Summer (July & August)

The following was written while I was sitting in a coffee shop at an Elephant Camp in Northern Thailand…

“We are here with our final Work & Witness team for the summer. While they are riding elephants, oxcarts and river rafts, I thought I would type an update for all of you who are faithfully praying for and supporting us. Our first three teams came and went with only days in between each team. It was tiring, but really fun! The third team was a sweet, refreshing visit from our home/family church. It was wonderful to see and be with our family (see “June” for a more detailed description of previous trips).

Between the last team and this one, we got a three week “break.” By break, I do not mean that we didn’t work; we just worked in Bangkok. I picked back up teaching English and we worked on preparing for the next team, getting Caleb all registered for school, finishing reading assignments for a training we have to attend in August, and lesson plans for a marriage conference we are teaching in September. Plenty of work, but also time to rest.

We also found out that the Myanmar congregation (where we have been teaching English on Saturday nights) now has church in 6 locations! That’s 5 new brand new baby churches! The Burmese people come to Thailand for work, usually in factories and do not get days off. They make very little money and so only use public transportation. The Bangchalong Church location was too far for some to come and some didn’t have time off work. So, Pastor Khunjar and her congregation decided to start churches in locations and at times when and where people could attend. Pastor Khunjar and her brother WinMin travel to each of these locations while they are working hard to train leaders for these new churches.

Please pray specifically that God will raise up pastors and leaders, that the Church will be able to train and disciple them to do the work to which they are called. Pray that resources will be provided and for transportation to all of locations. Above all, pray that the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of the people and that they give their lives to Jesus.

Right now we are in Northern Thailand with the current team who are from Grandview, Washington.  This particular team has formed a three year partnership with our Field, so we know we will see them again for (at least) the next couple years.  This team is partnering with the Northern Thailand district to improve the Maetang Tribal Children’s Home, empower the local churches, and encourage and offer aid in church planting.  They completely repainted the sanctuary of the church on the children’s home campus, did some serious clean-up and organization, set up much needed new bunkbeds for the kids, played games and did crafts with the children after school, and shared the gospel and lead worship during youth group night. Grandview Church is partnering with a specific Lahu congregation to plant a new church in an unreached village so, one day, half of the team travelled to a Lahu village and had a games and crafts day at the local church for kids in the village while the other half travelled to an unreached Lahu village where a new work is being started by that same congregation.   Other than sitting down to try a variety of new and wonderful foods, the people from Grandview took very little time to rest.  This group was loving, fun, hardworking and focused and we loved getting to know them!

Please pray for the Grandview Church of the Nazarene as they fellowship, serve, and grow together.  Pray for Pastor Brent and his family, for unity in the church, and for God to have His way with His people.

We also had the privilege of meeting up with another team from Nampa, ID. For one day we had over 50 volunteers at the Children’s Home. It was crazy, but tons of fun. The Nampa group worked on painting a mural and, as I write this, are putting on a carnival day outreach for the local children.  Each team has added to improving the condition of the church in Maetang by painting and cleaning. Two of the teams (Olivet and Nampa) have painted murals and it’s looking really great!

We are really loving this part of our job—getting to know brothers and sisters in Christ from all over and seeing how God is moving their hearts both for international ministry and re-igniting a passion for sharing Jesus back home. We love being able to connect US congregations with ministry opportunities and needs here in Thailand and watching the people learn from each other and share Jesus’ love with each other.

As you can tell our “busy” time isn’t over yet. We will be traveling until September 21st (and that’s just what’s currently on the schedule).

Please be praying for us. Pray for our stamina and health. Continue to pray that our Thai language skills get better even as our language study becomes a bit more sporadic.

Please pray that we will have wisdom and know the exact areas of ministry where we are supposed to get involved here. We have so many requests for teaching, preaching and music instruction, but only so much time. Pray that the Holy Spirit reveals to us where we are really needed.

Pray that we develop relationships that go deep and bear fruit. And PLEASE pray for a move of the Holy Spirit in Bangkok.

Pray that the strongholds of idol worship and Buddhism will be broken and Christ will be honored as Lord in the hearts and homes of the Thai people.