Craig RaynerHi friends,
February has been a month of great change in my life. You would have received a note or in some other way heard the news about Debbie and myself agreeing to explore a relationship,
the aim of which is marriage. I will return with more information about Debbie later in the letter. The beginning of the month found me back in Guam after returning there from Saipan. This was followed by a return to New Zealand for the completion of the Youth with a Mission Discipleship Training School.
Completing the DTS
The return to Guam was marked by the U.S. navy doing exercises at Andersen Air Force Base. Every afternoon and evening we enjoyed (substitute your own adjective) the landing of about 50 FA-18As, plus associated re-fuelling planes and radar support aircraft. On the ground we participated in an outreach on the beach at Tumon, in Guam. On return to New Zealand we spent a week in debrief and graduation ceremonies, and catching up with the Indonesia team. The DTS completed on the 16th February, and over the next 
couple of days the school dispersed, some of us heading home and others taking the opportunity to explore New Zealand.
Romance
I wish to take the time and give a little detail of the story that is rapidly unfolding around me. Towards the end of outreach I took a day to pray into my life, chasing after what the MD had to heal in me, what he had for me to do and confirmation of the leading I had received already. The day was completely unexpected in its result, with the MD clearly directing me to contact Debbie, a lady I had known for over 2 years from my time in Crossroads and had kept in limited contact with, to ask if she would consider deepening our virtually non-existent relationship for an exploration of a relationship that would finish in marriage or stay as it already was. 
All of these questions and responses have been done over the phone, separated by a week here and there as Debbie thought over the answer and I sought the courage to ask in the first place. The short story was a 'Yes'. The long story is much more interesting, but sorry, later.
All of our contact since asking the question has been limited to the phone, plus some creative touches using the people that are surrounding us. There is a very strong realisation that the MD is in this relationship, and we are both constantly in awe of the way that he is orchestrating our relationship. We are both very thankful for the way that the MD has been leading our relationship, and also for the many letters of encouragement that we have received for our many friends.
Plans
My plans at this time are to be in Australia until the 19th April, when I will return to Hong Kong. At the moment I have been organising a party to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. My brother is also to be married in early April. Debbie is coming to Australia in early April to meet my family while they are all in one area of the country. This will be the first time that Debbie and I will meet since May 2007.
Requests
That Debbie and I will be able to build a relationship that is honouring to the MD. That the MD will reveal the plans he has for both of us.
Photos
- Outreach on the beach at Tumon, Guam.
- Graduation Photo
- Debbie
