The Hope For The Nations : 2022

Our time in Thailand has once again come to an end all too soon after being here in Bangkok for the past 3 months. The Lord has sustained us by His grace, keeping us in good health and helping us to enjoy all the many people we have come to know during our stay. We thank all of you who have prayed for us and the ministry opportunities we have had to give witness to the peace, hope, joy, and love we have in Christ Jesus, as we eagerly await His return.

If asked to tell what the best part of our trip was this time, we would quickly say it was the relationships we made with our English students, church members, condo staff workers, long-term missionaries, friends from past visits here, and refugees. We were able to spend time hearing their various stories, praying with them, sharing meals together and we hope they were blessed during our times together as much as we were.

We were often encouraged in our faith after hearing the personal accounts of many families who had fled persecution in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan and have now been waiting in poverty for up to 10 years in Bangkok to be relocated to a new country. Most were not bitter about their present circumstances but had expressed how the Lord has used these trials to only strengthen their faith in Jesus. It was humbling to see what joy and hope these believers had even though they had so little material resources and possessions.

The fear of Covid-19 among potential students kept the class sizes small for our in person English teaching sessions. Yet, we were still able to share the miracle stories of Jesus with several who had never heard them explained before. We know that seeds of the gospel have been planted and others will follow to water while our prayer is that God will bring about growth to eternal life.

Early morning market shopping for fresh hard roasted eggs.

Lyndell's favorite fresh fruit vendor; so delicious!

Squid is very popular here at all times of the day, but not for Gary.

Pre-packaged options for later lunch time.

Gary chose this bakery vendor over the one for squid.

Fresh Pad Thai always a delicious choice anytime of the day.

One of our favorite indoor restaurants at about $12.00 for this feast.

Our everyday river crossing ferry was often very crowded.

Early Sunday ferry crossings for church not so much.

This cab driver was serious about preventative Covid measures.

Calvary International Baptist Church (CIBC) we attended.

Gary had the privilege to preach when Pastor Martin was ill.

CIBC Refugee Team sharing lunch before going out for ministry.

Transporting food supplies for distribution to refugee families.

Moving food supplies to vehicles as the team members went out.

Refugee family preparing lunch for us.

A home cooked Pakistani meal always delicious.

This family recently resettled in Canada after many years waiting.

This beautiful family provided us with our homemade peanut butter staple for Gary's breakfast.

Due to spread of Covid in some areas we could only meet outdoors.

Muslim man we had visited two years ago. We returned and shared an overall summary of the Biblical story of salvation in Jesus Christ.

A few weeks after prayer for this man's release from a detention center he was set free to join his family after being away for five years.

Career missionary Mary who is now serving at Santisuk. The book was written by Lyndell's sister Dr. MariAnne Dibbley.

Lyndell's Level 1 students at Santisuk English School.

Gary's Level 1 Class at Santisuk English School.

One of our student's posts on Facebook. It wasn't until our final session dinner did we first see our students full faces without the masks!

Young man eager to return to Burma to share the love of Jesus.

Dinner with our former landlords in Chinatown.

I said, "A little off the top." He said, "Some one else beat me to it."

We can't say that life has moved at a snail's pace while in Thailand.
This trip was over much too soon.

Please pray that the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, that began to shine in Thailand over 500 year ago,

would continue to shine brighter and brighter.

Dear Family and friends,

After having arrived in Bangkok almost two weeks ago we are now just about fully adjusted to the 13-hour time difference from back home. We thank the Lord that our Covid-19 tests were negative and thus we only had to spend a 24-hour mandatory quarantine period. We chose to stay in a hotel for the first six days, while we looked for place where we could spend the remaining three months that we have planned to be here. We don’t take it for granted that all went so smoothly since we had heard of several incidences where travelers to Thailand had tested positive upon arrival and were quickly rushed off to a hospital to be quarantined for 10 days even if they had no symptoms. This resulted in a very large added expense that had to be paid up front.

Now that we are settled in our condo, we have been spending much of our time visiting with full-time missionaries as well as two refugee families that are believers. We are learning from their experiences and very much encouraged to hear the testimonies of the refugees who have suffered back in their native country and here in Thailand as they await to be relocated in another country where they can start living in freedom. Due to the sensitivity of their situation we are unable to post pictures of the refugees for their safety.

I’d like to share a short summary of a long conversation I recently had with a Pakistani refugee which was very humbling as I witnessed this man’s expression of love for Jesus and willing to suffer for the sake of making him known. He, his wife and two young children had been forced to flee their country because the local authorities had issued a warrant for his murder for helping other Christians who were being hunted down and killed for their faith. After arriving in Thailand this man was arrested, because he could not pay for a renewal of his visa and placed in a detention center. This facility was so concentrated with other illegal refugees that they had to sleep on the floor in shifts because there was not enough room on the floor for everyone to lie down at the same time. Food was very sparse and not very nutritious, but they were permitted to receive other food supplements from friends or family a couple times a month. He remained in this facility for over 6 years without ever seeing his two children during that time!

I asked him how he spent his days. He said that twice a day he would preach from the Bible what he had been reading about during the many hours he had nothing to do. Many were encouraged by his messages as they focused on the love of God and hope for the future through faith in Jesus Christ. He said the key for him to remain mentally strong during these years was to continually look to Jesus who always gave him the ability to endure. He thanked God that he had come to know Him more and more through this time in detention and now wants to live the remaining years of his life sharing the wonderful news of God’s grace, love and mercy with others as the Lord gives opportunities in the future as they hope to be permitted to be sponsored to relocate in Canada.

Our plan also is to be used by the Lord in the ways He would choose for us to best bring the message of God’s love through Jesus Christ to those who have never heard this glorious story, here in Bangkok. Currently, we are sensing at least three opportunities to do this. One is by continuing to bring relief packages to refugees. Another is to fulfill requests we have been given to again teach English in a formal setting with students face to face. Yet another is to visit a couple of university campuses and meet dental students who might want to engage in conversation with a dentist like me from the states. Next Friday we plan to do just that, Lord willing.

I want to conclude this update by asking for your continued prayer and financial support as we engage with various individuals, so we would be seen as bearers of universal truth and love that God has first shown in our hearts. Please pray for continued health to do that. We are often in very crowed situations and the threat of Covid is very real here as well.

Thank you again for your support to help us reach others with the wonderful news of Jesus.

Blessings in His powerful name,

Gary and Lyndell

"Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," Titus 2:13

Probably not the most healthy way to start the day.
We had to try it and it's actually fried bananas.

Coffee vendor from whom we purchased some delicious beans
that came from his father's plantation in northern Thailand.

Reported to be the tallest building in Thailand- 1,043 feet

Ann, an IMB Missionary showing us and pastor's wife, Carrie, university locations.

Kitchen in our 700 sq. ft condo as viewed from the living room.

Todd and Karen Indehar long term missionaries to Thailand.
They are returning to USA on home assignment next week and will be living in our home.

Lyndell is happy to have a balcony to dry our laundry.
Of course I share that chore with her.

Our comfortable living room as viewed from the kitchen with beautiful view.

Awe, who serves as new director of Santisuk English School Silom branch

Nok, a native Thai working with the Indehars at Thailand Peace Foundation

Calvary International Baptist Church served by Pastor Martin Chappel and wife Carrie.
We will be doing ministry with their outreach efforts while in Bangkok.