Training, Teaching and Family (Aug, Sept, Oct)

The day before the Grandview team left, our daughter arrived for a 3-week visit! This was such a treat!  We miss our kids so much and our only regret was that Noah had to work and couldn’t make it out this summer.  We are looking forward to all being together for Christmas, but let me tell you… a year is way too long between visits!  While Lydia was here, we travelled up north, did some site-seeing, met with our country coordinator,  and finished up some W&W related business with the Children’s Home.  We then came back to Bangkok to enjoy the rest of Lydia’s stay.

Please pray for our kids.  Pray that Lydia would finish strong (she’s set to graduate in May) and not be too stressed out.  Please pray that they would stay healthy and safe as they work hard.  Pray that Noah stays healthy as he is constantly working on some performance (drama, musical, and vocal) that takes a lot of energy and offers little rest.  Pray that God will guide them as they are preparing for their futures and that they will both be open and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

The day Lydia left, Kevin and I also boarded an airplane to Singapore to attend a week of meetings at our regional headquarters.  We had a great time catching the vision for our region, being inspired to be always mindful of our calling to share Jesus, and becoming acquainted with other servants on our region.

Pray for all the workers in the Asia Pacific Region as we work to empower local believers to be the Church and to spread the gospel.  Pray that we will not grow weary of doing good and that we will be continually mindful of calling to share the light and love of Christ with everyone we meet.

We arrived back in Bangkok at the beginning of September and were home for one week before heading off to Cambodia to teach a Marriage & Family class to pastors and leaders.  We taught in two different rural locations.  At each location we taught from approximately 8:30-4:30 for four days.    At the first location we had around 65 students and at the second 35-40.  All of our teaching was translated by two incredible Cambodian translators.  Let me tell you… translation work is very important Kingdom work!  I so admire those who are gifted in this area and willing to use the gift of languages to build the Kingdom of God.

Pray for Cambodia as they grow in their faith and reach their nation for Christ.  Pray that the Cambodian Christians will be bold in sharing the Good News, faithful in living it out, and united in purpose as the body of Christ.

The last weekend in September, we were super excited to attend our very first Lahu Thanksgiving service!  The end of September through December is harvest time for the northern farmers.  Most weekends in October an November, the churches gather together (a different church hosts each weekend) to offer some of their harvest and to praise the Lord for His provision.  Some congregations come from as far as 4 hours away to attend.  Kevin was honored to be asked to preach and we were blessed as each congregation presented songs and dances that they had prepared for the service.

October brought a real treat to our home… my parents!  Neither of my parents had ever been to this part of the world and my mother had never been out of the US before this trip.  It was super exciting for them and fun for us.  We showed them Bangkok, they took a trip to one of the islands, and we took them up north to see the beauty, ride elephants, climb a waterfall, and meet our friends and fellow workers there.  Kevin was asked to preach at another Lahu Thanksgiving service, so my parents were able to attend with us!  My mom said that this might have been her favorite part of the trip.  Driving up the narrow switch back roads to get the village reminded my Dad of driving in rural West Virginia where he grew up.  They enjoyed spotting coffee trees and tea plants and trying to identify various fruit trees.  Their trip was really full, but even with three weeks, we didn’t get to introduce them to everyone we work with nor manage to get them to more than one of the Bangkok congregations (though we were able to sing together for a couple of the services).  I’ll guess they’ll just have to come back again to meet the rest of our friends!

Pray for my 97 year old Grandmother.  While my parents were here she was hospitalized but is now at home and in stable condition. Pray she recovers and stays well.  Pray for my parents as they shepherd the congregation in South Charleston, West Virginia and as they care for my Grandmother and Uncle.

Pray for the Lahu tribes as they gather together for thanks and fellowship. Pray for unity and that they will have a passion for sharing the gospel with unreached neighbors and neighboring villages.