Ministry to Thailand 2017 Final Update

"For the earth will be filled
    with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord    as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV)

The old saying is true, "Time flies when you're having fun." Part of the fun is teaching idioms like this to students learning to speak English. However, the real "fun" or reward is having a student ask questions about our glorious God and Savior Jesus Christ. The greatest joy, however, will be to hopefully discover someday in eternity, that the Word of God, which we shared, will have helped to bring someone to salvation.

We completed our ministry in Bangkok and returned home on March 14, eager to go back again as the Lord leads. Even in the short two months we were there, we developed many new relationships and built upon older ones which we will miss until we are given the opportunity to return.

We were especially delighted to have had the opportunity to come along side those who are laboring full time, hopefully providing some encouragement to them as well. We thank the Lord for the variety of God-ordained encounters we had to share the love and knowledge of Christ.

One burden we carry, as we have returned, is that for a Christian Pakistani refugee family who has members in the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) in Bangkok. They have been placed there due to expiration of their Visas and could eventually be deported back to the country they fled due to religious persecution. A church in Hamilton, Canada is willing to help them to resettle however, there is a financial need of $30,000 in order to help make that happen. A Go Fund Me account has been established for anyone would like to contribute: https://www.gofundme.com/zafarfamily. We were brought to the IDC by a 14 year old student of Lyndell's, who had not been able to visit with his dad for over a year. The father is housed in a cell with around 150 other detainees who have to sleep on their side to make enough room for everyone and have the use of only 3 toilets. We brought along some food for his father and tried to share with him and the other 10 or so relatives some encouragement from the Bible and to pray for them. It was very difficult to make ourselves heard as we gathered together with other visitors and other detainees who were shouting loudly in a moderately large size room, being separated by two fences about 4 feet apart. We pray that God would be merciful to provide the means so that the family can soon be reunited and re-settled.

Even though Christianity has had a presence in Thailand for a long time, very few have heard anything about Jesus and only 0.5% are Christians. The Buddhist ties are very strong and in their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Our prayer is that the church will continue to make Jesus known among the people and the people in turn will develop a heart not only to know more about Him, but to receive God's free gift of eternal life. All the required merit has been made by Christ, who is willing to transfer it to each believer's account for their salvation if they would place their trust in Him alone.

One of our English students wanted to know if Gary ever took time to mediate. Gary said he did, but then explained that Christian mediation is totally different from how a Buddhist understands the practice.  From a Buddhist perspective, the goal of meditation is an attempt to empty the mind, so that hopefully all desires will be eliminated in order to permit the individual to then live a wholesome life and eventually reach a perfect state of peace and enlightenment. Christian mediation, in contrast, is done by filling the mind with the truths and promises of God's Word, which leads to finding our greatest desire being met in a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. This reality then results in finding peace, even during troubling times, knowing that a good and sovereign God has everything under His control for His glory and our joy. After hearing this difference, the student said, "I would like to mediate like that." Perhaps as he reads the Bible that he was given, he will come to peace with God as he comes to know the love that the Lord has for him and all who would believe in His Son for the forgiveness of their sins.

We completed our stay in Thailand by spending two days at a hotel with our resident missionaries Todd and Karen on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand for a little time of R&R and prayer. We didn't go into the ocean due to the many warnings about the large number of jelly fish that had decided to invade the waters first. Even so, it was a delight to walk along the beach and eat at a restaurant where  the locals seem to hang out (always a good sign). So we again left Thailand, the Land of Smiles, with mixed emotions and praying that knowing Jesus will eventually be the reason for those smiles.

Traffic a bit heavy outside the school

Motorcycles are quicker in that heavy traffic

"To be Thai is to be a motorcycle driver."

Another option for transportation when near the river

So we decided to try it out

What a time to have forgotten my fishing pole at home

These food vendors bring the restaurant to you

For people with arthritic knees, this restaurant is a challenge

These little guys take care of the scraps that fall off the table

Enjoying lunch with leaders of a new branch of Santisuk English School on the outskirts of Bangkok in city of Pak Kret

New site for Santisuk Pak Kret before renovation begins

Ministry to an urban poor community

Another branch site of Santisuk in Rachada

Yet another new branch site, Rachayotin, to teach English.
Learning to speak English is in high demand.

Luncheon with the women students from morning class

Potluck picnic in Lumpini Park with students

Feeding birds and fish in the park, both were "biting" near the green lake

Bye the way, this green curry, Gary's favorite, did not come from the green lake

We had difficulty choosing between the fragrant duck intestines or the duck blood

Not sure anyone should marry an Alien using a translator or not

Last meal with Lyndell's morning class at the school

Final class party at ice cream shop (another favorite of Gary's)

Essay from one of Gary's students.
Yes! We want them to know about Jesus

Saying goodbye to evening class

One last class dinner on the street.

Final Sunday afternoon small group meeting

Fancy coffee latte art work

Dinner at the beach on the Gulf of Thailand with long term missionaries Todd and Karen

May the Son of God shine in all His glory on this beautiful country of Thailand

We again want to express our gratitude to all who supported our trip with your finances and prayers.    The work to bring the gospel to those who have never heard is a team effort and we thank you for your partnership in the Lord. May God be praised for His encouraging work through all of you.

    

Teaching English at Santisuk Silom

Eastern view from the rooftop of our apartment 

    Yes, life gets busy on this side of the globe here in Bangkok as well as in America and it has made posting a newsletter a bit challenging. We're already into our third week of teaching English at Santisuk and are enjoying it very much. Our apartment is new, clean, 440 sq. feet with separate bedroom and study room, and only a 5 minute walk to the school. Lyndell is teaching two Level 3 classes, one in the morning and the other at night.  Gary teaches a Level 2 class at night and has been helping to preach at the weekly Friday evening worship services held at the school. The service is in Thai, so the sermons of course need to be translated by our director Awe. We teach our two hour long classes four days/week from Monday-Thursday and try to find things to do with the students or staff on the weekends. After class in the evening, which ends at 8:30, we usually go out to eat with members of the Thai staff and some students. However, the late night suppers are not helping to control the waist line.

    Every week there are also opportunities to help disciple new believers at our cell group meetings on Sunday afternoons, which are open to anyone seeking to know more about the Christian faith. Thus, there are unbelievers in attendance at those meetings as well as at the worship services. One question came up last week as a gay, 20 some year old, male Buddhist wanted to know if it was really that important to become a Christian, since he was already having a happy life. We began our answer to his question by sharing John 3:16-18 and went on from there to proclaim the gospel by having him read many others portions of Scripture. We let Jesus and other sections of the Bible provide an explanation of why trusting in Jesus alone is so vitally important now and for all eternity. He said he would begin reading the book of John and write down any questions he had along the way. We're praying that his eyes would be opened to the truth as were those of his former gay partner who has repented of his sins and is now a believer at the church.

   There have been other meetings, by God's providence, to share the reason for the hope we have in God. Each student in Gary's class is required to have an interview session with him at which time the gospel is presented and the distinguishing characteristics of our faith in Jesus Christ is compared with all other religions. This is a story most say they have never heard before explained to them. One day in Gary's class after singing the specific song for that day, which was Amazing Grace, he gave an explanation of what grace meant and why it is so amazing. Our sin transferred to Jesus who in turn has given us his perfect righteousness by grace through faith alone (none of our merit required) is truly the unique and utterly amazing great exchange. The next day of class one of the students wrote for one of their homework sentences requiring the use of the word "is", "The love of God is amazing!" Wow, coming from a devote Buddhist, that is amazing.

   Although we have discovered some favorite foods to eat, we continue to try different items as well. Our default restaurant is only a short distance from our apartment, which has a tasty menu (with pictures!) and is also very inexpensive.... around $8.00 or 280 baht for the two of us. Lunch varies for us quite a bit with so many options everywhere. The challenge comes when almost everything is just written in Thai and there aren't many good english speaker translators around. We like to try places that have a long line of people waiting to get food :). We also enjoy a small hole in the wall street side restaurant across from our apartment that serves only a special northern Thailand soup with either chicken or pork called Khao Soi.....it's "aroy-mak-krap" (very delicious)!

    Last Friday we taught English all day at a very poor public school about an hours taxi drive from downtown Bangkok. The students were mainly from 4th to 6th grade. They all seemed pretty excited to have us there especially since this outreach happens only once a year. The children are learning English in school, but from Thai speakers, and therefore they appreciate hearing English from native speakers.

    Even though this is winter in Thailand, the daily temperatures are very hot for us Mid-westerners from highs in the mid-90's during the day to lows in the upper 70's at night. We very much appreciate the A/C here to say the least. We drink a lot of water and fresh-pressed fruit juices from the street vendors, which taste so wonderful.

   We hope the following pictures give you some idea of what we've been able to experience here so far. Please keep praying for hearts to be open and receptive to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Our comfortable home away from home in Bangkok.

Friday evening worship service

Our favorite default restaurant kitchen- make sure to say "mai ped na krap" (not spicy please)!

We found a new use for our grill back home this summer- barbecued bananas.

How many colors can you identify in this food selection?

Our local fruit vendor Palope who now calls out our names upon seeing us 

Delicious mu (pork), gai (chicken) or gung (shrimp) Pad Thai can be found just about everywhere.

 After class dinner party with January class

Final class pizza party (yes, I said pizza and it's very good) for January class 

One of several local restaurants across on our narrow soi (street)

Not really sure where the driver is on this kitchen accessory mobile stand

Former king now deceased

New king 

Very popular restaurant serving khao soi (northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup) for $1.00

Enjoying dinner from a street-side vendor with students in the evening

 A serene lake in the 142 acre Lumphini Park in the midst of the city

Uh, let's try to find another canoe. This one seems to be reserved.

Work out stations for young and old

Free outside park fitness center that Gary chose to avoid

Christian books in the library of an early 20th century doctor in Bangkok

Our cell group meeting in our apartment with treats afterwards

Hmmm, a little hard deciding on what to order here

Decision easier here. "Mango sticky rice please." A favorite dessert for many, us included.

Evangelical Church of Bangkok since 1971

Students from Thailand, Iran and Pakistan

Syncretistic worship confusion- Hindu shrine, animistic spirit house with rope leading to Buddhist temple on roof of adjacent building

Monk wax exhibit at Maka Bucha Day festival

Gary's Level 2 class first day

                               Mu Ping หมูปิ้ง (pork on a stick) quick snack

I'm feeling antiquated- what I used in high school and college is now in a Bangkok museum

Chao Phraya River-use of inexpensive river boat taxis to avoid congested city streets

Short and long term missionaries from Bethlehem Baptist Church
L. to R. Lyndell, Karen Indehar, Myra Pehoski (short term), Gary, Todd Indehar, and Sean German
(Todd & Karen long term Thailand missionaries in Bangkok)
(Sean German long term Bosnian missionary visiting while attending leader's conference)