptight. :) I guess I should probably add here. YES! WE FLY 4 HOURS TO GET TO DISTRICT CONFERENCE! , It's like the distance from NY to LA almost to get to the east coast. However, on the way home he did excellent, let's just hope they keep up this track record for our flight to the states in December. Back to district conference. We arrived at camp on Saturday morning at 9:00 after a three hour drive, from Melbourne to an island called Philip Island. It is normally really cold and windy, but for the most part we had really good weather for Melbourne.
The kids showed up at 9:30. And, I was a bit stressed at first, just because I didn't know where anything was, I brought 20 kilos of craft supplies. But, I got organized quickly and we had a Super week learning about super heroes in the Bible. (This material "Super Heroes unmasked was donated to us by Cuba Wesleyan church) and this is the second time I have gotten to use it and I thank Cuba for blessing us with the materials! THANK YOU! The kids studied Daniel, Esther, Noah, Jesus, David and Goliath, and we did many crafts, and the most exciting thing, was for the first time in at least 5 years I know of, the kids sang on Sunday night for the adults in the service. They did such a good job! We also got to use outdoor equipment, which I was a bit scared since I was the person trained to use it, so here I am pregnant and spotting all these kids. But, we had a wonderful time doing the low ropes course, a boulder wall, a flying fox ( Had 2 staff help on this since I can't really lift), and many other activities. The only major problem we had, was my DVD's would not work on the DVD player in Melbourne, wrong code. (Isn't that weird!) But, they do play in Perth, so anyways. we just came up with more games, and things to do, in place of the 20 minute veggie tale super hero clips. Well, I will attach some pictures. But, I felt great the entire time, I had SUCH A good time. There was one scary moment, and I will share this... Because I believe people were praying on Sunday night 7:00pm (Sunday morning 7AM, your time)...
This campground is quite large. Probably about the size of Chambers camp if you have ever been to Central New York District Wesleyan Campground. But, we were in the dining hall having dinner and we were sitting at a table, Chris, Myself, Dawson, and a bunch of adults (all talking). Well, Makayla came up and asked me to take her to the bathroom. So, I took her, were were gone maybe 2 minutes. Came back, and dawson wasn't in his chair. But, I thought he must have gone into the sanctuary, where I told all the kids to go. When I got in there he wasn't there. Then, suddenly this lady comes running up to me and says there is a baby crying REALLY loud up in the dorm rooms. So, I thought .... " I am the only one with a baby?? (2 yr old)". So, I went tearing up there, and he was not in the dorm rooms, but dawson was all the way up past the dorm rooms, through some trees, through a field, and up in the next set of trees, right next to a busy main road. Standing up there SCREAMING! It was pitch dark! He was completely safe, but completely terrified. All he had was a few scrapes on his face from sword grass, tall grass. But, God protected Dawson from all the terrible things that could have happened, there were two lakes on the campground, surrounded by main roads, and how he got up there... I did find out......
The kids ran up to check on their super hero capes in the crafts room, took Dawson with them.... then when they came back, they forgot him... So, then he was lost and did not know where to go... FUNNY enough. he did go to our dorm room, but then when the lady who heard him opened the door, he took off running up into the woods, but would not let her touch him or pick him up. So, God also sent an "angel" in the form of this lady who happened to be at the right place at the right time, so that she could watch over him and make sure even though he was RUNNING ALL OVER screaming, that he would not be harmed.

After this whole ordeal. I held Dawson, and within 2 minutes he was asleep. So, he did not get to sing Sunday night with the kids even though he knew all the songs. Here are some pics from the weekend. IF you would like to see all of them. Email me and I will send you them in an email attachment.

Craft Time

Singing in th Sunday night Service. Jesus You're my super Hero

Chris riding the giant swing. They take you up in the air. and then drop you and you swing notice how high, he is to the building behind.

Super Camp kids

Dawson riding half of the flying fox. We only pulled him up about 6 metres instead of 8.

We serve a God who is Amazing!

For the last 15 weeks Melissa's thyroid has been over working causing what should have been many problems for our litle baby. However, our God is bigger and more amazing than any medical problem or concern. The baby has been growing completely up to date. They keep doing measurements etc. And, the baby is RIGHT on schedule. (It should be VERY tiny). But, our God is bigger. Melissa went for her blood test this week. And, our God is bigger than any numbers! The blood test came back clear. Melissa's thyroid has decided to work perfectly normal. (so they say...) But, we know that our God is bigger and that he has, is, and will continue take care of our littly baby that is growing. Thank you for your prayers. We Praise God for his protection, curing the problem (Without medication!), and for his love.

Join with us in Praising God! We are now 16 weeks along...

God has blessed us with the exciting news that we are going to have a new little George join our family. This is very exciting yet scarey at the same time becusae we are venturing into being outnumbered territory! So far the pregnancy has gone well. Pray for Melissa as she is VERY tired and having to face all day sickness. Hopefully this will pass in the next few weeks. We have neer had an ultrasound this early with either of our other two children. But, here is our first picture of this baby at only 7 weeks. We are now 9 weeks.

Also pray for Melissa as she has committed to directing our district Children's camp in Meblourne in September and this is a HUGE time commitment. Please pray that God would give her the energy and time to be able to direct this camp to the best of her ability. It will be just her and one other lady, as it is during our district conference that goes for three days. So, we will only have the children 7 hours a day. But, pray that Melissa will know how to plan this whole event.

Makayla turned 5!

Our little girl is 5. Hard to believe. We have been blessed with her joyfull presence for the last 5 years. She is spontaneous, outgoing, full of laughter, always smiling, and the sweetest thing we know. And, she is God's little girl. She loves Jesus with her whole heart and loves to tell the world. For her birthday this year, we decided to invite all the girls from her class, since we have been encouraging her all year to make friends, we felt it was only right to invite all her friends. So, she decided to have a princess party, which was fine with us. She dressed up thanks to Grandma Wilday as Cinderella, and she had a day full of fun.

August 10th, the 3rd church in Perth, Australia was officially started. A pastor named Tony has come from Melbourne who is a Tongan pastor and is starting a church plant south of the City. There were probably 100 people in attendance as people from our other two churches also attended. But, there were probably atleast 40 Tongan people there which is very exciting! This church is not only going to be reaching Tongan's but it will also be a multicultural church plant. Please pray for Pastor Tony and his family as the venture to fulfill what God has called them to do. They had a beautifull worship team that sang in english and in their native tongue. The teens and worship team also did some "action songs" to some music and it was beautifull!

August 3, 2008
Was an exciting day to look forward to where our church is headed. Chris preached on vision for our church, and we had a wonderfull time of fellowship after the service. We even had a new couple ( from NZ) in our midst on that evening. After the serice we had pizza and we got down to business with the D.S.. Our church is so willing to do whatever God has called them to. Since I was the treasurer for the last year, because NO ONE would do it, I had to give a vision to the church with the D.S. help of the church stepping up to take a big step of faith. We have paid all of our bills for the past three years. But, the church has yet to start to take on any responsibility of paying a pastor. So, praise God! A decision was made to start to put away a PAstor's salary of one day a week, so that the church hopefully by the end of our next career term. (4 years!) would be able to afford a pastor full time! This is a huge step of faith. There were definitely some concerns. It means the church would need to bring in 2x as mush tithe as it did last year. But, you know what! Our God is good! And, our God is bigger than any of the problems we face. And, our people know that, so they have taken a leap of faith! Many other things exciting happened as well. One of our church members has answered God's all on her life to be a chaplain in the public school system. So, now she is going to start classes to become a lay minister! God is good, and our church is ready to look forward to the future of what HE holds for the Landsdale Community Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Laser Tag is Awesome!

I don't know how many of you have ever been to a good laser tag place and had about 15 people that you know all running around in the dark shooting one another. But if you have never been, go, it is a blast. I like it better in comparison to paint ball because I am allergic to pain and paintballs hurt. Lasers only hurt your ego.

We took two cars and a van to Darklight and had a wonderful time together. The unity within the youth grew before our very eyes and we have a new vision and passion to see God move in the lives of these young people. Please pray for them and us as we continue to run our youth group on Friday nights. Pray that we would see growth and the unity in the group would grow even more. Along with that, our youth centre is growing a bit. We now have 2 ping pong tables, 2 air hockey tables, 1 table soccer table, xbox, and playstation 2 with SingStar on the big screen. We have a great time with these teens and can't wait to see what God uses them to accomplish for His glory.

Sunday was a first for me. It was the first time that I have every had to call another pastor on my staff and ask them to preach for me because I was up with the flu all night. It broke my heart to not be able to give the message and lead the service and to be honest, I felt a little bad that I sat here on the couch "feeling better" during church while other's did what I had prepared to do. I am not a control freak, I just hated putting the extra pressure on everyone else when I had prepared everything all during the week. I am glad that I got rest and am over the flu now though and will be back in the saddle this week. Melissa told me last night that the service went well and Phil did a great job. Thanks Phil for stepping up to the plate when I needed you.

Well, I guess that is all for this post, but remember to keep us in prayer as we are in the process of applying for career missionary status and we are waiting to hear about our permanent residency visa. Pray that final dates for our travel home can be set and we can start to book churches in the US to visit while we are home. Thanks for your prayers, you are awesome.

Blessings!

I am preparing a sermon for this week on blessings. We have been going through a stewardship series and even though sometimes I hate "talking money" at church, it has been good and I am really looking forward to shining some light on how blessed we are as "middle-class" australians. It is amazing how God will often times put me through things throughout the week that gives me a better understanding of the sermon that He is preparing in my heart and mind. If I am preaching on anger, I will have a very trying week; if I am preaching on money, the temptation to buy things will be great, and so on... As I am preparing to talk about blessings this week, it gives me an opportunity to thank God for the things that He gives us and the things that He blesses us with.

To make a long story short, I got an e-mail this morning that the house that we own in Indiana (USA) will have renters in it starting next week. We have had renters in it but they moved out a week ago and we were worried that the house was going to set empty for a few months before we found someone to rent. What a blessing. A great weight is lifted off our shoulders when there is someone in the house (paying the mortgage with their rent).

I also think about my family. I have a wonderful wife who is the greatest helper both in life and in the ministry and couldn't ask for anyone better. God truly blessed me with a wonderful partner. I have two beautiful kids that are growing and learning every day. My daughter will be turning 5 on 08-08-08 (isn't that cool?) and is an outgoing girl that I love to be around. My son is a 2 year old miniature me. He is growing up so fast and just last week started stringing full sentences together. He is so good with a ball that I am sure he will make us millions someday.

I don't know about you, but I am a blessed man!

Side note... The other day I had a conversation with Makayla that worries me to great lengths. It went a bit like this...:

Mak: "Daddy, I am having a princess party for my birthday."

Dad: "Oh yeh, well that means that I can be your prince!"

Mak: "No, Ethan is my prince" (boy from school)

Dad: "You don't want daddy to be your prince?"

Mak: "No, I don't need you."

I may be in trouble... any advise from the "dad pool" out there.

Chic is finished for this term. Some of the girls have said they would like to come back and do it again. So, we will see. But, they had a really good time. Unfortunately we ended up with 15 girls in the end that came the last 5 weeks. But, the director has learned a lesson and next term we will not hand pick the girls. We will have the entire gym class, so that we are not competing with dance, and various other gym activities. The girls received a certificate for completing the program.

Side note: three girls were from Landsdale where Chris and I live. Tessa, Kristy, and Georgina. I ran into these girls the other day down at the shops. And, they said that they would like to come to youth group and hang out. Please pray for these girls. They need to make the first step to want to come. I have given them my information. And, we are offering for all the youth group to go laser tagging next week. Please pray that these girls will join us. We hopefully will have a party room for two hours and play two games of laser tag. So, Chris really wants to speak to the teens and talk to them about getting to know who Jesus Christ is.

Kids Club term 2 awards night
Last night we had term two kids club awards night. It went really well. We had 38 people at church. We had two mothers come who have not come before. So, that is exciting. And we were missing 6 regulars. So, the church is starting to grow slowly but surely. Pray for our committed families that they would make the new families feel welcome and that they would strike up conversations with the new people.

The piano concert last week, we are still finalizing how much money was raised from it. But, we do know that there was over 500 people who attended and that, that is amazing! Because, there are only 40 people in the inner city church. So, many people came who do not attend our church. Pray that these people would have made a connection in their heart with God and that they would be willing to come back for church.

Well, I need to go clean my house that has been demolished from this weekend! We hope you all have a great week, and that God will bless you all . We have seen God's hand at work in our lives and it is because you pray for us! Thank you! and may God's blessing be poured onto you!

George family