Our family alongside Saw Eh Ka La Moo (fellow Farthest Corners worker/pastor) just returned from a great trip along the border where we were able to partner up with Pastor Samuel who has been a friend of ours for many years now. We were introduced to this area through the Eubank family and are so blessed to be able to witness the fruit of the 50+ years of work they have done for our brothers and sisters there. It is also the same place Sinte and I started to see each other in a new light and our relationship bloomed, so it was great to return to the same area with our son now alongside us.
When we arrived in the village I was invited to preach the following day at the church which was planted there almost 15 years ago. The message I shared came from Psalm 137 about how the pain and anger that the people of Israel had against their Babylon oppressor was much like the Karen had against many of their own enemies (i.e. Burma Army). I also shared how when Jesus is the Lord and Savior in our lives we must reach out to our enemy in love, as Christ himself did on the cross.
We then moved on from the main village into a smaller village where in just one year 40 of the villagers have become Christian. We stayed for three days teaching the adult believers about who Jesus Christ is and what salvation means during the mornings and afternoons. In the evenings, we played games and taught the children about God and Jesus Christ. After the day was over we would have worship together. On our last night we were invited into a non believers home so they too could hear the gospel message. God is now doing so much in this village and we are blessed to have a chance to witness in His great work there.
When we returned to the main village, Sinte was invited to preach at the church. She preached in Burmese with an elder translating into Karen. Her message was based off of 1 Kings 16,17. There is a great deal of development going on throughout Thailand and while this is a good thing Sinte shared that during King Omri’s reign there was a lot of physical development but little spiritual development. She warned the people to be like Elijah and see how God provides when one is focused on Him alone.
The next day, Pastor Samuel and I visited a Karen Evangelist friend and then moved onto another village to share the message of Jesus Christ and to encourage thirteen new believers there. It is so amazing that this village for years had been right next to so many Christians but only now is it starting to accept the gospel. Pastor Samuel and I returned back to his home late that night and the next day our family started to head back to Chiang Mai.
We will be leaving on another trip soon to visit Happy’s Home and our Farm project. We will also see if this trip can be coordinated to provide some relief to over 2,000 villagers who were recently attacked by the Burma Army. They continue to remain in hiding while the Burma Army pillage their homes, destroy their schools and clinics and leave landmines behind in their wake. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering so greatly.
When we return from this next trip we hope to have a better idea on where God is leading us next. We’re not sure if a move closer to or along the border is in our future or not but we are praying a great deal about that now. Please pray for God to show us His will on how He wants to use us best for the building of the Kingdom. We thank you all for your love, prayers and support. God bless you.
Mangte Pa, Sinte and Mangte