tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304863342024-03-07T11:10:34.416-08:00Mike and Sherri MorrisseyServing with Thailand NOWMissionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-82110131910583421542024-03-07T10:41:00.000-08:002024-03-07T11:10:00.833-08:002 New Church Plants and Training Center Update<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Praise God! Great is the Lord! We want to some wonderful recent victories to share.</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">First, there are two new church plants happening this month. </span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Please pray for Pastor Gorowit as he is moving his family to the far South to Nakhon Si Thammarat province. This region is still majority Buddhist but has a significant Muslim minority. Please pray for hearts to be open to the Gospel. This is the 105th church planted through Thailand NOW.</li><li>Please pray for Pastor Sunan, a veteran church planter, who will be planting a Pioneer Pastor Church in an unreached county called Pru Yai which is in Korat. Pru Yai county has over 10,000 souls and now there will be the first church in history in that county. This church is called Trinity Church, and Pastor Sunan already has a group of Christians who will be going there with him. This is the 49th Pioneer Pastor Church, meaning a church planted in a county that had no Christian churches. </li></ul><div>All Pioneer Pastor churches are self-sufficient. Pastor Sunan has leased a very large building that the owner is allowing us to use for a very modest price. It is a two-story commercial building that has many classrooms (both large and small) plus a large room that is ideal for a sanctuary for worship. Teacher Palm, a member of Trinity Church, will be starting a language school at this facility, and the profits from the language school will pay for the rent of the building. Through your generosity, we have been able to help with startup costs for this church.</div><div><br /></div><div>Below are pictures of the building from the outside and the entrance.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8SGo3Y5PFUTym9CU5qYGNGPypff2LTuN0PxtoKFHzkJRHpHUr7MIJluW9WhEyy1ZZK7hFhjNz8nqRpBH5xsLL1hYRb0_oJAIROh5E7X_L1mdhjaMHumMRf6wkfn_RtzM0pU_VqST3qt1uNX0ThasZIw35cMs2fJEy2OzV4NdJeKl0G81DAd4/s964/Trinity%20Outside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="964" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8SGo3Y5PFUTym9CU5qYGNGPypff2LTuN0PxtoKFHzkJRHpHUr7MIJluW9WhEyy1ZZK7hFhjNz8nqRpBH5xsLL1hYRb0_oJAIROh5E7X_L1mdhjaMHumMRf6wkfn_RtzM0pU_VqST3qt1uNX0ThasZIw35cMs2fJEy2OzV4NdJeKl0G81DAd4/w640-h480/Trinity%20Outside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_OO0LfOxZYPXldfZZ1XhyfaMc1jBfWYbvrn3rjjoVb-i0RQxGZd0gMHNssMJqXhmjILEBJt_rYpRbzriv8eYLM8vCusctMpLDjP-X7jQ4Amyn8QLPs7w3jkqHz09Q-MqRUZZy38r5sIdDraTnI5t-z2V0CzS7EdNOdCfYKvCkgNeZFb3_SPH/s1477/Trinity%20entrance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1477" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_OO0LfOxZYPXldfZZ1XhyfaMc1jBfWYbvrn3rjjoVb-i0RQxGZd0gMHNssMJqXhmjILEBJt_rYpRbzriv8eYLM8vCusctMpLDjP-X7jQ4Amyn8QLPs7w3jkqHz09Q-MqRUZZy38r5sIdDraTnI5t-z2V0CzS7EdNOdCfYKvCkgNeZFb3_SPH/w640-h254/Trinity%20entrance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Below are pictures of 1. Pastor Sunan by one of the many smaller classrooms on the first floor. 2. One of the large classrooms. and 3. The large room that will be the sanctuary.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJEpaXNA0x8sX9Yf3mYbQmU2_migKHOhLTSulykDBIDBOAnjdKnh7pv89hcPdYVEDl3oVd4mRetappeT9i49iigFkHIZeS5zApakATO8-pk4jtouzTpVAuQu3K_5uJ5TfXQtUUd7n6IIbpW4A6laSpGL0-wBU6Umwx4Fitdver4U8YfJqV8DH/s860/Trinity%20Sunan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="860" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJEpaXNA0x8sX9Yf3mYbQmU2_migKHOhLTSulykDBIDBOAnjdKnh7pv89hcPdYVEDl3oVd4mRetappeT9i49iigFkHIZeS5zApakATO8-pk4jtouzTpVAuQu3K_5uJ5TfXQtUUd7n6IIbpW4A6laSpGL0-wBU6Umwx4Fitdver4U8YfJqV8DH/w640-h480/Trinity%20Sunan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjs0zXzZL08Q4t3wNud9ubT7gaWuWFO-GEOt_yz4YtBUhslMk0KLqzZIZqIj5I0kWG9EKtSF5DfAFKjr415pIYzolRgYmInRhBruw6jG5shLKVrEnFvf4TkGRGzkTUY7MSg7U78rwv1eUqMQQ46Cygm17qwpG0xIAs6YDdrvpoWiVPvqXRSlh/s1599/Trinity%20Classroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjs0zXzZL08Q4t3wNud9ubT7gaWuWFO-GEOt_yz4YtBUhslMk0KLqzZIZqIj5I0kWG9EKtSF5DfAFKjr415pIYzolRgYmInRhBruw6jG5shLKVrEnFvf4TkGRGzkTUY7MSg7U78rwv1eUqMQQ46Cygm17qwpG0xIAs6YDdrvpoWiVPvqXRSlh/w640-h480/Trinity%20Classroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUMBJtlbqx5Kwo_tk4K5PStqjE8UKsfrYjqLsFwd4bAgGyXq9RUf7S4QQ7hwvjm-OVrQ90MLlSIw0SjjRrX7tvSm_qua7z5m0hA2dnm2Wdu6SJfs1Y9uwXSz038nkVxeoKens4WT1qpVg7sVjtsZ9VPkgYqzQr63fVu81xVxhkijYghpBoTyY/s1200/Trinity%20Large%20Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1200" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUMBJtlbqx5Kwo_tk4K5PStqjE8UKsfrYjqLsFwd4bAgGyXq9RUf7S4QQ7hwvjm-OVrQ90MLlSIw0SjjRrX7tvSm_qua7z5m0hA2dnm2Wdu6SJfs1Y9uwXSz038nkVxeoKens4WT1qpVg7sVjtsZ9VPkgYqzQr63fVu81xVxhkijYghpBoTyY/w640-h444/Trinity%20Large%20Room.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Please pray for success for the language school, and that Pastor Sunan will make many new disciples of Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Second, we have more progress on the construction of the Abundant Life Training Center.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div>We have now received $32,150 of the goal of $47,000 needed for Phase Three of the construction (this will be for six large air conditioners for the sanctuary, installation of 220 Volt, 3-Phase commercial electricity (installing a large transformers and poles to distribute electricity across the campus), as well as a security wall around the perimeter of the Abundant Life Training Center. $14,850 is still needed to complete this phase. If you want to donate towards the construction of the Abundant Life Training Center, please designate your gift to the Building Fund.</div><div><br /></div><div>This next week, the kitchen and restrooms building, which is behind the large sanctuary, will be complete. Below are some pictures.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQL57nK3SIxfJD61hdDeCaji1R3pJk9-OKD4eWB7LE-fO7OjyxSec78OGb8GBuDFtbzm7Q6h4oBEUJhNAWW6sD0eFYS7rPqWgvLlgr26L1SUIcY0fX4_9fRoPIH_alVcUdHtd488ph12sLCAe4qwVCbER4roPxeRoZwSE0XuGsFlArSnv_2UD/s1280/bath%20side%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQL57nK3SIxfJD61hdDeCaji1R3pJk9-OKD4eWB7LE-fO7OjyxSec78OGb8GBuDFtbzm7Q6h4oBEUJhNAWW6sD0eFYS7rPqWgvLlgr26L1SUIcY0fX4_9fRoPIH_alVcUdHtd488ph12sLCAe4qwVCbER4roPxeRoZwSE0XuGsFlArSnv_2UD/w640-h480/bath%20side%20view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6154svDwrCVSxfu01J_hrqf0EfGmdN8n1JZPHcSi77ky7QwGoKpWh7ck3J1OohExrBHve3UV42LicaC4LzOqW0tnNqyDLdviT50fXgj_8gnMEpsktqkuJAk5qDUWDVGpIO9XkW4SP-aCqmw4eRbrwxPsAY25mi_W4VujkjZzNjQyMG4x7G_2p/s1280/kitchen%20sink%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6154svDwrCVSxfu01J_hrqf0EfGmdN8n1JZPHcSi77ky7QwGoKpWh7ck3J1OohExrBHve3UV42LicaC4LzOqW0tnNqyDLdviT50fXgj_8gnMEpsktqkuJAk5qDUWDVGpIO9XkW4SP-aCqmw4eRbrwxPsAY25mi_W4VujkjZzNjQyMG4x7G_2p/w640-h480/kitchen%20sink%20view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVeK6Nn3Zw3efjlg7aWnqVB0l9CaoG0LDfnfHl6JnnKtL0hOWvc66-0wU0RqyIGFQu2L08y935iTuHCYXF7rh1ncc93ilESSyUNB4EtLzfhyJzMfOStK4XLpN6aS7VR7yh2STNWjtTv1uLAVyikOWQ72nnZjeZ9QTVct-4YsNdMN3_ZIWQeqm/s1280/men's%20bathroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVeK6Nn3Zw3efjlg7aWnqVB0l9CaoG0LDfnfHl6JnnKtL0hOWvc66-0wU0RqyIGFQu2L08y935iTuHCYXF7rh1ncc93ilESSyUNB4EtLzfhyJzMfOStK4XLpN6aS7VR7yh2STNWjtTv1uLAVyikOWQ72nnZjeZ9QTVct-4YsNdMN3_ZIWQeqm/w640-h480/men's%20bathroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The only thing left is to install the water filtration system and some painting on the outside. Also, we have ordered the air conditioning units, and those units will not arrive from the factory until April. These are special 3-phase units that will be more efficient than single phase. </div><div><br /></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If the Lord leads you to donate...</b></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div>Checks for Thailand NOW can be mailed to:</div></div><div>Thailand NOW</div><div>P.O. Box 56</div><div>Mannsville, KY 42758</div><div><br /></div><div>OR Donate Online at our website >> <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/">https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/</a></div><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-15474827001533715472024-01-25T21:30:00.000-08:002024-01-25T21:30:09.555-08:00A Praise, an Update on the Abundand Life Training Center, and an urgent Prayer Request <p>First, the Praise. As you know, we have been trying to get visas for our four Thai national missionaries to come to America to visit supporting churches. Last year, we failed to get a visa for Pastors Wassana and Corn. We had all of the necessary documents, in fact, we far surpassed all of the requirements. But the officer at the American embassy in Bangkok would not even read any of the documents showing full sponsorship and itineration details of all the supporting churches they would visit. The officer rejected both of them without even a cursory examination of any supporting documentation, and it was discouraging. </p><p>So this time, we sent May, who is the Director of the Abundant Life Financial Training Program, to try a different location to get a visa. Last week, May went to the American Consulate in Chiang Mai, which is in the "Bible belt" of Thailand. The consulate officers there would be accustomed to giving visas to Thai pastors and Christian leaders serving with Christian organizations in America. The consulate officer there in Chiang Mai carefully read all of the supporting documents, and May was granted a visa to come to America. God is good!</p><p>Also, a few weeks ago, May and her husband Teddy, had a House Dedication Worship Service. Many Thai pastors and Christian leaders attended this ceremony. Their house is at the Abundant Life Training Center, and your donations for Phases 1 and 2 of the construction of this project bought the land (which includes the land the house is built upon) and also 40% of the cost of building their home. Thank you for your generosity which made this possible. (Below is a picture of Sherri giving words of blessing to May and Teddy at the House Dedication Worship Service).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Bu596Jj-6GynF-bETXiWmJiggzABse8ybEJukXQr5ZVQoJjlfRZsYNmdY7rLb4Oaf2rHqA5VL2hhuUptTjkkuTmqgi63kymxA0Yi8yYky4pAqieYUVyiy2tyPFDq1DYR3v7se4JgxPBcTgisDE4wBQCefoJxvKYfCz_CJptJKzo6-FpH3yb7/s1213/May%20at%20House%20dedication.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Bu596Jj-6GynF-bETXiWmJiggzABse8ybEJukXQr5ZVQoJjlfRZsYNmdY7rLb4Oaf2rHqA5VL2hhuUptTjkkuTmqgi63kymxA0Yi8yYky4pAqieYUVyiy2tyPFDq1DYR3v7se4JgxPBcTgisDE4wBQCefoJxvKYfCz_CJptJKzo6-FpH3yb7/w484-h640/May%20at%20House%20dedication.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><p>Second, the Update on the Abundant Life Training Center. </p><p>Phase Two Construction is wrapping up nicely. The Director's housing (May and Teddy's home) is complete. The sanctuary is complete and the construction of the restroom/kitchen building will be completed this next week. (Below is a picture of the sanctuary, which is temporarily being used to store some of our items until we can distribute them.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtqebtY3tv716jcjRG-JQU2aH-oO-tWdGufanjDYidK9MPmzxQX8OC4kIYRGQ2JEe66VzaSDxZ0WIZ06KwB204ukwKq6EySdCvMxZzm9NahrAwXJi6tJUNUwdiRZPWumYnTprfe411oRCkmSTSJ6pQrk_ecvN_TAxxLv6rDNZANrkv9uvK-iE/s1477/ALTC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtqebtY3tv716jcjRG-JQU2aH-oO-tWdGufanjDYidK9MPmzxQX8OC4kIYRGQ2JEe66VzaSDxZ0WIZ06KwB204ukwKq6EySdCvMxZzm9NahrAwXJi6tJUNUwdiRZPWumYnTprfe411oRCkmSTSJ6pQrk_ecvN_TAxxLv6rDNZANrkv9uvK-iE/w480-h640/ALTC.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>We have been fundraising for Phase Three now, which includes: 1. Purchasing and Installing a large 3-Phase transformer and poles to carry electricity to every building on campus; 2. Purchasing and installing eight 3-phase air conditioner units; and 3. Constructing a Security Wall around the perimeter of the campus including gates in the front entrances and a beautiful sign as well.</p><p>Total cost of Phase Three is $47,000 and we have now received $23,150. We need $23,850 to complete this phase. We are almost half way there! If you would like to donate to this project, please be sure to designate your gift to the Building Fund.</p><p>Installation of the 3-Phase transformer and installing the electric poles on the campus has been accomplished. We hope to have the air conditioner units installed in the next few weeks. Then we will wait for the remaining funds needed, so we can build the perimeter security wall. This will be a big project, since it is around 11,000 feet of wall that must be built.</p><p>Finally, we would like to forward an Urgent Prayer Request from Allie and David Houle that they shared via email.</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_3027408078862082505mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div class="m_3027408078862082505mceText" id="m_3027408078862082505dataBlockId-15" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: 612px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">After sharing with you all last November about our adoption finally being approved, we have been working to get all the documents in order and translated into English to be able to bring Aden back home to America to meet the rest of her family. We have finished all the paperwork on the Thai side and Aden now has a passport, but now we must wait for her visa to be approved to go to America. Aden is a Thai citizen with a Thai passport, and because she was adopted locally in Thailand (not internationally), she was not automatically given an American visa and it will take time for her to get citizenship. That’s why we must go to the US Embassy and request a visa. We’ve already applied for the visa but we must go in-person for an interview scheduled on February 27th. Please pray that we meet the right officer who will see and understand our situation and grant Aden a 10-year visa so that she can travel back and forth to America with us for years to come.</p></div></td></tr><tr><td align="center" class="m_3027408078862082505mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 0px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="m_3027408078862082505mceImage CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="auto" role="presentation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjiY-D4gnmlGB3geZrs7bmA_99Z_iH2WX5Z-F1X2CkFOo6OnDZhQ4q9_M-WHToCqtPYQQEFYkh8ThgveiRfzQMenKpBgCuI0MxOSkF5zjc4SvAGdNF2cYJwMIzRQGUEpx0jA8-ZjllzQx9sWg9W4Qptli5qi5NuZl4Nsa6jMtlV-CCfjO7GyOvLZmSTJhCe_ha6a4B1JzP3T0BMx0-dMg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 1208px !important; outline: none; width: 564px;" tabindex="0" width="564" /></td></tr><tr><td class="m_3027408078862082505mceBlockContainer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 12px 24px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div class="m_3027408078862082505mceText" id="m_3027408078862082505dataBlockId-42" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve; width: 612px;"><p style="direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">After the interview, Aden should get a visa within a week or so and we will plan to travel back home to America for a visit in mid-March. It’s hard to believe that it has been 5 and a half years since we have been home and I know there will be an adjust period for us and for Aden. We are extremely excited to be back home and plan to take a longer itineration in America, for about 5 months. This will allow for time with family, fundraising, and therapy for Aden.</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p> Your prayers are greatly appreciated and very powerful. We are blessed to have so many people lifting this all of the missionaries and team members of Thailand NOW up in your prayers. God is good!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-15012201975335282422023-11-25T09:19:00.000-08:002023-11-25T09:19:46.864-08:00God is answering your prayers! Thank you!<p> We have wonderful praises to report to you this month. When you pray, we see great things happen in Thailand. Truly, we have no idea where to begin, so we will start with the most recent answer to prayer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH91581j4KGd35EVMiGkVEjIefxSoACexthbF0yCZ4tuVGlcBKcgYEXovLfQhigrBJD2YXvSOCoqvNt4uAIK6N8kx3bAVh0Q60ugDVbE_CHTOjWJXw9zZqxUlG_YcCB2OOJx-QZAV5fN-UHoTYbdO6y1B_tgArVt7YnnB9JX23SkllCMKeEkk/s1600/Houle%20family.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH91581j4KGd35EVMiGkVEjIefxSoACexthbF0yCZ4tuVGlcBKcgYEXovLfQhigrBJD2YXvSOCoqvNt4uAIK6N8kx3bAVh0Q60ugDVbE_CHTOjWJXw9zZqxUlG_YcCB2OOJx-QZAV5fN-UHoTYbdO6y1B_tgArVt7YnnB9JX23SkllCMKeEkk/w484-h640/Houle%20family.png" width="484" /></a></div><p>First, Allie and David Houle, Field Directors for the Blessing Centers, have been in the process of adopting Aden for four years now, and the adoption is finally approved! Thank you for praying for them for this whole time and not giving up. Allie and David and all of us at Thailand NOW are celebrating this long awaited blessing. God is good!</p><p>Please continue to pray for Allie and David, that they can quickly get a Thai passport and an American visa for Aden so they can bring her to they can all visit family, friends, and supporters of the mission back in the United States. Aden Houle is now officially their daughter, but is not yet an American citizen. So she will need the Thai passport and American visa for her to come to the States. Allie and David have not been back home in Georgia for over five years because they have awaited the finalization of the adoption of Aden. </p><p>Second, seven months ago, we asked you to pray for Pastors Jin and Fee (not their real names - for their safety we must protect their identities) who are a clergy couple that planted the first church in a region of 8 counties in Northeast Thailand, none of which had a church. (again, we cannot name the community, to protect them). Jin and Fee rented a two-story row building in their unreached city and started a church there. The abbot (chief monk) of the local Buddhist temple was upset that a Christian church was being planted in his city, so he organized an armed mob to invade the church. The abbot and the mob pushed Jin and Fee up against a wall, holding them by their necks, and forbade them from using their phones to take videos or pictures. Then they destroyed everything in the church and threatened violence if they did not move away from the city. The police did nothing and no charges were brought against the abbot or any of the mob. When they did not move away because they could not break the lease on the building, the abbot organized the mob for a second time, and they ransacked the church for a second time. </p><p>Pastors Jin and Fee left the city and moved to a member's home about 2 miles outside of the city. The room that they met in could not contain everyone, so efforts were made to buy land outside of the city to build a church campus. We paid for an architect to design blueprints for the sanctuary, housing for the pastors, and some classrooms. We asked everyone to pray that the government officials in the city would look favorably upon them and approve the blueprints and construction permits for building the new church campus. Jin and Fee contacted us to report that they finally received approval for the blueprints and that they now have the construction permits that are needed.</p><p>Thank you for praying for Jin and Fee for the last seven months and not giving up on them. Your persistent prayers are paving the way for this church to become permanent in the community so that the 62,000 people living in this formerly unreached region can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and have new life in Him!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjIfiSVmL5RLgdhncOVioDge9A5VKdldB7Nf4GRs_4tAGvRorvo3lN_GuXzva-Jt5KEXbAK9K2xYizEE2AdVTOrA2oIOfxkCSQfkEL42SCPLb4m9K6bPyMf4OESqHlLujx95Xo4PavugQcC5qrGLt80dTWoS9R74gvE4olEA9dmMvJbwdWfnf/s616/Phase%20Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="616" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjIfiSVmL5RLgdhncOVioDge9A5VKdldB7Nf4GRs_4tAGvRorvo3lN_GuXzva-Jt5KEXbAK9K2xYizEE2AdVTOrA2oIOfxkCSQfkEL42SCPLb4m9K6bPyMf4OESqHlLujx95Xo4PavugQcC5qrGLt80dTWoS9R74gvE4olEA9dmMvJbwdWfnf/w640-h200/Phase%20Two.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Third, for the past two years we have asked you to pray for God's provision for Phase Two of the Abundant Life Training Center. We needed $140,000 for the construction of a large meeting room, a house for the Director's family, and a Restroom/Kitchen building.</p><p>This past month, we received donations that put us over the top and fundraising for Phase Two is complete! We are grateful for your generosity that made this possible!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1ru1cqJtrrIzmdhlOvOaktmd4ENAwRvjiqBNm5FcKarPorr1BH_unmMigC1gtEaksYd5JtXw5AEFmWaMNH28saQFV-DdtHbYCt9ZFpSAu3PdgNBeW6CV1IVwDB5ECNuhAH1gBOuRm_2355Y4lTVZUaHcs0QV5Qs7CVHtyQVPQ9rNYJMbo00z/s1477/Inside%20Meeting%20Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1ru1cqJtrrIzmdhlOvOaktmd4ENAwRvjiqBNm5FcKarPorr1BH_unmMigC1gtEaksYd5JtXw5AEFmWaMNH28saQFV-DdtHbYCt9ZFpSAu3PdgNBeW6CV1IVwDB5ECNuhAH1gBOuRm_2355Y4lTVZUaHcs0QV5Qs7CVHtyQVPQ9rNYJMbo00z/w640-h480/Inside%20Meeting%20Room.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The large meeting room in the picture above is complete now. And the other two buildings (the kitchen & restroom facilities, and the Director’s house, should be complete before the end of the year. Thank you for praying for the last two years and not giving up. <p></p><p>Now we will begin Phase Three of fundraising for the Abundant Life Training Center. Phase Three include the following steps to move the training center campus forward toward functionality: </p><p>1) Bringing in electric service (poles, a transformer, and lines); </p><p>2) The purchase and installation of 8 inverter air-conditioning units; and </p><p>3) Building a security wall with 2 gates around the perimeter. (This will also keep local water buffalo from walking through freshly poured wet concrete floors when we begin our Final Phase of building two dormitory/bunk houses... Yes. We had to chuckle when we first saw hoof-prints in the main room’s wet concrete!) </p><p> <b>The total needed to accomplish these Phase Three tasks is $47,000.</b> If you, your family, or church group would like to give a special gift toward this project for Christmas, we’d be so grateful! The Abundant Life Financial Training Center will make it possible to equip pastors, leaders, and Thai churches throughout the nation to grow in essential financial skills, and will provide Biblical training in stewardship—a vital area of discipleship that can bless and strengthen families.</p><p>If you would like to give for the construction of the Abundant Life, please designate your gift to the BUILDING FUND.</p><p>Donations can be sent by check to:</p><p>Thailand NOW, P.O. Box 56, Mannsville, KY 42758</p><p>OR give online at:</p><p><a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/">https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/</a></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-21934935331349809152023-10-12T06:26:00.004-07:002023-10-12T06:26:33.841-07:00Introducing Our New Missionaries<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7Rqnr8rQyzkNVMAW3j4mFoQUs-jLbLrQYkn4wgHU9QwqMZHfLJ5MO7bFpTW3Jx20hyHU3PoE2eM1oTmGSGGh3nTxlnpN99IbZfxX2-apANAuvjJyZg6MSAYNa0MpFCbJyBQrTxjNxuxIvskJCcgRY11ryHyrVameCgV3rw6BL6KAXgQbMO9g/s2237/mao&nhia2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2237" data-original-width="2223" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7Rqnr8rQyzkNVMAW3j4mFoQUs-jLbLrQYkn4wgHU9QwqMZHfLJ5MO7bFpTW3Jx20hyHU3PoE2eM1oTmGSGGh3nTxlnpN99IbZfxX2-apANAuvjJyZg6MSAYNa0MpFCbJyBQrTxjNxuxIvskJCcgRY11ryHyrVameCgV3rw6BL6KAXgQbMO9g/w398-h400/mao&nhia2023.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br />We would like to introduce our new long-term missionaries, Revs. Nhia Wahn and Mao Her. They are Hmong pastors who lived in Laos during the Vietnam war, when their families had to flee to Thailand, where they lived in refugee camps before migrating to the United States and becoming American citizens. Nhia Wahn and Mao serve as Methodist pastors in Wisconsin, and they will be visiting churches in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin to raise financial and prayer support. Please pray that all of the necessary funds are raised quickly so they are able to come to Thailand in July 2024. <p></p><p>Pastors Nhia Wahn and Mao will be serving as Mentoring Pastors for the Pioneer Pastor Program and will be locating in Bangkok, but serving throughout Thailand. They will be working closely with Pastor Sila and Wassana who lead the Evangelical Wesleyan Church of Thailand organization.</p><p>Nhia Wahn and Mao will also be working together with Pastor Wassana to initiate a new church plant and a new Blessing Home Center in Chaiyaphum province in Pastor Wassana's hometown.</p><p>Sherri and I met Pastors Nhia Wahn and Mao 16 years ago when they visited us in Thailand and they have been faithful supporters and prayer warriors of the mission. We are very excited about their decision to be faithful to God's call on their life to serve Thai people with the love of Jesus.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF0W87THLo4_8OCuQZ6rKLXkcNVy516yPj4F5ODJ-j0_4yfm-vDsRy_wsCoRG_RENzn_bJmTb8cJef94__PnGWRIgIbVva4aB1Me6Jdb0oDeZE0xT_D9FGT_dw7a7gxtj98nf84E3ArsjbRHR-zx85am9fXMWHWtZtmaHbqJ6piZDAzwUrpLm/s962/Baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="962" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF0W87THLo4_8OCuQZ6rKLXkcNVy516yPj4F5ODJ-j0_4yfm-vDsRy_wsCoRG_RENzn_bJmTb8cJef94__PnGWRIgIbVva4aB1Me6Jdb0oDeZE0xT_D9FGT_dw7a7gxtj98nf84E3ArsjbRHR-zx85am9fXMWHWtZtmaHbqJ6piZDAzwUrpLm/w640-h480/Baptism.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Please remember Thailand NOW mission during this Christmas season. Your faithful support has an eternal impact on the lives of Thai people:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Your generosity saves and protects children from being trafficked in the brothels and drug trade;</li><li>Your faithful giving helps to plant churches in unreached counties in Thailand so that people can hear the wonderful Good News of Jesus Christ;</li><li>Your donations make it possible for Pioneer Pastors to receive scholarships for seminary studies and for Blessing Home kids that excel in school to receive scholarships for university and trade school;</li><li>You make it possible to train Thai people to manage their money with biblical principles so they can have emergency funds, and pay off their debt and stay out of debt.</li></ul><div>You can give in many ways.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Send a check in the mail to: Thailand NOW, P.O. Box 56, Mannsville, KY 42758</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Give online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/">https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>3. For estate giving, please contact our treasurer, Terri Gabehart by email at <a href="mailto:terrigabe@windstream.net">terrigabe@windstream.net</a></div><p></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-3814889568475763282023-09-06T09:06:00.001-07:002023-09-06T09:06:21.022-07:00Blessing Home Isan Youth begin a church planting movement<p>Seventeen years ago, when we opened the first Blessing Home Center in Pattaya, we had a vision that the Lord would give bright futures to these kids. We believed that many of the Blessing Home kids would become young adults who were followers of Jesus and had purpose-filled, joyful lives. And our Lord has done that. Our God is a wonderful, and His lovingkindness is beyond measure! <br /></p><p>The Lord answered our prayers and the prayers of thousands of prayer warriors like you. But we want you to know that God has gone beyond our prayers, and far beyond what we imagined. A revival has broken out amongst the Blessing Home youth and also the young adults who graduated from the Blessing Home program. Through the leadership of Pastor Kaopoat "Corn" Prayongkham (in the picture below), the Director of Blessing Home Isan, these youth and young adults have been reaching out with the gospel of Jesus Christ.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcPKePpVoQfPJSQSq3MdzoEFJc1U2vjLjsr9KC6mqUmBYkhMXlAbQV936hhfH4GNOlcnxsTvgiAgodjOTGMpnQSy8EaQkJQEewlJIA7qnzMQKQ_nC6e08Mcivn_VtiRnz82IBCl0XJSM09yEDEwn7Up2NadvQecev3gj5sSR9-gxrOPKo_fXg/s377/KP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcPKePpVoQfPJSQSq3MdzoEFJc1U2vjLjsr9KC6mqUmBYkhMXlAbQV936hhfH4GNOlcnxsTvgiAgodjOTGMpnQSy8EaQkJQEewlJIA7qnzMQKQ_nC6e08Mcivn_VtiRnz82IBCl0XJSM09yEDEwn7Up2NadvQecev3gj5sSR9-gxrOPKo_fXg/w313-h400/KP.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><i>Acts 1:8 (NASB)</i></b></span></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">witnesses both in </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Jerusalem and in </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">all Judea</span>,<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">and Samaria</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">, and as far as the </span></i></b><span style="color: red;"><b><i>remotest part of the earth</i></b>.</span></p><p>The revival began with serving in the church, which is their<span style="color: #ff00fe;"> <i><b>"Jerusalem"</b></i></span>. Some served on the praise team. Others served on the Audio/Visual team. Others served by teaching Sunday School. Others served as leaders of the Abundant Life Savings Group. We have seen guardians and other family members of these Blessing Home youth and young adults becoming followers of Christ. </p><p>Next, the youth began evangelistic outreach into their community and their whole county, which is their <i><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">"Judea"</span>.</b></i> The Blessing Home youth and young adults took leadership of providing youth day camps, where they would take turns teaching music, English language, Chinese language, and most importantly teaching them about Jesus Christ. Many more youth are a part of the Blessing Home Isan ministry and the church there because of these day camps.</p><p>Now, these same youth and young adults have been led by the Lord to plant Pioneer Pastor churches in two unreached counties in their region, which is their <span style="color: #b45f06;"><i><b>"Samaria"</b></i>.</span> The first church plant is in Suk Paibun county, with a population of over 12,000 people. This church is only one month old and has 30 people in it of all ages. They have worship together and then divide into two Sunday School classes. This church meets in a house (most Pioneer Pastor churches begin in homes) that a generous person is allowing to be used for this new church plant. </p><p>One of the Blessing Home young adults named Yok is enrolled in seminary, and will studying through distance learning to earn a Bachelor of Ministry degree so she can become the pastor of this new church. Pastor Corn will serve as a mentoring pastor for Yok.</p><p>Yok received a scholarship from Blessing Home for two-years of study at a vocational college to train to become an electrician. Yok has graduated and will now become a bi-vocational servant of God who will help to plant this church while she is does seminary studies to prepare to be a pastor. Through your generosity, we are able to provide a full scholarship for Yok's seminary studies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KQLXYvRqnv-PiR-nXFWVHyeMd6B5rCWNJQGiNy1MOMsroTg0_iG0LvzCEBl9fyepuoYT04Qn5Ygx0kvASVaqKDaIoc4FohZwgcLKiiwGm497A32zwBeHCeqtqfU_Hw0GN3CyIIPKQ83yl0S9E5kO-ZCaEIDQXlYKNFDxbzLBSuSJcr080YML/s4032/Yok%20at%20Ban%20Rat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KQLXYvRqnv-PiR-nXFWVHyeMd6B5rCWNJQGiNy1MOMsroTg0_iG0LvzCEBl9fyepuoYT04Qn5Ygx0kvASVaqKDaIoc4FohZwgcLKiiwGm497A32zwBeHCeqtqfU_Hw0GN3CyIIPKQ83yl0S9E5kO-ZCaEIDQXlYKNFDxbzLBSuSJcr080YML/w640-h480/Yok%20at%20Ban%20Rat.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The second church plant is in Ban Rat, a nearby unreached county with a population of 8,000 people. This church is also one month old and has 20 people worshipping there. This church meets at the home of one of the Blessing Home youth. Above is a picture of Yok praying for one of the youth at Ban Rat Church. Below is a picture of Pastor Fern (who leads Grace Church, which meets at the Blessing Home Isan campus) leading worship with adults at the Ban Rat Church.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5lyDtteoWNVwUqSIyZWd9xOJbhpPq-l7ybKG5qi_S6ts7qPXgCAeXqJ3Me2c94imfyy9b1EAKgrNzjGUMi1_9FcGbM4aGWfq-4ex-oImtNeXuOxdXxcusilzJGNfjRCoHeatzmk3RGp_hHMvVYBwXfaWIko95zcPClJgKcdlREixrXO5CcW7/s4032/Ban%20Rat%20adult%20class.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5lyDtteoWNVwUqSIyZWd9xOJbhpPq-l7ybKG5qi_S6ts7qPXgCAeXqJ3Me2c94imfyy9b1EAKgrNzjGUMi1_9FcGbM4aGWfq-4ex-oImtNeXuOxdXxcusilzJGNfjRCoHeatzmk3RGp_hHMvVYBwXfaWIko95zcPClJgKcdlREixrXO5CcW7/w640-h480/Ban%20Rat%20adult%20class.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>On top of all of this, Pastor Corn and some of the Blessing Home youth are travelling to other provinces to serve the Lord. For most of these kids, they rarely if ever travel more than 50 miles from home. So serving in another province is like going to the <b><i><span style="color: red;">"</span></i></b><b style="color: red;"><i>remotest part of the earth"</i></b><span style="color: red;">. </span>Once per month, the Blessing Home Isan youth travel to Blessing Home TaPhraya to put on a day camp. Blessing Home TaPhraya is about as remote as you get, being just 1/4 mile from the border with Cambodia. Now we see the revival fire of the Holy Spirit starting to catch on at Blessing Home TaPhraya.</p><p>This all happens because you pray! When you pray, mountains are moved by God in Thailand!</p><p>One more word of praise. A few months ago, we were contacted by one of our Pioneer Pastors with a wonderful serendipitous blessing. For her safety, I will refer to her as Pastor S. Pastor S said that she was contacted by the local Buddhist temple. There is a Buddhist school for children at the temple, and they requested that Pastor S. come every week to teach the children about Jesus! This is truly a miracle that this door has opened up. This door opened up because of your prayers! God is good! So if you could remember to pray for Pastor S., especially on Sunday evening (which is Monday morning in Thailand), you can lift her up in prayer while she is teaching the children about Jesus. </p><p>We also want to thank all of you who generously donate to Thailand NOW mission. Your donations make this mission possible. </p><p>If you would like to donate you can send a check to:</p><p>Thailand NOW</p><p>P.O. Box 56</p><p>Mannsville, KY 42758</p><p>OR give online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/">https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-45925299354331046762023-07-11T07:07:00.002-07:002023-07-11T07:07:44.043-07:00Beginning our 19th year of Missionary Service<p>Sherri and I have now begun our nineteenth year of service as missionaries and Executive Directors in Thailand. God has blessed the mission tremendously and we give praise to the Lord that we work with wonderful servants of God in Thailand.</p><p>Although now there are many different ministries with Thailand NOW, including the Blessing Home Centers, the Abundant Life Financial Training Program, and Global Theological Institute, our first and primary ministry which we were appointed to do was to plant churches in unreached parts of Thailand. The Pioneer Pastor Program (one of our ministries with Thailand NOW) seeks to work with Thai pastors and Christian leaders to plant churches in unreached counties (sub-districts) in Thailand. 75% of the counties in Thailand remain unreached, having no Christian churches. We believe that EVERYONE needs Jesus, and our life goal is to strive to have at least one Christian church in every county in Thailand, so that all Thai people will have a chance to hear the Good News of Jesus.</p><p>During our time of service here in Thailand, we have been blessed to work with Thai leaders to plant 48 churches in unreached counties, and over 50 other churches in under-reached counties. </p><div style="text-align: left;">We are reminded of 1 Cor. 3:6,7 </div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <b>"</b><span class="text 1Cor-3-6" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-28417" style="background-color: white;">I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-3-7" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-28418" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."</span></div></blockquote><p>The Thai leaders planted, we watered, but ALL of the growth was a result of the Power of God at work. And you prayers and generosity have made it possible for the planting and watering to take place. We and the Thai leaders are blessed by your faithfulness!</p><p>Usually when a Pioneer Pastor Church is planted, within 3-6 years, they will go on to plant another church. Planting churches is built into the DNA of these churches. Sherri and I have served here long enough that we are now on our fourth generation of Pioneer Pastor churches! God is GREAT!</p><p>We request that you pray for one of these fourth generation Pioneer Pastor Churches that was planted last year. Rattana Wapi Church is a fourth generation Pioneer Pastor Church. When we came to Thailand, we served at Pradumri Church in Chonburi. We helped them to plant our first Pioneer Pastor Church in Bowin (a city of 150,000 people with NO church!). The leaders that helped plant that church then went on to plant their own church, God is Good Church in Ban Bueng. Then God is Good Church planted a church in Buengkan under the leadership of Pastor Awee. Now Pastor Awee and the members of God is Good Buengkan church planted a new church last year in Rattana Wapi in Nong Khai province. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFn1YLZbyOF_M-OVoHh_c2at8_KJjySp6VIQulX0Q1RcELj7Kz58Jo4hW92n_OOzUK_tQduRucOWTYrWw9L0LnAKSrniTIKdwt6wUcda8-giUMKHKRXSTc3cvPZSoLpSpZzGLvwwswvy8H4-SQmwS-FoPZKivhZ-OJnfK-ARGgViPjh3AhvjF/s3000/IMG_20230423_112958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2966" data-original-width="3000" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFn1YLZbyOF_M-OVoHh_c2at8_KJjySp6VIQulX0Q1RcELj7Kz58Jo4hW92n_OOzUK_tQduRucOWTYrWw9L0LnAKSrniTIKdwt6wUcda8-giUMKHKRXSTc3cvPZSoLpSpZzGLvwwswvy8H4-SQmwS-FoPZKivhZ-OJnfK-ARGgViPjh3AhvjF/w640-h632/IMG_20230423_112958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Pastor Awee is training a local church leader at Rattana Wapi to become the pastor there. Her name is Pastor Mamuang (seen in the picture above with Sherri), and she is truly a dedicated servant of God and a hard worker. Through your donations, a full scholarship has been given to Pastor Mamuang and Somsri (Pastor Awee's wife) for seminary studies with Thailand Theological Seminary to earn Bachelor of Ministry degrees, and Pastor Awee has been given a full scholarship for seminary studies for a Master of Divinity degree. Every six weeks, these three travel for 12 hours one-way to go to Chonburi province to take one-week block classes, and they are doing well.</p><p>Two months ago, we worshipped at Rattana Wapi Church. They have built a shelter between two homes, and there were over 90 people attending worship on that Sunday (many more than in the picture below, which was taken about 9 months ago - the church has really grown!). Many of those who came to worship had to stand because there were not enough chairs. Your donations helped to buy 50 more chairs and a new drum set as well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdDYPHTLjMuw6KBZI81tsMCDKx-SNHjmYQqWlpMuKZgV66MBA5dkwG6edUpJnruJKe0UJNCE21PIEe0SmbHLPY6K3ZmBlMhHt4dLGXzSAQLadOryPkhy1alQRIuQa9hQmIXT5-KBcnyTDsvvHrtVfS4JMKk437cmQuwFvML2k1CLzZRUsPGKS/s1477/Rattana%20Wapi%20Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1477" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdDYPHTLjMuw6KBZI81tsMCDKx-SNHjmYQqWlpMuKZgV66MBA5dkwG6edUpJnruJKe0UJNCE21PIEe0SmbHLPY6K3ZmBlMhHt4dLGXzSAQLadOryPkhy1alQRIuQa9hQmIXT5-KBcnyTDsvvHrtVfS4JMKk437cmQuwFvML2k1CLzZRUsPGKS/w640-h333/Rattana%20Wapi%20Church.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>One of the ministries that this church has is a school of music for youth. The youth come to learn to play guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano, and singing. The Sunday that we were at Rattana Wapi church, the youth were leading worship and everyone was encouraged to see young people serving the Lord.</p><p>Pastors Awee, Somsri, and Mamuang spend much of their time visiting those who do not yet know Christ to share the Good News. Every week, they send pictures and reports to us of people receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Both Rattana Wapi Church and God is Good Church of Buengkan are growing rapidly because of the efforts of these pastors and their church members to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Below is a picture of Pastors Awee and Somsri sharing the gospel of Jesus with a Buddhist monk in their town. When they sent this picture to us, they said, "Share the Good News with ALL PEOPLE". We say, "AMEN!!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZS365sY7OaDW6hzUjjHdHYP1ddEdAGQhfCBv5o35YnDtN2kHT1BD9RnXz87Vstd7WYX0agS18xG7gLLfe-MCTTTfKKvW3Z1MzLnDGnj5b300HlUk4GxR5HzB68fg4b63sJoFjHKAIeF6IBIGPhpDYW9j0GDe6_Db7NpuwQJHuvoWff_vuZO_/s1477/Good%20news%20to%20all%20people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZS365sY7OaDW6hzUjjHdHYP1ddEdAGQhfCBv5o35YnDtN2kHT1BD9RnXz87Vstd7WYX0agS18xG7gLLfe-MCTTTfKKvW3Z1MzLnDGnj5b300HlUk4GxR5HzB68fg4b63sJoFjHKAIeF6IBIGPhpDYW9j0GDe6_Db7NpuwQJHuvoWff_vuZO_/w640-h480/Good%20news%20to%20all%20people.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>If the Lord leads you to donate:</p><p>You can give online at https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/</p><p>OR send a check to:</p><p>Thailand NOW, P.O. Box 56, Mannsville, KY 42758</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-83135023338502992052023-03-01T22:21:00.003-08:002023-03-01T22:29:39.247-08:00We are stepping up Thailand NOW mission to a higher level.<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipdYULl5pgVVeIqUsY2CGj3zCl5gqSUGnq8nUaAqQmWoN_BrJKi9pV8VWWWDEkk23Ucjts6Lx7k5gLrCWvnxSZfwnjt0Izk7UiTT-fKw1ctY7IeIgtEVHIVbvu_24iLipCotKxrJaN-t67tz8ZrnKVeuaFcWyQqpfil0g7Ocn7lrVEpoTJA/s741/Mike%20and%20Sherri%20Picture%202018.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipdYULl5pgVVeIqUsY2CGj3zCl5gqSUGnq8nUaAqQmWoN_BrJKi9pV8VWWWDEkk23Ucjts6Lx7k5gLrCWvnxSZfwnjt0Izk7UiTT-fKw1ctY7IeIgtEVHIVbvu_24iLipCotKxrJaN-t67tz8ZrnKVeuaFcWyQqpfil0g7Ocn7lrVEpoTJA/w388-h400/Mike%20and%20Sherri%20Picture%202018.png" width="388" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the things that has been very evident to Sherri and I is that the work of the mission is expanding and growing faster and faster, and we cannot keep up with it. This is a wonderful challenge, and we need to make changes so that we do not become the "bottleneck" towards growth.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In our training of Pioneer Pastors, we introduce them to the Jethro Principle, which is to train up leaders to do the work of the ministry, do not try to do it all yourself.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="FR" style="color: #4472c4; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">READ: Exodus 18:7-26 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="FR" style="color: #4472c4; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">Focus Passage: Exodus 18: 21-22<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text"><b><span style="background: white; color: #4472c4; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">But select capable men from all the people—men who
fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as
officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.</span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #4472c4; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #4472c4; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span><span class="text">Have them serve as
judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult
case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make
your load lighter, because they will share it with you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Moses had been trying to do it all himself and he could not keep up. Moses had become the "bottleneck". So his father-in-law Jethro gave wise advice in Exodus 18:21-22. And Moses took that advice and put it into action.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is time for us to practice what we preach and teach, so that Thailand NOW mission can plant more churches, save and protect more children through the Blessing Centers, start more Abundant Life Savings Groups in churches, educate more pastors and leaders at Global Theological Institute and other seminaries, and provide scholarships to more of our Blessing Home kids, to school and university.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So...starting this year, Thailand NOW will begin a process of receiving Thai national missionaries who will relate directly with churches and individuals in regions of Kentucky, building missional partnerships of prayer and financial support. Each year for the next four years, we will take on one new Thai national missionary to develop these missional relationships. These Thai national missionaries have expansive nationwide ministries that involve Church Planting, Blessing Centers, and the Abundant Life Financial Training Program. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Later this month, we will introduce you to the first of the Thai national missionaries.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Thailand Congress on Evangelism</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">OK, I know when you see the word "Congress" you think of politics, but when Thai Christians see this word, they think of a gathering of Christians that is wonderful and powerful. Every few years, Thai Christian organizations come together for a very large national meeting called the Thailand Congress on Evangelism. Church and Para-church organizations from all across Thailand come together in Christian unity, to cast vision, encourage one another, and praise the Lord! The Thailand Congress on Evangelism has not been able to meet for several years now because of COVID. But now that life is moving back to normal, the Congress will meet in April 25-28. For the last several years, we have wanted to send May Kuntisa (in the picture below), who serves as Director of the Abundant Life Financial Training Program, to go to the Congress to represent this vital ministry. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsQwKqfsIyakRG3ZLXJAmGGERuuwC48kfnB0VbOqkaYZkNxAqdjEOiiDGIToeIMLGPod6iNjdmBzDZq3Bm7GXtrkEf1MwxSj_VkiVSNiUA9DF42skfbG7QyUy7PfcLMz4PmYjIxQsHpzXu1WUB70PEaDaD0XNqWBWnnPMe5f3yjp2hQqBjQ/s385/May%20Kuntisa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="322" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsQwKqfsIyakRG3ZLXJAmGGERuuwC48kfnB0VbOqkaYZkNxAqdjEOiiDGIToeIMLGPod6iNjdmBzDZq3Bm7GXtrkEf1MwxSj_VkiVSNiUA9DF42skfbG7QyUy7PfcLMz4PmYjIxQsHpzXu1WUB70PEaDaD0XNqWBWnnPMe5f3yjp2hQqBjQ/w335-h400/May%20Kuntisa.jpg" width="335" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This year, May will attend. Please pray that May will be able to make many good contacts so that we can expand this program into churches throughout Thailand. As Thai Christians learn to manage their family and business finances with biblical principles, they are able to save up to have an emergency fund. They also get out of debt and stay out of debt. And eventually, they are able to pull themselves out of poverty and into financial strength and stability. As more and more Thai Christian families experience biblical financial freedom, the Thai churches also become stronger, financially, as well as in their witness to the goodness and power of God.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We will be back in the States in Fall and Winter of 2023 to speak at churches and small groups.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you would be interested in having us come to speak at your church or small group, please contact us at <a href="mailto:morrisseys@thailandnow.org">morrisseys@thailandnow.org</a>. The size of the group does not matter, so do not be shy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We have very limited Sunday mornings available, so most of our speaking dates will be during the week or Sunday evenings. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thailand NOW is an independent Methodist-Wesleyan mission; on behalf of our Thai brothers and sisters, thank you for partnering with us!</span></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-88605386938001023832023-02-14T01:05:00.001-08:002023-02-14T01:05:10.749-08:00Update on the Abundant Life Training Center<p> It has been 3 months since we have given an update on the progress of Phase 2 of the Construction of the Abundant Life Training Center.</p><p>First, we want to say thank you for the great generosity during Christmas time that has helped us get much closer to our goal of $140,000. We have now received a bit over $130,000 and it is our hope to get across the finish line by Easter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkwmy2gIFw_noPF-pALkow8ro4GmF2AweWVie6g3WX3yuk9snkw9CcbJwRj_8WawxH-T1kCjl9HjpHZ9y87zFnYy7XaTnbF7ZAYixU-fhj5fxVUTtBig5cmrr6wwBvioKZ-vgfYKdX0l0RYHt08sxnB15l0MECmKBs053BIgkIEebWzFCbg/s674/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="674" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkwmy2gIFw_noPF-pALkow8ro4GmF2AweWVie6g3WX3yuk9snkw9CcbJwRj_8WawxH-T1kCjl9HjpHZ9y87zFnYy7XaTnbF7ZAYixU-fhj5fxVUTtBig5cmrr6wwBvioKZ-vgfYKdX0l0RYHt08sxnB15l0MECmKBs053BIgkIEebWzFCbg/w640-h206/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Lots of progress has been made in constructing the large meeting room (which will become a church as well). The last three weeks have been a bit slower because the road in front of the training center is being expanded four lanes. Below are some pictures of construction of the church building.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBGwRdtAyoaX3jA_2jDoyPoBrhy4DSuN1FSJJEdbOHHs2fIyyKcyPl7Z2LoLxWVaMrpH3kBW7VxkfAKdOSFzYfM2L0D8y-zTKzTccW2pH890Qy7dk4yLPISH5hKvQbdK2_hdpEFn_aVhdO1IQi5aLEL2uu7KNz3m-spKObyToy1CsIihE2A/s4128/20230213_132852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBGwRdtAyoaX3jA_2jDoyPoBrhy4DSuN1FSJJEdbOHHs2fIyyKcyPl7Z2LoLxWVaMrpH3kBW7VxkfAKdOSFzYfM2L0D8y-zTKzTccW2pH890Qy7dk4yLPISH5hKvQbdK2_hdpEFn_aVhdO1IQi5aLEL2uu7KNz3m-spKObyToy1CsIihE2A/w400-h300/20230213_132852.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV9-thK9ztLshkrZPtOrTSFETAji5wr1fVElV9x0SFSPHHpwLXp2QFbl70YCbOQbH-a8fONbU2rTAVYwcXW4Bj_pqBcTsF8oVSCor2Uohjxb6cRLZJmM6SotVPqtKqpUkMCPGhR_THy4A0xJ4p-ArMAYioFG7JZ-Ie5Ow8ed9gCFq2FBvmg/s4128/20230213_132912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV9-thK9ztLshkrZPtOrTSFETAji5wr1fVElV9x0SFSPHHpwLXp2QFbl70YCbOQbH-a8fONbU2rTAVYwcXW4Bj_pqBcTsF8oVSCor2Uohjxb6cRLZJmM6SotVPqtKqpUkMCPGhR_THy4A0xJ4p-ArMAYioFG7JZ-Ie5Ow8ed9gCFq2FBvmg/w400-h300/20230213_132912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzsw11dlXysLl4TEYAprSrQmr1_QdkoVyaAQNE46Qf8gHxcpNZHnIHD-BTtIjmOgGuXSJCNPn4NEs30wpV35ez0sVzUVgh-pXGCTzwLIBjxT79BfqbntfFVSosrmzeeICKEJGn3W96a43A_mpETjDffFhrWGRssuo9Zu1UYgAsz-S9iFDjA/s4128/20230213_132944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzsw11dlXysLl4TEYAprSrQmr1_QdkoVyaAQNE46Qf8gHxcpNZHnIHD-BTtIjmOgGuXSJCNPn4NEs30wpV35ez0sVzUVgh-pXGCTzwLIBjxT79BfqbntfFVSosrmzeeICKEJGn3W96a43A_mpETjDffFhrWGRssuo9Zu1UYgAsz-S9iFDjA/w400-h300/20230213_132944.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GhHVPPdoT4I2CCW5b-nAduo2aAbSGjC2NsDHmlw6uSvmoTVcRYfJSvI1ePoNumJjDpL7O8cnByEfngwLgKnLH697nMy-kBCq7M1uXx6kNKDEA_GhZr1O0DhFiSzL2FuLQRvMEjTQnv3gbbzLsec7fFB9XMSg0DtgGhZu7NkSUW70-kB8Sg/s4128/20230213_133010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GhHVPPdoT4I2CCW5b-nAduo2aAbSGjC2NsDHmlw6uSvmoTVcRYfJSvI1ePoNumJjDpL7O8cnByEfngwLgKnLH697nMy-kBCq7M1uXx6kNKDEA_GhZr1O0DhFiSzL2FuLQRvMEjTQnv3gbbzLsec7fFB9XMSg0DtgGhZu7NkSUW70-kB8Sg/w400-h300/20230213_133010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After the church building is constructed, we will immediately begin construction of a kitchen/restroom building and also an office building. It will be wonderful to have this training center in operation because it will help us increase our capacity to train more pastors and leaders. </p><p>If you would like to give to this project to help take us over the finish line, please be sure to designate your gift to the <b>Building Fund</b>.</p><p>You can give online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></p><p>Or send a check to:</p><p><b>Thailand NOW</b></p><p><b>P.O. Box 56</b></p><p><b>Mannsville, KY 42758</b></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-44538273277157205502022-12-17T14:19:00.004-08:002022-12-18T17:09:39.449-08:00<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Provides!</span></h1><div>Every year, around the first week of December, a very generous businessman donates thousands of blankets to Pastor Somsri and other Thai Christian leaders, and then these blankets are distributed by them to churches all across Thailand to be used in Christmas evangelism events. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Thailand, Christmas is not as much a family celebration as it is a time when the churches reach out to their community with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thai Christians save up their money during the year, so they can generously provide gifts for their neighbors who do not yet know Christ. So, the generous donation of blankets helps new churches (that could usually not afford to buy gifts) to be able to show the love of Jesus at Christmastime. </div><div><br /></div><div>But this year was different. The first week of December came and there were no blankets. The factory in China that makes the blankets had been closed because of Zero Covid restrictions. Pastor Somsri and the members of Fire of Glory Church began to pray for God to provide. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last week, Pastor Somsri traveled to the office of the generous businessman who donates the blankets each year hoping to hear good news. The very minute that Pastor Somsri arrived at the office, the office manager received a call from the Port of Bangkok, the container of blankets had just arrived and would be ready to pick up the following day. When God's people pray, mountains move!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGLDZKFyJWxf2-IaRrlclYemEo0yu7BVdrFmnmCf71D43-dFtWUH_e5X30N5Hp7AIBvljnvRk9QUyrMJL-fmcudyGzcc_6sYo8IxXoAcUbweLZTXS0RboM5bXlpOPTMBnGvseFakW1PdDFGZohyKw_lVlUZ3pkxyLlWvpvyPzD9qgf86NEA/s1477/blankets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGLDZKFyJWxf2-IaRrlclYemEo0yu7BVdrFmnmCf71D43-dFtWUH_e5X30N5Hp7AIBvljnvRk9QUyrMJL-fmcudyGzcc_6sYo8IxXoAcUbweLZTXS0RboM5bXlpOPTMBnGvseFakW1PdDFGZohyKw_lVlUZ3pkxyLlWvpvyPzD9qgf86NEA/w480-h640/blankets.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As soon as Pastor Somsri received the blankets, her team started to pack them into boxes and ship them to churches in every region of Thailand (see the picture above). Jehovah Jireh - God Provides!</div><div><br /></div><div><h1><span style="font-size: large;">The Christian Movement in Thailand is Accelerating</span></h1><div>Here is a graphic of how churches are being planted throughout history in Thailand. As you can see, the Christian movement is accelerating!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDgX4etC6nej_z5bHbCzr5zqpqLoiWKm-X82xgclUb4LumF1tUoX42VYo4UQMlANMCKvZi5sZQe7aYRwnkYix61vbMwS707IQnidTuj2w_I3GhgVHPt71jShZVARbCw0L9thj6lFa-hNgKaEjNXMMtrJPh-GBS2x2td5x5I-qAZ5RaVt5eQ/s1686/Thai%20Church%20Growth.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDgX4etC6nej_z5bHbCzr5zqpqLoiWKm-X82xgclUb4LumF1tUoX42VYo4UQMlANMCKvZi5sZQe7aYRwnkYix61vbMwS707IQnidTuj2w_I3GhgVHPt71jShZVARbCw0L9thj6lFa-hNgKaEjNXMMtrJPh-GBS2x2td5x5I-qAZ5RaVt5eQ/w304-h640/Thai%20Church%20Growth.gif" width="304" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It is the vision of the Pioneer Pastor movement that every county have at least one thriving Thai church. With your prayers and support, you have helped us to work with Thai pastors and leaders to plant 47 new churches in previously unreached counties in Thailand (plus many more in counties that already had one church). The need is still great because 75% of counties (sub-districts) in Thailand are still unreached, having no Christian churches. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wish we had an up-to-date version of the above graphic. The graphic ends in 2016 with 5,097 churches. Since then, another 3,220 churches have been planted in the past 6 years. And the churches that do exist are larger and stronger. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnQJXGyGCmxRz_5UsuDbG8-lZ_rpBc6P4RO8WjScxsDmX-mDQ30_vA4zF-TQX654rlG0iboA7TYyK2JHxaiCVq2jYMXwJl5DOkCp4x92XC6s3smIgYdW9A_T0eappCNuOvHMfvX_fFOBhRUYsnrZhxb2Is8v09wWkYteyKjMmgQMUzVbLdg/s1478/Maria%20Baptism.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnQJXGyGCmxRz_5UsuDbG8-lZ_rpBc6P4RO8WjScxsDmX-mDQ30_vA4zF-TQX654rlG0iboA7TYyK2JHxaiCVq2jYMXwJl5DOkCp4x92XC6s3smIgYdW9A_T0eappCNuOvHMfvX_fFOBhRUYsnrZhxb2Is8v09wWkYteyKjMmgQMUzVbLdg/w480-h640/Maria%20Baptism.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Every month, new Thai Christian believers are being baptized. It is a great joy and privilege to be able to work in the fields of harvest with Thai pastors and Christian leaders. Sherri and I are grateful for your faithful prayers and support which make this mission possible.</div><div><br /></div><div><h1><span style="font-size: large;">Carol and Vicki are retiring</span></h1><div>Carol Fare and Vicki Brown have served faithfully with Thailand NOW (formerly Thailand Methodist Mission) for many years. They began serving at Blessing Home Pattaya in 2013, and then were the first Directors at the Blessing Home Isan Center. A few years later, they initiated a new ministry for special needs children called Special Blessings Korat. We are grateful for their service and wish them happiness and good health as they remain in Thailand after their retirement on December 31.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><h1><span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas!</span></h1><div>We and all of the Thailand NOW Team wish you and your family and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. May the Lord bless you as you have been a great blessing to us and the Thai people.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf36gSLFIPd1njAOyehAV62sAhjMnpwLl7Ebws8Ibd3PkDqxJEYzUtKl52qoUvH-zM2NJYJoDe0WzAdFXYKtzocWxsIAPN-mySyz4lL3UFrQOngKrTOgX4Ky9w6YQKL_K_Bzj6eleaugb6xGRJ5rkQn3j1d4OlCRnQcJ7aDr8lJc0Hgcpe-g/s741/Mike%20and%20Sherri%20Picture%202018.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="718" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf36gSLFIPd1njAOyehAV62sAhjMnpwLl7Ebws8Ibd3PkDqxJEYzUtKl52qoUvH-zM2NJYJoDe0WzAdFXYKtzocWxsIAPN-mySyz4lL3UFrQOngKrTOgX4Ky9w6YQKL_K_Bzj6eleaugb6xGRJ5rkQn3j1d4OlCRnQcJ7aDr8lJc0Hgcpe-g/s320/Mike%20and%20Sherri%20Picture%202018.png" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-1357117226340384212022-11-14T19:50:00.001-08:002022-11-14T20:12:26.778-08:00<span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Please help us get the word out about Thailand NOW.</span><div><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>Please download our 2022 Newsletter and print out a few copies. Keep one copy for yourself to read and then please post the other copies at your church, in your Sunday School class, or any other place where church members will be able to see and read it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uuvJNdS-VqomMn2T3-qpsfxv8lTqe0Gk/view?usp=sharing" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-VoM5dpHDqbBsC8VCq9w1M6SLv64qG10xflW8vHQRm2CaDNCDA7A4bilqq69XG03wOGSBpupzJc6G6iZO17w5b9gDjbL-G4EqIkYeDBRxnips_DCC8jRpvRWVXBti3b-LdCsqwpEfPL2fvQngPecLc00scgai7JGRVSKQ1Vi8e5FTaTV4A/s320/2022%20Newsletter.png" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Please click on the picture of the 2022 Newsletter above to download it.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Abundant Life Training Center Update</span><br /><div><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKPqCJleq-9jgKylBtOguUye9bgEKmNS2aC8PWw8ugldYca8jNvzvUBTpReNUyrapjzpQAoSiG5PF2mI6DHxmKshTLUu-qWInjxvjIJo8cWHo51GdAwQQAVrBRgQqznmt8VPWuf1q2VgvK_UxRUwGcSXjEdN6eZmplm2dteV2CbMPXafWKw/s1280/Construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKPqCJleq-9jgKylBtOguUye9bgEKmNS2aC8PWw8ugldYca8jNvzvUBTpReNUyrapjzpQAoSiG5PF2mI6DHxmKshTLUu-qWInjxvjIJo8cWHo51GdAwQQAVrBRgQqznmt8VPWuf1q2VgvK_UxRUwGcSXjEdN6eZmplm2dteV2CbMPXafWKw/w640-h480/Construction.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>As you can see, all of the groundwork is complete and now we are beginning with the walls. Construction of the Sanctuary/Training Room is going fast. After this building, construction will begin for a house for Teddy and May who serve as Directors of the Abundant Life Training Center and pastors of this new church in Lamplaimat, Buriram in Northeast Thailand.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>We still need more funds for the rest of Phase Two of this project, which is building a Kitchen/Restroom building and a small office building. We have received a bit over $108,000 of the $140,000 needed for this phase and we hope that you and your church (and church groups, like Sunday School classes) will make special donations towards this project this Christmas.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yOnLxyx8PesNzZa_FFpSaGScZSpuZA317KR6NIKAOShglqxJCmkbIs2QMyZzMys_3p8brAlx-7PTwWxlPC5tyIBfCjjepQhAQjjJBbc_wzRvJy0JNQF6FRlZtRkppCwkhSiNI6pJxS37xXYKdP0DkWGT3gUPjATiV2iyEJNRHWpHmBnTug/s659/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="659" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yOnLxyx8PesNzZa_FFpSaGScZSpuZA317KR6NIKAOShglqxJCmkbIs2QMyZzMys_3p8brAlx-7PTwWxlPC5tyIBfCjjepQhAQjjJBbc_wzRvJy0JNQF6FRlZtRkppCwkhSiNI6pJxS37xXYKdP0DkWGT3gUPjATiV2iyEJNRHWpHmBnTug/w640-h204/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When you give to this project, please designate your gifts to the BUILDING FUND.</div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Donations can be given online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">or send a check by mail to:</div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thailand NOW</div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">P.O. Box 56</div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mannsville, KY 42758</div></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thank you!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-52595171141907470732022-10-08T00:56:00.004-07:002022-10-08T04:12:35.502-07:00<p><b style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">A time of grief in Thailand</b></p><p>As you all have seen in the news, there was a terrible mass killing in Northeast Thailand this week. A man who was dismissed from the police force last year entered the nursery where his son attends and he attacked the teachers and children ages 2-5 years old. Only 23 of the usual 90 children were there because flooding from rain and a mechanical breakdown of the school bus prevented most from being at school that day. Of the 23 children present, only 1 survived. </p><p>The killer then drove to his house, taking the lives of his son and wife before committing suicide. A total of 23 children and 13 adults were killed as well as many other were injured. It has been a time of deep national grief. Mass killings are a rare occurrence in Thailand.</p><p>We know many of you have been praying and we appreciate your thoughtfulness. </p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><b>Director of the Abundant Life Financial Training Program, Ratchada "May" Kuntisa, graduates.</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLrpNof9N9IwPEOllCMhNWrkzlWdBXGrMicFSQTM9hnqUyfOqIdKmd6bd513SB01ZT9WWDWkFfHiszFEDew3npZisAhJjlRbWW9bx8KLx0wYQdm0nZquf7a5o1G9j-SefIY6C7yP3uDg1uUUSlLFa_8eM0Eubu07HJwl82okYXbBCHytF1A/s1200/May%20Grad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLrpNof9N9IwPEOllCMhNWrkzlWdBXGrMicFSQTM9hnqUyfOqIdKmd6bd513SB01ZT9WWDWkFfHiszFEDew3npZisAhJjlRbWW9bx8KLx0wYQdm0nZquf7a5o1G9j-SefIY6C7yP3uDg1uUUSlLFa_8eM0Eubu07HJwl82okYXbBCHytF1A/s320/May%20Grad.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p>May began serving on staff with us many years ago as a Thai language tutor for new missionaries, and then was promoted to serve with us as a translator and then as Director of the Abundant Life Financial Training Program. May has overcome great difficulties that would have crushed most people. One of the first ones to take notice of the great potential in May was a short-term missionary who served with us at Blessing Home Pattaya named Katie Bredesen. Katie chose May (and a few others) to receive a college scholarship for one year. <span style="color: #800180;"><b>(Thank you, Katie!)</b></span></p><p>Since then, May has continued her education and has now completed her B.A. degree in Information Science. What is incredible is that she accomplished this while raising her own three children as well as being the guardian of her nephew and taking in her sister-in-law and her son. In May's household eight people live in a small townhouse, and the only time she has to study is in the middle of the night. All this while working full-time too. It is very rare in Thailand for a mother to graduate from college with a B.A. degree, but to have a mother with 4 children in her household to accomplish this is incredible. </p><p><b style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Construction of the Church building at the Abundant Life Training Center begins.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs35aaA7yq7gPrqnIhv6CMrZCjQs6UmgvaXbUpTy9z_pweGIOSnZgBm8zkvTD0zqbi_Daqh8IegZo8Pb3VBKhyIyqHa7TeXwF58q1loebxdvUUs1UgWZoE3wtqAKz2ZKeEx-iWurwfzjPqy3R8kshunQaXcJY6SmfVo7G6gtO1YBQMtUjnrQ/s4128/signing%20contract.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs35aaA7yq7gPrqnIhv6CMrZCjQs6UmgvaXbUpTy9z_pweGIOSnZgBm8zkvTD0zqbi_Daqh8IegZo8Pb3VBKhyIyqHa7TeXwF58q1loebxdvUUs1UgWZoE3wtqAKz2ZKeEx-iWurwfzjPqy3R8kshunQaXcJY6SmfVo7G6gtO1YBQMtUjnrQ/w640-h480/signing%20contract.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Above is the picture of Sherri, May, Khun Ai (the general contractor), and Teddy (May's husband and full-time Thailand NOW team member) signing the contract to begin construction on the church building for the Abundant Life Financial Training Program. May and Teddy will sign a separate contract to build their home on a corner of the training center land.</p><p>The day after signing the contract, construction began. Below are some pictures of piledriving reinforced concrete columns into the ground. These columns will prevent keep the foundation from sinking, shifting, and cracking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiccy822WVNxll1ed_jPvmhyEvc8JOm0hvu7X-FnQGwcgKeYBIHsRV4S8iJ9GoeiAbdZioT2Aa8-VbIfzKc4uZdHecovuCSxuUt16BysNytz8cjGiHTFDGeSbJpL8RU19kGKP3XpgSz47cPj5iHhi-hCQBpNlTrRTb-sH308BwB0Ea4GcM8g/s1477/Piledriving.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiccy822WVNxll1ed_jPvmhyEvc8JOm0hvu7X-FnQGwcgKeYBIHsRV4S8iJ9GoeiAbdZioT2Aa8-VbIfzKc4uZdHecovuCSxuUt16BysNytz8cjGiHTFDGeSbJpL8RU19kGKP3XpgSz47cPj5iHhi-hCQBpNlTrRTb-sH308BwB0Ea4GcM8g/w480-h640/Piledriving.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwywypzCtZr0-prEuRrWVuExRF1joJfcBUg39aRyq0FpW6qVyT9_6x3iBr5mH2AeRiQD75EQqypUhbl7jAfcZmlPd-DwDEHr0Ms1HWsSdcihzVfhjRhZ79XirMmQV8gqPDEuAj9LXPWE1Jj4XpL8fWb1T7A0OembK8HKueWYXF7kLUYxPcmg/s1477/Saokhem%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwywypzCtZr0-prEuRrWVuExRF1joJfcBUg39aRyq0FpW6qVyT9_6x3iBr5mH2AeRiQD75EQqypUhbl7jAfcZmlPd-DwDEHr0Ms1HWsSdcihzVfhjRhZ79XirMmQV8gqPDEuAj9LXPWE1Jj4XpL8fWb1T7A0OembK8HKueWYXF7kLUYxPcmg/w480-h640/Saokhem%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We have now received over $106,000 of the $140,000 needed for this phase of construction. We have enough funds to build a house for May and Teddy (the Directors of the Abundant Life Training Center) as well as the Church Building. We still need $34,000 more so we can build a kitchen/restroom building and a small office. Our request is that every church and each individual supporter will consider special Christmas offerings and donations to this project. Our hope is that we will have all of the needed funds raised in 2022.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcMK9fT6hcaFhYiR20wNLqpqpBw31sFcX3qKowS2Y4hG_oiHt2EQZc3W5-He-LcMLQNcjroOd8o4dKWtSuH7YIm9KZvjyimQRMYqvkKvfMqY4bMvJx6SMwh6zPm-a0FZh46jr9_6DZVbzZwStScG-PtSmQ7PRTxJQdRuAXz-vKY7KgZ3TdA/s671/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="671" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcMK9fT6hcaFhYiR20wNLqpqpBw31sFcX3qKowS2Y4hG_oiHt2EQZc3W5-He-LcMLQNcjroOd8o4dKWtSuH7YIm9KZvjyimQRMYqvkKvfMqY4bMvJx6SMwh6zPm-a0FZh46jr9_6DZVbzZwStScG-PtSmQ7PRTxJQdRuAXz-vKY7KgZ3TdA/w640-h210/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>When you give to this project, please designate your gifts to the BUILDING FUND.</div><div><br /></div><div>Donations can be given online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>or send a check by mail to:</div><div><br /></div><div>Thailand NOW</div><div>P.O. Box 56</div><div>Mannsville, KY 42758</div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Donations of Stocks and Estate Donations </b><br /><p><span face=""PT Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-weight: 700;">Giving stock</span><span face=""PT Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> is a great way to make an eternal difference in the lives of Thai people. Stock shares can be transferred directly to Thailand Now and can have more tax benefits for the giver and the recipient. Please contact our treasurer via email at </span><b>terrigabe@windstream.net</b><span face=""PT Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> if you are interested in giving this way.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">Estate Donations - </b>By including Thailand Now as an additional beneficiary in your estate plan, you can have a huge impact on the mission of reaching Thai people for Jesus Christ. Thailand NOW's tax ID number is 27-2388347. Your financial advisor or tax attorney can best assist you in making these arrangements.</p></div>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-2112788209476116122022-08-31T20:17:00.000-07:002022-08-31T20:17:04.249-07:00 Two Wonderful Answers to the Prayers of God’s People and an Update<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our hearts
have been bursting to tell you about two wonderful answers to your prayers, but
we had to wait until now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wonderful
Answer to Prayer #1 – Allie and David Houle are now parents!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37QL8azWPaGzQ6bDxMgr8iBiuxOHnvfp1FdTV6FMfgFEg7DLg-3XxNTQAHFnJvJaYqUxwEBv2HDLzazEupwnAA8RPtt5vtT6y9ZvC-8PyB6I8QCI2opM4xwZU3aqgMkAd0yH-R1BVTHYAlTMbcMuIzXp-8_S3OYOIpgAcxdt0EF8jxyUTFA/s186/1houle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="155" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37QL8azWPaGzQ6bDxMgr8iBiuxOHnvfp1FdTV6FMfgFEg7DLg-3XxNTQAHFnJvJaYqUxwEBv2HDLzazEupwnAA8RPtt5vtT6y9ZvC-8PyB6I8QCI2opM4xwZU3aqgMkAd0yH-R1BVTHYAlTMbcMuIzXp-8_S3OYOIpgAcxdt0EF8jxyUTFA/w221-h265/1houle-1.jpg" width="221" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have been praying for Allie and David Houle during the
past few years as they sought to adopt a special needs Thai child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thank you for your continued prayers, because
many people tire of praying for the same need for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, we would like to share with you the blog article that
David and Allie just published.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have wonderful news to share!<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We finally brought our daughter home! Hallelujah! God is good!</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-break: break-word; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thank you all so much for praying with us! It has
been a very long process but we are overjoyed to have our little girl home.
About a week ago we got news that our case had been approved by the adoption
board and the orphanage began working to put together a final meeting with us.
It was an all-day affair where we got to meet with the caretakers, the nurse,
the social workers, and even the director of the orphanage. They showed us
around the orphanage and gave us more detail into her care before having lunch
with us and taking pictures. We are just so thankful that we have brought her
home. It truly is an answered prayer. Moving forward, there are still a few
things we have to do to finish the adoption process. Next week we have an
interview with the adoption board in Bangkok and that’ll kick off the start of
the 6-month probationary care period. During which, we will have a social
worker periodically come out to our house to check on how things are going. The
orphanage has asked us to not yet share photos of her or post any online at
this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-break: break-word; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are so happy and we look forward to sharing with
you all how she learns and grows. Please continue to pray for us and our family
as we get to know each other and bond. Also, please be praying that our
interview and the final stages of the adoption will go smoothly as well. Thank
you all so much for your love and support. We are very happy parents!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="m3777414550376802122last-child" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-break: break-word; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">David and Allie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wonderful
Answer to Prayer #2 – Pastor W receives justice at court from those who want to
persecute Christians<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Four months
ago, we met Pastor W (we cannot use his name or reveal his location for safety
concerns) who is an experienced church planter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pastor W has planted three churches in our region, and he is now
planting his fourth church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hardcore
COVID lockdowns in Thailand devastated his church and his business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For almost two years, his church could not
meet in person and could only worship online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Church donations plummeted at the same time Pastor W’s business was
tanking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church could no longer
afford the rent on the building they were renting, so they moved worship to Pastor
W’s home, which is very small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
not enough room for everyone to come worship, so many had to worship online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those who came to worship in-person
could usually not sit inside (which only could seat about 12 people, and most
had to sit or stand outside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This past
year, they began construction of a simple church building on the plot next to
Pastor W’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they did not
have much money, they used free or discounted scrap materials from other nearby
construction projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we
met Pastor W, church construction was 75% complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of your generosity, we were able to
give funds to Pastor W that will be enough to complete the construction, so
that all of the members can worship together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This church is in a strategic location, near the new local
university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many apartment buildings for
students and faculty are being constructed around the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Three months
ago, Pastor W noticed a pile of cans of old paint on the sidewalk in front of a
paint store (The paint was past it’s expiration date and could no longer be
sold).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a sign on the pile of
cans that said “Free Paint for Donation”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pastor W selected three cans of paint and then went back to the church and
began to paint the sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after
Pastor W began to paint the sanctuary, police arrived at the church and
arrested Pastor W and brought him to the police station where he was charged
for stealing paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pastor W explained
that the paint was on the sidewalk, and there was a sign saying “free paint for
donation”, and the owner of the paint store acknowledged this, but said that
Pastor W should have come inside the store to receive permission to take the
paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The paint store owner said he
objected to the paint being used for a Christian church, and that he would have
been OK if it had been used for a Buddhist temple or school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pastor W offered
to pay for the paint but the paint store owner refused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next three weeks, Pastor W was
summoned to come to the police station on a daily basis for interrogation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was threatened that the penalty for theft
would be reparations equal to 20 times the cost of the paint (a sum that would
be equal to 6 months of his normal income) and one year imprisonment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pastor W asked
for us to pray and also requested anonymity, because it was a dangerous
situation for his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we did not
post his story on the blog, but instead just asked a smaller group of people to
pray without putting Pastor W’s story in print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This past
week, Pastor W went to court and the judge determined that Pastor W was
innocent of all charges and that the lawsuit by the paint store owner was
frivolous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge then offered Pastor
W the option to immediately counter-sue the paint store owner, and said that he
would be awarded the same amount of money that the paint store owner tried to
extract from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the humility of
Christ, Pastor W declined to prosecute the paint store owner and said he wanted
peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Below is a
picture of Pastor W and his wife hugging each other outside the courtroom (For their safety, we have modified the picture to not reveal faces).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvjoDJkbIja0IIyYsBdxUDXV7iUx4pLvdDZijeBrzmjXpt6NSqUdx2H6tAnlig131zmmhKsOYYCETj03rSo5HKuOJtxb_YrYeT2lPVB00Mysf_xoli-lefJyiVuPa-Wqvo4mVRRWy1ZOneiKTk1zaBXiJS1BjIWrEMqS5a97G0AkoqyAc1g/s1477/Pastor%20W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvjoDJkbIja0IIyYsBdxUDXV7iUx4pLvdDZijeBrzmjXpt6NSqUdx2H6tAnlig131zmmhKsOYYCETj03rSo5HKuOJtxb_YrYeT2lPVB00Mysf_xoli-lefJyiVuPa-Wqvo4mVRRWy1ZOneiKTk1zaBXiJS1BjIWrEMqS5a97G0AkoqyAc1g/w480-h640/Pastor%20W.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NOW an
update on the Abundant Life Training Center<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It looks like
we have found the contractor to build the church building and the house for the
Thai directors of this ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope to begin construction in a few months
when rain season ends.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98bvXDsgILvy_LyhJHrccKozfQN-RkduhI8eTVdPZUh_UzNvSVUKGTU8qpZYdadKEpSD3ozJwznknonrmc-h0DTpCka0NBJHMi9v-AiBeczy7gL0HGmTsbPHU3UYboyodb5fYFiirXUIybl0-iLHHeX-u-xcDapyCyLI8YKrMATxwL1N-Zw/s2755/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="2755" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98bvXDsgILvy_LyhJHrccKozfQN-RkduhI8eTVdPZUh_UzNvSVUKGTU8qpZYdadKEpSD3ozJwznknonrmc-h0DTpCka0NBJHMi9v-AiBeczy7gL0HGmTsbPHU3UYboyodb5fYFiirXUIybl0-iLHHeX-u-xcDapyCyLI8YKrMATxwL1N-Zw/w640-h204/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We really
need to raise the remaining funds needed for Phase Two of the Abundant Life
Training Center, so we can build a Kitchen/Restroom building and a small office
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far we have $102,000 of the
$140,000 needed for this project.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you want
to give to this project, please designate your donation for the Building Fund.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can give
online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/"><b>https://thailandnow.org/donate/</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Send a check
to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Thailand NOW<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>P.O. Box 56<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Mannsville,
KY 42758</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-20267351086297651882022-07-15T21:27:00.005-07:002022-07-15T21:27:55.571-07:00Prayer needed for two new Pioneer Pastor Churches<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>1 Corinthians 3:5-9</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-5" id="en-NIV-28416" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-3-6" id="en-NIV-28417" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-3-7" id="en-NIV-28418" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-3-8" id="en-NIV-28419" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-3-9" id="en-NIV-28420" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We need your prayers for two pastors who are planting new Pioneer Pastor Churches. The Pioneer Pastors are doing their part, sacrificially working in the fields, planting and watering for the Kingdom of God. But only God can make things grow and flourish. Your prayers help to make the new Pioneer Pastor churches to make disciples who are strong and to also plant new churches themselves. Thank you for being co-workers together with us in the fields of Thailand. 75% of the counties (sub-districts) in Thailand are unreached, having no Christian churches. It is these unreached counties that are our strategic focus for planting new churches, so that people can be transformed by the love of Jesus.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM5__PsRKOvo9qLquEnCTMkdchpQcfVpDVbvymKCvu-q2sNzyCyX6Mt7sFhPlx8o57fAGLBd2xH08MB4halgl9uYNbLLCSbQkMGeDs3ciHaMCFgd57U9sjN2CNI1mriVR3GH-B3BkuL8kCwT6ymxQu-mK2recrqQ6uFdkD6a5lF4ISvZpIQ/s494/Pastor%20Awee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="402" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM5__PsRKOvo9qLquEnCTMkdchpQcfVpDVbvymKCvu-q2sNzyCyX6Mt7sFhPlx8o57fAGLBd2xH08MB4halgl9uYNbLLCSbQkMGeDs3ciHaMCFgd57U9sjN2CNI1mriVR3GH-B3BkuL8kCwT6ymxQu-mK2recrqQ6uFdkD6a5lF4ISvZpIQ/w520-h640/Pastor%20Awee.jpg" title="Pastor Awee recently graduated with his Master of Divinity degree" width="520" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When a Pioneer Pastor Church is planted, the pastor and new believers at that church always have a great burden on their hearts for reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus. They have new life in Jesus Christ, and they want to see others have the same joy that they have experienced. Many Pioneer Pastor Churches go on to plant other churches. This is the case with Pastor Awee (who graduated this year, receiving a Master of Divinity degree) and the God is Good Bueng Khan Church. For the last three years, they have been evangelizing and leading a cell group in Rattana Wapi, an unreached county in Nong Khai province (see the map below) right up on the border with Laos, on the Mekong River. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgwLyGjE5cMYHE0PT-QBzGf-FISOjXFw--7mZE8VrX4wKv6FglE0nUugIs8n8_gHixn3DfvJXL8SMEDbwPHwN2VgWxEW2Lwu-7fnM0HBFk0ueLmafqd-KZ0W9ZgjhIN-CpneFphaflt66n3ZL4OtgpFqzV4r6xE8vfeP9crsOs_BncTzBfA/s1406/Nonk%20Khai%20Province.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgwLyGjE5cMYHE0PT-QBzGf-FISOjXFw--7mZE8VrX4wKv6FglE0nUugIs8n8_gHixn3DfvJXL8SMEDbwPHwN2VgWxEW2Lwu-7fnM0HBFk0ueLmafqd-KZ0W9ZgjhIN-CpneFphaflt66n3ZL4OtgpFqzV4r6xE8vfeP9crsOs_BncTzBfA/w364-h640/Nonk%20Khai%20Province.png" width="364" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rattana Wapi has a population of 11,000 people, most of Pastor Awee and his members have planted the first church in this county. They meet every week for worship and prayer, and more and more people are receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDplsgN-xkW0eNgUySDIoKN33vJLzef8gNShBSzz8XbV7RZKZmmgRYtj3WhoLOuEB_ny_maMpmf9o1Lxz2TCeiPI8qPOWWEzAbZwoGKNN__MUSoGzOuR6ylFDncyPBJF0dxLqBUayco9AQznV-uQ2H196MuYwW42BtVFydWZgJXQZJ31S_nw/s1613/Rattana%20Wapi%20Church%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1613" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDplsgN-xkW0eNgUySDIoKN33vJLzef8gNShBSzz8XbV7RZKZmmgRYtj3WhoLOuEB_ny_maMpmf9o1Lxz2TCeiPI8qPOWWEzAbZwoGKNN__MUSoGzOuR6ylFDncyPBJF0dxLqBUayco9AQznV-uQ2H196MuYwW42BtVFydWZgJXQZJ31S_nw/w640-h402/Rattana%20Wapi%20Church%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pioneer Pastor Churches many times plant new daughter churches, because church planting, evangelism, and disciple-making are baked into their DNA. It is just what we do as Christians who have experienced the power of the Father, love of Jesus and transformation and in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. We want others to have this too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another new Pioneer Pastor Church that needs your prayers is Hat Kham Church, which is located just a mile or so from the border of Myanmar in Prachuap Khiri Khan province (see the map below).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40W5vHyvqhNE2H3nqHD_SO5hiN1GM7SXu_Wgp7AtUgh40L6b0KtwWspCXj0Bks7MsFlURrhyITTX1QvjUYGYXLNuv1PUNfZXJ7-aRQm80yfi2lW_VvkFs2iz-R2ROE-o6iUCKaTsr-nFy1T0Ej4PKiiCX0LFZlTKsCBT3w8X1ekpGfS_O7Q/s1406/800px-Thailand_Prachuap_Khiri_Khan_locator_map.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40W5vHyvqhNE2H3nqHD_SO5hiN1GM7SXu_Wgp7AtUgh40L6b0KtwWspCXj0Bks7MsFlURrhyITTX1QvjUYGYXLNuv1PUNfZXJ7-aRQm80yfi2lW_VvkFs2iz-R2ROE-o6iUCKaTsr-nFy1T0Ej4PKiiCX0LFZlTKsCBT3w8X1ekpGfS_O7Q/w364-h640/800px-Thailand_Prachuap_Khiri_Khan_locator_map.svg.png" width="364" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Hat Kham is a county with a population of 9,000 people and Pastors Wichien and Puangtaun of Kuiburi Church have been evangelizing and leading a cell group here for several years. They have developed leaders at Hat Kham, and one of those leaders has been called by God to train for ministry to become the pastor of this new church.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ91iWvvY5q_bPqULjNS4aa0ziIDCmdjG8a_aXwNT1YheaYaI_Ukskgz1gp9R7hU8uvLtNOjkYiA0enDJzTSco-Kmixi4FLlzJX1p8CjpN9DjW7Sujabn6JTT4zTdpgp01BgkGW14hWA-KCqXfr4zNwKHkx3zsYTasJyKxCjiNzn-r4Ss5A/s1867/Hat%20Kham%20Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1867" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ91iWvvY5q_bPqULjNS4aa0ziIDCmdjG8a_aXwNT1YheaYaI_Ukskgz1gp9R7hU8uvLtNOjkYiA0enDJzTSco-Kmixi4FLlzJX1p8CjpN9DjW7Sujabn6JTT4zTdpgp01BgkGW14hWA-KCqXfr4zNwKHkx3zsYTasJyKxCjiNzn-r4Ss5A/w640-h300/Hat%20Kham%20Church.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pastor Jaeng (seen in the white shirt and the center of the picture) is a widow who returned to her home village in Hat Kham after her husband died, to care for her mother who opened her home to be the base for a new church. Pastor Jaeng is in the midst of divinity studies at Bangkok Bible Seminary, and is also leading this new church in her hometown. All of the members of Hat Kham Church have specifically asked for prayer because there is great resistance to the Gospel, and God's intervention is needed to open hearts. We told them that there will be many people praying for them, that they are not alone. This made them very happy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for being co-workers in the mission through your prayers and support. You make this mission possible.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://thailandnow.org/"><b>https://thailandnow.org</b></a></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Thailand NOW<br /></b><b>P.O. Box 56<br /></b><b>Mannsville, KY 42758</b></span></h2><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-80169129658084900362022-05-18T22:35:00.003-07:002022-05-18T22:35:47.849-07:00 A New School Year Begins for our Blessing Home Kids <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOr0TFZZQIjC_DqI5VF5kwdAf4MTL0-8Gkk07jv7h6BdvFDOvb12_Xc2MY0QQ5e_c-4ZfCv7VCZxjUdsDkCL7iiCjmrsg4XtrLBN20yjSjACl54eJGqhYsnhDVsxAsy7hvGsHLczvxm9DMqA0GQL-U2D1SsP6Qa0fN1kPIcKwV_XA7CyAbQ/s1867/Maria%20uniform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1867" data-original-width="876" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOr0TFZZQIjC_DqI5VF5kwdAf4MTL0-8Gkk07jv7h6BdvFDOvb12_Xc2MY0QQ5e_c-4ZfCv7VCZxjUdsDkCL7iiCjmrsg4XtrLBN20yjSjACl54eJGqhYsnhDVsxAsy7hvGsHLczvxm9DMqA0GQL-U2D1SsP6Qa0fN1kPIcKwV_XA7CyAbQ/w300-h640/Maria%20uniform.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>(Left: Maria tries out her new school uniform)<p></p><p>Now that the Omicron Covid Spike is over in Thailand, most Thai children are going back to in-person instruction in school for the first time in two years. It has been a great challenge to keep the Blessing Home teens motivated to do their online studies. They do much better with in-person instruction, so we are thrilled that the schools are opening up. </p><p>On the left is Maria (formerly called Naet) who is in Christian foster care through the Blessing Home program. Through your generosity, she is able to go to a private school and to receive the love of her foster parents, Dr. Somsri and Mr. Samai. This is possible because of you and we are grateful. Thank you.</p><p>Every time we see our Blessing Home kids in their school uniforms, we just burst with praise for God that He has changed the trajectory of the lives of these children, giving them hope in Christ and a wonderful future of good opportunities. God is Great! God is Wonderful! Amen!</p><p>Another wonderful thing about the new school year of in-person instruction is that our Pioneer Pastors can once again share the Good News of Jesus Christ with school children through special events at the schools.</p><p>Although Thailand is a Buddhist majority country, many public schools allow our pastors to teach about Jesus at special events. Pastors Dr. Wassana and her husband, Rev. Sila, of the Prasiri Wesleyan Church in Bangkok went to an Elementary School where Wassana attended as a child in Chaiyaphum Province. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll-0S5CQo0RETuBjr2laCxo6Scx2wGM_nSn3fvJh5f2k9TL8hx_kxyOMOIa-PZBusFN1jljFnWjQtUMW6N8pWR_cuHHgZZXxjxuChNElVssnD9qZoiEag2de2vkuACpVS0EwQ1Ow7MLC0_uGABf2sNgYGQvshG-otJVNV2ubhG5nx7GetRA/s1477/Stage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll-0S5CQo0RETuBjr2laCxo6Scx2wGM_nSn3fvJh5f2k9TL8hx_kxyOMOIa-PZBusFN1jljFnWjQtUMW6N8pWR_cuHHgZZXxjxuChNElVssnD9qZoiEag2de2vkuACpVS0EwQ1Ow7MLC0_uGABf2sNgYGQvshG-otJVNV2ubhG5nx7GetRA/w640-h480/Stage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Wassana grew up in a county that had no Christian church and it is still unreached to this day. This does not surprise us, because 75% of the counties in Thailand are unreached and have never had a Christian church. </p><p>Dr. Wassana has a heart for reaching the people in the county where she grew up as a child, so she has formed an Evangelism Team to go to two unreached locations to begin the work of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people. This past week, they were able to tell stories of Jesus to the school children at the Elementary school and they also gave out Christmas Child boxes (yes, this is a little bit late, but the boxes arrived in Thailand long after Christmas had passed).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpstrlXZudOaUGPjmwy2XG6OymV04Sg29QqYrdJVD2auTq0NwyvLv2yAMLxX2mJeypmZnoSmjNL_eusCZA54l-ff1iTjO-Fk4UNTef2qxFjWOzcQDPis-I7XGch6Jr8vY61P_jdz4wUPxUPg3e6E62uJuU50uCR6NZkKUhGqGh9Mr2aXirXQ/s1477/Rear%20view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpstrlXZudOaUGPjmwy2XG6OymV04Sg29QqYrdJVD2auTq0NwyvLv2yAMLxX2mJeypmZnoSmjNL_eusCZA54l-ff1iTjO-Fk4UNTef2qxFjWOzcQDPis-I7XGch6Jr8vY61P_jdz4wUPxUPg3e6E62uJuU50uCR6NZkKUhGqGh9Mr2aXirXQ/w640-h480/Rear%20view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vxe7wdVyAdLROCTkZ3F3KZAZ8lIGL5gL7V4DZeTNB6MDY5FvSYxwLkdINoO9bv1nGSLcms1H-E8m-FL4KLAnnTKitskmiDX-ZB_xIk-02WI2ZgtvFLoBsHkN3sAwMaAFnpzVmIPNDgSJMvDYtbeApCS7W3wpZ_o8Hvbnd6fYN_36FWRYog/s1477/Wassana%20gifts%20selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vxe7wdVyAdLROCTkZ3F3KZAZ8lIGL5gL7V4DZeTNB6MDY5FvSYxwLkdINoO9bv1nGSLcms1H-E8m-FL4KLAnnTKitskmiDX-ZB_xIk-02WI2ZgtvFLoBsHkN3sAwMaAFnpzVmIPNDgSJMvDYtbeApCS7W3wpZ_o8Hvbnd6fYN_36FWRYog/w640-h480/Wassana%20gifts%20selfie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Above is a picture of Dr. Wassana and the school children who received Christmas Child boxes.</p><p>One final word of PRAISE!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nWo0u41eQMYeNwUqTqOOfrYnZn3CwoQyjkILpl-QYaGdgSw2xsufWTyCNKcH9YHNwKdA5rBAHIyb9j1Q2x6CQTJeR8gpljEkX5ZMfkw7B8mCD3Ukt-rAIL0RSUR4ZtChp5rxSfIvW-wfrCnIGO_2t2PygIpMYz5PlSdKu5YzNJ8ZO98CAA/s2755/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="2755" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nWo0u41eQMYeNwUqTqOOfrYnZn3CwoQyjkILpl-QYaGdgSw2xsufWTyCNKcH9YHNwKdA5rBAHIyb9j1Q2x6CQTJeR8gpljEkX5ZMfkw7B8mCD3Ukt-rAIL0RSUR4ZtChp5rxSfIvW-wfrCnIGO_2t2PygIpMYz5PlSdKu5YzNJ8ZO98CAA/w640-h204/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Since last month, we have received generous donations towards the Building Fund for Phase 2 of the Abundant Life Training Center. We have now received $102,000, which is enough to construct a church building (which will also be used for training and seminars for the Abundant Life Financial Training Program) and to build a house for May and Teddy, who serve as staff with us. We will begin construction on the church in the next few months. We are waiting for a few months to let the rain pack down the dirt that was used to fill up the land above flood levels. This is necessary so that the foundation will not settle and crack. <div><br /></div><div>Now we are only $38,000 from our goal, which will help to construct an Kitchen and Restrooms Building as well as a small Office building.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you would like to donate to this construction project, be sure to designate your gift to the Building Fund.</div><div><br /></div><div>All donations can be done by check or online.</div><div><br /></div><div>Checks may be sent by mail to:</div><div><br /></div><div>Thailand NOW</div><div>P.O. Box 56</div><div>Mannsville, KY 42758</div><div><br /></div><div>Online donations can be given through our website at: <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></div><div><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p></div>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-42358929727920385032022-04-13T03:28:00.004-07:002022-04-13T03:28:53.089-07:00One Outstanding Day of Amazing Blessings<p>Last week, we traveled to Phetchabun province for the graduation ceremony of the Thailand Theological Seminary (TTS). TTS is one of the four seminaries (Global Theological Institute, Phayao Bible Seminary, and Bangkok Bible Seminary are the other three) that we send Pioneer Pastors for ministerial studies. Over the past 16 years, we have had the great privilege of sponsoring the theological education of 123 full-time pastors and Christian workers. And we have attended and participated in many graduation ceremonies. But this one was truly amazing.</p><p>First, it was amazing because five Pioneer Pastors earned their Doctor of Ministry degrees, which is the first time any of the pastors who serve alongside us have reached this level of education. We have seen a trend across many seminaries in Thailand. For a long time, Thai seminaries have relied on professors from the United States and South Korea to come to teach one or two week block classes because there were not enough qualified Thai professors to teach all of the classes needed. But now that more and more Thai pastors are earning their doctorate degrees, these seminaries are able to employ Thai professors. </p><p>Second, there was a total of 11 Pioneer Pastors who graduated on this day, 5 Doctor of Ministry degrees, 4 earned Master of Divinity degrees, and 2 earned Bachelor of Ministry degrees.</p><p>Here are some of the Pioneer Pastors who graduated on this wonderful day:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_316gKKmv4dnMU3PEIq-sluD3NSNGGLJ1fVegqXxcAKSwaPWKmv8UN161CuhLjfz-nrGzNmUEiu8mljfDe3iqh2M6s2TZ0WUj0LwjcJ-EyhJT1LtmVF7a3KOY7U-S4RGhLbn89gxKJFq7b_3VJKkQlNJX2TdbsmwHoO3rYh3Kz9shPZEQ_w/s1477/Warin,%20Santi,%20Somsri,%20Moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_316gKKmv4dnMU3PEIq-sluD3NSNGGLJ1fVegqXxcAKSwaPWKmv8UN161CuhLjfz-nrGzNmUEiu8mljfDe3iqh2M6s2TZ0WUj0LwjcJ-EyhJT1LtmVF7a3KOY7U-S4RGhLbn89gxKJFq7b_3VJKkQlNJX2TdbsmwHoO3rYh3Kz9shPZEQ_w/w480-h640/Warin,%20Santi,%20Somsri,%20Moss.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>(ABOVE: From left to right) Dr. Warin (D.Min.) of Fire of Glory Church, Rev. Santi (B.Min.) of Sukhothai Church, Dr. Somsri (D. Min.) of Fire of Glory Church, Rev. Moss of Fire of Glory Church.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBmHJlq3lmOl7BhD1wdLnnfr9w7Litw0JDMxPZO6n1sXERi3AVIZdHt3BiPaS2x_dKIf78pDaNlCOCN-k3LVk6EYLPVvRU7jDCDGU9Sli9AyYkuBJFvZWzF2ESUxNJgEzm3TiXS-190PHh9fftFnsBToxN3i8h1aPxVYryToZw2Cq4mqgtA/s1488/Kaek%20and%20Awee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBmHJlq3lmOl7BhD1wdLnnfr9w7Litw0JDMxPZO6n1sXERi3AVIZdHt3BiPaS2x_dKIf78pDaNlCOCN-k3LVk6EYLPVvRU7jDCDGU9Sli9AyYkuBJFvZWzF2ESUxNJgEzm3TiXS-190PHh9fftFnsBToxN3i8h1aPxVYryToZw2Cq4mqgtA/w474-h640/Kaek%20and%20Awee.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><p>(ABOVE: From left to right) Rev. Nuch of God is Good Church, Dr. Sherri Morrissey, Dr. Narayuth (Peter) of God is Good Church, Rev. Mike Morrissey, Rev. Awee of Buengkan Church.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogNRSVpXYEW9npUJALxp2vT3v0mmAvH2WNRD97Ygoz9Z3FPtzsdaIaKPgBGbnVQC6jPejxjW0fXDErimSY2ULC1xzVErSw0XWKfA1nJz5joZ9YjHK1Tk308RDw-BKzR4tR2q_Cdrzlt1OlfVaekohk3_j6uNRzRyW5NH5zav4hzra-1ZCAw/s984/Sila%20and%20Wassana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="758" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogNRSVpXYEW9npUJALxp2vT3v0mmAvH2WNRD97Ygoz9Z3FPtzsdaIaKPgBGbnVQC6jPejxjW0fXDErimSY2ULC1xzVErSw0XWKfA1nJz5joZ9YjHK1Tk308RDw-BKzR4tR2q_Cdrzlt1OlfVaekohk3_j6uNRzRyW5NH5zav4hzra-1ZCAw/w494-h640/Sila%20and%20Wassana.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>(ABOVE: From left to right) Rev. Mike Morrissey, Rev. Sila (M.Div.) of Prasiri Wesleyan Church, Dr. Wassana (D. Min.) of Prasiri Wesleyan Church, and Dr. Sherri Morrissey.<p></p><p>Third, what made this day to be truly outstanding was the large scale of the graduation ceremony. Over 280 people graduated on this day, making it by far the largest graduation ceremony of any Thai seminary that we have experienced. With these many graduates, we can feel the momentum of rapid growth of Christianity in Thailand. We extend our applause and admiration to Dr. Wallapa who is president of the Thailand Theological Seminary for her fruitful ministry and tireless labor for the Kingdom of God. She is an anointed servant of the Lord!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifipmE2UaseUy_nD-2H_scUopNz6Q33_KWNwyPg45OU-6TqMvymHU7AMizB83-210Dt-LWZR1M_UQ8NUh_Qup-VBfzAYsNFsUfpjl2C3dbem0p-w9WtCqGczSsqt2e-U63Bp4-6v-sLa_udzPKJBgiwaLQrrB0wGIBiVNIZJ_cpEzzxS6l5A/s960/Graduate%20group%20pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifipmE2UaseUy_nD-2H_scUopNz6Q33_KWNwyPg45OU-6TqMvymHU7AMizB83-210Dt-LWZR1M_UQ8NUh_Qup-VBfzAYsNFsUfpjl2C3dbem0p-w9WtCqGczSsqt2e-U63Bp4-6v-sLa_udzPKJBgiwaLQrrB0wGIBiVNIZJ_cpEzzxS6l5A/w640-h426/Graduate%20group%20pic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally, Sherri and I would like to wish all of you a Blessed Easter! Jesus is Risen! Hallelujah!</p><p><br /></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-22211116241761625262022-03-24T23:12:00.006-07:002022-03-24T23:12:57.187-07:00Good news at a time when most of the news is bad.<h2 style="text-align: left;">A Blessing Home Child Graduates from University</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rIMEfBBAhBytGJXKxcsDyLi1t3St7Oeuri7Gxy8nCmhmpAi4kVaacMC4b1gI-bI2_AtSe0hnkvaak2Eik0IktKdizo5ocs8luYKDAEqqfdTqC_d1XnLijp5YWBZoXyNKQ2EJtIL8NxfI58uDTantnZ0CPZSujJF5zJbzhVbqCEDZnbH5Yw/s1280/BooBayGrad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rIMEfBBAhBytGJXKxcsDyLi1t3St7Oeuri7Gxy8nCmhmpAi4kVaacMC4b1gI-bI2_AtSe0hnkvaak2Eik0IktKdizo5ocs8luYKDAEqqfdTqC_d1XnLijp5YWBZoXyNKQ2EJtIL8NxfI58uDTantnZ0CPZSujJF5zJbzhVbqCEDZnbH5Yw/w536-h640/BooBayGrad.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We are pleased to announce that BooBay has graduated with her B.A. degree in Business English and Hospitality. BooBay's father was a Pioneer Pastor who passed away four years ago. While he was in his last week of life in the hospital, we promised to support his daughter BooBay through university, so that he could have peace of mind about his family as he was nearing the end. </div><div><br /></div><div>BooBay worked hard at her studies, and stayed at our house one night per week during the school year to practice her English and receive tutoring. She just graduated this month and she works at the front desk of a four star hotel in Sriracha (yes, the same city where the famous Sriracha sauce came from). We want to thank all of our generous donors who make it possible to send some of our Blessing Home children to attend university and trade school. BooBay and others like her have a great future ahead. God is good!</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>What happens to a Christmas Child box after I donate it?</h2></div><div>We are very happy to know that most of the churches that support our mission also participate in the Christmas Child, which is a world-wide ministry of Samaritan Purse. The Christmas Child boxes that you thoughtfully and compassionately make and donate, are sent to nations all over the world, including Thailand. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the last six years in Thailand, Christmas Child boxes have arrived well after Christmas is over. But that is not a problem at all. We just store the boxes until we do Christmas evangelism outreach events later in the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>This week, the Christmas Child boxes arrived in Bangkok, and Pioneer Pastors from all over Thailand went to pick up the boxes. Pastor Somsri of Fire of Glory Church sent pictures to us of picking up the boxes, and we wanted to share them with you. As you can see from the second picture, Pastor Somsri loaded her vehicle to the brim with the boxes and resources.</div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpJpScfkHBHf3UW6zgzEr-PC0gqdlD_EpI_DtKnV6m00unp0OuF45yV_wKXFjPohc6KiLr-7EJ-tSs_Bp7B5UNPxoVrWSQ8JvnTWgNr19nQ5Fwwh1sk-Xite57Z5px2SWocBxFphzDJEa_luhnL_o9Zo8Z3XrcjzKWFBtdxGNaEmKybTEqA/s1867/trucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1867" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpJpScfkHBHf3UW6zgzEr-PC0gqdlD_EpI_DtKnV6m00unp0OuF45yV_wKXFjPohc6KiLr-7EJ-tSs_Bp7B5UNPxoVrWSQ8JvnTWgNr19nQ5Fwwh1sk-Xite57Z5px2SWocBxFphzDJEa_luhnL_o9Zo8Z3XrcjzKWFBtdxGNaEmKybTEqA/w640-h300/trucks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQu6hQrGFQ54XVAGBXzRfceaYvqmRp3NFIZRvY1CG32IzAkyXqzD4hgqoBgomFDdULc5ndkmjSP5LmBvgEcrHJlZPJ_zknKFbEanOqRDuYqlz-q0n-MTiL3m7RUIKbfYf4R7BU7nY98y3Q67-bEsvMGPpxXX2S2NuYlhTo859OPI0M4yPWGg/s1867/loading%20suv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1867" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQu6hQrGFQ54XVAGBXzRfceaYvqmRp3NFIZRvY1CG32IzAkyXqzD4hgqoBgomFDdULc5ndkmjSP5LmBvgEcrHJlZPJ_zknKFbEanOqRDuYqlz-q0n-MTiL3m7RUIKbfYf4R7BU7nY98y3Q67-bEsvMGPpxXX2S2NuYlhTo859OPI0M4yPWGg/w640-h300/loading%20suv.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>What many people in the United States do not realize is the gift boxes are just a one part of a wonderful program. Along with the gift boxes, Samaritan Purse also gives us free books for children called "The Greatest Journey". They are brilliantly designed books that share the Good News of Jesus Christ through an 12-week Children's Bible Club. So when we have Christmas outreach, we share the gospel with the whole family at the event. Many people receive Jesus as their Savior at these events. And then we begin the 12-week Children's Bible Club where we begin to help the children to grow in Christ. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJS91Bn6KD73m6ob7pS4kaKWQ0kJOsZuteG1mmtWFHeeU-P9WUHwNGuC7wzkUtjYuZVfBsux8zgV6aZllodycICtFsJnULrsj0QDip9LHZi_SrjqVH0HoLX0NlU8A5A-do5C3g_PQGgV0U2nCDXmdCl-jB7mg5rAxmQKdGlkzFlb55_nXSw/s1478/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1478" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJS91Bn6KD73m6ob7pS4kaKWQ0kJOsZuteG1mmtWFHeeU-P9WUHwNGuC7wzkUtjYuZVfBsux8zgV6aZllodycICtFsJnULrsj0QDip9LHZi_SrjqVH0HoLX0NlU8A5A-do5C3g_PQGgV0U2nCDXmdCl-jB7mg5rAxmQKdGlkzFlb55_nXSw/w640-h480/books.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We make use of this wonderful ministry in the Pioneer Pastor program as we plant church in unreached counties in Thailand. We begin with these Christmas events and then move on to start Children's Bible Clubs. Through these clubs, we then go on to reach the whole family for Jesus. So your gift of a Christmas Child Box has much more impact then you may have known.</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>The Abundant Life Training Center - Phase Two</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeU6704NxyXgxgIp80RK4L7lsaVN3P7mchGf6_wy1MQ8MdUIMsRFfmBUUPkn3oIN5QKRUK4ehshsPJEhJ2qCswwSpOjWCqplJuITz_yNdg0Ve47Nz2HFjpvTtQTjxkCZfAYXBzWBVEzrpbUkvN3z7AY3aUVqpzLLASGNRGU1tM4CuFKg-Uw/s2774/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="2774" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeU6704NxyXgxgIp80RK4L7lsaVN3P7mchGf6_wy1MQ8MdUIMsRFfmBUUPkn3oIN5QKRUK4ehshsPJEhJ2qCswwSpOjWCqplJuITz_yNdg0Ve47Nz2HFjpvTtQTjxkCZfAYXBzWBVEzrpbUkvN3z7AY3aUVqpzLLASGNRGU1tM4CuFKg-Uw/w640-h206/Phase%202%20Fundraising%20Chart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Every month, we get closer to the goal of raising $140,000 for building a Sanctuary (which will be used as a training center and also as a Pioneer Pastor church, since this center is in an unreached county), and a house for the Directors of the Abundant Life Training Center, a kitchen / restroom building, and a small office.</div><div><br /></div><div>We now have enough funds to build the house for May and Teddy, who will lead the ministries at this new location. And we hope to have enough funds by Easter to also begin building the Sanctuary.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for your support and all of the rapid progress that is happening. God is good!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you would like your donation to be designated for the construction of the Abundant Life Training Center, please be sure to designate it for the <b>Building Fund</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can donate online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Or donate by mailing a check to Thailand NOW at:</div><div><br /></div><div>Thailand NOW, </div><div>P.O. Box 56 </div><div>Mannsville, KY 42758</div>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-23620787238554977672022-02-14T03:38:00.005-08:002022-02-14T03:40:28.934-08:00Sherri and I are now back in Thailand, PRAISE THE LORD!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWKc0WQAD9DAjhjeQljVt7Wj7VahQ5yZY7fnuV3naWIGTOup-Q0uNWegr8FkPCppcpzAyiM9lXxp6Z4Z_QdsLMe3P6dABVD8rPtZL0CDtCsWZD5WNL2h0QBaYsfUhIMrzEg-tu70FUUS8SQ1vYMdRT7FrTnurc_pPz4vM3xAfb4EOCb8WTsg=s1473" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="1141" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWKc0WQAD9DAjhjeQljVt7Wj7VahQ5yZY7fnuV3naWIGTOup-Q0uNWegr8FkPCppcpzAyiM9lXxp6Z4Z_QdsLMe3P6dABVD8rPtZL0CDtCsWZD5WNL2h0QBaYsfUhIMrzEg-tu70FUUS8SQ1vYMdRT7FrTnurc_pPz4vM3xAfb4EOCb8WTsg=w496-h640" width="496" /></a></div><br /><p>Sherri and I arrived in Thailand on January 31st and then had to stay 8 days in strict quarantine at a special quarantine hotel. We were met at the airport by people dressed up in PPE and transported to the hotel in a special quarantine van. We could not leave our room during the eight days of quarantine, but we were able to use the time constructively to get some rest and to work on projects. But now we are out and we are at our new home in Buriram province, near where the Abundant Life Training Center is being constructed.</p><p>There are so many things to report, and I am not sure where to begin.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiHiNkblon2DsU3NQDzmFOys0cf_tKc96NVJNidTubuVwtoQkPKVl8CwTbIPFI4KHJnxbqd8ccLbinqAX1mwQ-l8fWqrM9rVTheMVSAjcKa55QmC06UOmoynYzRFdlWjUNp8Ml4WL7hHiFWMmhudAu8uxQk--L3CRTZiAdQCJuKvcrGxycLw=s1152" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1149" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiHiNkblon2DsU3NQDzmFOys0cf_tKc96NVJNidTubuVwtoQkPKVl8CwTbIPFI4KHJnxbqd8ccLbinqAX1mwQ-l8fWqrM9rVTheMVSAjcKa55QmC06UOmoynYzRFdlWjUNp8Ml4WL7hHiFWMmhudAu8uxQk--L3CRTZiAdQCJuKvcrGxycLw=w638-h640" width="638" /></a></div><p>1. First, some news that broke our hearts. Pastor Ekarin, one of our beloved Pioneer Pastors, passed away last month, leaving behind his wife Pacharee and 3 school age children (the youngest is only six years old). ThisWe will miss Ekarin's humor and his beautiful singing. Please keep this family in prayer as they grieve and try to put life back together. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ9yIB19WWX5ur97Sk0K9xjz_CnyUAhsZCG9fLk16nYo5aVkwgJlwbj4btRO-7w6G-H5hhF78UlLtsZa0cfW8mI3k6va-EdIwIZ_yeeYxEzEKoMpAL74R3sp-QR44Oo8H-dP8ZalQ5-EA3idDA908-MNz2q4MPIvNDKu09HoJZx6hQPXKaew=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ9yIB19WWX5ur97Sk0K9xjz_CnyUAhsZCG9fLk16nYo5aVkwgJlwbj4btRO-7w6G-H5hhF78UlLtsZa0cfW8mI3k6va-EdIwIZ_yeeYxEzEKoMpAL74R3sp-QR44Oo8H-dP8ZalQ5-EA3idDA908-MNz2q4MPIvNDKu09HoJZx6hQPXKaew=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO1ue4RiPYKZcoOWJ3MyxMR3eBzA_mldbBwOy6b_Zaa-SUoIabv0ScHTzYjcfwCUo9L_EmKIRV9dwuklw16B295X15D66d5cjsq0_SmXwQ6B5ghws-1ySa3Q12JD4uXC02xjqMDVUXeE0CRaKcheLmqD9krEwniwD9LPqxPsQiyrhSRe7EvA=s1477" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO1ue4RiPYKZcoOWJ3MyxMR3eBzA_mldbBwOy6b_Zaa-SUoIabv0ScHTzYjcfwCUo9L_EmKIRV9dwuklw16B295X15D66d5cjsq0_SmXwQ6B5ghws-1ySa3Q12JD4uXC02xjqMDVUXeE0CRaKcheLmqD9krEwniwD9LPqxPsQiyrhSRe7EvA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>2. Pastor Sila and Wassana (in the picture standing in front of their "planning board") and the members of Prasiri Wesleyan Church in Bangkok have been working day and night for the past 2 months. They have demolished the two homes that they were using as church buildings and then quickly constructing a new church building. The building is not yet complete, but they at lease can use the building on Sunday mornings for worship. All of the labor is "in house" and the Lord has miraculously provided all of the materials at deep discounts. They have not had to buy or lease any tools and equipment, because their neighbors (most of whom are Buddhist) have let them borrow what they needed. This building is being built at only a third of the cost of what a contractor would have charged! We praise the Lord for His provision!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPS-f-J6PXFGujfw4exKXUgX1BrVB18p0VUlqi8HrVpoaibEbX4s38B7TVSocNzeu1xUWge9DuzTOmEC4bWBhJ1vxF0RJ-t6xi9h0BsA6B2WlB16dJRvMn7bstgM9RVV_D8Ay3yME5s8yi_KAXKDW1_HYDXlzPrxOCSRSiyT3b-VR4oPAqqQ=s1477" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPS-f-J6PXFGujfw4exKXUgX1BrVB18p0VUlqi8HrVpoaibEbX4s38B7TVSocNzeu1xUWge9DuzTOmEC4bWBhJ1vxF0RJ-t6xi9h0BsA6B2WlB16dJRvMn7bstgM9RVV_D8Ay3yME5s8yi_KAXKDW1_HYDXlzPrxOCSRSiyT3b-VR4oPAqqQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>3. Today we are finally bringing in our last load of fill to raise the land (which was previously a very wet rice paddy) for the Abundant Life Training Center. We have had to have a bit over 2,000 truckloads of dirt to raise the level of the land by 6 feet so it will be well above flood levels. We are now ready to begin construction on a house for May and Teddy who will serve as Directors of the Abundant Life Training Center as a Pioneer Pastors of the new church which will be planted here (this is an unreached county).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7ZAGtKw6hrcH7t6xXukH_JLBhjZrViGU0Nqg5fWsLa-WkVmhvMhNAw_GJUhHhfQ54lR5ZcsekjFdZGZjSZiZR4aLgKW9LOgvU7swVj_q8COXkWmiSeAogX786DQTml5CsL2a9RoMFeI40fh2VhVolUoKbUEClwze0SPBqWCOffndq48HeQQ=s1477" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7ZAGtKw6hrcH7t6xXukH_JLBhjZrViGU0Nqg5fWsLa-WkVmhvMhNAw_GJUhHhfQ54lR5ZcsekjFdZGZjSZiZR4aLgKW9LOgvU7swVj_q8COXkWmiSeAogX786DQTml5CsL2a9RoMFeI40fh2VhVolUoKbUEClwze0SPBqWCOffndq48HeQQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p>4. The old van that Pastor Somsri was using to pick up families to bring them to church had all broken down and the repairs would cost more than what the vehicle was worth. They also used the old van to travel with the Pioneer Pastor program, training and mentoring new pastors. And the financial devastation of Covid had left them unable to purchase another vehicle. We had the great privilege of buying this Chevy SUV that is in good shape and low mileage too. We praise the Lord that we have generous sponsors who make the mission possible.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ6pr0buVaR99HEiprmUeAle93kfu8mMHElWf46E5Dg9iWjQ2c3rhWyHSaTTMg-zIfCDk3QjvSCb68hvUnivLtnjufKkwOQrN8NobutogG1Ws6mIqfQuKz1pNqNxlH_zdgStQvVJfbAaUF6i-tw5EIVIL0fOMVc6D7vCDCvUnB8BE7fUyvRw=s1374" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="1374" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ6pr0buVaR99HEiprmUeAle93kfu8mMHElWf46E5Dg9iWjQ2c3rhWyHSaTTMg-zIfCDk3QjvSCb68hvUnivLtnjufKkwOQrN8NobutogG1Ws6mIqfQuKz1pNqNxlH_zdgStQvVJfbAaUF6i-tw5EIVIL0fOMVc6D7vCDCvUnB8BE7fUyvRw=w640-h202" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>5. Yes, here is the fundraising chart for Phase 2 of the Abundant Life Training Center. We received many generous donations, and now we have a bit over $71,000 of the $140,000 needed for to build a church building, a house for the May and Teddy, the directors of the Center, a small office building, and a simple kitchen / restroom facility.</p><p>Praise God, we have enough now to build the house for May and Teddy. We hope to receive more donations between now and Easter so that we can build the church building.</p><p>If you want to donate to this project, be sure to designate it for the BUILDING FUND.</p><p>Donations can be sent by check in the mail to:</p><p>Thailand NOW</p><p>P.O. Box 56</p><p>Mannsville, KY 42758</p><p><br /></p><p>OR Give Online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-70972824713824089852021-11-08T06:56:00.020-08:002021-11-08T07:27:29.286-08:00Download our Fall 2021 Newsletter and Read an Inspiring Story to Lift Your Spirits<span style="font-size: medium;">We know we are biased, but we think our Fall 2021 Thailand NOW newsletter is filled with good news that will lift up your spirits. Go ahead and download it and read by clicking this link >> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-AvXltE34q299HiRBO5FdfDdWbL0ni6q/view" target="_blank">Thailand NOW Fall Newsletter</a>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwpyk3BgTxV0g7oYHOAi7vWR5AXSI0icSYOKX8XpWlf1SeiEDTjcRP-jeGMR8IKVquY40xBtDIaSMvmDnX51ysJlmPDNKVc8QvdzNcrumH5t-OVrkhduHKDdcfHFAc6EZj0Xh/s658/Newsletter+Pic.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="501" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwpyk3BgTxV0g7oYHOAi7vWR5AXSI0icSYOKX8XpWlf1SeiEDTjcRP-jeGMR8IKVquY40xBtDIaSMvmDnX51ysJlmPDNKVc8QvdzNcrumH5t-OVrkhduHKDdcfHFAc6EZj0Xh/s200/Newsletter+Pic.png" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
Please feel free to send this email to others and download the newsletter to distribute at your church.
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1agdF55xW4Io3rGP2kibvovnZx9dmO9of5zXGWqiznf8CdpDcUyLeO_cmW8tvRVjV47WKvtzPDamKB6OqZXY-_KBSzv-c8nZygpYhcdodY7_vzLrawKAUSmb6BNUlj80EuR5/s1128/Ploy+1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1agdF55xW4Io3rGP2kibvovnZx9dmO9of5zXGWqiznf8CdpDcUyLeO_cmW8tvRVjV47WKvtzPDamKB6OqZXY-_KBSzv-c8nZygpYhcdodY7_vzLrawKAUSmb6BNUlj80EuR5/s400/Ploy+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
On a different note, Sherri and I and all of the Thailand NOW missionaries work with Thai staff and pastors who are absolutely amazing people. It is our great honor to serve side-by-side with them and we want you to get to know their stories too. So, we would like to share the story of Ploy, who works with Thailand NOW missionaries David and Allie Houle.
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFz7PFacr_32VpsTPiRvSVSe90qvJkVd51dBu1Fg9rNVbMXdXx0WntHO8cjPIigZFtbBUzquSoz8BSJ2-Ext0gKl3nPaI9MAptbiX1_WnJOHi8hFKJxCKvMjMDHFTNhWrAMl7/s1128/Ploy+2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFz7PFacr_32VpsTPiRvSVSe90qvJkVd51dBu1Fg9rNVbMXdXx0WntHO8cjPIigZFtbBUzquSoz8BSJ2-Ext0gKl3nPaI9MAptbiX1_WnJOHi8hFKJxCKvMjMDHFTNhWrAMl7/s400/Ploy+2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
Hello! My name is Ploy, I am 27 years old and I have worked with David and Allie for 1 year and 7 months. Allie and David asked me if I would share with all of you more about my story. I am from a less than perfect family. My parents divorced when I was 15 years old. They decided to split up because of financial problems, they are not good at managing money. I was okay with their decision to divorce, I knew that they had raised me the best they could. They wanted the best for me, and they wanted to teach me to be a responsible person and to always be considerate of other people. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My parents had 3 children, 2 sons and 1 daughter. I was the middle child. My brothers and I loved to play and go exploring together. Sometimes we argued, but we always loved each other and were very close. After our parents divorced, my father moved away to Bangkok (he went to live with his relatives there.) My older brother became a soldier (he did not want to, but he was drafted to serve for 2 years). My mom, my brother and I moved to Pattaya, but I didn’t stay in Pattaya for long. My mother was unable to work and take care of us, so my brother and I moved back to our hometown, Khon Kaen. There we were able to rent a room for just me and my brother, I was 16 and he was 13.
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6mqGAO5GzXlHbYWrhVAHLZ0n3VRrEj5Y6KmuMEceBg14Hyhy_EWVrfAMlUGnTED-VG1uasRSDs7MGstdKW3s18oDgF_XfLCjQp2jP8WEmehMYBAHFMXYPxR5yKbr_JGGTxms/s510/Ploy+3.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6mqGAO5GzXlHbYWrhVAHLZ0n3VRrEj5Y6KmuMEceBg14Hyhy_EWVrfAMlUGnTED-VG1uasRSDs7MGstdKW3s18oDgF_XfLCjQp2jP8WEmehMYBAHFMXYPxR5yKbr_JGGTxms/s400/Ploy+3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
It was important for my mom to make money to support us. Sometimes she would have to ask my dad to help and send money for us to go to school. My mom had to make money to pay for all of our living expenses. When I moved to Khon Kaen with my younger brother, I tried to find work to help my mom with paying for everything. I took care of my younger brother and I worked part time selling fried chicken and orange juice at the market. I would make about $5-6/day. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I applied for all the school scholarships I could find, and I took out student loans to finish high school and to go to university to study Thai Language.
While I was in university, I was involved with many clubs and activities and volunteering, which helped me to get a scholarship. Because I completed all of my credits in 3.5 years, I was able to do a Work and Travel program for my last semester. I went to America for 5 months. This program was for students to go and work part-time and to learn about American culture. I went to Destin, Florida and worked at McDonalds. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After I came back to Thailand, I moved back to Pattaya to live with my mom and to work in property management at a condo. I worked 6 days a week, but I asked for every Sunday off so I could go to church. On Sundays I would go to church for worship and serve God by doing activities with the youth. I would be at church from the morning until the evening every Sunday. I met David and Allie at the church where we would do lessons and activities for the teenagers together. I worked at the condo for 2 years before David and Allie invited me to work with them. Then I quit my job to go work with Thailand Now.
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNzpYzpv5ORmL1Yjf-QQBWQGRhlpzsrEpGyzYcfIqLvIiTLAXjjdb6BgLFeiUESX3N4j_z0GBA-3ka7zTNNe7s2vPMQf-BVUfV0aRnF7CkoxTeXYmFkye8cbHGtbenwe744ih/s1501/Ploy+5.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="844" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNzpYzpv5ORmL1Yjf-QQBWQGRhlpzsrEpGyzYcfIqLvIiTLAXjjdb6BgLFeiUESX3N4j_z0GBA-3ka7zTNNe7s2vPMQf-BVUfV0aRnF7CkoxTeXYmFkye8cbHGtbenwe744ih/s400/Ploy+5.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
I thank God for finding me. I know that I always had God’s grace in my life. Even though I haven’t been a Christian my whole life, I believe God chose me long ago. Through elementary and high school I went to a Catholic school. I was able to make friends who were Christian. I had the opportunity to go to church many times. When I went to University, I met my boyfriend, Run, who is a Christian (we are still together). I went to church with him and learned about God through Run’s life. After we had been together for 2 years, I decided to devote my life to Jesus.
Right after I became a Christian, my family was not accepting of it. My whole family was Buddhist, and in Thailand, almost all Thai people are Buddhist. Buddhist people follow the teachings of Siddhartha, Karma, and they have to make merit so they can come back in a better life, and to help their ancestors get to a better place. When we would go to the temple to make merit, we would buy snacks and bring money for the monks and make offerings to the idols in the temple. But once I was a Christian, my family could see that I was different, and they weren’t happy that I wouldn’t go to the Buddhist temple with them anymore. But this was not an obstacle for me with my belief in God. Because I stand firm in my belief in God (and I can be stubborn).
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UxmC25LXG0M_J-qvUHSJCJteQlsWHpdxoopFH75D54Gu08Ivz0JAbgUOFWGqDzYGmWSEc7ndhKHD6kfrFALW0i4cnprKLy07hW_m0gfux9myo2MHibRTboT9jdeIA9ns1ccW/s1278/Ploy+7.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="898" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UxmC25LXG0M_J-qvUHSJCJteQlsWHpdxoopFH75D54Gu08Ivz0JAbgUOFWGqDzYGmWSEc7ndhKHD6kfrFALW0i4cnprKLy07hW_m0gfux9myo2MHibRTboT9jdeIA9ns1ccW/s400/Ploy+7.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
In all the time that I have known God, I am always discovering more and more how good God is. I thank God that he has prepared a way for me to come and serve God with this ministry and at church (and wherever else he will lead me to serve). Recently, my mom has come to know God and accept Him. I believe that everyone in my family will see God’s goodness in my life. All of them see the love and care from David and Allie and all of my church family. I believe that my family will come to believe in God. God has not stopped working in my life. I am just the first one in my family that He has called.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has a heart for helping our brothers and sisters, and the children here in Thailand. God bless you all.
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1FbGKDNRGn2oUaVNMTtkuXHpB554EM9zqMn7rVXM2xjg9NuOCLU_ynMy92uIQu7tkEJNlsLHC1_mT6fk3HG3hkC9kvY6Ao3FoJnxrM0ORUjGVuUdvx3xSpPnVqMrEPiY9EH0/s1472/Thailand+Now+Logo.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1057" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1FbGKDNRGn2oUaVNMTtkuXHpB554EM9zqMn7rVXM2xjg9NuOCLU_ynMy92uIQu7tkEJNlsLHC1_mT6fk3HG3hkC9kvY6Ao3FoJnxrM0ORUjGVuUdvx3xSpPnVqMrEPiY9EH0/s320/Thailand+Now+Logo.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
If you feel led by the Lord to support this mission, you can donate by check or online. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">1. Send a check to: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Thailand NOW </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">P.O. Box 56 </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mannsville, KY 42758 </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">OR </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Give online at <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/
</a></span></div></div></div>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-7185031047580769662021-10-20T04:56:00.002-07:002021-10-20T04:56:09.862-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NqS4hdYjFzvS7Qpyw9vMLUYXVkY4V44Mpc3duUnhio05P8MHusDy-JqDTFAfmnskNVamGXvGN73fBW2wuq36X0GUSHXughQi6VGDPOlhPSMqEMrM3YdxRuLgtHA9KmO7YXIK/s2048/Mike+and+Sherri+2021.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NqS4hdYjFzvS7Qpyw9vMLUYXVkY4V44Mpc3duUnhio05P8MHusDy-JqDTFAfmnskNVamGXvGN73fBW2wuq36X0GUSHXughQi6VGDPOlhPSMqEMrM3YdxRuLgtHA9KmO7YXIK/s400/Mike+and+Sherri+2021.jpg"/></a></div>
We are happy to report that it looks like Thailand will be re-opening both internationally and domestically soon. This is not a sure thing. In the past, there have been news reports of re-opening, just to have the situation change at the last minute. So prayers are needed. Here are some of the prayer requests:
1. Sherri and I have booked tickets back to fly to Thailand on December 22. We need to obtain visas and Certificates of Entry, which are very complicated to complete. Every month,the requirements and procedures change, and it is difficult to hit a moving target that is random. Dealing with this is a bit stressful. Please pray that we can get all of the needed documents and approvals in a timely manner.
2. At this time, churches in urban areas of Thailand are not able to meet. Meetings of more than 5 people are not allowed in areas considered "deep red" for COVID. As you can imagine, this has had severe consequences for the members of these churches and their pastors. A domestic re-opening is needed for the churches and ministries in Thailand to thrive. The hard domestic lockdowns in Thailand, that restrict travel between provinces, has been a significant reason why we had to delay our return to Thailand. As long as the lockdown remains in place, we would not be able to preach and teach in the urban churches and would need to do online Zoom meetings rather than in-person events. So it was better for us to remain in the States and do Zoom meetings from here. At least we could itinerate among supporting churches and still continue to do online ministry in Thailand.
3. Thailand NOW missionaries, Carol Fare and Vicki Brown (they serve at the Special Blessings Korat Center), have still not been able to be vaccinated. The supplies for FDA approved vaccines have not yet reached their city.
4. While we were here in the States, our Thai staff moved to Buriram province, which will be the location of our new training center. We gave them our furniture and kitchen items for use in their new home, since it was going to be more expensive to store the items and move two households worth of furniture, than it would be for us to just start over. May and Teddy, who serve with us, are looking for a house for us to rent. Please pray that they will find the right place, one that is functional and affordable. They will have a lot of work to do, because most homes are bare shells. We will need to paint the walls, install window treatments, air conditioners, water heaters, water purifiers, and purchase furniture, appliances, and sundry items.
We are thankful for your faithful prayers. Later this month, we will send an announcement about Phase 2 of the Abundant Life Training Center.Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-83723430656153828532021-08-07T15:19:00.002-07:002021-08-07T15:19:35.473-07:00God is doing great things through our Thai brothers and sisters!<p>First, I (Mike) want to thank all of you for your powerful prayers for me while I was in the hospital. I had a prostatitis for a few years (and didn't know that I had it) and it turned into a sepsis infection that damaged my heart and organs and I also developed pneumonia. Praise God, the damage to my heart and organs has reversed and my lungs are clear. God is good! I was healed by God through your prayers. Thank you!</p><p>Now that I am healthy again, I will be re-scheduling to visit churches from September through December. If you would like for us to come to your church, contact us via email at <a href="mailto:morrisseys@thailandnow.org">morrisseys@thailandnow.org</a>.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvR9weWTAoLOVuvppwS_I22QWFdNRIACbLDnRoqw9BJyhB21Tk-1HPpwiKE_rFDE9MIjqr7venkSSg3hdv8aCah78mPgBe6QYV92Cu-MNcJWUuyvY3lMHBG3SrbIrf6n1OHN7/s439/250px-Thailand_Chonburi_locator_map.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="250" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvR9weWTAoLOVuvppwS_I22QWFdNRIACbLDnRoqw9BJyhB21Tk-1HPpwiKE_rFDE9MIjqr7venkSSg3hdv8aCah78mPgBe6QYV92Cu-MNcJWUuyvY3lMHBG3SrbIrf6n1OHN7/w166-h292/250px-Thailand_Chonburi_locator_map.svg.png" width="166" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chonburi Province</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Second, I would like to announce that our mission is working together with Pastor Pranee to plant a new Pioneer Pastor church in Thungkwang county in Chonburi province. This county has no Christian church and over 5,000 people live there. Last year, Pastor Pranee planted a Pioneer Pastor Church in Huathanon county, 12 miles away from this location. She will serve on this circuit of two churches, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in an unreached places. Because of your faithful giving, we were able to give funds to help Pastor Pranee to build a simple house in Thungkwang, that will serve as her residence and also as a home church. Please keep Pastor Pranee in prayer.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmF_mf4zi8_opDxFqEqwxw_MOw00tTboSKHQhyphenhyphenfw4Pmz4jKWMfrUuI2qoHobU5u5svjiyXZR6YjMszTEKtKAQNMjiWFpzhoxn7mDIY3pAj65wW8m5d954_JpOvwEDF7VN_IOs/s1236/Screenshot+2021-08-07+174008.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="1236" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmF_mf4zi8_opDxFqEqwxw_MOw00tTboSKHQhyphenhyphenfw4Pmz4jKWMfrUuI2qoHobU5u5svjiyXZR6YjMszTEKtKAQNMjiWFpzhoxn7mDIY3pAj65wW8m5d954_JpOvwEDF7VN_IOs/w560-h234/Screenshot+2021-08-07+174008.png" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">78 year old Payom receiving baptism from Pastor Somchai. <br />Thai new believers are of all ages!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Both of these Pioneer Pastor Churches are daughter churches of Promise Church, which is led by Pastor Somchai. Pastor Somchai sent us a video of baptisms of new believers at his church. </p><p>Please take time to watch the video and enjoy. It will warm your heart and is worth taking time to be blessed by it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="413" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TivEhrlK3GU" width="496" youtube-src-id="TivEhrlK3GU"></iframe></div><br /><p>Finally, I would like to thank you for your faithful support that has allowed us to send food relief to the Thai pastors serving in urban areas. The lockdowns in the urban areas of Thailand have devastated the economy. This lockdown will continue for many months because the Delta Variant of COVID has spread to all of the provinces in Thailand. At this time, only 14% of Thais are vaccinated. Please pray that the vaccination efforts will increase. Your prayers make a difference!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-17121974852760155532021-06-23T12:56:00.000-07:002021-06-23T12:56:02.599-07:00Healing through your prayers & Feeding hungry people in crisis<p>First, I want to thank everyone who prayed for us during the past few weeks while I (Mike) was in the hospital. If you had not heard, I had to get rushed in to the hospital because of an infection that became sepsis. The first 48 hours in the hospital were critical, because the sepsis affected my heart and breathing. And then God's people prayed, and I have been getting better every day. I have been at home for a week now, and I still have several appointments with a cardiologist and with the internal medicine specialist. Sherri and I have been showered with encouraging notes and calls, meals brought to us by awesome neighbors, and powerful prayers of healing. We are very blessed!</p><p>Next, I want to thank you for your faithful donations to the mission throughout the COVID crisis. Thailand has avoided the spread of COVID for many months through hard lockdowns which have destroyed the economy. During the first lockdown in the summer of 2020, Thailand NOW mission was able to provide food relief to our Thai brothers and sisters in the urban churches where people could not work because of the lockdown. With your help, nutritious meals were provided to sustain over 500 families.</p><p>Even though last year's lockdown was effective for a while, COVID eventually started spreading in Thailand in March 2021, and a second hard lockdown commenced. This second lockdown is worse than the first, because many in the urban areas had to move in with relatives in the rural areas, where people were already doing subsistence living only. Now both rural and urban communities are in crisis. </p><p>Because of your faithful giving, Thailand NOW has had the resources to provide special food relief to both rural and urban churches where people are in crisis. The food relief packages include protein in the form of 3 dozen eggs and/or 6 cans of fish, cooking oil, rice, ramen noodles, and fish sauce (an essential for cooking Thai food). We have focused the food relief towards families of Blessing Home children, abandoned seniors (ones who receive little or no support from family members), and seniors who take care of children but do not have income.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwaLY5H5Cbvrad5W5YJhWdy_rORLxom2mtsBrZI7LMxUwp7W1XqYQ78BFQl4ejkUuVz9lkzpLeuABfJCuOB_h4e06hEO0Kz5Ae0j3EGfYIHurRZ73VL29eniNgSkbmm8cchME/s1477/Santi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwaLY5H5Cbvrad5W5YJhWdy_rORLxom2mtsBrZI7LMxUwp7W1XqYQ78BFQl4ejkUuVz9lkzpLeuABfJCuOB_h4e06hEO0Kz5Ae0j3EGfYIHurRZ73VL29eniNgSkbmm8cchME/w480-h640/Santi.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM95hH3zRczybv7HJ365qyivt0rf-tG1qaRd1XteG5L_y_ujSFaqu1gvVPGgozLjDcDhWyJDQR95uuHnBWatVRXpOVzv-iH7ys9j7GXwu0tQCBohOkRX_JOc5_DcBZDsrSRgj/s1477/Taphraya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM95hH3zRczybv7HJ365qyivt0rf-tG1qaRd1XteG5L_y_ujSFaqu1gvVPGgozLjDcDhWyJDQR95uuHnBWatVRXpOVzv-iH7ys9j7GXwu0tQCBohOkRX_JOc5_DcBZDsrSRgj/w400-h300/Taphraya.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The top picture is Pastor Santi, a Pioneer Pastor in Sukhothai province, providing food relief to a grandmother who cares for her two grandchildren but did not have money for food.</p><p>The bottom picture is of Pastor Det, a Pioneer Pastor in Sakaeo province and Co-Director of Blessing Home TaPhraya. Pastor Det is bringing food relief to abandoned seniors in his county.</p><p><b>2 Ways to Donate: By Mail or Online</b></p><p>Checks can be mailed to this address:</p><p><b>Thailand NOW</b></p><p><b>P.O. Box 56</b></p><p><b>Mannsville, KY 42758</b></p><p>or Give Online at: <a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a></p>Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-61501139416041797562021-04-20T09:07:00.004-07:002021-04-20T09:07:47.693-07:00Praise God! A Fourth Blessing Home Center is opening this month!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVD1m-D_eNOdKrZQpcq32biq2K4xDS39ICkzHJZl5pPWyWPcqlELHHHhai57u_mGfKodtqUT3s1CL5vVT50Z52Wuy8K4FUTlkqYgmhyS57FbKa_a4y97X14-FnrmChUBmM9BX/s1477/Pastors+Somsri+and+Warin.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVD1m-D_eNOdKrZQpcq32biq2K4xDS39ICkzHJZl5pPWyWPcqlELHHHhai57u_mGfKodtqUT3s1CL5vVT50Z52Wuy8K4FUTlkqYgmhyS57FbKa_a4y97X14-FnrmChUBmM9BX/s600/Pastors+Somsri+and+Warin.jpg"/></a></div>
It is with great joy and praise to our Lord who makes all things possible that we announce the opening of the fourth Blessing Home Center, which is located in Nonthaburi Province, west of Bangkok. Blessing Home Nonthaburi is located at Sai Noi at a Pioneer Pastor Church that was planted four years ago by Pastors Somsri and Warin of Fire of Glory Church (in the picture above). Pastors Somsri and Warin have been serving the families and children in this poverty-stricken neighborhood for many years through food relief programs and children's Bible clubs and Bible studies for adults. Children in this neighborhood are at great risk of being trafficked in the child sex and drug trades because of the soul-crushing poverty and it's close proximity to the brothels of Bangkok. Pastor Somsri has taken several teens into her home to save them from being trafficked, even though she and her husband Samai could barely afford to live themselves.
Thailand NOW missionaries David and Allie Houle, who serve as Field Directors for the Blessing Home Centers in Thailand, will be spearheading this effort. We want to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support which make this new Blessing Home Center possible. You are saving the lives of innocent children and giving them hope in the Lord Jesus.
God is good!Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-69411395197986734682021-03-29T10:16:00.006-07:002021-03-29T10:31:12.540-07:00We can tell you are praying for Thailand NOW. March was a month of rejoicing!Sherri and I are always aware that you are praying for us and the Thailand NOW mission. We feel it every day. And we see it too, because the Lord is working through your prayers to do great things. God is good!
Every year in the month of March, we give praise to God to be able to send a large amount of support to all of the Blessing Home Centers so that the directors can purchase school uniforms and supplies and pay other school fees for the Blessing Home kids. It gives us great joy to see our kids in their school uniforms, because a child in school is being developed and protected from traffickers. It would not be possible without people like you.
Most of our children receive three types of uniforms so they can go to school: a regular uniform, a scouting uniform (all Thai students are scouts), and a physical education uniform. You can see the pictures below to see the three types.
The new school year begins in May, and Thailand NOW missionaries Allie and David Houle are busy traveling to all of the Blessing Home Centers to do interviews and home visits with prospective new Blessing Home scholarship kids. We try to choose those who are at greatest need and at greatest risk for being trafficked. Your prayers for the Houle's as they prayerfully select children to receive Blessing Home scholarships.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LfI6mBpvBOGyKmqIpoceUY4yXy_6eA8uElFcqsE-ZtmQA4p4k4ixBD075KEEexR7MEFAHP9Xx2YZ4xUn5YqBjeFvhJQAMwFXPN7ob-LL2JxdYMvSoDkSZK9-hnuQjW8fVuUr/s685/School+Uniforms+Combined.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LfI6mBpvBOGyKmqIpoceUY4yXy_6eA8uElFcqsE-ZtmQA4p4k4ixBD075KEEexR7MEFAHP9Xx2YZ4xUn5YqBjeFvhJQAMwFXPN7ob-LL2JxdYMvSoDkSZK9-hnuQjW8fVuUr/s600/School+Uniforms+Combined.jpg"/></a></div>
March was also the month that five of our Pioneer Pastors graduated with their Doctor of Ministry degrees. Pastors Banya, Wassana, Peter, Warin, and Somsri all worked hard to earn their doctorate degrees. We give praise to the Lord, because the abilities and resources to train Thai pastors and Christian leaders has increased. When you pray, give praise to the Lord for these five Pioneer Pastors!
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Finally, we give praise to God that Phase One of construction of the Abundant Life Training Center has begun, and the retainer wall is being built. This is an answer to our prayers. Below are some pictures of the construction. Please pray for two of our Thai staff, May and Teddy, as they and their four children move with us to Buriram, where the Abundant Life Training Center will be located. Moving children from one school to another is very difficult in Thailand. Public schools in Thailand are not obligated to enroll children who live in their geographical area. When they applied to schools in the town where the AL Training Center will be, they were told that the school was filled and would not receive their children. They found another school down the road, but they will not know until the first week of May if their children are actually accepted or not. This is a critical situation for them, so please keep them in your prayers.
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Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-45443825925140646882021-03-02T09:41:00.003-08:002021-03-02T09:43:37.544-08:00Developing Leaders and Constructing CampusesThe other day, I was shopping online at a Christian bookstore website and it was overwhelming the amount of Christian education resources available. There was no need to "re-invent the wheel". You could choose any age group and any topic or book of the Bible, and there would be hundreds of books available for teaching Sunday School and Bible studies. In fact, there are so many choices, it seems a bit overwhelming to try to sift through them all to make a choice. But in Thailand, it is a very different story. There is a real paucity of Christian education materials, especially for Sunday School for children and teens. For many years now, we and our fellow missionaries serving with Thailand NOW have been creating Sunday School material and providing it to churches throughout Thailand for free. Each year, Sherri and I have provided trainings for Sunday School teachers, so they can receive curriculum and know how to use if effectively.
This past month, Thailand NOW missionaries (Carol Fare, Vicki Brown, David Houle, Allie Houle) as well as our Thai team (Dr. Prai and Miss Supaporn) provided a seminar and workshop for Sunday School teachers in the Korat area. The event was held at Special Blessings Korat, the Thailand NOW ministry for families of special needs children. The Thai Sunday School teachers received curriculum and training on teaching catechism as well as training on how to develop their own curriculum. Carol and Vicki will be following up with the teachers through social media to continue to provide resources and helpful tips.
Five churches participated in this training, and we ask for your prayers that word gets out and many more churches will participate in the next seminar. Below are some pictures from the training event.
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Last week, we began construction of the retainer wall around the campus of the future Abundant Life Training Center. Pictured below are trucks that delivered some of the construction materials. There is a crew coming with pile-driving equipment to hammer in all of the support columns. Each support column is 24 feet long and there are over 200 columns to hammer into the ground. After the wall is complete, we will have a few hundred truckloads of dirt brought in to raise the land by over 6 feet, so the buildings will be far above flood level. Our prayers are for construction of the retainer wall to be completed before rain season begins at the end of May.
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We had a few more people contact us asking about how to donate.
You can donate by mailing a check to:
Thailand NOW
P.O. Box 56
Mannsville, KY 42758
OR give online at :
<a href="https://thailandnow.org/donate/" target="_blank">https://thailandnow.org/donate/</a>
Missionaries to Thailand, serving with the Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13751266083253044798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30486334.post-57778749647653800842021-01-13T08:28:00.002-08:002021-01-13T08:30:58.023-08:00God has provided all that we needed! Praise the Lord!!!First, we want to announce a HUGE jubilant word of PRAISE. We have received all of the donations needed for construction of Phase 1 of the Abundant Life Training Center! God is good!!!
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Now we have all of the funds needed to build the retainer wall around the property that was purchased for the Training Center and fill it with 6 feet of dirt to bring it above flood level. Thank you, everyone who prayed and donated towards this important project. We and our staff have not been able to keep up with the demand for training leaders and members in the Abundant Life Savings Group program. When the Abundant Life Training Center is complete, it will help us to increase our training capacity ten-fold.
We were all set to start construction on the wall this week, but a second wave of COVID has hit Thailand, and most of the nation is under hardcore shutdown. No one can travel between provinces without special permission and documentation from the police. So we and our team will make the most use of the time to continue producing resources for the Abundant Life Savings Group program and the Pioneer Pastor program.
Second, we want to give a shout out to all who generously gave to Operation Christmas Child, the ministry of Samaritan's Purse that most churches participate in each year. Every year, our Thai churches have Christmas outreaches and these shoe boxes filled with Christmas gifts that you have prepared are given to the children. The gospel of Jesus is preached at these events and many people come to Christ, both children and adults. This Christmas, our pastors reported that over 600 people gave their lives to Christ!
What most people do not know, is that Operation Christmas Child does not end when the gifts are given to the children. There is also a high quality 8 week children's Bible study that the churches use to start a Children's Bible Club. The children learn about Jesus and are discipled and the Thai Christians reach out to the families of the children too. Many of their parents and grandparents come to the Lord too.
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Above our pictures of school children at one of the outreaches, and you can see the Bible study books that they received with their gifts. It is very common to see other family members borrowing the Bible study books so they can read it too. We praise the Lord that we get to work cooperatively together with many organizations like Samaritan's Purse and the Gideons.
Finally, Sherri and I wish you a Blessed New Year. We are grateful for your prayers and support which make this mission fruitful and possible. Praise the Lord!
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