Our time here in Thailand has been a beautiful journey of faith — faith in God’s plans for and through our family in a place where we must depend on Him entirely. Of course, all of us should do this, right? However, our faith or relationship with God can look totally different depending on circumstances or locations.
For example, when we are in our hometown and
our family is doing well, routines are set, and life is good, then we can feel strong in our faith. Our faith doesn’t have to be stretched too much. How about when there is a crisis? Or a big move? Or a job loss? These are opportunities to grow in our faith, especially because when we have to totally depend on God, we experience faith differently.
During our time here in Thailand, almost every experience has been new: new country, food, language, culture, lifestyle, and especially, a new approach to ministry, which is different from the traditional church planting approach already being done in Thailand. However, in a country of 71,884,624 people, with 1.1 percent Christian (according to www.thailand.go.th), we need more than one approach. We live in the largest region of Thailand, called Isan, with 20 provinces located in the northeast part of the country. In the Isan region, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has baptized 550 Isan members, most of whom are over 60. Some of you go to churches with this many members.
As part of our journey, God has transitioned us from working directly with the Central Thai Project to partnering with the Isan Thai Project in Ubon Ratchathani. We don’t have any plans to move to that city, but it makes sense to collaborate with them in a more formal way because we are targeting the same people group. Teacher Ming and the Wrights (our new “teammates”) have been trained in trauma healing, using this valuable tool to bring a holistic approach to their church planting efforts. We are so grateful to have been introduced to this aid because we work with many broken, hurting people. The village where we have been working will greatly benefit from this tool because people searching for help, advice and prayer constantly turn to Suhn, whom we are discipling. Suhn is the only Christian and SDA in the village.
Since joining the Isan Team, we have spent time praying and strategizing on how to implement the desire and calling that God has given Teacher Ming, the Wrights and our family. God clearly has big plans, and we are excited to be a part of them as we focus on remaining aligned with His will.
