December 2005

Christmas Greetings from the Southeast Asia Field!

It is Sunday afternoon in Maetang, northern Thailand. Although there was cool mist in the mountains yesterday as we traveled to one of our Lahu church Harvest/Thanksgiving services, it does not appear that it will snow this Christmas in the tropics! Yet, since it is already late November and the first Sunday of Advent, Christians throughout Southeast Asia are beginning the preparations for the celebrations of the Christmas Story. Actually, in Thailand it is one of the best times of the year to share the Good News about New Life in Christ with one's Buddhist family, friends and neighbors.

Rolf & Debbie Kleinfeld, our replacements as field leaders next year	Tomo & Ceny Hirahara at their ordination service in Japan last March	The Dizons – Abel, Carol, Emma, Elisabeth, Elaine and Amy – volunteers from Canada at Maetang Tribal Children’s Home

This year is filled with memories since this will be our last Christmas as missionaries in Southeast Asia. In August 2004, the Lord spoke very clearly to Mike that we were not to sign our next missionary contracts. Thus, we will end our 30-year relationship with World Mission on 31 March 2006. Although we are at peace in knowing that the Lord has orchestrated this transition, we do not know yet where He is leading us to minister back in the States. We would love to do so many things, but pastoring seems to be where our hearts are most at rest at the present. We still have many years to give in ministry to our Church, but we just don't know where that ministry will take us. So, we would appreciate you prayers for us as we walk into a somewhat unknown future.

Australian missionary, Belinda Allder	Australian volunteer Phil Cellich, working at Maetang Tribal Children’s Home	The newly-completed Myanmar District Office, Yangon First Church and Mission Training Center Building that was dedicated last October

As Christmas is celebrated in your home this year, thousands of Nazarene Christians will be celebrating the same Blessed Event in our part of the world. It is great to sing the songs of Christmas and to hear the Story retold in the many languages of His Body. God is indeed building His Church in Southeast Asia! So may God richly bless you during this season and in the New Year to come. And may 2006 be the best year of your own journey in following the Christ of Christmas!

The ordination class of the combined Thailand and Northern Thailand District Assemblies last January with General Superintendent Dr. Talmadge Johnson presiding	TheAll-Thailand Family Camp held last May with Rev. Ron Pelton (pastor of Huntsville, Alabama First Church and father of missionary Kent Pelton) as the main speaker

Join us in prayer for:

• District assemblies in January and February 2006.
  • 13-14 January – Thailand
  • 17-18 January – Northern Thailand
  • 18-19 February – Myanmar
• Mission meeting in Bangkok – 26-29 January
• Rolf & Debbie Kleinfeld, our new field leaders who will replace us in 2006. We need a Thai visa slot for Rolf to work in Bangkok.
• Kent Pelton, Director of Southeast Asia Nazarene Bible College, as he works with the various extension leaders in the development of pastoral training on the field.
• Work & Witness teams from Visalia, California and Flint, Michigan in January.

Rejoice with us for:

• Pastor Chi and family, who traveled safely to the States in May and are now pasturing our Vietnamese Nazarene Church in Rose City, Oregon.
• The dedication of the Myanmar District Office and Mission Training Center building on 15 October 2005.
• The visas for our volunteers – Phil Cellich and the Dizon family.
• Continued protection for our field team and national leadership.

Special Field Projects:

• $15,000 – truck for the Maetang Tribal Children’s Home in northern Thailand
• $5,000 – photocopier for literature ministry on the Northern Thailand District
• $5,000 – office furniture for the Mission Training Center in Myanmar

Tsunami Response
On 26 December 2004, the Andaman Sea area of Southeast Asia experienced a large earthquake and resultant tsunami off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia that quickly spread and decimated coastal areas as far west as Africa. Thailand was not spared. However, Southeast Asia Field Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Coordinator, Rev. Ceny Hirahara and a team from the Thailand District have responded in various rebuilding projects in the Phang Nga area (east of Phuket Island on the Thai mainland) throughout this past year. Thank you for your prayers and giving for those who have suffered so much.

McCarty Future Contact Information
Although we will be leaving World Mission the end of March, you can still reach us at the two email addresses above.  Also, after our departure date, please send any snail mail for us to our daughter’s address:  c/o Deborah McCarty, 1119 S. Curtis Avenue, Apt. C-33, Kankakee, IL 60901, USA.  We will send out one more newsletter once we know where we will be located.

All our love & best wishes,

- Michael & Rachel McCarty

P.O. Box 1113, Suan Phlu, Bangkok 10121, Thailand
Email: nazarene@ksc.th.com or seanaz@reachone.com  
On the Web: www.seanaz.org