July 2008 Prayer Letter

Dear Ministry Friends,

This past month on the 17th of June 2008 marked the four year anniversary for our family being here ministering in the country of Ireland. The time has quickly past by during this first term. God has been faithful to meet our every need from the deputation trail right on through these past four years on the field.

Let me jump right into the captivating issue in our lives at the moment. Those of you who have asked to receive my email updates will recall that I mentioned to you back in May to be praying for serious immigration issues concerning missionaries in Ireland. Well, the time has come, and this issue is now confronting our family. As I mentioned this past week in an email update one missionary family is already gone from here due to various reason some of which were immigration related, another had to get a solicitor to go into the court system and in doing so was granted a one year extension while waiting for the Department of Justice to decide if his family can stay any longer. Lisa and I went in to renew this past Tuesday and were told that we could not renew and must appeal to the Department of Justice as well. The new rules as communicated to us, which appeared out of nowhere and that no one can seem to point to as law, regulation, etc., say that missionaries, religious workers and volunteer relief workers can only stay for three years and then must leave without being able to return. Our family has been here four years and others longer than that. In reading up on the Department of Justice I found that it could take up to 3 years to get a decision, but most are taking 12-18 months at the moment. Our registration expires on the 3rd of August. Our officer said that if we did not get a response by the end of the month that he would grant us a 90 day extension. We are submitting our request to the Department of Justice today asking to be granted a long term residency. This will determine if we can continue on here in Ireland or have to leave the country. This situation is going to affect every missionary here at some point as well as all intending to come to this needy land to spread the Gospel. We have asked prayer for needs, finances, health issues, supplies, etc., and God has been faithful to work out all things for His glory. Now, once again, this request requires your most urgent petitioning of our Lord. We are asking the Lord to help us through this situation is a swift fashion due to the time limit. I was just reading this morning in Daniel chapter 2 where Daniel was requested to do the impossible for the king—not only interpret his dream, but tell him what the dream was! Then in Daniel 2:17-22 we read that God does for Daniel what Daniel could not do for himself—read someone’s mind. Mark 10:27, And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Adoniram Judson said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”
We will trust God for His will to be done!

May the Lord find us faithful,
The Thatchers
Don, Lisa, Kevin, Karissa, Kaley, Kari, and Kaleb