Springtime greetings from Thailand,
Spring has arrived here in Bangkok with temperatures daily in mid to high 90’s and higher humidity. Spring also marks the time when we wrap up our time here and prepare to head back home after 5 months serving among many who still need to hear about the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that our time here will have been used by God to bring some, one step closer to embracing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some" (I Corinthians 9:22b ESV).
Since our last post after our medical/dental outreach to areas in western Thailand, we have taught six different English classes that besides Thai speakers, included several students from China. The students from China expressed how happy they were to have had the freedom to learn about the Bible during their class time at our school, since they said it is very difficult to do that back in their home country. At a showing of the Jesus film in our condo one recent evening, the seven Chinese students who attended said it was the first time they had seen a movie about the life of Jesus and were very interested in wanting to learn more, so we gave each of them a copy of the New Testament.
In early February we made a short trip to Vietnam to renew our visas for another two months. We were able to again visit a couple we had first met three years ago on another trip. They are working in that country to spread the good news among university students. We really enjoyed our time with them and to get away from the heat in Bangkok to a place where it was cooler.
Gary was given the opportunity to preach again several times, including the Good Friday service at the Peace of Silom Church (PSC). We will again miss our friends and the fellowship we have there with PSC members, the Santisuk English School staff, the church members at Calvary International, and others we have come to know over the several years we have regularly come here. One dear woman that Lyndell has befriended the past 4 years decided recently, along with her husband who has terminal cancer, to receive the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. If it was only for those two souls that the Lord brought us here, that would be enough, for every soul in the mind of God is precious to Him. Yet our hope is that even more will one day follow through to make a commitment to Christ for their salvation as well.
Thank you to all who have chosen to make a financial contribution to help support our ministry this time and we are also indebted to those of you who have prayed for us while we’ve been here. This year has seemed to have been a bit more challenging both physically and emotionally and those prayers were so much appreciated. We're thankful for the excellent medical care we've received here in Bangkok.
The following photos with captions may help to give a little more insight into the activities we experienced since our last post in January. Much of our time seems to be spent eating with people in wonderful conversation as we get to know each other better. Eating over here is an enjoyable social activity instead of simply a time to refuel.
God bless you all richly in Christ Jesus, whose life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promise to return gives us the peace and hope that everyone needs to hear about at least once. Thanks for partnering with us to simply do just that here in Thailand.
For His glory among the nations,
Gary and Lyndell
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Friday night worship at Peace of Silom Church
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Speaking at Good Friday service
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Worship service at Calvary International
 | Very long street (Soi) to church but
golf cart makes the trip enjoyable in hot weather
 | | Some members of Calvary's Women's fellowship group |
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| Women's Bible Study Fellowship group |
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Sharing details at Calvary of our medical/dental mission
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Men's fellowship group at our condo |
 | | Lunch with fellow volunteer Santisuk teachers |
 | Dinner with fellow volunteer English teachers
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 | Level one February evening class
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Sushi treat at discount price after 9:00 pm
 | Level one February class
 | Level one February afternoon class
(Two Chinese, two Thai, one Japanese) |
 | Visitation with a Muslim refugee family
 | Visitation with a Muslim refugee family
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Supplying devotionals to Christian refugee family
 | Thai speakers who helped lead Lyndell's friend to Christ
 | Had to try this renown specialty
Banh Mi sandwich in Vietnam
 | Here's what the sandwich is all about
 | We enjoyed seeing the fresh flowers at the local market
 | Fresh produce at local morning market in Hoi An, Vietnam
 | Very long gondola ride to top of
Sun World Ba Na Hill in Da Nang, Vietnam
 | Specialty dishes in Vietnam
 | Colorful lantern river boats in Hoi An, Vietnam
 | Intricate needlework art with silk thread
 | Delicious Vietnamese pancake or Bánh xèo
 | Enjoying food and fellowship with friends in Da Nang
 | $6.00 haircut in Vietnam
 | Thousands of these trees around the town in
celebration of Tết or Vietnamese New Years
 | We had a hankering for a hamburger
and then found a bugger!
 | We said we wanted a fish for dinner,
so the waiter took us down to choose from the live fish tanks
 | End of February English teaching session party
 | | Evidence of how the school's enrollment is growing |
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 | Food offerings made during Chinese New Years
 | Level one March evening class
 | Level one March afternoon class
 | Level 5 March evening class
 | | Iranian couple, former students from last year |
 | Lunch with students
 | At our condo a showing of the Jesus Film
and with pizza and gyoza for Chinese students
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 | Everyone received New Testaments after the movie
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Friends and former Minnesota residents working in Bangkok
who also like Indian food as a change of pace |
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| Friday night worship at Peace of Silom Church |
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Menu to choose for annual health physical
(Little less than $500 for males)
 | Wasn't expecting such an elaborate gown
for the examination
 | Preparing for the scoping procedures
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 | "Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your
good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16) |
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