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"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.
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| Traffic a bit heavy outside the school |
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Motorcycles are quicker in that heavy traffic
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| "To be Thai is to be a motorcycle driver." |
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| Another option for transportation when near the river |
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| So we decided to try it out |
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| What a time to have forgotten my fishing pole at home |
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These food vendors bring the restaurant to you
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| For people with arthritic knees, this restaurant is a challenge |
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| These little guys take care of the scraps that fall off the table |
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| Enjoying lunch with leaders of a new branch of Santisuk English School on the outskirts of Bangkok in city of Pak Kret |
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| New site for Santisuk Pak Kret before renovation begins |
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| Ministry to an urban poor community |
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| Another branch site of Santisuk in Rachada |
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Yet another new branch site, Rachayotin, to teach English.
Learning to speak English is in high demand. |
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| Luncheon with the women students from morning class |
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| Potluck picnic in Lumpini Park with students |
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| Feeding birds and fish in the park, both were "biting" near the green lake |
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| Bye the way, this green curry, Gary's favorite, did not come from the green lake |
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| We had difficulty choosing between the fragrant duck intestines or the duck blood |
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| Not sure anyone should marry an Alien using a translator or not |
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| Last meal with Lyndell's morning class at the school |
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| Final class party at ice cream shop (another favorite of Gary's) |
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Essay from one of Gary's students.
Yes! We want them to know about Jesus |
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| Saying goodbye to evening class |
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| One last class dinner on the street. |
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| Final Sunday afternoon small group meeting |
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| Fancy coffee latte art work |
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| Dinner at the beach on the Gulf of Thailand with long term missionaries Todd and Karen |
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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.
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