Dear Friends

Thank you for your continued prayer. The first weekend of mission was very successful with two concerts and two worship services in Islamabad. The people are very responsive and joining in worship. We have spent many hours with the pastors hosting each event, sharing fellowship, encouragement and food.

After resting on Monday we headed off to the mountains for a couple of days holiday in Murree with Hammad’s sister Humera, nephew Lloyd, his wife Angelina and son, Steven. It was a very welcome break and good relaxing time, hiking in the mountains and strolling through the markets sampling local food.

Thursday evening back in Islamabad we met with Pastor James and his YWAM team for an evening of fellowship and music. There were four other worship leaders there including Arif Bhatti a great singer composer, Jackson who plays guitar and sings beautifully and Sohaib who plays tabla with us and is a good singer, and Qadder who is the YWAM co-ordinator. It was lovely to spend time encouraging the local missionaries who are teaching discipleship and worship in Islamabad and the surrounding area. YWAM hold a discipleship school in March each year and are hoping that we can return to be involved in teaching at that time.

Today Friday, is a day for rehearsal in preparation for the big event tomorrow evening Yadah Praise II at Rawalpindi Arts Council Concert Hall. We will be singing some English Christmas songs as well as Urdu and Punjabi. The programme starts at 5pm and afterwards we will be driving to Muritkay near Lahore (about 3-4 hours drive). We will arrive by 3am and sleep for a few hours in order to be fresh for leading worship at the 10am service in the Presbyterian church led by Elder Sharif Masseh. There may well be an evening service that we are required for as well, and then an hour’s drive to home in Lahore.

Please do continue to pray for our safety as we travel, for security at the venues and for health and energy. Hammad and Lloyd are both fully recovered from their colds. I’m experiencing some knee pain and the pain killers cause constipation, so I’m trying to cope without them unless we are performing and driving a lot. Please also pray for the impact of our worship on the young people attending the concert tomorrow that they will worship in spirit and truth, deepening their faith and walk with the Lord.

Next week Hammad is involved in the second session of judging a Christian Singing Talent contest called ‘Voice for Jesus’ organised by Rev Patras Bashir. The project started before I arrived and the last judging session is on 13^th December just before Hammad leaves for the UK. We pray for the contestants that they will be encouraged to use their gifts for the Lord and be blessed by taking part, whether they win or not. We are very thankful to God for your support and prayers.