End of the Year Wrap-Up

What a year.  Kiki and I finally had our Christmas date last night (we've been insanely busy until yesterday...I think we had 6 Christmas parties).  On our Christmas date, we usually have written down 24 of our favorite memories from the year each (one for each day of December leading up to Christmas).  Last night, we just talked through them, because this year has been so eventful and packed with special and life-changing memories.  So, here are a few:
- Graduation from Seminary for both of us
- A month of living and training in NYC
- Ordination as into Gospel ministry in the Presbyterian Church of America
- A month of rest and restoration in Chile, South America, part of that with very dear friends, Mike and Edie Dunn
- I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy (a kidney disease)
- moving to Bangkok to serve with Mission to the World among the Thai people

These are just a few...we were amazed at God's faithfulness and providence as we revisited the year.  We want to thank all of our supporters who have prayed us and supported us through this year and we ask you continue with us. 

Also, we pray that you will experience the love and grace of God in new and powerful ways in the coming year.  May the Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Christmas Party at New City Fellowship (our church)

Pics from the Flood clean-up

This past Saturday, several different churches around the city gathered north of Bangkok to one of the areas most affected by the floods and helped clean up.  This was a great opportunity to share the Gospel in both word and deed.  Here are a few pics from the event:

Help for National Church Leaders

Our goal as a mission organization (MTW Thailand), is that we would eventually see a self-sustaining, self-propagating church that is full of mature and growing Christians who share the Gospel with other Thais and disciple them in the faith.  That said...we still have a ways to go.  The Thai Church (in general) is small, and any church-planting at this point still depends on people from other places with more Christians (like the USA).  There is more of a need this year than many others because the transition that has occurred on our American team and because of the floods that have devastated parts of Thailand. Here are some ways that you can help:

Pray...
-for our Thai staff (Pramote, Pat, Kieow, Chai, Pawn, Yu, and Naamfon) as they labor to see Thais come to know Christ
-for our team as a whole, both Americans and Thais, that we would be wise as we plan and minister
-for the Thai Church (with a 'big C'...I mean all of the believers in Thailand), that there will be unity and revival, as well as a compulsion to take the Gospel to their fellow Thais

Give...
As I mentioned above, our Thai church has a need for some financial help as well.  Our church is made up of college students, the poor from the area, and new believers who are still learning how to give...not to mention that less than 1% of the population of Thailand knows Christ, so there is just very little financial support in the country period.  If you are interested in supporting Thai staff, you can give monthly or one-time amounts HERE (make sure that you give to "Thailand New Community Foundation - 95726") or you can send a check made out to "Mission to the World" with the account number "95726" on the memo line and send the check to this address:
Mission to the World

P.O. Box 116284

Atlanta, GA 30368-6284

 

Thanks to all who pray for us and for the work here in Bangkok.  Keep holding the rope!

Not sure about this...

This place is on our street, but I'm not quite sure what they do.

Life in Bangkok...so far

We are beginning to settle into a routine here...up for a walk and devotions, eat breakfast in the market, take the bus for language school, come back to eat lunch at the market, hang out with Thais, study Thai, read some CS Lewis together, then go to bed.  This is the cycle.  Fortunately, we've also been able to experience 2 long weekends this month due to Thai holidays, and we have a whole week of rest just after Christmas! 

So far, we've had an extremely easy time transitioning.  We have so many great friends here that we have not had to do much by ourselves, which we are very thankful for...as we didn't look forward to contacting landlords, internet providers, cell phone companies, and the power company in Bangkok with limited Thai.  We've also received lots of free furniture and appliances, which greatly cuts down our expenditures as we settle in to our new place.  Continue to pray as we learn to live in a Thai community and minister in a Thai context.

Oh...almost forgot...I also got a new pet.  I've named him 'Sean Adams', after my little brother.

Their Charlie the Tuna

Paul the Squid winked at me as the bus passed by.  It was a magical moment.

The King's Birthday

Last night, near the royal palace, many of the churches in Bangkok gathered to pray for the king of Thailand and to worship together on the eve of his birthday.  I can't really do justice to this experience...I've never really seen anything like Bangkok dressed up for the birthday of her King, and I was floored by the festivities last night. 

Pray that Bangkok and all of Thailand would celebrate and long for the coming of the eternal King of Glory.