Whirlwind

Returned a few days ago from a whirlwind tour of the US.
Ron Wilson and I decided that one of us needed to go back and visit some of the churches and individuals that support the ongoing work here in the region. I took Col. Surasak along with me to give a first-hand report of the ministry here in Thailand and to get him some exposure to potential supporters.

Surasak retired early two years ago at our prompting to take the position of Thailand National leader for Cadence Asia. After much prayer and a step of faith he and his wife Wan Pen did exactly that. They are living on his reduced retirement which is able to sustain them with the basics of life but does not allow for them to do ministry.

Ron and I explored several different paths here to raise the $600 a month in ministry monies needed but ran into many walls. There is no precedent that we could find for Thais raising their own support to do ministry. In fact, they barely even provide financially for full-time pastors of churches. We have discovered that it mainly comes down to a cultural issue of loosing face. (Like if someone asks for support and you either, are not able to or are not inclined to, give the you would loose face) So going around sharing the need would be met with incredible coolness and might even damage your relationships permanently. So at this time it is not wise for him to try here.

This is why I took him to the states so that I could be his champion for raising funds (which is still hard for him to accept) and not run the risk of damaging relationships. Surasak did a great job sharing and many responded as being encouraged by our reports on how the ministry is growing and the live that are being changed. We are not sure exactly at this point how well we did on the support side of things but are praying that the needed funds will be committed. We had a great time together as we travelled around California and then to Denver, CO. It was good to get some extended time with Surasak and also to practice my Thai.

South East Asia Update

Cambodia
I returned this past week from an incredible ministry experience in Northern Cambodia. Pastor Peter Heitt (from our church in Denver), Andrew Trawick, and me, spent several days among a host of new believers from Camp 51 and its surrounding villages. In less than a year, a small group of 30 army officers has grown into a church of 10,500! We put on a medical clinic for the base and surrounding villages in which we served 2000 patients. During the clinic times we were also able to share the gospel to those waiting to be seen, and again, many indicated accepting Christ for the first time. We have been working very hard to communicate to these folks that they will be seen by our medical team whether or not the raise their hands--and still they respond.

In addition to this we conducted some leadership training for identified leaders among the growing numbers of believers. The teaching focused on the “church” and how she functions. These believers had never taken communion let alone had any teaching on the subject, so it was our distinct privilege to serve them the Lord’s Supper for the first time. There are 20 small groups meeting at this time and we are hoping to triple this in the next months as our training continues.

We have also been talking about the need to invest into a community center in this area. Our thinking is to provide a place for them to hold weddings, funerals, and for Christians to fellowship. (I know… sounds like a church!) However, by building a community center we would be taking the political factor out of the equation and investing into the community as a whole. At this point we have to rent tents every time we come and the feel is very “western”. Khmer style fellowship is to sit around on mats or in hammocks. Anyway... this is still in the dreaming stage both in planning and finances. 

Family Visit

San's folks came out to visit just after Christmas for a few weeks. Besides all of us (except San, who had to help clean-up various failures to make it to the bathroom toilet) getting very sick, we had a great time with them. I bought a motorcycle just after we arrived here with the money I recieved from selling my 85 Toyota Landcruiser. It really is a great way to get around town here. Anyway... Darrell had never been on a bike so we went for a little spin. (we never got out of 3 gear) Our travel schedule looks very full for the next couple of months. San will be going to Cambodia in 2 weeks for the first-ever women's ministry outreach to Cambodian officer's wives. Boy are we excited to see this finally happening. Please pray for the team of women going
Feb. 12-16. 

Festival

We went downtown Chiang Mai for dinner and to have some fun at the Yee Peng Festival here. This is a beautiful tradition with sad roots. The Thais make these hot air lanterns and release them in the air containing their sins hoping that the gods will take them away. The skies are full of them! They also float banana leaves down the river with incense and money to please the river gods. Fireworks are also part of the celebration rejoicing over sins forgiven.
It was fun for us to participate with the kids telling them that our sins are already forgiven and that we are pleasing to the one and God only through Jesus. We turned it into a symbol of "the light of God (His son)" rising in His ascension to the right hand of the father.

 

Thai Thanksgiving

We spent our first Thanksgiving in Thailand by having 40 people over to our home. Half of those folks were from England! Our UK friends had never experienced Thanksgiving (Duh!) but were able to put all historical differences aside in giving thanks to God for His provision in our lives. We played "Two-hand touch American football" and a little UK football (soccer) as well.



One of the many things that we are enjoying here is the small group that we host at our house on Wednesday nights. This group of 8 couples are quickly becoming our dear friends. We are currently studying the book of 1 John and sharing our life stories with each other. The missionary community in Chiang Mai is pretty tight which really helps us all to stay connected.
 

Thai Military & Police Fellowship Conference

I just returned from a 3 day annual Conference that is put on by the Thailand Military and Police Christian Fellowship organization. We support this group with training and discipleship, as well as serving on their board as advisors. It is really important in Thailand that we stay in the background and continue in an advisory role, which we are happy to do. Col. Surasak is actually a Cadence staff member and serves as our country leader. Maj.Gen. Chaikorn (pictured with his wife next to me at the table) is the chairman of the organization and we are very close with him as well. More than 150 military members, representing 5 regional groups, were in attendance. It was a wonderful time for me to network with and encourage these men from all over the country. I also got to practice my Thai.
They have asked us to start several conversational English groups around the country. Please pray with us that we can find the folks able to come and do this. Ron Wilson and I will probably start one in area but need about 2 or 3 more people.